JOHN M. HOWARD, ENS, USNR

John Howard '41

Date of birth: August 20, 1917

Date of death: June 11, 1942

Age: 24

Naval Academy Register

John Martin Howard was admitted to the Naval Academy from Pennsylvania on June 17, 1937 at age 19 years 10 months.

He resigned on February 7, 1939 because he was "Deficient in studies, first term's work. Recommended to be dropped. Permitted to resign."

Lucky Bag

John Martin Howard is one of the names listed below this passage:

These are the men who have been at one time members of the Class of Nineteen Hundred Forty-one, but for various reasons—often things over which they had no control—they did not remain to finish with us. Some of them are now in civilian life, and to them we with all the success that life can offer. Others are members of classes now in the Academy, and for them we hope that our meeting as brother officers in the Service, though delayed, is no less certain of fulfillment.

From the group photo of the 6th Company youngsters (3/c) in the 1938 Lucky Bag.

Loss

From Find A Grave:

He died on hazardous duty along with Lieutenant Commander Roy Berryman Edwards D S O of the British Royal Navy [H.M.S. Watchful]. They were killed at Corton Sands near Lowestoft while attempting to render safe a German GT moored mine. Both are commemorated on a special memorial in the minster church [St Nicholas] of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Other Information

From EOD Warrior Foundation:

John M. Howard was born in Chester, PA on Aug. 20, 1917. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1935 at the age of 17. He was appointed as a Midshipman in November, 1940, and reported to U.S.S. Illinois. Following his commissioning and a brief tour with the Local Defense Force, Fourth Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the Advanced Mine School (later named Mine Disposal School) in January, 1942, and was one of a select number sent to England to observe the Royal Navy and Royal Engineers during their work with live German Mines.
HMS Mirtle was established as a Mine Investigation Range in a disused quarry after the 6 August 1940 tragedy that occurred at HMS Vernon where a booby‑trapped German type "C" mine exploded killing one RN Officer and two ratings. This "hush‑hush" establishment was dubbed "Mirtle" because it was the most pleasant name the British could think of beginning with MIR, Mine Investigation Range.
Ens. Howard was killed 11 June 1942 on Corton sands at Garton, near Lowestoft and south of Great Yarmouth, while observing a RMS being performed by Lcdr. Roy Berryman Edwards, RN, DSO, BEM (Military). Both John Howard and Roy Edwards were killed by the detonation of a German, moored, magnetic influence mine, TMA‑1 ("T" for Tommy) which had washed ashore.

(Note the November 1940 date indicates a second time he was appointed as a midshipman.)

John was a graduate of Media High School, Media, Pennsylvania, and had "studied at Admiral Farragut Academy, the US Naval Academy, and Swarthmore College. Late in 1940 he left the campus to take the 90-day course for the Naval Reserve. After receiving his commission in February 1941 he was called to duty last June. He was survived by his parents and fiancée of two years, Eleanor Anne Broome. (From The Philadelphia Inquirer on June 18, 1942.)