THROW ROCKS!!!
Jimmie Earl Howard
Jimmie Earl Howard, the son of Raymond and Edythe (Walker) Howard, was born on 27 July 1929 in Burlington, Iowa.
While in high school, Jim earned All-State honors as a tackle on the 1948 and 1949 squads. The 1948 team has been labeled as the schools best team. At 6'3', he played center on the schools basketball team. He was also was on the 1949 tack team where was clocked at 2:01.1 for the half mile. The 1949 track team eventually won the Iowa State Indoor Championship and the Little Six Conference Indoor and Outdoor titles. Jim graduated from Burlington High School , Class of 1949. After high school, Jim went on to the University of Iowa for one year before enlisting in the Marines.
He received recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. He was promoted to Private First Class upon graduation from recruit training in January 1951, then remained at the Recruit Depot as a drill instructor until December 1951.
On 17 February 1951, Jim married the former Theresa Maria Azevado at the Marine Base Chapel, Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Jim and Theresa met on a blind date on 24 September 1950, arranged by her cousin Marian. The quiet and shy young man, with his 6'3' frame, dark brown wavy hair, and blue eyes instantly appealed to Theresa.
Four months later and after completing advanced infantry training in February 1952, Jim was ordered to Korea. While in Korea, Jim was assigned duty as a forward observer with the 4.2” Mortar Company, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. For his service in Korea, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart, and the Navy Unit Commendation. He was a promoted to Corporal in March 1952.
Upon his return to the United States in April 1953, Jim served as Tactics Instructor, Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, he was promoted to Sergeant in June 1953.
In March 1954, Jim joined the Marine Detachment on board the USS Oriskany (CVA-34), as a squad leader. The following January, he returned to Camp Pendleton and served as a squad leader, 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company. The 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company was redesignated 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, and Sergeant Howard remained with this unit until September 1957. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in May 1956. From September 1957 until April 1960, he served as Special Services Chief and a military policeman with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton.
Transferred to San Francisco, California, Jim was assigned to the 3d Marine Division. He served as Special Services Noncommissioned Officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Battalion (7th Marines), 9th Marines and later, as a platoon guide and platoon sergeant with Company H, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines.
Reassigned to the Recruit Depot, San Diego, in August 1961, he joined Guard Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion and served as Guard Noncommissioned Officer, Company First Sergeant and administrative man, respectively. He later became Depot Special Service Assistant, Headquarters Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion there, and served in the latter capacity until October 1964.
The following month, he returned to Camp Pendleton, and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division. He saw duty as Regimental Special Services Noncommissioned Officer with Headquarters Battery, 11th Marines and in January 1965, became an instructor, Counterquerrilla Warfare Course, Division Schools Center, Subunit #1, with Headquarters Battalion until March 1966.
From April until June 1966, Jim served as a platoon leader, with Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division. For wounds received in action against insurgent Communist forces in Vietnam on 16 June 1966, he received a gold star in lieu of a third Purple Heart.
Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned duty as Battalion Training Noncommissioned Officer, Service Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California.
On 21 August 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded the Medal of Honor to Gunnery Sergeant Jimmie Earl Howard in White House ceremony. During the ceremony, President Johnson called Jim “the bravest of America’s brave.” Jimmie stood proudly at attention next to his wife and six children. The story of his heroic stand at Hill 488 was read and then President Lyndon B. Johnson placed the Medal of Honor around the neck of an incredible leader and true American hero. With tears in his eyes the grizzled Marine then stepped to the microphone to give the credit to his 15 brave Marines and 2 Navy Corpsmen. And they were there, all eleven survivors of that unbelievable night of horror and courage at Hill 488. After speaking briefly, Jim took the President by the hand and led him to the edge of the stage where he introduced him to each and every one of the men he had led that night, and to whom he felt the Medal of Honor belonged more than it did to himself. Seventeen young men, 15 Marines and 2 Navy Corpsmen. Jim had always called them his "Indians". He had every reason to be proud of them, they had survived and demonstrated a courage and resolve to survive that was unprecedented. They may have been, in fact, the most decorated unit in military history.
“They were young men, I said men, not kids.
They were 17 of the greatest men God ever put on this earth.”
- Jimmie Howard
Approximately one month later (15 September), Jim and his family returned to Burlington to welcome their hometown hero for "Jimmie Howard Day." A parade was held in his honor, along with several other activities.
Jim was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in August 1968.
Master Sergeant Jimmie Earl Howard retired from the United States Marine Corps after twenty-two years of service on Friday, 31 March 1977. The retirement ceremonies took place on Camp Pendleton. The following Monday, he went to work for the Veterans' Administration. Jim also volunteered his time to the community umpiring bobby sox and little league games in Ocean Beach and as an assistant coach at San Diego’s Point Loma High School.
Jim died of a heart attack at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 12 November 1993, at his home in San Diego. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jimmie Lee Howard and Joseph Howard; five daughters, Yvette, Yvonne, Barbara, and Darlene; his mother; one sister, Linette Howard; three stepbrothers, Kenneth, John, and Marvin Schnedler; two stepsisters, Phyllis Lease and Eunice turner; one uncle; one granddaughter; several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents, two brothers, and one sister, Darlene.
Master Sergeant Jimmie Earl Howard, United States Marine Corps, was buried with full military honors in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
A list of his medals and decorations includes: the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart with two Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
In honor of Jim’s service and dedication to his country, the ARLEIGH BURKE class guided missile destroyer, the USS JIMMIE E. HOWARD (DDG-83) was christened on 20 November 1999, during a ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Alford L. McMichael delivered the ceremony’s principal address. Mrs. Theresa M. Howard, served as ship’s sponsor in honor of her late husband. Joining Mrs. Howard as co-sponsor was Mrs. Jill Hultin, wife of Under Secretary of the Navy Jerry Hultin. In the time-honored Navy tradition, Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Hult broke a bottle of champagne across the bow and formally christened the USS JIMMIE E. HOWARD.
Source of Information:
1. The Hawk Eye; Burlington, Iowa; 14 November 1993; page 1.
2. United States Marine Corps History and Museums Division; http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/MOH/Vietnam_War_1965-1973/Howard_JE.htm
3. Small Unit Action in Vietnam Summer 1966, Howard’s Hill; by Captain Francis J. West, Jr., USMCR; History and Museums Division; Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps; Washington, D. C.; Printed 1967; Reprinted 1977.
4. Shanghai to Semper Fi, Memoirs of Theresa Maria Azevedo Howard, AMC Publications, 1998.
Military-heroes.com/jimmie_howard is the official website for Jimmie Earl Howard, and it is approved and supported by members of the family of Jimmie Earl Howard.
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