THIS VETERANS DAY, WE’RE HONORING EACH OTHER
CHARLES HOLLOWAY, PharmD, M.B.A., manager, UF Health Pharmacy — Medical Plaza
DELINDA “DIDI” HOLLOWAY, surgical technician, UF Health Shands Hospital O.R. Services
Charles Holloway, PharmD, M.B.A., is honoring his wife, Delinda “Didi” Holloway. Both are employed at UF Health, having met as veterans while on deployment. Charles is an outpatient pharmacy manager and Didi is a surgical technician in the OR.
- Who: Didi Holloway
- Relationship: Wife
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Active or veteran: Veteran
Was she called into combat? She was deployed twice: to Kuwait in 2003; and to the now infamous Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq in 2004-05.
Special awards received: Combat Action Badge for the Battle of Abu Ghraib, Expert Marksmanship Badge and Iraqi Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
What do you remember most about Didi’s service: We actually met during her second deployment to Abu Ghraib. When you are deployed, there isn’t much to do besides your job, working out at the gym and watching bootlegged movies. Didi was good friends with one of my technicians, so she came into my pharmacy often and I remember thinking she was absolutely adorable. My technician actually lied to both of us, saying that the other wanted to come over and watch movies.
Fifteen years and two kids later, I guess the rest is history.
- Who: Charles Holloway
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Active or veteran: Still active in the
National Guard since 1992
Were you called into combat? 2004-05, Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq
Special awards received: Combat Action Badge for the Battle of Abu Ghraib, Iraqi Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, and Humanitarian Service Medal for service during Hurricane Michael
What do you remember most about your experience? There is probably too much to mention about my experiences — I loved being deployed. I had opportunities right out of school that my peers couldn’t get for a decade. The U.S. Army paid for 10 years of school for me and for my kids — how awesome is that? I tried to retire from the military once, but missed it too much and was right back in, six months later. Oh, and meeting my wife, I guess, was a pretty good experience, too! Just kidding — it was the best!
How has your military experience helped you at work? I have been in a leadership role my whole career. Besides paying for all of my school and providing needed income throughout my life, that leadership experience has been invaluable.
