SGT James (Jim) Holtom was born in Waupaca, Wisconsin to David and Reyne Holtom on January 30, 1985. After the family moved to Woonsocket, South Dakota in 1990, where David managed the local farmer's cooperative, they settled in Rexburg, Idaho in 1995 and live there today. Jim was oldest of 8, with brothers Ben, Lee, Jacob, Calvin, John, and sisters Anna and Laura Beth. Growing up, Jim loved driving through the mud in his pickup truck, lifting weights, and satisfying his large appetite for food. A major part of his life was the church. Family and friends recall that he studied the Bible early in the morning as a boy and was strong in his devotion to Christ. He attended the Treasure Valley Baptist Church, where he was an active member for all of his life. As the oldest of 8, Jim assumed a lot of responsibility; his brother, Ben, said, "He was like an anchor. We all looked up to him. He always knew what to do." Jim studied engineering at Boise State University and joined the Army Reserve in 2003.Ben told Idaho television station KTVB that his joining the military came as a surprise, "He never really talked to my parents about it. He just came home one day and said he'd signed up for the Army, and he never really talked to them about it. My dad, he understood, but my mom didn't stop crying for three days. That's just what he wanted to do." Even though Jim had not overtly expressed an interest in joining the military to many people, he loved the Army and was a model soldier, attaining the rank of Sergeant at 21. Staff Sergeant Robert Bond, who served with Holtom, said it was impossible to remember any funny stories about him getting in trouble in the Army because he was such a model soldier, "Jim was never that person to cut a corner," Bond said. "Jim had that thing about him, that confidence." He was quiet and let his actions speak louder than his words. Captain Eric Coulson remembered, "He was efficient with his use of words in my presence. He was the sort of NCO a commander counts on. He knew the status of his soldiers and weapons at all times." Jim expressed a deep concern for his fellow soldiers, and would always lend an ear, particularly over a cup of coffee. PFC Phillip Kildow said, "If you ever had a problem, SGT Holtom was always there to talk to. He would always listen with a cup of coffee in his hand. He loved coffee, had an espresso machine and made undoubtedly the best coffee in the unit. SGT. Holtom was like an older brother to me. The encouragement that he gave me without saying a word, just his presence was encouragement." Those who knew Jim had a great fondness for him. Guin Carson of Nampa, Idaho, a family friend, said he was "honorable," and, "we're extremely blessed to have been his friend." Carson's husband, Joe, hired Jim to work for his contracting firm and described him as, "one of a kind. He knew exactly what God wanted him to do, and he knew it was going over there." The love of Jim's life was Melissa Sewell. Melissa is a beautiful and wonderfully vibrant young woman from Nampa, whose love and devotion to Jim is truly inspiring. Jim and Melissa had planned to be engaged in May when he returned, and then marry this winter (2007). The couple had plans to start a family in the little two-bedroom house Jim had purchased for them before he left for Iraq. Melissa's words describe the kind of man Jim was, Jim and I met at church, and became friends. I never thought in a million years I would have the slightest chance with him. I thought he was absolutely the most handsome "man's man" there ever was, but so did a few of the other girls. I immediately thought there was no way he could ever like me! There was always a big group of us from church who would go out to eat, go bowling, to the movies, etc. after church. Anyway, one time, Jim asked me out! I was shocked, and stumbled over my words of course... Anyway, I seriously thought it was a sick joke. Like, a bunch of people were just waiting to see if I would actually believe that he liked me. Our family and Jim's employer were/are great friends. When I mentioned something about how I thought it was all a prank, Joe (Jim's employer) told me, "No way, Mel. You should hear him talk at work about you. He really likes you!"(Of course this made me feel like I was just floating! I was ecstatic!) I didn't realize this, but Jim actually asked my dad if he could "get to know me" beforehand! What a guy! Making sure it was okay with my dad first was a big plus! Could this guy be any more perfect?! The fact that he respected my dad, that much meant a lot! So, the "getting to know each other" started. We would go to dinner, movies, Boondocks (a mini-golf/go-cart/arcade type place). And there was a lot of talking. Lots and lots of talking. We knew that we didn't have much time to get to know each other before he would have to leave for training, and then Iraq, so we got right to it. Jim told his mom, when asked why he liked me, said, "She just makes things fun!" (She wondered if I had any character, you know... important things like that...) A few friends of ours didn't like that I was starting to fall for Jim at ALL and tried to put a stop to it. One tried telling me thing like, "Well, you know, sometimes at work, Jim cusses." (Um, what soldier/construction worker wouldn't if you say, hit your hand with a hammer?!) So that didn't work... Then another friend tried the same types of things, only it worked. I told Jim that I wasn't sure about the whole thing, and him being in Iraq for a year is an awfully long time to sit and wonder... Jim took it amazingly well. He looked sad, but said he understood completely, and that it had been fun. I felt awful! That wasn't what I wanted to do! I missed him already and I was only driving home from the "breakup." I heard one of Jim's many admirers talking about him, and how she thought she would try to catch that guy... Well, I went ballistic! I thought "No way! No way would he like her! He can't!!!" I went home and told my mom all about it, who, in reply