Navy Gold Star Coordinator Support

Jake had a wonderful sense of humor and loved making people laugh. He is missed by so many. 

My father is Elmer C. Holt, he enlisted in the Navy, 10 March 1938 was an Aviation Machinist Mate attached to Patrol Squadron 101, U.S. Navy, Cavite, Philippine Islands 27 May 1939. He was captured by the Japanese, survived of the Bataan Death March including a Hell Ship and forced labor in Japan. and returned to the United States, 18 September 1945.   He remained in the Navy after a long convalescence.  He was eventually assigned to the Essex Class Carrier USS Leyte.  On 15 October, at 1515 there was an explosion in the port catapult machinery room killing 32 and injuring scores more. My Father succumbed to his burns and injuries and died 16 October 1953. He left behind his wife with child and two other sons. She gave birth to their third son the following Memorial Day.

Colin Thomas was one of the strongest most dedicated people we knew. Whatever he did he put 100% into it. He was a loving husband and a fantastic father. There isn’t a day that goes by that we aren’t reminded about how much light and joy he brought into our lives. He is gone but he will never be forgotten. 

CPL Joshua C. Sticklen died December 3, 2006 when the CH-46 helicopter he was in crashed in Al Anbar province, Iraq.  He was assigned to 2^nd Battalion, 3^rd Marine Regiment, 3^rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay. Hawaii.  Josh was an Intelligence Specialist and served in Afghanistan and had been awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Korean Defense Service Medal.  He was featured in a 2004 Marine Corps Magazine article in which he explained his role in creating terrain models, which give planners and commanders a realistic view of geographic areas.  

Josh, the much loved son of Maggie Sticklen of Virginia Beach, and Larry and Rebecca Sticklen of Virginia Beach, was born in Rota, Spain but grew up in Virginia Beach and was very close with his two sisters, April Swain and husband Tony of Palmyra, VA., and Tricia Koss and husband Chris of Virginia Beach, Josh was the proud and loving Uncle of four nieces that he called his “munchkins”, Kendra & Adryanna of Virginia Beach, and Breanna & Mackenzie of Palmyra, VA.   He graduated from Salem High School in 2000, where he was a leader in the Navy’s JROTC program in preparation for his life dream of becoming a Marine!   Josh attended two years at Tidewater Community College, then fulfilled his childhood dream and joined the Marine Corps in October of 2002.

IF LOVE COULD HAVE SAVED HIM, HE WOULD HAVE LIVED FOREVER!

To my precious second born son, Charles Stuart Cutshaw, when you took your first breath, it literally took my breath away and when I heard of your untimely death, a part of me died.

You are an integral part of our family and your absence is horrifically noticed.  We each know that we will see you again in Heaven as we all have professed faith in Jesus' saving grace.  Nonetheless, I want to hold you one more time.  I want to dance with you one more time.  I want to sing "I'll Love You Forever" one more time. I want to witness your great sense of humor and creativity one more time.

Those days are behind us, but as King David from the Old Testament said when speaking of his dead son, "He cannot come back to me, but I can go to him."  It is with great anticipation that I look forward to the day that we are united in Heaven with our Jesus and so shall we forever be.

We will memorialize you once again on May 4, the second anniversary of your homegoing and we will celebrate your 26th birthday on June 21st.  I lovingly used to tell you that June 21st was the day the angels danced, and I believe May 4, 2020 was a day that the angels cried over our loss of you.

I'm homesick for Heaven like never before and I want to see my precious Jesus first and after that, I want to see you.  My sweet son, you will forever be my Prince Charles.

With all my love-

Momma

Matthew was a husband, a father, a brother and a son. He served 11-12 years and had planned to retire from the USN. His two passions were motorcycles and his family. He was one of the nicest people, with a giving heart. He is still loved and will never be forgotten!