Alabama Stories

Thomas G. Holley, Huntsville

THOMAS G. HOLLEY
(Nominated by Lacey A. Holley McCann)
Huntsville Jaycees Building
July 27, 2011

Thomas Holley, my daddy, was just 18 years old when he went to Vietnam with the United States Army.  During his thirteen months in Vietnam he received numerous medals and honors, including the Purple Heart.  I had heard that he was a Vietnam Veteran, but did not really understand as a small child what that meant. When I was in third grade my class led the Veteran’s Day program and I invited supposed to invite veterans we knew to stand and be recognized. That day he stood in front of the crowd and when he said where he had been and what his service was, he cried. Now at 27 I understand that was the first time he stood in public and was recognized as a Vietnam veteran.  I know now the amount of courage that took and that he did that for me.  It began my quest to be a historian, and a documenter of the lives of veterans.  He has raised both my sister and me to be patriotic, and honorable people.  He is an excellent father, and husband.  You can’t ask for more than that a continuing American Hero.