Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By And/Or Copyright
0670601	39k	William Mack Holt, the son of Robert King and Clara Laverne (Forsythe) Holt, was born 09 September 1917, at Great Falls, Montana. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-5, as Seaman second class on 04 October 1940 and placed on inactive duty. On the 15th, he reported for active duty for elimination flight training at the U. S. Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Seattle, Washington, and completed the training on 12 November 1940. He accepted appointment as Aviation Cadet on 26 December 1940. On the 30th, he reported to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida for active duty undergoing training. On 29 May 1941, Holt was transferred to the Naval Air Station, Miami, Florida for further active duty undergoing training. On 16 June he was designated Naval Aviator (Heavier-than-Air). On 24 July he accepted appointment and executed the oath of office as Ensign, A-V(N), U.S. Naval Reserve, to rank from 03 June 1941. Upon acceptance as an Ensign he was transferred to Fleet Air Detachment, Naval Air Station, San Diego, California for temporary active duty involving flying under training. Holt reported for duty to Fighter Squadron Six on 16 December 1941, being a part of the air group stationed on board aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV 6) which made the first United States carrier strike of the Pacific War, was flagship of the force that launched the Doolittle bombing raid against Toyko; and figured prominently in the great victory won by American forces in the Battle of Midway. On 16 June 1942, Holt accepted appointment as Lieutenant (junior grade), (temporary), A-V(N), U.S. Naval Reserve, to rank from 15 June 1942. Holt later joined Fighter Squadron Five on board aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV 3). He, later, was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary heroism and courage demonstrated on 07 August 1942. In a successful effort to protect the Marines on the beachhead of Guadalcanal, he led a two-plane section through vicious interception of enemy fighter planes to down several and turn back others of a flight of about 27 heavy bombers. He continued his relentless fight in complete disregard for his own safety until his own aircraft was shot down and he perished. He was declared officially dead on 08 August 1943. The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded with the following citation: “For heroism and extraordinary achievement as Section Leader in the Solomon Islands on August 7, 1942. Leading a two-plane section of his squadron against a hostile force of twenty-seven twin-engined bombers, Lieutenant (junior grade) Holt, although viciously intercepted by Zero fighters, gallantly pressed home his attacks until his plane was shot down. His courageous fighting spirit and resolute devotion to duty contributed to the destruction of at least five enemy bombers and undoubtedly played a major role in disrupting the Japanese attack.” Lieutenant Holt also was awarded the Purple Heart Medal posthumously. He is entitled to the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the ribbon for and a copy of the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the USS Enterprise. USS Holt (DE 706) (1944-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor. (U.S. Navy photo from Remembering VF(N)-101)		Mike Smolinski Clifton, N.J. Navsource DE / FF / LCS Archive Manager
0670603	112k	undated wartime photo		Jeff Cope Webmaster USS Holt Web Site
0670604	76k	undated wartime photo, Holt's crew at inspection
0670607	206k	09 January 1946: San Francisco, Cal. - USS Holt (DE 706) returns to the United States at San Francisco. Holt had served in the Pacific Theater since October 1944. Her last assignment in the Pacific had been on weather patrol in the eastern South China Sea. She departed that assignment on 18 December 1945, made a quick stop in the Marshall Islands to pick up 75 passengers, and arrived back in the U.S.A. on this date. Note her "Homeward Bound" pennant (U.S. Naval Historical Center photo #NH 79816, Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974, from the Naval History and Heritage Command)		Mike Green Port Angeles, Wash.
0670602	30k	January 1946: Holt arriving in San Francisco.		Leonard M. Thompson Y2c
0670605	53k	ROKS Chung Nam, circa 1967		Bob Hurst Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
0670606	239k	1971: location unknown - The frigate ROKS Chung Nam (DE 73) (ex-USS Holt DE 706) underway. (South Korean Navy, Official)

Holt Memorabilia

The Story of USS Holt Courtesy of Jeff Cope

Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has
been made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list
only a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.

Additional Resources

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USS Holt Web Site
Tin Can Sailors
The U.S. Navy Memorial
The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
The Destroyer History Foundation
USS Holt unit page at Military.com
Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry - USS Holt

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This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved. Page Last Updated: 12 October 2022