On May 26, 1966, John L. Holt, Jr. graduated as a Marine from Parris Island, S.C. He fought in the Vietnam War. During the war, he came in contact with agent orange. He was shot, receiving three head wounds defending his fellow soldiers. He lost his ear drum in his left ear and continued to lose hearing in the other ear. He lost three feet of Intestines. Hit by a mortar, he lived with a plate in his head.
He desperately wanted to receive the rank of Sergeant. His paperwork for his next two promotions was lost on that day when is compound was attacked.
For these heroic acts during combat he received three Purple Hearts, a National Defense Medal, a Compact of the Republic Medal, Presidential UNit Citations, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, a Combat Action Medal. The Marine Corps (first in, last out) has three grades of Marksman.
He was proud to be a Marine. He remained an active member of the Veterans of Foreign War here at 560 North Delaware AVenue, Lindenhurst, New York. He was a member of the Purple Heart Society.