New Hampshire Army National Guard Spc. Holmes was assigned to the 744th Transportation Company, Army National Guard, Hillsboro, New Hampshire. Holmes died when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device and fell from a bridge near Balad into a canal. At the age of 13, Jeremiah, called Jay, was given a hard lesson about tragedy. His mother was murdered and the killer was never prosecuted. Her death broke up the family with Jay going to live with his grandparents and his four brothers and sisters going to two other families. Despite having a tough childhood, he always looked on the bright side of life. He never gave up hope that one day her killer would be prosecuted. Jay was a 1994 graduate of Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine where he was on the swim team, the debate team, and the band. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army and served from 1994 to 1999; he then joined the National Guard in 1999. He last saw his family just after Christmas. Jay loved his wife, son, and family and enjoyed riding his “Harley”, playing horseshoes, swimming, and building things with his dad. He was smart, funny, and a motivated soldier who was devoted to his job. His fellow soldiers remember him as being well-liked for his big laugh and his kindness – he was just a good guy to be around. Even though it is so very devastating to his family to lose him, you have to believe there was a grand plan that took him away. Jay had been in Iraq less than a month and was not supposed to be driving the tractor-trailer. He talked his partner into letting him drive the truck for the first time. It was the only time his unit had split in two, with half the soldiers going on the convoy mission while the other half stayed behind. It was the only mission Jay’s platoon sergeant didn’t go on. Less than an hour later, their truck ran over the bomb. His partner who was supposed to be driving was on the passenger side and suffered injuries to his back, ribs, hips, and ankle. Jay leaves behind his wife, Kimberly, and young son.