OBITUARY
July 9, 2022 - World War II soldier from Iowa to be buried in hometown of Lake City nearly 80 years after his death.
Pfc. Merl W. Holm - age 22, of Lake City, Iowa, was killed in action on November 26, 1942, in New Guinea, during WWII.
Pfc. Merl Wayne Holm was a member of the United States Army, K Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division and the 11th of 12 children born to Andrew and Anna Marie Bystrom Holm. Merl was born on April 5, 1920 and attended a rural school north of Lake City and completed the 9th grade in Lake City. He helped his father on the family farm along with working for others in the rural area. He enlisted in the Army on December 10, 1941 and answered the call on 12/31/1941, along with a buddy of his, Paul Cavanaugh*. He spent 13 weeks in basic and combat training at Camp Roberts, California before being sent to Australia, then on to New Guinea to confront the Japanese at the Battle of Buna Gona in the Papua Campaign. There he gave the biggest sacrifice of all and was killed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1942 at the age of 22.
Merl was preceded in death by his mother, Anna Marie Bystrom Holm. Left to mourn were his father, Andrew Holm, five brothers George, Elmer, Clifford, Harold and Bernard, along with six sisters Mable Clark, Esther Dillivan, Evelyn Dehart, Mildred Bean, Leona Savage and Bernice Clary as well as several nieces and nephews.
The family was notified of his death through a message via Western Union by the Adjutant General and a letter from his Commanding Officer, Wilbur C. Lytle. “Offering the Army’s deepest sympathy on your present bereavement. Merl was liked by everyone. Few men in the course of life, have that privilege so let us be consoled by that thought. He had given his life for his Country bravely and honorably. A memorial service was held at the Trinity Methodist Church on February 21, 1943.
On March 9, 1943 Merl was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his gallantry and giving his life at Sanananda, New Guinea. When Brigadier General P.B. Clemens of Headquarters Seventh Service Command out of Omaha, Nebraska arrived in Lake City on October 13, 1943 at the Lake City Community Building, a ceremony was held and the Silver Star was presented posthumously and pinned on Andy Holm’s lapel. Later a memorial stone with Merl’s name was placed near the Community Building and the Garden Club planted a Autumnalis tree (flowering cherry). The memorial stone now resides in the City Square. Merl’s name appears on the Walls of the Missing at the Manilla American Cemetery and Memorial (MACM) in the Philippines. A bronze rosette will now be placed by his name on the wall since he has been identified.
Stories shared of the good times spent with Merl were fun to listen to by the nieces and nephews. All of his brothers and sisters were very proud of their “Hero Merl”. Andy and each of Merl’s brothers and sisters BIGGEST WISH was to have their brother brought back to the United States and be placed at rest beside his parents at the Lake City Cemetery. Before Andy passed away, he had placed a memorial marker for Merl beside his own headstone where Merl will be placed today. Merl’s remains had been moved 3 times over the years and his identification had been lost. His remains were not properly identified until April of this year when the surviving family members were notified that DNA testing had been completed and matched those of Merl’s to his relatives. The surviving family is eternally grateful for the Military’s continued diligent and complicated efforts to identify and bring Merl’s remains back to Lake City for this Military funeral and burial as his immediate family had so wished for 80 years ago.
Merl will finally be home after giving the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America.
Source: Obituary with photo - Lampe & Powers Funeral Home, Lake City, IA - July 9, 2022
Merl Wayne Holm was born Apr. 5, 1920 to Andy and Anna Marie Holm. He died Nov. 26, 1942 and is buried in Fort William McKinley, Manila, Philippines.
Pvt. Holm served in World War II with the U.S. Army 126th Infantry, 32nd Division, Co. K and was MIA/KIA in New Guinea. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star Medals.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
