Steve Holliday Is September Veteran Of The Month

Steve Holliday was honored as Jefferson County’s Veteran of the Month and received a Quilt of Valor at the Jefferson County Courthouse on Tuesday, September 7. Holliday joined the U.S. Navy July 26, 1962, just after graduating from high school and attended Basic Training in San Diego, California. After a three month waiting period at Moffett Field California, Holliday spent the remaining three and a half years of his four year active duty service assigned to the USS Rowan DD-782 ship. Holliday had two deployments to Vietnam. In 1965 the USS Rowan provided gunfire support for units of the Vietnamese Navy Junk Division 22 during anti-infiltration patrols directed against the Viet Cong. In addition to making anti-infiltration patrols, the USS Rowan provided gunfire support during day and night combat operations in support of friendly forces. In 1966 the USS Rowan was back off the South Vietnamese coast to support Vietnamese troops in the 4th Corps area. Later she added plane guard detail for the USS Midway, Kittyhawk and others. Over the years the USS Rowan was noted for earning 4 Battle Stars for Korean service and 11 Battle Stars for Vietnamese service. Holliday served on the Rowan as a Gunners Mate 3rd Class (E-4). During his active service time, Holliday earned the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam. He was officially honorably discharged from the inactive Naval Reserve July 25, 1968. Holliday has several memorable experiences while on active duty including crossing the International Dateline (180th Meridian) twice and passing through the Panama Canal twice. Holliday said he will always have great memories of serving in the United States of America Navy. He is a firm believer in the quote: “All gave some and some gave all.” In the Vietnam War alone there were 58,195 who gave all, including eight women. When Holliday returned from active duty, he spent the major portion of his civilian life working in the agriculture related field for over 50 years. He is currently retired and lives in the rural Fairbury community. Sadly, his beloved wife, Eileen, passed away February 4 of this year.

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