On April 17th, our Post & Auxiliary joined with other patriotic citizens as we gathered to wish Mr. Fred Holsonbake of Wenatchee a happy 100th birthday with a car parade in front of his home. A lineup of police cars and fire trucks led the parade with the Wenatchee High School Marching Band following closely behind. Then, the Wenatchee Valley Cruisers Car Club with about 20 classic cars plus numerous veterans and community members driving their own cars. In total, about 100 people showed up to wish Fred a Happy Birthday.
Fred joined the U.S. Army in 1940 at the age of 17 and soon found himself thrust into World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fred’s military service includes landing at North Africa for Operation TORCH in November 1942. In January 1944, Fred was part of the landing forces at Anzio, Italy. Recalled to England in 1945 to join General Patton’s 3rd Army, Fred, who was a Sergeant now, prepared his machine gun squad for the eventual D-Day landing on the beaches of Normandy. On June 6, 1944, Operation OVERLORD initiates which puts Fred’s unit on standby for the second wave of the landing force. In July, after the 1st Army broke the German line, Patton’s 3rd Army swept through the breach into northern France in pursuit of Nazi forces north. Later that year, his unit played a key role in frustrating the German counterattack in the Ardennes during the massive Battle of the Bulge. Fred served with that unit until the end of the war. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals. After the war, he returned to California to raise a family and start a career as an autobody man and later becoming an insurance adjuster.
During the parade, I was honored to present him a special Allied Forces D-Day Challenge Coin along with an Army T-Shirt. Additionally, the Auxiliary presented him an Army Lap Quilt to which really appreciated since it was a bit chilly that morning. On departing, I rendered him a salute and thanked him for his service to our country and the sacrifices he had made. He replied, “My only hope is that I was able to help some of the boys make it home.” Then, the old soldier returned my salute and said thank you.
– It was only 5 days later that Sergeant Fred Holsonbake passed away peacefully. Thank you to everyone that helped make his 100th Birthday Parade a very special event.
