Raymond A. Spruance
In April 1943, Holden was ordered to Philadelphia Navy Yard for duty in connection with fitting out of battleship "New Jersey". One month later, "New Jersey" was commissioned and embarked for training cruise to the Western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, which lasted until January 1944. Holden then led his ship through the Panama Canal to Funafuti, Ellice Islands, where joined United States Fifth Fleet under Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, who subsequently broke his flag aboard "New Jersey".