HCR 204 - Medal of Honor recipient John Noble Holcomb

Описание: I am honored to bring forward resolution (HCR 204) to recognize and honor Sergeant John Noble Holcomb for his service to his country. Sergeant Holcomb is one of only 13 Oregonians to ever receive the Medal of Honor and the only recipient from Baker County. The Medal of Honor is the highest honor that can be given to someone who has served in the military.
I will take a few minutes to share a story Of Sargent . Holcomb.

John Noble Holcomb achieved the rank of Sergeant in 1968 and was assigned to Vietnam. His tour of duty in Vietnam started in March, 1968.

Later that year on December 3rd, Sergeant Holcomb was leading his squad when they and other squads were attacked by the enemy near Quan Loi Base Camp in Binh Long Province. He led his squad with bravery and when the machine gunner was knocked out, Sergeant Holcomb seized the machine gun and ran to the forward edge of the position and repealed the enemy. As the enemy retreated, Sergeant Holcomb gathered his men and moved the wounded to a position of safety. As the other squad leaders were among the wounded, Sergeant Holcomb acted as the platoon leader and reorganized the defensive sector despite a raging grass fire which had been ignited by the incoming mortars.

The enemy attacked again. Sergeant Holcomb and his men did their best to defend their position and repel the enemy once more. Sergeant Holcomb was severely wounded when he was hit by a mortar which took out his machine gun. As the enemy retreated, Sergeant Holcomb crawled through the grass fire to rescue and move the wounded to an area of safety despite his own injuries.

Sergeant John Noble Holcomb died later that day from his wounds in a field hospital in South Vietnam.

Sergeant Holcomb repelled the enemy not once, not twice, but three times. In doing so, he sustained life ending injuries and wounds while saving his fellow soldiers.

In 1971, Sergeant John Holcomb, was awarded the Medal of Honor. His parents, who lived in Richland, Oregon traveled to Washington DC and the Medal of Honor was presented to them by President Richard Nixon.

Sergeant Holcomb is a true hero and deserves to be honored with a Fallen Hero Memorial Highway; the approval of this Resolution is a requirement in allowing that to occur.

Colleagues please join me today in honoring a true Hero. John Noble Holcomb.