Long before Don Holmes was a beloved teacher or well-known coach and wrestling ref, he was a sailor, a signalman who traveled to many continents during his U.S. Navy days, where he even once found himself one table away from celebrities including Clark Gable. While most Vinton residents remember Don as a teacher, coach or wrestling referee, his long-time wish was that his tombstone tell his military story. That wish came true this past weekend, as Don's son Jeff joined members of the local Post 8884 VFW in setting his official white marble military monument at Maplewood Cemetery. "I was nine years old when we went to Arlington National Cemetery," Jeff recalls. "My dad told us then that he wanted a tombstone like those there." At Vinton, Don taught high school biology, physiology, and driver's education, andwas the head wrestling coach from 1961 to 1973. He led the Vikings to the program's only WaMaC wrestling championship in 1972. His teams won three sectional championships and six invitational tournament championships, more than any other coach in program history. Don was in the first class of inductees to the Viking-Vikette Hall of Fame in 1993. Don was also a wrestling official for nearly three decades, retiring from officiating in 1993. He officiated numerous college meets and was chosen to officiate the NCAA Division II National Championships in Cedar Falls. He also worked at the scoring tables of three NCAA Division I tournaments. Don was elected to the Iowa High School Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame in 1988. Jeff said his father was fond of sharing slides with his students that showed his military career. As a signalman, he used both flags and beacons to communicate with other vessels.
"He was in the Navy from 1950 to 1953. Mostly they were stationed in Newport, RI. He was assigned to a destroyer, the USS Gainard," says Jeff. "They did two or three tours of the Mediterranean Sea; Tunisa, Eygpt, Greece, Italy, France, then home." Don Holmes served on the USS Gainard as a signalman.
Don had interrupted his college career to join the Navy, he returned to the Iowa State Teachers College (now named University of Northern Iowa) and earned his degree.
Don died in 2013; his wife, Barbara died a few months later. As a veteran Don qualified for the white marble stone identical to those used at Arlington. Jeff had to find and submit the proper forms in order for Don to be honored with a military tombstone. That process finally complete, Jeff gathered with the veterans to set the stone, which includes Don's dates of service as well as a Presbyterian Cross. The stone also mentions his wife, Barbara, but because of federal guidelines, Jeff will have to add her date of birth and death later. Both Don and Barbara were cremated, and are buried in one plot. Don's family thanked those who helped make this memorial a reality.
"Angie, Sage and I are so grateful to the VFW guys for giving of their time on a Saturday to come out and do this for us," says Jeff.