said, "well, if you don't like him, why do you care so much?" Then I just put my head down and said, "OKAY OKAY! I DO!!! I DO LIKE HIM!!!" She just laughed. Jim had left for a month of training in California. We spent all (and I mean ALL) of our spare time (which he happened to have a lot of for some reason) talking & texting… We talked all the time! Needless to say, our little "breakup" only lasted about 3 weeks.He came home and I told him how sorry I was, and how if he wanted to, we could try again… He said he was stoked! So it "began" again. We started going out and talking all the time. I asked him sometimes if he was scared to go to Iraq. His response? "I think God has a bigger reason for me going." (It isn't making any sense yet, but I hope it will someday!) When we were driving around one day, and somehow got on the subject of holding hands. I told him he would have to ask my dad. I know, this sounds ridiculous, but my older sister, when going out with her boyfriend, had done everything the wrong way. I determined in my heart back then, that I wouldn't ever cause as much pain and heartache as she had to our family. I know that holding hands isn't a big deal, but I know that it can lead to a lot worse. So, he asked my dad. I loved holding hands with my man. Such a simple, almost childish thing, but I absolutely loved it. So did he. His truck was a standard, but he somehow managed to hold my hand with his right hand, shift and drive with his left hand. Man of many talents I suppose. Some of my favorite memories are when we went to "Build-a-Bear" and he made me a bear. Complete with Army BDU's, Boots, Dogtags, Boxers and sunglasses like Jim wore. Jim wasn't too hip on the idea at first, but then towards the end, he was giving it a "bath" and brushing it's fur. We named it "Jimmel" and decided it would be our baby. Jim put a voice recording in it for me that is SO special to me now! It is Jim's voice saying, "I will always love you." I heard that those voiceboxes only last about 800 uses... So I bought 2 more and re-recorded it. Another favorite, is when he tried to teach me how to shoot. I was actually a pretty good aim! I had impressed my man. But when I did so well, and started doing a happy little dance, he got worried. (along with the 2 other guys that were with us...) He laughed hysterically though! He had a great laugh. Jim loved to eat. One of his favorite place to eat is Texas Roadhouse. He loved steak! I am awful at deciding anything. (He was definitely the decision maker!) So he would always order for me. I would say something like "oh, I don't care, just get me like a 6-8oz steak, and then whatever else looks good." He insisted that I wanted a bigger steak. I would say "no babe, really, 6-8 is plenty" Jim would say "no, you want it bigger"I soon found out he liked my leftovers, too. That was his master plan all along! Funny guy. We went to a little carnival called the "Dairy Days Carnival" here in Meridian, Idaho. It was just a little podunk little thing, complete with creepy carnies... our friends that we went with were too scared to go on a ride called the "Zipper" but me and Jim were diehards! We rode it, (and I felt nauseous!) but Jim giggled the entire time! He had the cutest giggle. We had our fair share of the more serious conversations. When were we going to get married? How many kids would we have? Things like that…He wondered if maybe we should get married after he finished college (2 years away). We had planned on December 7th, 2007 for our wedding... We had the colors, attendants, our song... Everything. We had everything planned and in the back of our minds. We wanted to have about 5 kids or so. We both enjoyed kids that's for sure, and had fun with our siblings during our courtship. We would have had such cute babies (that's what I'm told anyway). And I know Jim would have been a great dad. We knew that we would raise our family at the church we met in, unless God gave other orders. Jim was killed, and all those dreams were shattered on February 8th, 2007. All those plans of planning a wedding, raising babies, and enjoying our lives together were crushed. I went from planning my wedding in our church, to having his funeral there. It still tears me up inside to be in there. I do it though. I go there every week for church. In September 2006, Jim was deployed to Iraq as a member of the 321st Combat Engineer Battalion, Company A, of Boise. On February 8, 2007, an improvised explosive device detonated near their unit while on a rescue mission in Karmah, Iraq. Jim died of wounds suffered in the attack; two other soldiers, PFC Raymond M. Werner and SPC Ross A. Clevenger, were also killed. During his funeral, Pastor Randy Mitchell said, "He knew he was probably going to end up in Iraq, yet Jim being Jim, he knew that's what he was supposed to do and he stayed on task. He loved the Lord, family, church and country." Jim's father, Dave, spoke of his son as the "point of the spear" in his service for the Army, and he said the greatest honor for a man was to give his life for someone else. Dave also called for increased efforts in missions in Iraq and the need to fight for liberty. He said his son was all the great things people said about him, but that he could get angry and lose his temper, "He wasn't perfect, but he was a wonderful young man. We had 22 wonderful years with him." The funeral was held in the church where Jim had planned to marry Melissa. She said, "I know that God has a plan for all of this. I really do. I can't see it yet... So, day by day, I try my hardest to put a smile on my face, if for nothing else, in hopes that Jim can see me, and be proud of me... We both believe Christ is our savior. So I know I'm going to see him again. But it's hard; I was already waiting for him." Jim was buried at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors.
LINKS TO SGT James J. Holtom Badger's Forward - SGT Holtom's Commander Melissa's Memorial Page for Jim
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