John Martin Howard (20 August 1917 – 11 June 1942) was a
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
officer from
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
who served during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
as a
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, any ...
disposalman. He died along with Lcdr. Roy Berryman Edwards in a naval mine explosion while observing the disarming of a German mine that washed ashore in England. Howard was the first U.S. Navy mine disposal personnel killed in the war. Howard and Edwards were recognized in a special plaque in the St. Nicolas minister church in Great Yarmouth, England and the
USS John M. Howard (IX-75) was named in Howard's honor.
Early life
Howard was born in
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located within the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, it is the only city in Delaware County and had a population of 32,605 as of the 2020 census.
Incorporated in 1682, Chester is ...
. He was a graduate of Media High School and studied at
Admiral Farragut Academy
Admiral Farragut Academy, established in 1933, is a private, college-prep school serving students in grades K-12. Farragut is located in St. Petersburg, Florida in Pinellas County and is surrounded by the communities of Treasure Island, Gulf ...
, the U.S. Naval Academy and
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the earliest coeduca ...
. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 22 June 1935. In June 1937 he reported to the Naval Academy but resigned on February 7, 1939. He was behind in his studies and was recommended to be dropped, but was allowed to resign. After the completion of training from 1940-1941 at the Naval Reserve Midshipman's School, Howard was appointed Ensign on 28 February 1941.
On March 7, 1941, Howard graduated from the third class at the Advanced Mine School, later renamed the Mine Disposal School at the
Naval Gun Factory
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It inc ...
(Washington Naval Yard). Howard was among the select members of that class that were sent to England to observe and gain experience with Royal Navy and Royal Engineers in mine disarming and disposal. He was assigned to the Royal Navy shore establishment,
H.M.S. Mirtle, in an abandoned quarry designated a Mine Investigation Range where enemy mines and other ordinance were brought to be examined in detail.
Naval mine accident
A German moored magnetic mine, TMA-1 came ashore at
Corton Sands, England and Lcdr. Roy Berryman Edwards, RN, DSO, BEM took the assignment to disarm the mine. Howard was to observe the operation. Edwards requested permission from the Admiralty in London to go ahead as he had successfully disarmed a similar mine earlier but was told to await an officer with current intelligence on German mines. Edwards called again asking permission as he felt fully qualified and, on 11 June proceeded with Howard observing. Observers on the cliff, at a safe distance, observed Edwards removing the mechanism plate with Howard close by. The mine's 470 lb charge detonated killing Howard and Edwards and scatted debris for two hundred yards in each direction along the beach. Ensign Howard was the first U.S. Navy mine disposal person killed.
[
Investigation by the officer intended to assist, if Edwards had waited, revealed that the mine did not have a new anti-tampering device, but an old and previously unknown one. The U.S. Navy Bomb Disposal Intelligence Bulletin published 1 November 1944 noted that regardless of mechanical events "the fact remains that the tragedy can be definitely and directly attributed to an utter disregard for established and proven RMS Procedure."][
]
Legacy
Howard was buried at sea and is commemorated on the Tablets of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial is a World War II American military war grave cemetery, located between the villages of Coton and Madingley, north-west of Cambridge, England. The cemetery, dedicated in 1956, contains 3,811 American ...
in Coton, Cambridgeshire
Coton is a small village and civil parish about three miles (about 5 km) west of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England and about the same distance east of the Prime Meridian. It is in the district of South Cambridgeshire. The parish covers an ...
, England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. Both Howard and Edwards were commemorated on a special plaque in the St. Nicholas minster church in Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth (), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside town and unparished area in, and the main administrative centre of, the Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. A pop ...
, England.
The USS ''John M. Howard'' (IX-75) was named in his honor.[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, John Martin
1917 births
1942 deaths
United States Navy personnel killed in World War II
Bomb disposal personnel
Burials at sea
Deaths by explosive device
People from Chester, Pennsylvania
United States Navy officers
Military personnel from Pennsylvania