Captain Holland was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the Criminal Investigation Detachment, 21st Military Police Company, U.S. Army. He suffered coronary thrombosis and was taken to the 8054th Evacuation Hospital in Pusan, South Korea, where he died on 15 October 1950.

Holland was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.