View source for EDWARD R. HOLT, JR., LCDR, USN

{{KeyDates|DoB=July 6, 1915|DoD=August 6, 1945|Age=30|name_class=Edward Holt, Jr. '39}}

{{LuckyBag|LBLink=https://archive.org/details/luckybag1939unse|class=1939
|picture=1939 Holt LB.jpg
|LBName=EDWARD ROWELL HOLT, JR.
|LBHometown=Charlotte, North Carolina
|LBNickname=''Skillet''
|LBText=Through the bustle of his four years at the Naval Academy, Skillet has shown effort and energy of which he should be proud. He is easy-going, but not lazy, and when there is reason for hurry, Skillet can show speed that is surprising. He thinks nothing of being in the shower at formation time, for dressing in two minutes is easy for him—he can do it without losing one bit of his Southern dignity. All of us have seen Skillet's art work—many of us have had him draw personal illustrations that only his sense of something could comprehend. Skillet combines an energetic, jovial personality with a great sense of humor in such a way that making friends is the inevitable result.
|LBECAs=''Soccer 4, 3, 2, 1; Track 4; Class Crest Committee; Art Editor, Reef Points; Log Staff 4, 3, 2, 1; Make-up Gang 3, 2, 1; Art Club; 1 Stripe.''}}

== Loss ==
Edward was [http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/holt-e-r.htm lost] when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bullhead USS Bullhead (SS 332)] was sunk, probably by Japanese aircraft, on or around August 6, 1945, in the Java Sea. He was only a month past his 30th birthday and was said to be one of the youngest submarine skippers in the Navy. He had made ten previous patrols.

He is discussed extensively in [https://books.google.com/books?id=JTo4AAAAQBAJ&pg=PP17&lpg=PP17&dq=LTJG,+%22RAYMOND+W.+STRASSLE%22+USN&source=bl&ots=UY1o8QE5fj&sig=NTFFsF753R6UmVmKqFtcswsi-sM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiFvpy6r7jUAhXHOz4KHZ2KAiAQ6AEIKDAA#v=snippet&q=Holt&f=false Overdue and Presumed Lost: The Story of the USS Bullhead] by Martin Sheridan.

His career and loss is also recounted on the [https://cualumni.clemson.edu/document.doc?id=2347 Clemson Alumni site;] he majored in architecture and left after his sophomore year.

== Other Information ==
From researcher Kathy Franz:
<blockquote>
Edward graduated from Central high school in 1933. “Skillet” Football Squad (2, 3); Basketball Squad (1, 2, 3); Hi-Y (1, 2, 3), Secretary (1); Home Room Treasurer (1).

He attended Clemson college for two years, and in 1935, he was a Corporal in Company G, a member of the Minaret Club (architecture students,) and reporter on the weekly newspaper, the Tiger. He also attended Marion Military Institute in Alabama.

In 1935, Edward won a season pass to the Charlotte Hornets’ baseball season as first prize winner.

Edward was a private in the National Guard when he was chosen to take the entrance examination for admission to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point on July 1, 1935.

He married Mary Herndon Davis on November 20, 1943, at the First Presbyterian church in Laurens, South Carolina. He was on a 30-day leave and the Charlotte Observer newspaper reported that he was wearing two decorations, one for submarine service and the other for combat patrol. On the latter were three stars, showing at least three such successful patrols.

His father, a life insurance agent, was best man at his wedding. His mother was Sally; sister was Peggy.
</blockquote>

His wife was [http://www.naval-history.net/WW2UScasaaDB-USNbyNameH.htm listed as] next of kin; [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176446505/mary_herndon_todd she died at age 100].

