Date of Birth: 4/3/1949
Tour began: 6/16/69
Date of Casualty: 8/13/1969
Age at time of death: 20
Race: Negro
Religion: Baptist
Marital Status: Married
Home of Record: CHICAGO IL
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: PFC
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: THUA THIEN
NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
DROWNED, SUFFOCATED
Body was recovered
Michael is honored on Panel 19W, Row 31 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
"My friend Michael was my combat buddy in my squad in Vietnam. We were in B Co 2/501 Inf. 101st ABN. Came in-country at the
same time. Holloway had a peacock feather that he kept in the band of his steel-pot and on his boonie hat. Was one very
brave man. He did not deserve the way he died. We were at Pohl Bridge on a barge attached to one of the pilings
checking the sand-pans that came up and down the river. He could not swim but said he would never drown because he
could swim under water and hold his breath long enough to come up for air. He had an inner-tube that he used to get to
shore if we didn't have a boat to take us. The water was swift and he jumped on his inner-tube. We were turned the other
way when people started yelling that his tube was floating down river without him. We dove in the water but could not find
him. The concertina wire was at the bottom spread across the river and Michael was hooked to it. Could not find him in the
muck and wire at the bottom. The locals finally did find him. He was a true friend and Bro. Aug. 13, 1969 was one of the
saddest days ever for me, in Nam. Went to the Wall in D.C. in the summer of 96 and made a rubbing from the wall. I will
always remember Holloway. Left a helmet at the base of the wall with me and Jimmy DelGiorno's name on it. Michael
you were the best, trying to find another grunt that was in with us (Melvin Brown). Miss and love you always, Bro."
~Lenard Blachly, 1st Squad 6-69 till WIA 4-9-70
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