Tommy Holt was born in Alabama. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 31, 1966, and completed Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in September 1966. Pvt Holt then completed Army Marine Engineer Training at Fort Eustis, Virginia, in December 1966, before serving as a Marine Engineer with the 2nd Maintenance Battalion and the U.S. Army Marine Maintenance Activity in South Vietnam from December 1966 to December 1967. During this time, SP4 Holt was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War on August 23, 1967, but managed to escape and make it back to friendly forces the next day, on August 24, 1967. His final assignment was as a Marine Engineer with the 599th Transportation Company at Fort Eustis from January 1968 until he left active duty on July 30, 1969. SP5 Holt remained in the Army Reserve until his honorable discharge on July 30, 1972.