Eager to learn more about his late grandfather’s military service, a Houston Fire Department paramedic found himself in luck after beginning his research.
Mark Holmes of Pearland, Texas, told Fox News Digital that a quick Google search not only helped him learn about his paternal grandfather, William Watson Holmes, and his service to America, but also led him to actual history.
William Watson Holmes served in the Marines during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart.
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“I “I always wondered what my grandfather did in the war. My father and I talked about it a few times, and all he knew was that one of the islands he went to was an island called Loi Namul in the Marshall Islands. He didn’t know anything more than that he received the Purple Heart,” Mark Holmes said, adding that his grandfather died when he was three months old.
Mark Holmes of Texas was 3 months old when his grandfather, World War II veteran William Watson Holmes, died. (Mark Holmes)
Luckily, Mark Holmes came across the US Militaria Forum, a website for collectors. He signed up and shared his grandfather’s story on the page to connect with other users, where one collector made an interesting discovery.
Collector Austin Weidman has spent years collecting World War II memorabilia and has nearly 40 named items in his Marine Corps collection.
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Mark Holmes of Texas found his grandfather’s military jacket on a collector’s website. (US Military Forum)
Weidman posted a photo of the William Watson Holmes uniform jacket after purchasing it from a dealer in Gloucester, Virginia.
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His tattered green jacket has a “UNIS” mark with the number “322” written on the back.
Mark Holmes (left) stands next to Austin Weidman (right) showing off his William Holmes military jacket. (Austin Weidman)
“UNIS marked items are of primary interest to me as a Marine. Marines put this number on their equipment so other Marines know what unit they belong to. The number 322 was created by William Holmes. [part] The uniform of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Division. I was sure that the uniform belonged to William. [Watson Holmes]Weidman told Fox News Digital in an email.
Mark Holmes and Weidman began speaking online, and the two eventually met in person.
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“William Holmes was injured when a Japanese landmine exploded and shrapnel flew across his back. As a result, the back of his jacket is covered in burn marks. William Holmes [the] “He underwent emergency surgery to remove shrapnel from his spine,” Weidman said.
William Watson Holmes served in World War II as a Marine with Company E. Photographed here is his Marine Corps ID card and the jacket he wore in combat. (Austin Weidman)
Coincidentally, the hospital where William Watson Holmes was taken in Lee Hall, Virginia, was 30 minutes away from where Wideman purchased his uniform.
Mark Holmes and Randall Holmes, son of his father, William Watson Holmes, flew to Missouri to meet with Weidman and see the historic family items for themselves.
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Mark Holmes tried on his grandfather’s jacket and it fit him perfectly.
Mark Holmes of Texas was surprised to find that his grandfather’s military jacket fit him. (Austin Weidman)
Wideman said it was a true honor to meet Mark Holmes and his father, Randall Holmes.
“Look at Randall [Holmes] “Being able to see the jacket his father was wearing when he was injured was very rewarding for me as a collector. We talked for hours about the jacket and really enjoyed each other’s company. I can’t wait to see them again,” Weidman said.
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Randall Holmes of Texas also joined the trip to Missouri to see his father’s military jacket. (Austin Weidman)
Weidman shared the history of the jacket with the Holmes family and shared personal stories about what it was like growing up with veterans and hearing their war stories.
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The Holmes family donated further wartime items to be added to Weidman’s collection.
The Holmes family donated the jacket and additional items to Weidman’s collection. (Austin Weidman)
In return, Weidman had replica William Watson Holmes jackets made for his family.
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“My goal has always been to share the history and keep these stories alive, and if anything were to happen, everything would go back to the family, jackets included,” Weidman said.
