8/15/2012

Staff Sergeant Eric Holman is a native of Pittsburgh, PA.  He was born on November 20, 1972 in San Diego. He graduated from AvonworthJr/Sr High School in Pittsburgh, PA in 1990 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice from Pennsylvania State University  in 1995.  He enlisted in the Army in October 2003.  In 2005, after a short stint as a 15D, Aircraft Powertrain Repairer, SSG Holman joined the US Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights.  He was ‘knighted’ and assigned to the US Army Parachute Team where he served as a Demonstration Parachutist with the Gold Demonstration Team from December 2005 until May 2009.  Since he started jumping in 1997, SSG Holman has logged more than 2600 free-fall jumps, 1000 tandem jumps, and 21 military static line jumps.  In 2009, SSG Holman volunteered to become an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician.  He graduated EOD  School at Eglin Air Force Base, FL  in February 2010 and returned to Ft Bragg with an assignment to the 737th Ordnance Company (EOD) and later to his current assignment with the 767th Ordnance Company (EOD).  He became a certified EOD team leader in October 2011 and deployed to Afghanistan in January 2012 with 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).  Staff Sergeant Holman was killed in action while conducting combat operations on August 15, 2012.  

Staff Sergeant Holman’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (2), and Army Service Ribbon.  Staff Sergeant Holman has also been awarded the Aviation Crewmembers Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, and EOD Badge.

Staff Sergeant Holman is survived by his son, Misha Dmitri Holman.