== Photographs ==
<gallery mode=packed heights=350px style="text-align:left">
File:1939 Holt 4.jpg|From his high school yearbook
File:1939 Holt 3.jpg|From the Clemson Minaret Club in 1935
File:1939 Holt LB 1.jpg|From the Lucky Bag
File:1939 Holt 1.jpg|In Freemantle, Australia, Lieut. Comdr. Edward R. Holt, Jr., reads his orders assigning him to command the USS Bullhead, as the former skipper, Comdr. Griffith, right, other officers and chiefs look on. (Official US Navy photo)|link=https://books.google.com/books?id=JTo4AAAAQBAJ&pg=PP17&lpg=PP17&dq=LTJG,+%22RAYMOND+W.+STRASSLE%22+USN&source=bl&ots=UY1o8QE5fj&sig=NTFFsF753R6UmVmKqFtcswsi-sM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiFvpy6r7jUAhXHOz4KHZ2KAiAQ6AEIKDAA#v=snippet&q=Holt&f=false
File:1939 Holt 2.jpg|link=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56747877/edward-rowell-holt
File:1939 Holt 5.jpg|From The Charlotte Observer on August 25, 1945
</gallery>

== Career ==
From the now-broken link http://www.fleetorganization.com/subcommandersclassyear3.html:
<blockquote>
* Duty USS Arizona (BB-39) 1 Jul 1939 - 1 Oct 1939
* Duty USS Cushing (DD-376) 1 Jul 1940 - 1 Nov 1940
* Duty USS Grouper (SS-214) 12 Feb 1942
* Executive Officer USS Baya (SS-318) May 1944 - 1 Jan 1945
* Executive Officer USS Sealion (SS-315) Apr 1945 - 31 Jul 1945
* Captain USS Bullhead (SS-332) 31 Jul 1945 - 6 Aug 1945
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
* Ensign 1 Jun 1939
* Lieutenant (j.g.) 1 Jun 1942
* Lieutenant (T) 15 Jun 1942
* Lieutenant Commander (T) 15 Mar 1944
</blockquote>

== Navy Cross ==
Several sites claim he was awarded the Navy Cross, but unable to find a citation and he is [http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/02_awards/index_nx/index-NXh.html not listed with other recipients.] Both of these facts are highly unusual for this award. There is no mention of the award in contemporaneous reporting, either, nor in an [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/08/16/haunted-survivors-of-the-uss-bullhead/618a6728-3689-42c3-9405-3d8105df383b/?utm_term=.ae4cdd340622 article about Bullhead] from 1981.

{{NDexplainer}}
{{ND|date=October 1939|rank=Ensign|command=USS Arizona
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[ISAAC C. KIDD, RADM, USN|CAPT Isaac Kidd '06]]
|column2=[[CLIFFORD T. JANZ, LT, USN|LT Clifford Janz '31]]}}
|others2={{NDcolumns|columns=2|column1=[[JOHN J. SHAFFER, III, CDR, USN|LT John Shaffer, III '30]] (Battleship Division 1)
|column2=}}}}
{{ND|date=June 1940|rank=Ensign|command=USS Cushing
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[DAVID G. NICKERSON, LT, USN|ENS David Nickerson '38]]}}}}
{{ND|date=November 1940|rank=Ensign|command=USS Cushing
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[DAVID G. NICKERSON, LT, USN|ENS David Nickerson '38]]}}}}
{{ND|date=April 1941|rank=Ensign|command=USS Cushing
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[DAVID G. NICKERSON, LT, USN|ENS David Nickerson '38]]}}}}

{{ClassNav|PAGE_ID={{PAGEID}}|Name=Edward|ClassYear=1939|PreviousPersonLink=ALFRED B. WALLACE, LCDR, USN|PreviousPersonName=Alfred Wallace '39|NextPersonLink=GEORGE R. SMITH, LCDR, USN|NextPersonName=George Smith '39}}

[[Category:1939|Holt]]
[[Category:USNA 12th Company|Holt]]
[[Category:US Navy|Holt]]
[[Category:KIA|Holt]]
[[Category:WWII|Holt]]
[[Category:Pacific|Holt]]
[[Category:Submarine|Holt]]
[[Category:USS Bullhead (SS 332)|Holt]]
{{KIA|panel=EDWARD ROWELL HOLT, JR.}}