[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 135 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1931-E1932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO COLONEL JIMMIE D. HOLMANS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 2, 1997

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the dedication, 
public service, and patriotism of Col. Jimmie D. Holmans. Colonel 
Holmans, a native Texan, will retire from the U.S. Air Force on October 
1, 1997 after more than 29 years of faithful service to our Nation.
  Since the beginning of his military career in November 1967, Colonel 
Holmans has risen through the ranks of the U.S. Air Force, always ready 
and willing to serve our country in

[[Page E1932]]

any capacity. Recognizing his potential to serve our great country, the 
Air Force selected him to attend Officer Training School. He was first 
assigned as a personnel officer at Reese Air Force Base, TX. Colonel 
Holmans was then assigned to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 
in 1974, where he worked in direct support of the Cambodian and Saigon 
evacuations and the recapture of the S.S. Mayguez.
  Upon his return from Thailand in 1975, Colonel Holmans was assigned 
to Hanscom Air Force Base, MA, and was named the Air Force Systems 
Command's Personnel Officer of the Year for 1976. He returned to Texas 
with an assignment to the U.S. Air Force Military Personnel Center at 
Randolph Air Force Base where he was responsible for responding to 
Presidential, congressional, inspector general, and other high level 
military inquiries. In 1983, he was reassigned to the 96th Bombardment 
Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, TX, as the wing transitioned from B-52H 
to become the first B-1B wing in the Air Force.
  After graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1986, Colonel 
Holmans served as the manpower and personnel staff officer, Plans 
Branch, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Airborne Early Warning Force 
Command, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Mons, Belgium. In 
1987, he was selected to be the commander, Detachment 1, 1141st United 
States Air Force Special Activities Squadron at Supreme Headquarters 
Allied Powers Europe. During this assignment, he served as the senior 
personnel advisor to the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied 
Powers Europe, and was additionally responsible for all administrative 
support to the U.S. Air Force personnel stationed at Headquarters North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Supreme Headquarters Allied 
Powers Europe, and throughout the BENELUX region of Europe. He was 
reassigned to Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein 
Air Base, Germany, as director, Senior Office Management in 1989. 
During this tour, he was awarded the United States Air Forces in Europe 
Senior Personnel Manager of the Year for 1991.
  In 1992, he returned to the United States to attend Air War College, 
and upon graduation in July 1993, he was reassigned to Headquarters Air 
Force Intelligence Command, Kelly Air Force Base, TX, serving as chief, 
Personnel Programs and Systems Management Division and chief, Senior 
Officer Management. In November 1993, he served as chief, Assignments 
and Plans Division, Directorate of Personnel, Air Intelligence Agency 
at Kelly.
  For the past 18 months, Colonel Holmans has held the position of 
chief, Assignments Division, Air Force Colonel Matters Office, where he 
has been directly responsible for assignments and professional 
development of over 4,500 Air Force colonels and colonel-selects.
  Colonel Holmans has earned the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious 
Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, 
and Air Forces Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
  Our Nation, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force, and his 
family can truly be proud of the colonel's many successes. He is a man 
of extraordinary talent and integrity, and we owe him a debt of 
gratitude for his many years of dedicated service to this country. And, 
let us not forget the contributions and sacrifices made by Colonel 
Holmans' family, his wife Myra, and his daughter Melissa. On behalf of 
the citizens of the 28th District of Texas, we wish Col. Jimmie D. 
Holmans all the best in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________