Howard A. McDowell
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Howard A. McDowell of Hibbing, Minnesota was inducted into the Naval Reserve on June 27, 1944.
He was a Seaman 1st Class on the USS Columbia (CL 56) in the Pacific Theater. He participated in the bombardment of Balikpapen, Borneo, for five to seven days preceding the landing to secure the beachhead and oil refinery. He joined the 3rd Fleet at Okinawa preparing for the invasion of Japan invasion. The surrender of the Truk Island by Japanese was held aboard the Columbia.
"Truk was to Japan as Pearl Harbor was to the U.S."
He was discharged in May 1946.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 200.
Mr. McDowell was an active member of many clubs, including VFW Post 8510 of Hibbing, MN and the Press-Lloyd American Legion Post 247 of Chisholm, MN. Mr. McDowell passed away on September 25, 2002.
