Samuel L. Howard

{{Short description|United States Marine Corps general}} {{Infobox military person | name = Samuel L. Howard | birth_name = Samuel Lutz Howard | image = HowardSamuelUSMC.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date |1891|03|08}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|1960|10|12|1891|03|08}} | burial_label = Place of burial | burial_place = Arlington National Cemetery | birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S. | death_place = Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = | allegiance = United States of America | branch = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}} | service_years = 1914–1953 | rank = 25px Lieutenant General | unit = | commands = 6th Marine Regiment 4th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division Marine Garrison Forces, Pacific | battles = {{tree list}} * Banana Wars ** Haiti intervention * World War I * World War II ** Second Sino-Japanese War ** Philippines campaign (1941–1942) *** Battle of Bataan *** Battle of Corregidor{{Surrendered}} ** Japanese occupation of the Philippines{{POW}} * Chinese Civil War ** Operation Beleaguer * Korean War {{tree list/end}} | awards = Navy Cross Prisoner of War Medal Purple Heart | relations = | other_work = }} '''Samuel Lutz Howard''' (March 8, 1891 – October 12, 1960) was a United States Marine Corps officer who served with distinction in the Marine Corps for thirty-eight years, attaining the rank of major general while on active duty, and subsequently promoted to Lieutenant General upon retirement. In the early stages of World War II, then-Colonel Howard commanded the 4th Marine Regiment on Bataan and Corregidor from December 7, 1941, to May 6, 1942. For distinguished service in battles, he was awarded the Navy Cross. Captured by the Japanese at Corregidor and held as a prisoner of war from 1942 until being liberated in 1945. He was the most senior U.S. Marine to be held captive during World War II. After the war, he continued to serve in senior command posts until his retirement in 1953.

==Biography== thumb|150px|left|Howard as a VMI cadet in November 1911 Howard was born on March 8, 1891, in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1912. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on May 11, 1914, at which time he reported for duty at the Marine Officers' School, Marine Barracks in Norfolk, Virginia.<ref name=WhosWho/>

===Early military career=== In August 1915, Howard was sent on his first tour of foreign duty to Port au Prince, Haiti, with a Marine Expeditionary regiment, which was sent to Haiti after two Americans were killed by snipers.<ref name="NYT1915">{{cite news|access-date=February 19, 2009 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C0DE4DF1138E633A25752C3A9619C946496D6CF |title=Haitians Kill Two of Our Men; Regiment Going |work=The New York Times |date=July 31, 1915 |page=3}}</ref>

In December 1916, he went to sea as a member of the Marine Detachment aboard the {{USS|Wyoming|BB-32}} and remained on sea duty for almost three years, assuming command of the Marine detachment, {{USS|Georgia|BB-15}} in 1917, and the Marine detachment on the {{USS|New Mexico|BB-40}} in 1918.<ref name=WhosWho/>

Two years of recruiting duty in Richmond, Virginia, and a year at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., preceded the General's second tour of foreign duty, this time with the Second Brigade Marines in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.<ref name=WhosWho/>

Returning to the United States in August 1924, he served at the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California, with the Fourth Marine Regiment until assigned to the Field Officers' Course, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, the following year. Upon graduation in May 1926, he was assigned to duty at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was a member of the War Plans Section, and later a member of the Commandant's Department (then John A. Lejeune).<ref name=WhosWho/>

In June 1929, Howard was sent to Haiti to join the Garde d'Haiti, where his roles included Chief of Police and Department Commander of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He was returned to the U.S. and assumed duties with the First Battalion, Seventh Marines, until August 1934, at which time he was again transferred to Marine Corps Headquarters. From August 1934 until June 1938, he served as the executive officer, Division of Operations and Training, Headquarters Marine Corps.<ref name=WhosWho/>

In June 1938, he was ordered to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, as a student in the Senior Course. While attending the Senior Course he was promoted to colonel on October 1, 1938. Following graduation, Howard joined the Second Brigade, Fleet Marine Force, as commanding officer, Sixth Marine Regiment, later becoming Brigade Executive Officer, and finally Division Chief of Staff of the Marine Division. <ref name="USMC_Generals_WW2">{{cite web|access-date=January 17, 2009 |url=http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=138576 |title=U.S. Marine Corps Generals of World War II}}</ref>

===World War II=== Eight months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Howard moved to his next duty station in China, and on May 14, 1941, he assumed of command the Fourth Marine Regiment at Shanghai.<ref name="Santelli1970">{{cite book |access-date=February 18, 2009 |url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/4thMarchtxt |page=60 |chapter=Commanding Officers, Jonathan M. Wainwright (general) 4th Marines |title=A Brief History of the 4th Marines |series=Marine Corps Historical Reference Pamphlet |first=James S. |last=Santelli |publisher=Historical Division, United States Marine Corps |year=1970}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In September, with the threat of war between the United States and Japan looming, Howard made the recommendation to U.S. Navy commander of the Asiatic Fleet, Admiral Thomas Hart, that the Marine regiment be evacuated from Shanghai.{{sfn|Miller|1997|page=1}} Finally, on November 10, 1941, Howard received orders to prepare to evacuate.

