Photo By Spc. Kimberly Brewton | Jan Silbert, attends the memorialization of Sgt. James Holtom at the Army Reserve...... read more read more
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Members of the 88th Readiness Division, 301st Maneuve Enhancement Brigade, family members and friends honored the life of a fallen Army Reserve Soldier during a memorialization ceremony August 19, 2022, at the Sgt. James J. Holtom Reserve Center on base.
U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. James J. Holtom, who was assigned to the 321st Engineer Battalion in Boise, Idaho, lost his life Feb, 8, 2007, while serving as a team lead for a route clearence unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom .
Holtom's vehicle led the patrol when an IED detonated under the vehicle killing Holtom and his team. The explosion was witnessed by Jan Silbert, a 321st Engineer Battalion. platoon leader, who was traveling in the vehicle behind Holtom's team.
"I'm very proud to see one of our guys named for a permanent building. It's astounding," said Silbert.
"This was real war," said Silbert. "We would do 8-, 10-, 15-hour missions, every day for 15 days, and we were finding IEDs every day."
The reality of war for all Soldiers regardless of their component comes with dangers and sacrifices, and wartime holds the same magnitude, said Silbert.
Reyne Holtom, the mother of Sgt. Holtom, also attended the memorialization ceremony.
"I'm thankful and sad," said Reyne. "All the recognition and honor is very nice, but I'd rather have my son. But, I can share my memories of my son, not just the grown-up son, but the little boy."
"When a young person enlists, and even if they aren't sent overseas, they are available to be deployed," said Reyne. "They have virtually put their life on hold. Their education, marriage, having a child, whatever their plans are on hold. So that sacrifice, of course, is real to me now when I see a young person in uniform, I know the sacrifice involved in that."
The Sgt. James J. Holton Army Reserve Center is located on Joint Base Lewis-McChord and supports Army Reserve units with the 88th Readiness Division.
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.01.2022 17:49 |
| Story ID: | 428450 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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