Three Brothers, One War: The Price an Excelsior Family Paid for Freedom

Editor's note: The following is a speech delivered Monday morning by Excelsior Mayor Nick Ruehl during the city's 2011 Memorial Day ceremonies.

The Hollisters.

Does that name ring a bell?

Last year, as I was preparing for the Memorial Day address, I decided I would recite the names of those young men whose names are forever chiseled on the granite monument at Veteran’s Park in Excelsior—those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Thankfully, Dick recited those names again this year.

You may recall buried in those names those particularly in WWII, because there were three names there: Lyle Hollister, which was followed by Richard Hollister, which was then followed by Howard Hollister.

Last year I wondered out loud if they were brothers and mentioned that there must be quite a story behind that family.

Privately, I couldn’t imagine losing one child.

But could a family lose three in the war?

Well, there’s a story.

Lyle Hollister was 17 when he joined the Navy and reported aboard the USS Plunkett, a destroyer, on July 22, 1941.

He served during the Sicilian, Italian and Salerno campaigns.

On January 24, 1944, 31 months later, he was reported missing in action when the Plunkett was hit during a bombing attack.

After a one-year status as an MIA he was officially presumed dead.

He earned the American Defense Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, European/African/Middle Eastern Medal and the Purple Heart.

Richard and William Hollister were twin brothers, two years younger than Lyle.

They, too, were 17 when they enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve and were together the rest of their naval service.

After boot camp they were ordered to the USS Liscome Bay, another destroyer.

On Nov. 24, 1943, just a few months into their service, the USS Liscome Bay was sunk as a result of enemy action in the south Pacific.

William Hollister died of wounds he received in that action, and

Robert was reported missing and later presumed dead.

Both were awarded the Purple Heart.

Three brothers.

All killed within two months of each other.
In honor of those three naval heroes, the Hollister brothers, the Navy commissioned a 390-foot destroyer the USS Hollister on March 21, 1946.

It served our country for 33 years.

For every hero killed in action, there is a powerful, but shortened, story.

For every family who loses a son or daughter, that is killed in action, there is a powerful and personal sense of grief.

Most of us will never know the gut wrenching feelings that come with losing a child in combat.

But as a community we come together every year to honor, to respect and to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice while protecting us back home.

So today—when the prayers are prayed, and the shots are fired, the flag is set at half-mast, Taps is played and Amazing Grace is piped—may you think of those three Hollister brothers and the other 29 heroes that are our heroes, who sacrificed for us the ultimate sacrifice.

May God bless you, your families and may God bless America.