The evacuation of the regiment began on 27 November, with the first group setting sail on the USS ''President Madison''; Howard departed the following day on the USS ''President Harrison''. Once at sea, the 4th Marines received their orders to proceed to the Philippines.{{sfn|Miller|1997|page=2}} The ''Madison'' and ''Harrison'' traveled together, accompanied by two U.S. Navy submarines.{{sfn|Miller|1997|page=2}} Howard arrived at Subic Bay, without incident, on December 1.{{sfn|Miller|1997|page=2}}<ref name="Millett_p356-7"/> The Marines were to immediately began field training. Admiral Hart met with Howard on December 3, and predicted that war with Japan was imminent.{{sfn|Miller|1997|page=2,4}} In the early hours of December 8, Asiatic Fleet headquarters received the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor.{{sfn|Miller|1997|page=5}}

Five days later, Howard and the regiment began the fight that lasted until the fall of Corregidor in May 1942.<ref name="Millett_p356-7"> {{cite book| last = Millett| first = Allan R.| title = Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States Marine Corps| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=sgkbAbwcLfAC&pg=PA356| access-date = January 17, 2009| year = 1991| publisher = Simon and Schuster| isbn = 978-0-02-921596-8| pages = 356–357 }}</ref> U.S. Army Lt. Gen.Jonathan Wainwright ordered all forces to surrender to the Japanese, upon which Colonel Howard ordered the burning of the regimental colors (flag) and the destruction of all the regiment's weapons prior to surrendering. Colonel Howard lamented that he was the first Marine to surrender a regiment.<ref name=RegimentSurrender>{{cite web|accessdate= June 7, 2025 |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-battalion-redesignated/ |title=Storied Marine infantry battalion to be transformed into Littoral Combat Team |first=Jeff |last=Schogol |date=January 8, 2025|work=Task and Purpose}}</ref>

For his distinguished service during the bitter fighting at Bataan and Corregidor, he was awarded the Navy Cross.<ref name=Valor/>

'''Navy Cross citation:'''

Howard's Navy Cross citation reads in part:<ref name=Valor/> : ...Colonel Howard successfully and efficiently employed his force in the defense of Olongapo until ordered to withdraw. The Regiment was then shifted to Corregidor where it rendered outstandingly courageous service in the defense of the beaches of that island fortress...

:During the prolonged siege, Colonel Howard commanded all beach defenses... Although exposed to many and repeated bombing and strafing attacks, and terrific artillery bombardments, Colonel Howard displayed outstanding qualities of courage, leadership and efficiency under most difficult and hazardous conditions.

Howard was taken captive at Corregidor on 6 May 1942<ref name=Valor/> – and was the most senior U.S. Marine taken captive during World War II.<ref name="Rottman2004_p60">{{cite book|last1 = Rottman |first1 = Gordon L.|first2=Duncan|last2=Anderson |title = US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations, 1941–43 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/US_Marine_Corps_Pacific_Theater_of_Opera/LiwVDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=howard | access-date = February 18, 2009| edition = Illustrated| year = 2004| publisher = Osprey Publishing| isbn = 978-1-84176-518-1| page = 60 |quote="...Howard (the most senior Marine taken captive in World War II)"}}</ref> He was forced to march many miles to a prison camp. He was held as a prisoner of war in the Philippines and then in Manchuria.<ref name=Valor/> He was liberated in September 1945.<ref name=Valor>{{cite web|accessdate=6 June 2025 |title=Samuel Lutz Howard |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-7713/|work=Hall of Valor|publisher=Military Times}}</ref>

On August 19, 1942, while a POW, Howard received a promotion to brigadier general; however, he would not formally take the rank until he was back in "the jurisdictional limits of the United States."<ref name=NYT-BGen>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/08/27/archives/marines-are-promoted-ten-one-a-prisoner-are-made-brigadier-generals.html |title=Marines Are Promoted: Ten, One a Prisoner, Are Made Brigadier Generals |date=August 27, 1942 |page=4 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> Howard remained a prisoner of war until liberated in August 1945. He was retroactively promoted to major general, effective March 30, 1942.<ref name=USMC_Generals_WW2/>

He was returned to the United States, and after several months, was ordered to the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina, as Deputy Commanding General. He served as acting commander from February 2, 1946 – February 12, 1946.<ref name="Champie1962">{{cite book|page=28 |url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/parris.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001002181551/http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/parris.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 2, 2000 |chapter=Commanders of Marine Corps Activities at Parris Island, South Carolina, 1891–1956 |title= A Brief History of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 1891–1962 |publisher=Historical Branch, United States Marine Corps |year=1962 |first= Elmore A. |last=Champie}}</ref>

