Edward Cooper Holdren was born on May 11, 1923, in Bedford County, Virginia. He was the son of Edward Hypes Holdren and Lillie Ethel Holdren. He was described as five foot ten, one hundred and fifty-five pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, and a light complexion. After he graduated high school, Holdren moved to Baltimore and worked in an aircraft plant. He registered for the draft on June 29, 1942.

Edward served in the 849th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Tail Gunner on the B-17 #43-38046 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on March 17, 1945, in a mid-air collision with another B-17 (serial #43-38071). As a result, all members of his crew were killed, and their plane crashed in Karnberg, Germany. The other B-17's crew were all safe.

There are conflicting reports that Sgt. Holdren was killed during the collision or possibly bailed out to be killed on the ground by German soldiers. He is now buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia, USA.

B-17 43-38046 crew:
Pilot - 1LT Arthur Stern
Co-Pilot - F/O Clifton W. Nippert
Navigator - 2LT Edmund M. De Wahl
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner - S/SGT James C. Rivers
Radio Operator - SGT George V. Devlin
Ball Turret Gunner - SGT John B. Terry, Jr.
Waist Gunner - SGT Jimmie R. Heathman
Tail Gunner - SGT Edward C. Holdren
Togglier - SGT Willard B. Fay