Husband and wife Marines serve together, retire together

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - It wasn't easy to say goodbye, but Sergeant Major Scott Holt and Chief Warrant Officer Nicole Holt bid farewell to the U.S. Marine Corps together at an emotional retirement ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kansas City, Kan.

The Holts are leaving after a combined 50 years of service in the Marines. The last four were spent at the 9th Marine Corp District headquarters in south Kansas City near the former Richards Gebaur Air Field. They met in 1993 while serving at the U.S. base in Okinawa, Japan. They were married two years later.

One day after their 17th wedding anniversary, a gathering of  Marine comrades and family members paid tribute to the couple for their loyalty and service to the Corps. Scott and Nicole Holt both shed tears as they reflected on their service and the bonds they formed with fellow Marines.

Scott Holt was also moved to tears in his goodbye speech when he addressed his son Rashiid, who is following in his parents' footsteps and serving in the Marines.

Nicole Holt said she will miss the Corps but looks forward to spending more time with her three kids still at home.  She said that was the main reason she and Scott are stepping away. Nicole was a personnel officer and Scott was Sergeant Major of the 9th district's Kansas City recruiting station.

The Holts said working as a team helped them keep their family together through multiple transfers and Scott's three deployments to Iraq.