Fort Bragg hosts memorial service for slain nurse

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — An overflow crowd attended a memorial service at Fort Bragg for Army 2nd Lt. Holley L. Wimunc, the maternity ward nurse who became the third female soldier to be slain in seven months.

Wednesday's service at Womack Army Medical Center hosted soldiers from across the post, hospital staff, volunteers, friends from the community and two Marines from Camp Lejeune. Some who attended stood in the aisles.

In front of the packed, 200-seat auditorium stood a display that included boots, dogtags and a poster-sized photo of Wimunc in uniform with her stethoscope.

"Her patients loved her because of her outstanding nursing skills and beautiful personality. She always smiled no matter what was going on at work or at home," Lt. Col. Carmen A. Stella said.

"As a first time mother, I was unsure of things and she put me at ease with her personality and expertise. She was always smiling and had a very bright spirit," said Army Capt. Miryam Brunson, an officer with the United States Army Special Operations Center, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade. "She took care for my first child and me, and now she's gone. As a mother and a soldier, I am deeply saddened."

Marine Cpl. John Wimunc is charged with murder in his wife's death. He and Lance Cpl. Kyle Alden are charged with setting fire to Holley Wimunc's Fayetteville apartment. Her body was found last Sunday in Onslow County.