Stanley Holmes was born on July 14, 1910, in New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He was married to Josephine Fraser Holmes. His military journey began after his time in the Civilian Military Training Corps and West Point Prep School at Fort Clayton, Panama Canal Zone, leading to his appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in 1930. After graduating in 1934, he served in posts across the U.S., including Camp Dix, Fort Benning, Fort McClellan, and Fort McPherson, before finally receiving his long-sought assignment to the Philippine Islands in 1941.

When Japan invaded, Holmes was executive officer of the 33rd Infantry, Philippine Army, under Col. Louis Hutson. After Hutson was wounded in January 1942, Holmes assumed command and led the regiment through the Battle of Bataan. As Bataan fell, he escaped to the north through enemy lines right into the current of an ever-increasing flood of Japanese troops pressing southward toward Bataan and Corregidor. Holmes, his executive officer, and three others existed for more than a year in the jungles, raiding the Japanese communication lines and installations being captured in June 1943. He was held at PW Camp #1 in Cabanatuan. In December 1944, Holmes was among prisoners loaded onto the Oryoku Maru, a Japanese “hell ship” bound for Japan. The ship was bombed by U.S. aircraft in Subic Bay on December 15, 1944; Holmes was among the men who perished.

LTC Holmes' name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, alumni.westpointaog.org, weremember.abmc.gov,