Captain Henry “Fred” Holcombe, Jr is a native of Batesville, Mississippi. After graduating from Tupelo High School in 1982, he attended Union University in Jackson, TN where he graduated with a B.S. in Accounting. He served at The Peoples Bank as a Trust Department employee benefits specialist for over 4 ½ years. He then attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, LA where he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in May 1994. Upon graduation he served as minister of Youth/Education at York Terrace Baptist Church until he received his commission as a LTJG in the United States Navy in December of 1999. His initial training was done at Newport, RI at the Naval Chaplain School where he reported in January 2000. Chaplain Holcombe is married to the former Miss Wendy Crawford of Hammond, LA and they were married May of 1995.
Chaplain Holcombe’s first assignment was to 1st MARINE DIVISION DET TWENTYNINE PALMS, Twentynine Palms, CA. He served as the Battalion Chaplain to 3rd LAR and 1st Tank battalions from May 2000 to December 2002.
His next assignment was to the USS COWPENS (CG 63) homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. He was ship’s Chaplain from January 2003 to January 2005, which included a surge deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Chaplain Holcombe was assigned to NAVAL STATION PEARL HARBOR, HI as a member of the chapel staff at Pearl Harbor Memorial Chapel, Pearl Harbor, HI. His duties included being the Senior Protestant Chaplain to the chapel community and overseeing the youth programs of the chapel. His tour was from January 2005 to August 2007.
Following his tour at the chapel, he was assigned to 3rd RADIO BATTALION, III MEF, Kaneohe Bay, HI as the Battalion Chaplain from August 2007 to June 2010. Chaplain Holcombe was responsible for hiring and supervising the FRO and providing Warrior Transition to all of the deploying DETs.
After serving two commands in paradise, Chaplain Holcombe was assigned to the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65), Norfolk, VA. From July 2010 to November 2012, he was the Principle Assistant to the Religious Ministry Department. While aboard USS ENTERPRISE, he completed the last two deployments of this great ship.
Chaplain Holcombe was assigned to COASTAL RIVERINE GROUP TWO, Portsmouth, VA as the Group Chaplain from November 2012 to July 2015. His duties included extensive travel to the Middle East and Spain to provide return and reunion briefs and pastoral counseling to his squadrons.
Following his tour with CRG 2, he served as the US Marine Corps Forces Deputy Force Chaplain. His duties included global force management responsibilities, providing inputs for manpower and assisting in writing a MARFORCOM/PAC Force training order.
Chaplain Holcombe assumed the duties of US Marine Forces Reserve Force Chaplain August 2018 and was promoted to the rank of Captain September, 2018. His duties included Force level manpower and oversight of the largest number of CHC RMTs in the USMC.
A former Blue Diamond alum, Chaplain Holcombe served as the 1ST Marine Division Chaplain from March 2021 to August 2023. As the Division Chaplain, he participated in multiple Division exercises and provided oversight of religious ministry of all Division RMTs including leading worship services at Camp Wilson and San Mateo chapels.
His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, as well as various unit and campaign medals.
Chaplain Holcombe currently serves as the I MEF Force Chaplain and his duties include MEF level requirements, manpower and religious ministry for all I MEF Forces.