“These two humble men, Lt. Henry Eugene Vickers and Lt. Thomas Bayes Hollis, are the true heroes of our nation. It is a unique story in itself how two U.S. Navy Lieutenant bunkmates, integral to helping such an important WWII command ship, the USS Panamint AGC 13, survive the Battle of Okinawa, stayed lifelong friends for the next 70 years, with both men living very robustly full of vigor and health to over 100 years old.”
Thomas J. Hollis
November 11, 2019 was a special day for one very special veteran, Lt. Henry Eugene Vickers. Not only was it a day to remember all the brave veterans of our military for Veterans Day, it was also Lt. Vickers 104th birthday! Lt. Vickers traveled from his home in Newtown Square, PA to Washington, D.C. with his four 
daughters, their families, and friends, to participate in the U.S. Navy Memorial’s Veterans Day Wreath Laying ceremony. He was the oldest veteran to ever be recognized and speak at this event, and the U.S. Navy band played happy birthday to Lt. Vickers as the gathered spectators sung to celebrate his special birthday.
Later that day, inside the U.S. Navy Memorial, Mr. Thomas J. Hollis dedicated a plaque to honor Lt. Vicker’s service in the Pacific theatre during WW II. Lt. Vickers was a communications officer who bravely served on the USS Panamint (the command flagship for Rear Admiral Lawrence Reifsnider) during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, executing light and flag signals to other allied ships in the largest navy battle group ever assembled in history. 
On the bridge of the USS Panamint, Lt. Vickers had a bird’s eye view of waves of incoming Japanese suicide kamikaze plane attacks that lasted for two and a half months, witnessing several near misses of the US Panamint itself.
Lt. Vickers bunkmate for over a year aboard the USS Panamint was Lt. Thomas B. Hollis, another key communications officer who was the rear gunnery officer while under attack. Lt. Hollis translated sensitive communications aboard this flagship and navigated it as the officer on deck through the Tsugara Strait in northern Japan for their formal surrender of the Ominato Naval Base aboard the Panamint on September 8, 1945. Lt. Vickers and Lt. Hollis, both residents of the Philadelphia, PA area, stayed lifelong friends until Lt. Hollis’ death in 2016 at the age of 101. Mr. Hollis honored his father’s U.S. Navy service with a plaque dedicated in his honor at the U.S. Navy Memorial in April 2014, when Lt. Hollis dedicated also a plaque in honor of the USS Panamint and its officers and crew.
During Lt. Vicker’s plaque dedication ceremony, Mr. Hollis spoke of his admiration of these two special brave WWII Veterans and how they both lived lives that we all can be grateful for. Among the words of gratitude and honor from Mr. Hollis:
“These two humble men, Lt Henry Eugene Vickers and Lt Thomas Bayes Hollis, are the true heroes of our nation. It is a unique story in itself how two US Navy Lieutenant bunkmates, integral to helping such an important WW II command ship survive the Battle of Okinawa, stayed 
lifelong friends for the next 70 years, with both men living very robustly full of vigor and health to over 100 years old. But the real story is much deeper than just their brave military service and their ages, it is how they lived their lives. Day in and day out, Lt. Vickers and Lt. Hollis have lived their lives full of honor, humility, decency, gratitude, unselfish service to others, optimism, kindness, and humor, both men anchored in a deep Christian faith. It was a privilege to be with them both during their last visits together, this picture taken soon after Lt. Vickers had turned 100 and my father Lt. Hollis had turned 101 in November 2015, both in their original US Navy caps worn while under attack on the USS Panamint. This is my favorite picture of all time, in it I see two men who represent what is righ
t and good in this world. I saw what a deep love and affection they both shared towards each other, as they laughed and relived their times together aboard the Panamint. They hugged when they departed, it seemed like they did not want their last moments together to end.
These two men have both lived their lives for other people, with a sense of gratitude for the simple things in life, with a deep inner strength right past the age of 100 that few of us can duplicate. They both overcame obstacles to be self-made men, all from their own sheer determination and will, with a backstop of their deep faith to guide them through life. I am not surprised that they stayed lifelong friends, with their values so similar. I am proud to have known these two great men, the greatest heroes and inspiration of my life. The world would be a much better place if there were more men in it like them both.
It is right that their plaques be displayed here together in this U.S. Navy Memorial, anchored above and below the 
USS Panamint’s, for future generations to view. Together they will always be, two men who bonded in battle and for the rest of their lives. God bless you Lt. Vickers.“
Lt. Vickers plaque ceremony ended with the ringing of the Ship’s Bell in memory of Lt. Hollis. After the ceremony, Mr. Hollis mentioned to the U.S. Navy Memorial that on his father’s deathbed, one of the last things he said to him 
was “Dad, you are a great man.” Barely having the strength to speak, his father whispered “I do the right thing”. That sums up how Mr. Hollis believes his father led his whole life, and on November 11, 2019, the “right thing to do” was to honor his father’s brother in battle, his bunkmate and special friend for the rest of his life. His father would be overjoyed that his friend was also receiving the same special honor and plaque, Mr. Hollis shared.
Lt. Hollis was honored as the September 2014 Story of the Month along with links to his video interview recorded when he was 99 years old. Lt. Vickers was honored as the September 2017 Story of the Month along with links to his video interview recorded when he was 101 years old. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program salutes Lt. Hollis and Lt. Vickers for their service in defense of the Nation during World War Two and together share this November 2019 Story of the Month.