David Lyle Holland

May 14, 1942

Flagler County has 74 men in the various branches of the armed forces at this time ..... the list up to date is as follows: DAVID LYLE HOLLAND

January 28, 1943

Promotion of Cpl. DAVID LYLE HOLLAND, son of Mrs. Flora Holland of Bunnell, to rank of Sergeant has been announced by his commanding officer, Col. John D. Hill of the 124th Infantry Regiment of Ft. Benning, Ga. The 124th Infantry Regiment is part of the Infantry School Service Command there. It, with two other regiments, is used for demonstration purposes, giving the students an opportunity to see in actual operation the different military techniques which are taught in the class rooms.

February 4, 1943

Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND is here on a short furlough from his duties with the army at Fort Benning, Georgia.

July 15, 1943

Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND of Ft. Benning, Georgia, is here for a few days furlough.

November 4, 1943

Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND has been transferred from Fort Benning, Georgia, to Fort Jackson, S. C.

December 23, 1943

Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND is also here for the holidays with his wife and his mother and other relatives. He was recently transferred from Ft. Bragg to Camp Pickett, Va.

December 30, 1943

Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND of Camp Pickett, Va. spent the holidays here with his wife and mother.

March 2, 1944

It’s now S/Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND, he having received his promotion only recently. Today he is also changing his address to care of postmaster, San Francisco.

May 4, 1944

Word received here this week from Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND says he is in New Guinea. He said he had 26 letters waiting for him when he arrived there.

August 10, 1944

Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND, infantryman in New Guinea writes his wife here that he had "spent the 12 nights in a fox hole" there.

September 7, 1944

Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND, with the army in Dutch New Guinea, has sent his "Expert Combat Infantryman" badge to his wife here, she receiving the prized emblem yesterday. Of all the awards passed out by the army the combat infantryman's badge, in our opinion, rates as high an honor as any other decoration the army can award.

February 8, 1945

And here a letter from Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND headed Netherlands East Indies:

"Guess that you will be surprised to hear from me but, as you can see, I am not much of a letter writer.

I have been receiving The Tribune every since I left the States. In fact, I had two waiting for me when I arrived in New Guinea. To say the least, I enjoy them very much. They are ‘like money from home.’

When we landed on this island we found that the Japs were using some of our Springfield rifles and Frankford arsenal ammunition made in 1928. They have lots of American-made matches etc.

How is the deer hunting there? Surely would like to be there and find out for myself. Although it is out of season and would have to wait until next December I would still like to be there.

I had better close for this time as it is getting dark and I have to get in my pill box and watch for Japs all night. I will try to write more often from now on."

(Glad to hear from you David. According to a story we got today from your public relations officer, it appears from here that you guys know what "rugged" means. We certainly hope you will be here before the next deer season opens up in order that you may ‘find out for yourself’).

March 1, 1945

Another story came in from the Public Relations Office of the 31st (Dixie) Division of which S/Sgt. DAVID L. HOLLAND is a member. Here's the story:

“With the Dixie Division on Morotai: Beginning with Christmas Day, the 'Holiday Season' meant for 13 Florida soldiers a 11-day march with full field equipment over the jagged peaks and through the dense jungles of Morotai's wild interior.

So rugged was the uncharted terrain over which the infantry company moved in quest of Japs that in one day's climbing from sun, up to sundown it made only 350 yards as measured on the map.

Several men came in with towels around their feet instead of shoes, and the skin came off with the socks of one infantryman. When the company began the return trip on New Year's Day, it was necessary for them to call for artillery fire so they could determine their location. A cub plane hovered overhead to show them the way out.

It was the worst foot march we've ever been through, veteran infantrymen declared.

In addition to Sgt. HOLLAND, other Florida men included two from Miami; two from Pensacola; two from Tallahassee; and one each from Wausau, Orlando, Tampa, Live Oak and Cottondale.

April 5, 1945

Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND, whose wife is chief clerk of the local ration board here, is in a hospital in New Guinea, where he has been with an infantry outfit for many months.

April 29, 1945

S/Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND has arrived in the States after many months with his Infantry company on New Guinea. David wired to his wife here from California. He is being sent to Nashville, Tenn., for further hospitalization. He was in a hospital on Guinea.

May 24, 1945

S/Sgt. DAVID HOLLAND, infantryman who spent many months in New Guinea and Netherlands East Indies, is at home and a civilian, he having been just discharged. David has spent several months in hospitals in New Guinea and the states before coming home.

October 11, 1945

...... the following men perhaps well known to you - are now just plain Mister Civilian. They have been given honorable discharges from Uncle Sam’s fighting forces ..... DAVID L. HOLLAND