Cody Joseph Holland

Funeral service for Cody Joseph Holland, 20, of Huntington were held Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the Huntington United Methodist Church, with Rev. Calvin Kersh and Rev. Martin Doran officiating. Interment followed in the Rocky Springs Cemetery.

Cody was born April 7, 1987 in Nacogdoches to Joe Don Holland, Jr. and Krista Nixon Baland and died Saturday, March 15, 2008 in Buffalo, Texas.

Cody graduated from Huntington High School in 2005 and immediately entered boot camp at RTC Great Lakes, Illinois, where he graduated in the top of his class, earning honors including an Expert marksman medal. After completion of further training at Great Lakes, Cody was reassigned to Norfolk, N.A.S. Virginia where he served aboard the USS Stout, and continued engineering and firefighting training. On board he earned a commendation for his contribution in the resolution of a shipboard emergency. He also trained in Search and Rescue Swimming (SARS) and was selected as a member of the Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team onboard the USS Stout, focusing on patrol of international waters and boarding of suspected narcotics and terrorist transport vessels during cruises in the North Atlantic and Caribbean.

E4 Holland was stationed at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq from July 20, 2007 through. January 20, 2008 and served in the transportation logistics group where he participated in expeditions into Baghdad and oversaw Iraqi civilians working on base. He also participated in multiple security assignments, including personal protection for the rock band, Poison, film and martial arts star Chuck Norris, and was an escort of President George W. Bush during his surprise visit to Iraq last September; for this, E4 Holland received a commendation. During his tour, Holland earned a promotion to Petty Officer Third Class, and he was recommended for entry to the Special Warfare Combatant Craft (SWCC) crew command. Before being allowed official entry into this Special Forces group, he successfully completed a required vigorous and difficult endurance test With this completion, he earned the honor and opportunity and would have begun training with the US Navy SEALS upon transfer to his new duty station of North Island NAST Coronado, California in April 2008, as a member of a SWCC Special Boat Team, acting as direct support and cover during SEAL operations.

Among other honors, E4 Holland has earned a Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and two Navy Achievement Medals.

Survivors include his father, Joe Don Holland, Jr. of Huntington; mother, Krista Nixon Baland and husband Scott of Arlington; sister, Loren Holland of Arlington; fiancé, Amy Wojhan of Oakwood, Texas; grandparents, Betty Holland of Huntington, Joe and Glenda Holland, Jerry and Frances LaSalle, Jim and Janet Thomas, all of Huntington, Cole and Linda Nixon of Cameron, Missouri; great grandparents, Arlie Nixon of Jennings, Oklahoma and Billie Jones Kanan of Cameron Missouri; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Pregmon, Myles Holland, Buddy Hutto, Greg Korn, Jason LaSalle7 Brent Hyde, Bert Rios, Brenton Ray Shumaker, John Forrest, Jerry Forrest, Sam Carroll and Chris Riley.

Honorary pallbearers will be Blaze Miller, Blake Powers and Tucker Johnson.