Story by Sgt. Daniel K. Johnson, 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – The Soldier’s Medal was presented to a Soldier of the 225th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division on Oct. 19 during a ceremony held in B-quad here.
Spc. Kevin P. Holt, a medic with 225 BSB, 2 SBCT earned the Soldier’s Medal for heroic actions taken by him and his father, Roger Holt, on June 11 when he saved the life of a Holly Hill, FL woman after she had been stabbed during an altercation with a would-be suitor.
“Courage above and beyond; you stood off an attacker and treated an individual,” said Brig. Gen. Burt Thompson, Deputy Commanding General – Support, 25th Infantry Division.
During a surprise Father’s Day visit, Holt saw a woman and a man having a physical altercation near the country club where he was golfing with his father. When they approached the couple Holt noticed the woman had been stabbed and ordered the man to drop the knife. Once the attacker had been subdued with a golf club, Kevin Holt performed life saving measures while contacting emergency services.
“I was only doing what any other person would have done,” said Kevin Holt. “I am grateful I was able to assist and render aide when it was needed.”
The injured woman has since made a full recovery and the assailant is awaiting trail.
Lt. Col. Rod Honeycutt, Commander of 225 BSB, 2 SBCT, describes the Soldier’s Medal as a medal that is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces who distinguished him or herself by heroism not involving conflict with an enemy. The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy.
Part of the oath taken by all Soldiers is to protect against foreign and domestic enemies. Spc. Holt upheld that oath when he protected a citizen of the United States from certain death at the hands of a domestic enemy, said Thompson.
By saving the life of a woman with no regard to his personal safety Holt brought great credit upon himself, the 225th BSB, the 2 SBCT, the 25th ID, and the United States Army.