===Post war years=== Returning to China in September 1946, General Howard assumed command of the First Marine Division (Reinforced) with headquarters in Tientsin. Upon withdrawal of the First Marine Division from China in June 1947, he was transferred to Pearl Harbor to become commanding general, Marine Garrison Forces, Pacific, which post to be held until September 1, 1948, when he returned to the United States.<ref name=WhosWho/>

On September 10, 1948, he was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., as president of the Naval Examining Board and president of the Marine Corps Reserve Examining Board.<ref name=WhosWho/>

He assumed his final post as of Inspector General of the Marine Corps on June 6, 1950; holding the post for almost three years.<ref name=WhosWho/><ref name="IG">{{cite web |access-date = January 17, 2009 |url = http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/ig/FormerIGMC/FormerIGMC.htm |title = Former Inspector Generals of the Marine Corps |publisher = United States Marine Corps |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090817042057/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/ig/FormerIGMC/FormerIGMC.htm |archive-date = August 17, 2009 }}</ref>

===Retirement=== Howard retired from the Marine Corps on March 31, 1953, and was advanced to the grade of lieutenant general.<ref name=USMC-bio/>

Howard died on October 12, 1960 at the Bethesda Naval Hospital and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.<ref name=VMI-shortbio/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/141171325 |title=Gen. Howard, Hero of Bataan |first=Robert L. |last=Asher |date=October 15, 1960 |page=D3 |newspaper=The Washington Post |id={{ProQuest|141171325}} |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>[https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgZob3dhcmQSBnNhbXVlbBoBbA--/ Burial Detail: Howard, Samuel L] – ANC Explorer</ref> He left behind his widow, Marianna (née Gray) Howard, and two daughters, Nancy and Mary Elizabeth.<ref name=VMI-shortbio>{{cite web|accessdate=June 7, 2025|url=https://archivesweb.vmi.edu/record.php?ID=5992 |title=Samuel Lutz Howard|work=Historical Roster Database |publisher=Virginia Military Institute}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations== Lieutenant General Howard's decoration and medals include:<ref name=USMC-bio/> {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Marine Corps Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Haitian Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Haiti National Order of Honour and Merit.png|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal (Haiti) - ribbon bar.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Order of the Cloud and Banner 2nd.gif|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Philippine Defense ribbon.png|width=106}} |- |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- | |colspan="2"|Navy Cross | |- |Purple Heart |Army Distinguished Unit Badge w/ 1 oak leaf cluster |Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal w/ 2 service stars |Haitian Campaign Medal (1917) |- |World War I Victory Medal w/ "Atlantic Fleet" clasp |American Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star |Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 service star |World War II Victory Medal |- |National Order of Honour and Merit (Haiti) |Haitian Distinguished Service Medal w/ Diploma |Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner (China) |Philippine Defense Medal with star |- |}

==See also== {{Portal|Biography}} *Bataan Death March - deadly forced march of POWs from the Bataan peninsula to the Japanese prison camp, Camp O'Donnell

==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=WhosWho>{{cite web|access-date=January 16, 2009 |url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Howard_SL.htm |title=Lieutenant General Samuel L. Howard, USMC |work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History |publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615092622/http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Howard_SL.htm |archivedate=June 15, 2011}} </ref> <ref name=USMC-bio>{{cite web|accessdate=June 7, 2025 |url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Gagnon-Ingram/Lieutenant-General-Samuel-L-Howard/#:~:text=Howard,-LIEUTENANT%20GENERAL&text=(DECEASED)-,Lieutenant%20General%20Samuel%20L.,buried%20at%20Arlington%20National%20Cemetery.|title=Lieutenant General Samuel L. Howard, USMC (deceased)|publisher=Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University}} </ref> }}

==Sources== :''This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.'' * {{cite web|access-date=January 16, 2009 |url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Howard_SL.htm |title=Lieutenant General Samuel L. Howard, USMC |work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History |publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615092622/http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Howard_SL.htm |archivedate=June 15, 2011}} *{{cite web|accessdate=June 7, 2025 |url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Gagnon-Ingram/Lieutenant-General-Samuel-L-Howard/#:~:text=Howard,-LIEUTENANT%20GENERAL&text=(DECEASED)-,Lieutenant%20General%20Samuel%20L.,buried%20at%20Arlington%20National%20Cemetery.|title=Lieutenant General Samuel L. Howard, USMC (deceased)|publisher=Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book|url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003140-00/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013231346/http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003140-00/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2006 |title=From Shanghai to Corregidor:Marines in the Defense of the Philippines |first= J. Michael |last= Miller |series=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series |year=1997 |publisher=Marine Corps Historical Center, United States Marine Corps |location=Washington, D.C.}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Samuel Lutz}} Category:1891 births Category:1960 deaths Category:Military personnel from Washington, D.C. Category:Virginia Military Institute alumni Category:American military personnel of the Banana Wars Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I Category:Naval War College alumni Category:American prisoners of war in World War II Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Japan Category:Bataan Death March prisoners Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Category:United States Marine Corps World War II generals Category:United States Marine Corps generals Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery