The United States Navy regrets to inform you…
When we see military markers and the date of death falls within a specific war, we often assume that the serviceman or woman died in battle. Albert Andy Holmans is one of the exceptions that prove that isn’t always the case.
18-year-old Albert was an aviation radioman, third class in the United States Naval Air Force. He was one of five officers and enlisted men killed in a PBY Catalina bomber that crashed and burned as it attempted to take off near San Diego Bay. Six other members of the crew were rescued.
The Catalina PBY is the most famous Navy long-range patrol
bomber, reconnaissance and rescue boat of World War II.
When searching through old newspapers within a two week period of this crash, I was shocked to find numerous accounts of bomber crashes on home soil. It’s heartbreaking to think that the families of these victims probably felt relatively secure abut their loved ones safety since they had not departed for “action.”What a shock it must have been.
Albert was the youngest son of Charles Albert Holmans and Marion Palmer. His father died from appendicitis when Albert was only three years old.
According to a family member, his mother was unable to financially care for the children, so they were split up. Douglas, Pearl and James traveled by train to Fort Worth to live at the Masonic Home and School of Texas. The two older brothers, Charles and William (Bill) were “too old” to live at the Masonic home, so they “made it on their own.”
Masonic School Home, Fort Worth, Texas
Because he was so small, Albert was sent to live with his widowed, maternal grandmother Marion Moore, and his uncle John Palmer.
All five boys served in the armed forces during World War II.
Albert was survived by his mother, Mrs. James McBride of Houston; his grandmother, Mrs M. More of Dickinson; a sister, Mrs Pearl Dement of Columbus Ohio; four brothers (Charles, William, DouglasBecause and James) and his uncle John Palmer of Dickinson and other aunts and uncles.Fairview
Of the family of six children, the surviving five went on to live productive lives and have families of their own. Quite impressive considering the Holmansrough start the endured.
Albert rests in the serene Fairview Cemetery of League City, Texas. His poignant epitaph reads, “My loves goes with you and my soul awaits to join you.”
One wonders if his mother, who missed precious years with her youngest child, chose the inscription.
What a sad story but well researched. Your header photograph is so striking! I look forward to reading many more posts from you.
Thank you, Grave Photographer! I look forward to checking out your page, as well.
Thank you so much. Your encouragement is appreciated!
Thank you for sharing this story. Where did you take the picture of the cemetery that is your banner for this page? It is beautiful.
Thank you, Bill. The photo was taken in one of my favorite cemeteries. There is a grouping of seven cemeteries on the main thoroughfare of Galveston, Texas that I have recently written a book about. That is the location of my header photograph. The book, from Arcadia Pubishing is due out this summer. http://www.amazon.com/Galvestons-Broadway-Cemeteries-Images-America/dp/1467133434/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427371927&sr=8-1&keywords=galveston%27s+broadway+cemeteries
Thank you. It is at Palo Duro Canyon, which is a wonderful place to visit. I highly recommend it.
Albert Andy Holmans was my dad’s baby brother. My dad was James Burnett Holmans, or Jim. The “Home Kids” gave each other nicknames; my dad was called “Freckles.” He told my half-sister and me that Albert’s seaplane had just taken off from the coast of Alaska when it crashed into a school of porpoises. My dad wrote this on a piece of paper that I have. Perhaps, he was wrong. According to my dad’s feelings about his mother, he would not believe that his mother would have been the one to have created Albert’s epithet. As for two brothers making it on their own, that’s true, but there is a backstory for one of those two that is shocking.
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing this part of your family story. (You certainly have my curiosity up about the “shocking” reference.)
Did you get the photo of the two boys (on the grounds of the Masonic Home and School) from a Holmans family member? If so, then that would be my dad on the left and his brother on the right. I’ve tapped the photo to enlarge it. While fuzzy, the haircut of the boybon the left resembles my dad’s haircut as a boy.