I just wanted to say a few things to you guys of the 11th ACR and any US Cavalry Unit. You guys are blessed of God and are a blessing from God! We had the recieving of friends for Pat tonight. Through the line came an older gentleman with an 11th ACR hat on. We assumed he knew Pat and began to speak with him. He lives very close to us and said he got news of Pats death from some of his Cavalry buddies. Even though he actually did not know Pat, he felt he needed to come and represent the 11th ACR during the passing of one of their own. You don't know how blessed you guys are to have gone through such a horrendous event, and come out with a bond that outsides will never understand. I never even got the gentlemans name, but it wasn't about him. He was only concerned that the 11th and Pat got the honor they deserved. He took time with the family and told of places and events that Pats unit was a part of and really shed a new light on just how special our loved one was. That was a blessing that we will take with us forever.

   My wifes cousin was part of the 1/1 Cavalry and with his help we got the shadow boxes done. Along with Pats spurs in his coffin and the attendance of a fellow 11th ACR member, it made the night a special night. His act not only touched us but he reached others as well. The funeral director was a former member of the 1/3 Cavalry and his son is serving in Iraq with the 1/4 Cavalry. He assumed like many that the gentleman must have been a wartime friend of Pats. When I began to tell him how this stranger had droppped what he was doing to come to a fellow Cavalry soldiers funeral ( who he did not know ) the director began to cry and rub his unit coin that he carries on him at all times. He said to me, " you know the Marines say once a Marine always a Marine, but there is something about being a Cavalry soldier that people will never understand and we will take it to our graves!"

 

Marv, Vern, Bob and Terry: Thank you for the emails and or phone calls. I know that you guys have shed tears of sorrow just as we have over this loss. Also rest assured that I am going to put together a splendid shadow box to honor the 409 RRD, 175th RRD and the 12th ASAFS. In this house and in the future home of my children, you fellows will not be forgotten. You will be honored for your valiant and loving hearts that were a made so evident to us these last few days.

 

PS I sent some pics of the boxes and also was wondering if someone could help me locate the 175th RRC patch pictured.

 

 

Thank you again for everything,

 

Joshua B Holcombe

 

PAT HARBIN: 9/17/49 - 3/16/09