Master Sergeant Holt was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. He was listed as Missing in Action while fighting the enemy near Hagaru, North Korea, on 6 December 1950. He was presumed dead on 31 December 1953. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Master Sergeant Holt was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.