Thomas D. Howie: "The Major of St. Lo"

On this day 80 years ago, Major Thomas Howie was killed in action in the outskirts of St. Lo. It was the day before the 29th Infantry Division captured the town. Howie’s body was taken into St. Lo that day and was placed on the rubble of St. Croix Cathedral.

Here is a brief biography of the man whom we will always remember:

Thomas Dry Howie

Born: Abbeville, South Carolina (April 12, 1908)

Died: St. Lo, France (July 17, 1944)

·      Howie graduated from the Citadel in 1929.

·      He accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps - June 4, 1929.

·      Transferred to the Virginia National Guard on January 10, 1934 - Company “L” / 2nd Battalion / 116th Infantry Regiment.

·      Promoted to first lieutenant on 18 June 1941.

·      Promoted to captain on 13 April 1942.

·      Promoted to major on 9 November 1942.

·      July 13, 1944, Major Howie was assigned to command the 3rd Battalion / 116th Infantry Regiment / 29th ID.

·      On July 16, the 3rd Battalion was given the task of rescuing their comrades of the 2nd Battalion which had been surrounded and were nearly out of food and ammunition; using only hand grenades and bayonets Howie's men broke through the German forces on the “Martinsville Line” in less than 2 hours despite being at only half strength. Howie personally led the attack and eliminated 2 enemy machine gun nests.

·      After resupplying his fellow soldiers he then left the 2nd Battalion to defend their position, reporting that they were "too cut up", and planned to use the 3rd Battalion alone to push ahead and liberate St. Lô. On the morning of July 17, Howie phoned Major General Charles Gerhardt, the division commander, saying “Yes, we can do it” and "See you in St. Lo!"; then issued orders for the attack. Moments later he was killed by shrapnel during a mortar barrage.

·      The photo of Howie's flag-draped body in the rubble of the St. Croix Cathedral was widely circulated in the United States. Because of wartime security, Howie's name could not be revealed and it was only announced that the person in the photograph was "a U.S. Army major." New York Times correspondent Drew Middleton dubbed Howie "The Major of St. Lo".

·      Combat Infantry Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, French Croix de Guerre, Legion of Honor (among others).