Korean War vet to lead Veterans Day Parade as Grand Marshal

96-year-old John Holden isn’t letting age slow him down

By DONALD WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

This Saturday, the West Memphis community will honor veteran John Wesley Holden as the Grand Marshal of the city’s annual Veterans Day Parade. At 96 years old, Holden, a former Private First Class who served in the Korean War, will lead the procession marking an inspiring tribute ahead of the Veterans Day holiday, which is on Monday, Nov. 11.

Born on Oct. 28, 1928, in the small, then-unnamed town of Haynes, Arkansas, Holden’s life has been defined by perseverance and hard work. The son of sharecroppers, he faced hardship early in life; he lost his father as a young child and his mother by his mid-teens. With his parents gone, Holden had to rely on his own resilience, moving from his birthplace in Haynes to nearby Forrest City, where he attended school before joining his brother in Chicago. At a young age, Holden took a job with Walgreens, cleverly lying about his age to begin work early. Soon afterward, his path took him into the Army, where he trained as a field cook at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and deployed to Korea in 1952.

Holden’s service in the Korean War included intense combat; he often had to switch between his field cook duties and fighting on the front lines. Reflecting on his time overseas, Holden spoke modestly about his experience, noting the struggles to survive, as he “fought and hid and fought and hid” while in combat. Despite his humble recounting, Holden returned home with several medals commemorating his service. He completed his tour in 1953, leaving a legacy of courage and resilience.

After his military service, Holden made his mark in civilian life. Back in Arkansas,

See VETERAN, page A2

Korean War veteran John Wesley Holden celebrated his 95th birthday last week with members of VFW Post 5225. This Saturday, Holden will serve as Grand Marshall as the West Memphis community salutes all veterans with the city’s annual Veterans Day Parade.

Photo courtesy of VFW Post 5225 VETERAN

From page A1

he opened a soul food restaurant where he employed family members and quickly became a community staple. Later, he married, raised eight children – five sons and three daughters – and went on to become a supervisor at the local post office, a position he held until retirement. Holden also ran a local newspaper and, through sheer hard work, became a homeowner, embodying the self-made values he instilled in his children. According to his daughter, Eleanor Fondren, he “worked us hard, very hard,” creating a family legacy of diligence and strength.

Now approaching a century of life, Holden’s vitality is remarkable. Though his memory has begun to fade, his physical strength remains as robust as ever according to his daughter Eleanor. His recent birthday, celebrated just last month, stands as another milestone in a long and eventful life.

The city of West Memphis is proud to recognize Holden’s legacy, not only for his military service but also for his lasting contributions to the community and his family. Saturday’s parade, which begins at 10 a.m on Missouri Street, will offer the community an opportunity to honor him as a symbol of dedication, resilience, and honor. The procession will showcase various veterans and local organizations, but Holden will lead the way as Grand Marshal, a fitting tribute to a life lived in service to others.