James D. Howe

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James Donnie Howe
December 17, 1948(1948-12-17) – May 6, 1970 (aged 21)
  
James D. Howe, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth Six Mile, Pickens, South Carolina
Place of death Killed in action in Vietnam
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1968-1970
Rank Lance Corporal
Unit 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

James Donnie Howe (1948-1970) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in May 1970 during the Vietnam War.

Contents

[edit] Biography

James Donnie Howe was born on December 17th 1948, in Six Mile, Pickens, South Carolina. He attended Six Mile and Pickens Elementary Schools, graduated from Cateeche Elementary School in Cateeche, South Carolina, in June 1960, and then attended Liberty Junior High School in Liberty, South Carolina, from September 1960 until June 1961.

He was employed by Lloyd’s Incorporated, a paint contractor, in Easley, South Carolina, prior to enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on 31 October 1968, in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He was discharged on from the Reserves on 29 December 1968 and enlisted in the regular Marine Corps the following day.

Private Howe received recruit training with the Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, and individual combat training with the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Promoted to private first class on 4 June 1969, Howe was transferred later that month to the Republic of Vietnam. He served as a rifleman and later, as a radio operator with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to lance corporal on 27 December 1969.

In the early morning hours of 6 May 1970, while serving as a rifleman in operations against insurgent Communist aggression in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, he was mortally wounded.

A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

LANCE CORPORAL JAMES D. HOWE
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with Company I, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in connection with combat operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of 6 May 1970, Lance Corporal Howe and two other Marines were occupying a defensive position in a sandy beach area fronted by bamboo thickets. Enemy sappers suddenly launched a grenade attack against the position, utilizing the cover of darkness to carry out their assault. Following the initial explosions of the grenades, Lance Corporal Howe and his two comrades moved to a more advantageous position in order to return suppressive fire. When an enemy grenade landed in their midst, Lance Corporal Howe immediately shouted a warning and then threw himself upon the deadly missile, thereby protecting the lives of his fellow Marines. His heroic and selfless action was in keeping with the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

[edit] Posthumous honors

On May 19, 2004, the South Carolina General Assembly passed Joint Resolution 5294 commending native South Carolinian James D. Howe for his Medal of Honor actions.[1]

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Joint Resolution 5249, 115th Session, South Carolina General Assembly, May 19, 2004. (URL accessed June 7, 2006)

[edit] References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.