Inspiring Stories
Where History, Ideas, and Discovery Connect
Step into the world of Tom Holtom, P.E., where history, discovery, innovation, and personal experiences come together through books that inspire curiosity and reflection.
SEMPER FIDELIS
The Homecoming of Carlson’s Raiders
Semper Fidelis: The Homecoming of Carlson’s Raiders tells the story of Marine Raiders who fought and fell during the Makin Island raid in World War II. Decades later, a search for their missing remains led to the discovery of a mass grave in the South Pacific. Among those recovered was Captain Gerald P. Holtom, Tom Holtom’s uncle.
From wartime sacrifice and family loss to recovery, identification, and a final ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, the book follows the remarkable story of a long-awaited homecoming. Through his personal connection to the story, Tom Holtom preserves the memory of the Raiders and honors the sacrifices that should never be forgotten.
About The Author
TOM HOLTOM, P.E.
Tom Holtom, P.E., earned his B.S. in Civil Structural Engineering from UCLA in 1968 and was inducted into the UCLA Bruin Engineering Legacy Society in 2019. Much of his professional career was devoted to project management for high-visibility themed construction projects. His work included the Forum Shops at Caesars, Caesars Magical Empire, and Walt Disney Imagineering, where he served as Principal Construction Manager for Themed Specialty Construction for Disney California Adventure. After leaving Imagineering, Tom served as the sole Owner’s Authorized Representative for the modernization of 28 campuses for the Newport-Mesa School District.
While at Imagineering, Tom was named Primary Next of Kin for a fallen Marine Raider. Fifty-seven years after the raid, the discovery of the Raiders’ mass grave brought that story back into focus. Encouraged by Marty Sklar, Tom developed it into a screenplay that became the basis of his book, marking the beginning of his authorial path.
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