WORLD WAR I
Sidney Lawrence Blair (Georgia, Maternal Grand Uncle)
It is not known with certainty if he was physically injured during this war but he likely suffered combat fatigue for the remainder of his life. He may have even died as a result of mental illness (caused by the war) at the age of 59 in the VA Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.
William Farris Blair (Georgia, Maternal Grand Uncle)
US Army, Co. H, 162nd Infantry, 41st Division. Probably participated in the Marne-Aisne, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. Brother of Lawrence.
Frank Parks Dorris (Georgia, Paternal 1st Cousin)
Corporal, US Marines, 83rd Company, 6th Regiment, 2nd Division, killed at Belleau Wood during the Battle of Chateau Thierry in France, June 6, 1918. Was part of the Toulon Sector; Aisne Defensive. Brother of John Luther Dorris.
John Luther Dorris (Georgia, Paternal 1st Cousin)
Private, US Marines, 51st Company, 5th Regiment, 1st Division. One of only 2 regiments that were allowed to wear the French fourragère. Wounded in Action June 11, 1918. Also part of the Toulon Sector; Aisne Defensive. Brother of Frank Parks Dorris.
WORLD WAR II
William J. Hollis (Georgia, Father)
US Navy, anti-submarine aircraft patrol over English Channel and Bay of Biscay in PB4-Y bomber (Navy modified B-24). Flew many missions with Joe Kennedy the older brother of President John F. Kennedy. Awarded Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross.
Thomas B. Hollis (Georgia, Uncle)
US Army; 2nd Battalion, Company H, 345th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division, (later a part of the 3rd Army), Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe. Awarded the Combat Infantry Badge. Note that the 3rd Army was General Patton's army which marched across France into Germany. The 3rd Army's various units captured over 950,000 enemy soldiers and killed or wounded at least 500,000 of the enemy. The 345th arrived at LeHavre harbor on November 26th, 1944 and began their march across Europe where they participated in some of the heaviest fighting of the war - The most famous battle was the "Battle of the Bulge". The 2nd Battalion (his unit) was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for "extraordinary heroism, savage aggressiveness and indomitable spirit during its advance through the Siegfried line and capture of Olzheim, Germany". Note that his unit marched over 500 miles in less than 6 months.
Zebulon C. Hollis (Georgia, Uncle)
US Marines, Company E, 1st Med. Battalion. Saw action at Guadalcanal, Peleliu among other places. Combat wounded. Was later in the Air Force.
Gerald B. Blair (Georgia, Uncle)
US Army
Raymond Paul Hollis, (Florida, 1st Cousin)
Gerald B. Blair (Georgia, Uncle)
US Army
Raymond Paul Hollis, (Florida, 1st Cousin)
US Navy - he was part of the crew of the USS LST-913 which was a tank landing ship. The LST-913 participated in the invasion of southern France in 1944 and later Leyte and Okinawa in the Pacific in 1945. The few records that I found showed that he held the ranks of Quartermaster 3rd Class (T) and Motor Machinist Mate 2nd Class (T). He served from May 10, 1944 to December 29, 1945. Brother of Max.
Max W. Hollis, (Florida, 1st Cousin)
Unknown branch or rank. Brother of Raymond.
VIETNAM WAR
Joseph P. Hollis, Jr. (Georgia, 1st Cousin)
Colonel, US Army; Career soldier; He was an Infantry Captain in the Vietnam War where he served at least 2 tours and received the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf cluster (2nd award; Achievement+Service), Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge. He retired as a Colonel, and then he worked for the Department of the Army in Washington, DC.
This page was updated on 9/30/2023
Joseph P. Hollis, Jr. (Georgia, 1st Cousin)
Colonel, US Army; Career soldier; He was an Infantry Captain in the Vietnam War where he served at least 2 tours and received the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf cluster (2nd award; Achievement+Service), Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge. He retired as a Colonel, and then he worked for the Department of the Army in Washington, DC.
This page was updated on 9/30/2023