Nelson M. Holderman

Colonel Nelson Miles Holderman (November 10, 1885 – September 3, 1953) was a United States Army officer, most notable for commanding a rifle company of the Lost Battalion during World War I for which he received the Medal of Honor. He was considered by many to be one of the most decorated American soldiers of the war.

Biography Holderman was born in Trumbull, Nebraska, on November 10, 1885, to Upton Christian Holderman Jr. and Mary Morse. His father had served as a private in Company "A", 22nd Iowa Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. He was named Nelson Miles Holderman after Nelson A. Miles, a leading officer in the Civil War and recipient of the Medal of Honor. He was the second oldest son in a family which included three older sisters and two brothers. In 1893, his family moved to Tustin, California, where his parents bought of land to grow oranges, walnuts and apricots.

Early military career (L-R) Holderman with Lieutenants A. K. Ford and Chas D. Swanne in 1917 In 1916, Holderman enlisted as a private in the Santa Ana unit of the California Army National Guard. From June to October of that year, he participated in patrols on the United States–Mexico border during the time of Pancho Villa's raids. As an officer he was regarded as a "soldier's soldier" who never turned down a patrol and saw his military service as "an adventure".

His unit took part in the Meuse–Argonne offensive in late September 1918. On October 3 a major offensive began whose purpose was to break the German line in the Argonne forest. Of all the units who took part in the initial assault, elements of two battalions under the command of Major Charles Whittlesey were able to break through. However, as the only units to have reached their objectives they had gone too far into German territory and were subsequently cut off. Initial attempts were made to reach Whittlesey and his men but all the units were met with heavy resistance and had to pull back. Only Holderman's Company K, composed of 97 men, had managed to reach Major Whittlesey's units, which incorrectly became known as "The Lost Battalion" even though there were officially two elements of a battalion.

Namesakes The Captain Nelson M. Holderman U.S. Army Reserve Center in West Los Angeles, California, is named in his honor, as is the main building on the grounds, Holderman Hall.

The main hospital at the Veterans Home of California Yountville is named after Nelson M. Holderman in his honor.

In popular culture In the 2001 made-for-TV movie The Lost Battalion, Holderman was played by Adam James.

In the last scene of the 1962 film The Manchurian Candidate, Frank Sinatra's character reads the Medal of Honor citations for Holderman and Daniel R. Edwards.