Edwin A Howard DE-346

Edwin A. Howard

Edwin Alfred Howard born 6 July 1922 in Phoenix Ariz enlisted in the Marine Corps 23 September 1941. On 3 November 1942 at Guadalcanal, Corporal Howard was in charge of a communication wire team trying to reestablish vital lines to the rear under enemy fire. For his gallantry in this action in which he lost his life trying to move a wounded comrade to safety, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

(DE-346: dp. 1,350, 1. 306'; b. 36'8"; dr. 9'5", s. 24 k.; cpl. 186; a. 2 5", 3 21" tt., 8 dcp., 1 dcp.(hh.), 2 dct.; cl. John C. Butler)

Edwin A. Howard (DE-346) was launched 25 January 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Tex.; sponsored by Mrs. Julia W. Howard, mother of Corporal Howard; and commissioned 25 May 1944, Lieutenant Commander F. Denfield, USNR, in command.

After one convoy escort voyage to the Mediterranean in September and October 1944, Edwin A. Howard sailed from New York 10 November for the South Pacific. From Hollandia she shepherded a convoy to San Pedro Bay, Leyte, arriving 6 January 1945. Edward A. Howard reinforced Destroyer Squadron 49 on antisubmarine patrol in Leyte Gulf. She took a convoy through from the Palaus to San Pedro Bay, and continued escort service between New Guinea and Leyte.

Edwin A. Howard arrived in Polloc Harbor 30 April 1945, and for the next month escorted convoys to supply troops ashore around Davao Gulf, on the second such voyage bombarding targets on Samal Island in the gulf and other points on the shore. On 10 June she sailed from San Pedro Bay with a convoy of landing craft. bound for Morotai, from which she returned to Tawi Tawi escorting an ammunition ship. She left Tawi Tawi 26 June to escort a squadron of motor torpedo boats and their tender to Balikpapan, arriving 27 June, 4 days before the invasion. Edwin A. Howard screened minesweepers operating off the coast, and covered the landings, then escorted reinforcements from Morotai to the beachheads before returning to Leyte 26 July.

The escort vessel remained in the Far East on occupation duty, escorting convoys from Leyte to Ulithi, Okinawa, and Japan. She sailed from Samar 28 November 1946 for the States and was placed out of commission in reserve 25 September 1946.

Edwin A. Howard received one battle star for World War II service.