Career
Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1840, Holt later joined the Navy from that state. By July 3, 1871, he was serving as a quarter gunner on the United States Ship Plymouth. On that day, while the Plymouth was at the Portuguese of Hamburg, Germany, a small boat approached the ship in a strong current.
When the boat capsized, Holt and another sailor, Landsman Paul Tobin, jumped overboard and rescued one of the boat"s crewmen.
On board the United States.S. Plymouth, Hamburg Harbor, 3 July 1871. Jumping overboard at the imminent risk of his life, Holt, with a comrade, rescued from drowning one of a party who was thrown from a shore boat into a 4-knot, running tide while the boat was coming alongside the ship.
