FALLEN WARRIOR

MSG Franklin V. Holbrook served his country with distinguished honor. His 22 years of military service included a full year tour in Vietnam with the 101^st Airborne Division with a six-month extension.

MSG Holbrook’s career then took him to the Ranger Department where he served with distinction as a Ranger Instructor at both the Mountain and Florida Ranger Training Camps. MSG Holbrook passed on his wealth of “first hand” experience in recon and ambush operations learned in Vietnam. His contributions were invaluable in teaching the young Rangers the hardships of combat necessary to defeat the enemy.

MSG Holbrook’s awards and decorations included 3 bronze service stars, purple heart, Vietnamese cross of gallantry with silver star, Vietnamese cross of gallantry w/palm, silver star, bronze star medal, master parachutist badge, ranger tab, pathfinder badge, presidential unit citation, army commendation medal w/v device and the combat infantryman badge.

Major Richard “Dick” Meadows volunteered for service in 1947, serving his first duty assignment with the 456^th Parachute Field Artillery Bn., 82^nd ABN Div In 1950 he volunteered to go to Korea with the famous 187^th RCT. He made two combat parachute assaults against the North Korean and Chinese Armies. At age 20, he returned from Korea as the youngest master sergeant in the U.S. Army. After volunteering for Special Forces, Meadows was assigned as liaison to the British 22^nd Special Air Service , where he was one of only two foreigners to be awarded the coveted SAS wings.

Meadows served two years in Vietnam with the Military Assistance Group. While on his second tour, Meadows received a battle field commission. In 1970, Captain Meadows teamed up with Col. “Bull” Simmons as a volunteer with the Son Tay Raiders. He was a ground force commander with the assault team. Prior to his retirement, Major Meadows served as training  and Executive Officer of the U.S. Army Ranger School, Camp Rudder, Eglin AFB, Florida.

As a civilian advisor, Meadows volunteered to participate in the daring raid into Iran in 1980 to rescue American hostages. He entered the Iranian capital, Teheran, to complete the ground work for the rescue effort. Working under the gaze of the Iranian Revolutionaries, Meadows boldly obtained vehicles and buildings for the rescue force. When the mission met disaster at the Desert Rendezvous site, Meadows managed to slip out of Teheran.

For intrepid action and courage in the face of the enemy, “Dick” Meadows was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars and the Bronze Star W/V Device. He also earned the Parachute Badge, the Glider Badge, Military Diver Badge, as well as the Ranger and Special Forces Tabs. Major Meadows was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame.

Major Meadows died in July 1995 of leukemia, just hours before he was to receive the Presidential  Citizens Medal, for making “extraordinary contributions to the security of the nation”.