lest we forget

HOLGUIN, ISMAEL

Rank / Branch:

  • SPECIALIST FOUR, U.S. ARMY

Date Of Birth:

  • 1947-02-28

Country Of Loss:

  • SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

  • HOSTILE, OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:​

  • GROUND

Other:

  • MARRIED

Unit:

  • AMERICAL DIVISION

Date Of Loss:

  • 1967-07-14

Loss Coordinates:

  • QUANG TINE

Catagory:

  • BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

  • SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

  • HOLGUIN, ISMAEL, SPECIALIST FOUR, U.S. ARMY, BIG SPRING, HOWARD COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • COMBAT INFANTRYMANS BADGE, BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM MILITARY MERIT MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDALat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal

BIOGRAPHY

  • Ismael Martinez Holguin was born in Big Spring, Texas to Amelia Martinez and Ramon Nonato Holguin. He had two brothers and six sisters. His father had come to Big Spring in 1930 as a laborer with the Texas and Pacific Railroad. Mr. Holguin worked for 18 years with the railroad and then spent 20 years working as a custodian at the Kate Moore School, retiring in early 1967 after 20 years of service. Ismael attended Big Spring schools and was a 1966 graduate of Big Spring High School.
  • After high school, Ismael worked at the Big Spring State Hospital up to being drafted into the U.S. Army. He entered the Army January 11, 1967, and completed his basic training at Fort Bliss and AIT at Fort Knox, Kentucky as a armorer. When he came home on leave after training, he married Conchita Holguin of Big Spring on May 27, 1967, at the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Big Spring.
  • He started his tour in Vietnam on July 14, 1967. He was assigned to F Troop, 17th Cavalry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade under the organizational control of the 23rd (Americal) Division. The 17th Cav was the ground recon unit of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Specialist Holguin was Missing in Action from February 7, 1968, until February 17, 1968, when his body along with four other troopers were found. It was during the early days of TET and his unit was involved in some fierce fighting and the military vehicle; he was last seen on had been hit by heavy weapons. His unit was not able to establish control of the area of the fire fight until 10 days later.
  • Specialist Holguin was buried with full military honors in the Mount Olive Cemetery in Big Spring, Texas. He was survived by his wife, his parents, and his two brothers and seven sisters. The were, Mrs. Mary Arispie of Waco, Texas; Mrs. Alice Fierro of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mrs. Isabel Auguiana, Mrs. Anita Valles, Mrs. Cruz Martinez, Mrs. Hope Mendosa and Miss Elisia Sosa all of Big Spring and brothers, David and Raymond Holguin, Jr. His brother, David had just returned to Big Spring from the Army where he had served in Germany.
  • Shortly after Ismael's funeral, his wife joined the U.S. Women's Army Corp. In August 1968, while Private Conchita Holguin was in training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, she was presented with the Ismael's posthumous awards. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal. In the shadow box were his other awards of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
  • BIG SPRING HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 1966
  • MOUNT OLIVE CEMETERY, BIG SPRING, TEXAS