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Private First Class Kenneth Ralph Holden was born in Orange Township, Noble County, Indiana. Ken was 30 years old when he reported for his basic training. He was married with 3 children in 1940 when he registered for the draft. He entered Army service October 21st 1943. In March of 1944 Ken volunteered for the Paratroops earning his wings on April 29th 1944. He left the States, sailing for England on July 2nd 1944 arriving in Europe July 9th 1944. At camp Quorn, Ken was assigned to the 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment, in G Company. Operation Market Garden was set for September 17th 1944. Ken made a combat jump into Holland on that date, his company was tasked with clearing German soldiers from the town of Groesbeek. On October 8th 1944 Ken was wounded in Holland. He was awarded the Puple Heart medal. Ken fought in the Battle of the Bulge, the Hurtgen Forest and he made the crossing of the Elbe river on April 28th 1945, this was the 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment's last campaign of World War II. Ken was Honorably discharged November 20th 1945.
Private First Class Ken R. Holden
Private First Class Ken Holden's shadow box will be on loan for the 80th birthday of Operation Market Garden.
Ken and "Moose" (505 medic, Kelly Byars) in Nice, France 1945
Le Havre Harbor in France.
Ken sailed out of Le Havre harbor France, November 3rd 1945.
Life on board the Liberty Ship "U.S.S. Richard Rush"
Liberty Ship "U.S.S. Richard Rush"
Liberty Ship "U.S.S. Richard Rush"
Below; CW3 Ken Holden Jr. Ken Sr.'s grandson, served with the
82nd Abn. Div.
1976 to 1997. In the summer of 2024 Ken Jr. traveled
to Europe to
celebrate the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden.
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