Sergeant Holley is mentioned in dispatches for service with Alpha Company, 1st Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, in Afghanistan. On August 19, 2006, during an engagement with Taliban forces in Masum Ghar, the light armoured vehicle in which he was the gunner came under intense fire from a numerically superior enemy force. During a three hour battle, he effectively engaged the enemy with his vehicle’s weapons systems, while providing strong leadership and encouragement to his less experienced crew. His actions enabled them to successfully defend the rear flank of a friendly position, saving the lives of numerous Canadian and Afghan soldiers.