Photo courtesy Mike Landreth
Florida Senator Doug Broxson’s office has confirmed his plans to support a local effort to rename a portion of Hwy. 87 S through Eglin Air Force Base Property for late Retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Ric Landreth, a native of Holley who served 30 years and fought in the infamous 1993 Battle of Mogadishu.
Additionally, Landreth’s family will be working to raise funds to erect a statue in his likeness at Holley Ball Park.
Landreth, 63, of Southern Pines, North Carolina was born April 1, 1957, at Eglin Air Force Base to the late Thomas & Peggy Broxson Landreth. He grew up in Holley and proudly served 7 tours during 5 conflicts in the U.S. Army Special Ops Delta Force. He was awarded a Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal with Valor and Oak Leaf Cross Air Medal. He was laid to final rest October 30, 2020 at Arlington National Cemetery.
“Ric was one of the best,” said Retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Norman Hooten, who was the Delta Force team leader in 1993’s the Battle of Mogadishu. The movie “Black Hawk Down” portrayed their team’s experience in Somalia.
Landreth’s younger brother, Mike, said Ric was very humble and that few people knew the movie was about their team.
“He was dedicated and unselfish”, said Ryan Landreth, Ric’s son. Ryan said his Dad’s recollection of Mogadishu “wasn’t pretty because his rifle was jamming a lot, and he was trying to clear it as they were going through building to building.”
Santa Rosa County Commissioners on October 12 are expected take steps to approve a resolution to forward to state legislators, supporting the renaming of a portion of Hwy. 87 S, possibly from Vonnie Tolbert Road north to Choctaw Field Road.
The board is also expected to approve allowing Landreth’s statue to be erected at Holley Ball Park, which will officially be renamed after Landreth’s first cousin, Lenny Tolbert, who died in a 1980 car crash.
Jake Landreth, who is developing fundraising efforts for the statue, said the best part about what they are trying to do is that it will honor the Landreth, Broxson and Tolbert families and create something in Holley which will be there for generations to come.
