Bart Holmes was born on August 20, 1958, in California. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on July 22, 1976, and completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, in September 1976. Amn Holmes then attended Aircraft Maintenance training before serving as an aircraft maintenance technician and Crew Chief at MacDill AFB, Florida. His next assignment was to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, where he served as an E-3 Sentry maintenance technician and Crew Chief. TSgt Holmes' final assignment was as an E-3 flight engineer with the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, from 1993 until he was killed in the crash of an E-3B Sentry (Call Sign "Yukla 27") shortly after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB on September 22, 1995. Bart Holmes was buried at the Foster Cemetery in Foster, Oklahoma.

His Meritorious Service Medal Citation reads:

Members of Flight Yukla 27 distinguished themselves in the performance of outstanding service to the United States and Canada while serving as E-3 Airborne Warning and Air Control Systems air crew members assigned to 3rd Wing, 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron and the 381st Air Intelligence Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. They consistantly demonstrated outstanding airmanship while providing long range airborne surveillance, detection, identification, and command and control during deployed operations and in the Alaska region. All were dedicated volunteers selflessly serving, and fully committed to the defense of their nations and the Alaska region. Our memory of these airmen will forever be of professionals who stepped to the front and answered the call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace and freedom. The distinctive accomplishments of each of these individuals reflect credit upon themselves, the United States Air Force, and Canadian Forces.