thedrifter
06-11-04, 07:48 AM
Hard work, dedication pay off
Marine earns diploma nearly sixty years in making
Submitted by: 4th Marine Corps District
Story Identification #: 200461013423
Story by Sgt. Scott Whittington
LOUISVILLE, Ky (May 28, 2004) -- Most of today’s high schoolers remember where they were when word of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon flooded the radio and television. More than 60 years ago, another surprise attack on Pearl Harbor captured America’s attention and one former Marine gave up completing school to serve his country. For his service to the country, Trinity High School presented him with an honorary diploma, here May 28 during the Class of 2004 Senior’s Breakfast.
Marshall Glen Holthouser, born Oct. 14, 1921, walked on stage in front of the entire senior class and their families to receive the honor. Coincidentally, Holthouser had three sons and one grandson attend Trinity. This year Trinity has 269 graduating seniors on the 50th anniversary of the school.
“We were honored to present this honorary diploma to him for his service to country,” said Joey Porter, vice president, Trinity High School. “We found out about his ties to the school after we had agreed to the presentation.”
Once on stage, Holthouser thanked the graduating class for sharing this experience with him.
“I earned this honorary diploma through the school of hard knocks,” said Holthouser to the Trinity Class of 2004, the 48th graduating class of the school. “You earned your academic diploma through the age of technology, tests, homework and much competition.”
Holthouser, one of six children, attended Halleck Hall High School, now known as duPont Manual High School near the University of Louisville. He left high school prior to graduation to assist his father who was struggling with financial difficulties.
Less than one month after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, killing more than 2,400 Americans, Holthouser, barely 20 years old, answered the call to arms.
“If I was going to do it, I was going to do it right,” said Holthouser, truck driver and mechanic, 1st Transportation Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
His brother, Richard T. Holthouser, also a Marine, eventually moved into Marshall’s battalion but in a different company.
Their battalion was called to the war in the Pacific upon which they boarded the USS Wakefield, which was once the SS Manhattan, a luxury cruise ship. Originally the Manhattan was launched Dec. 5, 1931, but the government chartered it for troop transport and commissioned it June 15, 1941.
“There were still big chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and that was the only luxury left,” said Marshall during one story when he described heating a can of beans with steam stacks.
Marshall served on Guadalcanal, Peleliu and New Guinea, and had multiple contacts with Japanese Kamikaze pilots. He described the sky as a chocolate chip cookie when referencing all the explosion clouds.
After four years in the Marines, Marshall began flight instruction at Bowman Field and joined the Air Force Reserve, 123rd Fighter Group, now known as the 123rd Cargo Group, where he served as an aircraft mechanic for the next two years. On weekends during that time, he worked for the police in protective services, but eventually returned to driving trucks.
Twenty-five years later, Marshall retired from Armor Meatpacking as a driver.
“Just because I’m retired doesn’t mean I can’t work,” said Marshall, who currently bags groceries, greets customers and whatever else is needed at Meijers, a super market on Westport Road. “When people stop working, that’s when they start going down hill,” he said. “Marines keep going.”
“Not graduating held him back his whole life,” said Suzanne Kaufman, Holthouser’s youngest daughter of seven children. “Today he fulfilled his dream.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004610135244/$file/Junelow.jpg
Corporal Marshall Holthouser stands with his new wife, Mary Rita, in 1942. Holthouser gave up completeing high school to fight for his country in World War II. Photo by: courtesy photo
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004610135744/$file/PICT0009low.jpg
Marshall Glen Holthouser, an 83-year-old former Marine, proudly holds his diploma from Trinity High School after nearly sixty years of waiting. Photo by: Sgt. Scott Whittington
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/9A913723F00C837685256EAF00613C29?opendocument
Ellie
Marine earns diploma nearly sixty years in making
Submitted by: 4th Marine Corps District
Story Identification #: 200461013423
Story by Sgt. Scott Whittington
LOUISVILLE, Ky (May 28, 2004) -- Most of today’s high schoolers remember where they were when word of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon flooded the radio and television. More than 60 years ago, another surprise attack on Pearl Harbor captured America’s attention and one former Marine gave up completing school to serve his country. For his service to the country, Trinity High School presented him with an honorary diploma, here May 28 during the Class of 2004 Senior’s Breakfast.
Marshall Glen Holthouser, born Oct. 14, 1921, walked on stage in front of the entire senior class and their families to receive the honor. Coincidentally, Holthouser had three sons and one grandson attend Trinity. This year Trinity has 269 graduating seniors on the 50th anniversary of the school.
“We were honored to present this honorary diploma to him for his service to country,” said Joey Porter, vice president, Trinity High School. “We found out about his ties to the school after we had agreed to the presentation.”
Once on stage, Holthouser thanked the graduating class for sharing this experience with him.
“I earned this honorary diploma through the school of hard knocks,” said Holthouser to the Trinity Class of 2004, the 48th graduating class of the school. “You earned your academic diploma through the age of technology, tests, homework and much competition.”
Holthouser, one of six children, attended Halleck Hall High School, now known as duPont Manual High School near the University of Louisville. He left high school prior to graduation to assist his father who was struggling with financial difficulties.
Less than one month after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, killing more than 2,400 Americans, Holthouser, barely 20 years old, answered the call to arms.
“If I was going to do it, I was going to do it right,” said Holthouser, truck driver and mechanic, 1st Transportation Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
His brother, Richard T. Holthouser, also a Marine, eventually moved into Marshall’s battalion but in a different company.
Their battalion was called to the war in the Pacific upon which they boarded the USS Wakefield, which was once the SS Manhattan, a luxury cruise ship. Originally the Manhattan was launched Dec. 5, 1931, but the government chartered it for troop transport and commissioned it June 15, 1941.
“There were still big chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and that was the only luxury left,” said Marshall during one story when he described heating a can of beans with steam stacks.
Marshall served on Guadalcanal, Peleliu and New Guinea, and had multiple contacts with Japanese Kamikaze pilots. He described the sky as a chocolate chip cookie when referencing all the explosion clouds.
After four years in the Marines, Marshall began flight instruction at Bowman Field and joined the Air Force Reserve, 123rd Fighter Group, now known as the 123rd Cargo Group, where he served as an aircraft mechanic for the next two years. On weekends during that time, he worked for the police in protective services, but eventually returned to driving trucks.
Twenty-five years later, Marshall retired from Armor Meatpacking as a driver.
“Just because I’m retired doesn’t mean I can’t work,” said Marshall, who currently bags groceries, greets customers and whatever else is needed at Meijers, a super market on Westport Road. “When people stop working, that’s when they start going down hill,” he said. “Marines keep going.”
“Not graduating held him back his whole life,” said Suzanne Kaufman, Holthouser’s youngest daughter of seven children. “Today he fulfilled his dream.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004610135244/$file/Junelow.jpg
Corporal Marshall Holthouser stands with his new wife, Mary Rita, in 1942. Holthouser gave up completeing high school to fight for his country in World War II. Photo by: courtesy photo
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004610135744/$file/PICT0009low.jpg
Marshall Glen Holthouser, an 83-year-old former Marine, proudly holds his diploma from Trinity High School after nearly sixty years of waiting. Photo by: Sgt. Scott Whittington
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/9A913723F00C837685256EAF00613C29?opendocument
Ellie