High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! USS Holt (DE-706) was a Rudderow-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy. It was named after William Mack Holt, who was born on 9 September 1917 at Great Falls, Montana. He enlisted in the Navy on 4 October 1940, was appointed an Aviation Cadet on 26 December 1940, he reported to the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6) as a fighter pilot on 16 December 1941. Later transferred to the fighter group on board Saratoga (CV-3), Holt participated in the air operations over Guadalcanal so vital in saving the marine beachhead. Sighting a group of about 27 enemy bombers with escorts on 7 August 1942, Holt led his two-plane section through the enemy fighters, downing several, and helped to turn back the bombers, continuing his relentless attacks until his own aircraft was shot down. Lieutenant (j.g.) Holt was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism.