A highly decorated Vietnam combat veteran died Feb. 22, 2021, from injuries sustained in a single-engine airplane crash in Cullman, AL.
Frederick “Noah” Dawson Holloway was born June 14, 1946, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania to Orion Dawson and Mary Dawson-Westphal and later adopted by Ray and Edith Holloway.
Fred graduated from Virden Community High School (VCHS), located in central Illinois, in 1964. He was Vice-President of his Junior Class and Student Council President his senior year. Fred was on the VCHS Track team all four years, Co-Captain of the VCHS football team his junior and senior years, and All-Conference football team his senior year.
He attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Arts degree in 1968. He is a member of Delta Chi fraternity.
Second Lieutenant Holloway was commissioned in 1968 through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Illinois, Champaign.
Fred’s military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, Military Advisor Training Academy (MATA) to prepare him for his leadership role working with ARVN South Vietnamese Army troops, Defense Language Institute learning Vietnamese, Special Forces Operator Course, and Airborne School.
Captain Holloway’s decorations and awards include Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross with Palm, Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st class, Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Halo Parachutist Wings, Parachutist Wings, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, and the Expert Marksmanship Badge. (Oak leaf clusters attached to military decorations indicate multiple awards.) Captain Holloway served two tours in Vietnam and Indochina. His fourth injury resulted in a full medical discharge.
First Lieutenant Holloway wrote in a letter to his family while recovering from his combat injuries, “You have never lived until you have almost died”. He truly LIVED life after serving in Vietnam pursuing his passion for aviation, a family hallmark.
Fred’s father, Ray Holloway, flew fighters in World War II and his uncle, Henry Holloway, was killed in action defending England in a B-17. Fred, as a flight instructor, launched his nephew’s career as a Marine fighter pilot then as a commercial airline pilot at United. Fred’s grandson, Kannon Richter, will soon be commissioned with a career in Army aviation.
Fred was a commercial pilot with instrument, multi engine, and certified flight instructor ratings. He began his flying career in 1964 and acquired 6058.9 flying hours. He lived to fly and died doing what he loved most.
He didn’t let his Army Parachutists Wings gather dust. He actively jumped out of airplanes at Skydive East Texas and Skydive Alabama.
Fred was a devout Christian. He was baptized and grew up in the Lutheran Church, Girard, IL. He and his wife, Diane Freeman Holloway, are members of the First Baptist Church in Cullman, Alabama.
(a)Family members from biological parents:
He was preceded in death by parents: Orion Dawson and Mary Dawson Westphal; siblings: Nelson Westphal, Julius Westphal, and Sherry Olsen. Survivors include sisters: Theresa Powell, Sandra Westphal, Michelle Schneider, Robin Fielder’ and brother: Frank Westphal J.
(b)Family members from adopted parents as well as his first wife and high school sweetheart Sheryll Holloway:
He was preceded in death by parents: Ray and Edith Holloway; granddaughter: Kristi Higgs. Survivors include four daughters: Traci Richter (Steve) of Jackson Springs, NC, Tara McSwain (Chris) of Tyler, TX, Tori Huffman (Rod) of Whitehouse, TX, and Tiffany Lynn Adcock (Scott) of Longview, TX; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters: Doris Dingee, Raynee Lester; stepbrother: Richard Draker; stepsister: Cindy Draker Welch
(c)Family members with second wife Susan Holloway include stepdaughter: Mary Ferruzza; one step-granddaughter; one-step grandson.
(d)Family members with his current wife Diane Freeman Holloway include stepson: Joshua Freeman (Aubrey) of Huntsville AL; three step-granddaughters; two step-grandsons.
(e) Fred was preceded in death by his service dog Major.
-DE OPPRESSO LIBER-
Funeral and memorial Information:
Arrangements have been made to have Fred buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at 10 a.m. eastern time.
Arlington National Cemetery
1 Memorial Avenue
Arlington, VA 22211
