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. Lieutenan