Former Navy pilot and Top Gun instructor receives EOU's 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award

  Milburn Holmes

LA GRANDE, Oregon – Each year during Homecoming Eastern Oregon University recognizes distinguished alumni for their professional and community accomplishments.

Milburn Holmes is the recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award and was presented with the award during the Alumni Honors Ceremony on Oct. 21.

Holmes graduated from Eastern in 1961 with a degree in general studies. After graduation he joined the Navy and was deployed three times, serving in the Vietnam War and later becoming one of five experienced pilots chosen by the Navy to create the Navy Fighters Weapon School, also known as Top Gun.

Holmes also served as head of the air-to-air combat department until 1970. Originally from La Grande, Holmes now lives in Escondido, Ca., with his wife Jeannie.

“As an officer and instructor of the U.S. Navy, as a pilot, an entrepreneur and a citizen, Milburn Holmes has truly distinguished himself and brought honor to himself and EOU,” said Randy Dolven, ’67, master of ceremonies for the event. “We are proud and honored to recognize him as the 2006 EOU Distinguished Alumni.”

His experience as a student includes a fond memory of a baseball cap that he kept as a souvenir from his time playing basketball under former men’s head basketball coach Bob Quinn. The following is an excerpt from a story about the hat Holmes submitted in 1997 to be included in the EOU alumni news.

“In the fall of 1964, as the Vietnam War was heating up, I was assigned to a combat Fighter Squadron at Miramar Naval Air station in San Diego, California.

“For some inane reason, combat pilots needed to retain individuality and a unique identity in order to set them apart from the norm. Being from Eastern Oregon and quite proud of the fact, I decided to use ‘The Hat’ to fulfill this requirement.  I took The Hat out of the sports bag the spring of 1965 and it flew with me throughout the war.

“My nickname became ‘Big O’ due to the ‘O’ on Coach Quinn’s cap.  My F-4 Phantom was painted with ‘Big O’ and in squadron and airing functions The Hat was always in attendance.

“We started combat operation in Vietnam the winter of 1965 and until the summer of 1971, The Hat flew every one of my 262 missions in my breast pocket.  The Hat was the last thing I took off in the cockpit before a mission and the first thing I put back on at its conclusion.

             

“The Hat gained a reputation of going on the hardest missions and returning with the airplane and pilot intact. Mission after mission into the heart of North Vietnam with surface to air missiles a constant threat and anti-aircraft fire the heaviest ever seen in warfare, I was never hit.  In fact, no aircraft in any of my flights ever took at hit. As history shows, many pilots and aircraft were not as fortunate. 

“My ex-wife always thought Coach Quinn had a guardian angel following him around . . . . . I’m not a superstitious person, but if just a little of Coach Quinn’s guardian angel rubbed off on that baseball cap, guess who reaped the benefit. Thank God I don’t have to experience combat again, but if I did, The Hat would return to my breast pocket.” 

Holmes’ kept his hat close-at-hand even during his time teaching at Top Gun. In 1971 after his third combat cruise, the hat became too worn and he retired it from active duty. Holmes currently operates Grey Eagle Aviation and a flight school in Carlsbad, Ca.

"We are proud to award Milburn Holmes our highest alumni award in 2006. He has achieved great honor as an EOU graduate and as a military officer,” said Mary Jo Lemon, president of the EOU Alumni Association. “His reputation on campus and in the military tells us that he is an outstanding citizen, and his example is an extraordinary testimonial to EOU. He is a friend of our community, alumni and campus."

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