Howie, who was killed in WWII action, was finally located, identified, brought home, and given full military funeral at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery
BY JIM BEERS Contributing Writer
CHESTER – James Mills Howie was born June 12, 1919 to M.S. and Minerva Howie. He was a member of the United States Air Force and fought bravely in World War II. In the summer of 1943 he was assigned to the 345th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), of the 9th Air Force. Howie was a Technical Sgt. Operating a radio on his assigned aircrafts.
August 1, 1943 he was on a mission on board a B-24 Liberator Bomber, fondly branded as the “Kate Smith”, when his airship was struck by anti-aircraft fire causing the B-24 to crash. The incident was while Howie and his crew were taking part in Operation Tidal Wave which was one of the largest bombing missions in Ploiesti, North of Bucharest, Romania. His goal was to destroy oil fields and refineries which supplied fuel to the enemy.
According to Jim C. Howie of Chester, Sgt. Howie’s grandson, “There was only one survivor found that was on board the B-24 that crashed August 1, 1943. That survivor said that just prior to the time the plane actually fell to the ground, just he and Howie were still alive. After the crash, he did not see Howie again.” His remains were not found near the site.
Details of the supposed death of James Mills Howie can be found at “Missing Air Crew Report # 226” in the archived records of the 345th Bombardment Squadron. Remains that could not be identified were buried as “Unknowns” in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Romania.
When WWII ended, more than 80 unidentified remains from the raid were disinterred from the Bolovan Cemetery. The group conducting this effort was titled, The American Graves Registration Command (AGRC). This unit searched for and recovered fallen American Personnel. Of the 80 remains inspected, none were able to be identified.
Those 80 remains were permanently interred at Ardennes American Cemetery and Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium.
Jim C. Howie, James Mills’ grandson said, “From 1943 until 1946 my grandfather was listed as “MIA” (Missing in Action). There had been some rumors that he was possibly a Prisoner of War (POW), but that was never confirmed. In 1946, his status was changed to ‘Missing-KIA’ or Killed in Action”.
“For years both sides of the war often exchanged lists of service men and women who they had listed as POW’s or KIA, but my grandfather never appeared on any of those lists. I listened to many stories as a kid about my grandfather from some of my relatives, however no one knew for sure what his fate was.”
For the next 60 years there were no factual information reports as to the whereabouts or the fate of James Mills Howie.
In 2017, however, the DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) began exhuming “unknowns” believed to have been associated with ‘unaccounted-for’ airmen from the 1943 ‘Operation Tidal Wave’ raid.
Those remains were sent to the DPAA Lab at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska for re-examination and identification.
Jim C. Howie said, “Sometime in the 70’s some government agency contacted my relatives to obtain DNA samples such as hair. I am not sure which family member gave it to them or what exactly they gave them, but the government now had some DNA to use for identification purposes.”
According to Howie, in August of 2022, an Air Force Base in Alaska began to identify soldiers from the raid. Howie said, “I am not sure the name of this base, but it is supposedly the only one in the country that does this type of comparison and identification.”
To finally identify James Mills Howie’s remains, the scientists at Offutt AFB used dental and anthropological analysis as well as circumstantial evidence to determine that the remains were those of Sgt. Howie.
Jim Howie of Chester said, “In July of last year, 2022, we got a call from Ft. Campbell Kentucky notifying us that they had been successful in identifying several other soldiers from the raid in which my grandfather was involved. In August of 2022 it was apparent that they had definitely identified my grandfather.”
It took 80 years, but Technical Sgt. James Mills Howie was finally returned to his home town of Chester. According to Jim C. Howie, his grandfather’s remains were flown from Nebraska to St. Louis where they awaited an official Military pick up by the surviving Howie family along with an Air Force Honor Guard.
On Friday May 26 the group was escorted back to Chester by the Howie Family, the Military Honor Guard, the Illinois State Police and the Patriot Guard, a motorcycle group of former military servicemen and women.
Prior to the departure from St. Louis International Airport, there was a short ceremony after which the group began their trip to Chester. Once arriving in Chester the group ended their trip at Pechacek Funeral Home where Sgt. Howie’s remains were housed until the Military Funeral Saturday June 3.
On Friday June 2 an organization called, “The Flagman’s Mission” placed American Flags at the entrance to Pechacek Funeral Home and all along the road leading to the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery and throughout the cemetery leading to the funeral site.
Prior to the funeral, an Air Force Military Honor Guard met at the residence of James C. Howie for a brief ceremony in which Sgt. Howie’s medals and other official honors were presented to the family.
Following the ceremony at the Howie home, the family met at Pechacek Funeral Home where they joined the Patriot Guard, the Chester Police, other family members and Pechacek staff. Once Sgt. Howie was safely placed in the Pechacek vehicle, the group was escorted to the Catholic Cemetery.
The funeral was held at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery Saturday June 3 at 11:00 a.m. It was a very clear, warm, sunny day, but there was a nice steady breeze which helped to make the event pleasant.
Once the group arrived at the cemetery, they were met by the Air Force Honor Guard, Chester Police, a combined group of approximately 20 Chester American Legion Post 487 and Chester VFW 3553 Color Guard members, The Patriotic Guard Honor Group, a bagpipe player and approximately 75 citizens of Chester and the surrounding area.
Officiating the funeral was Catholic Priest Fr. Elvis Mwamba who was substituting for Fr. Sebastian Ukoh who was called away. Pechacek staff also assisted with the proceedings.
Several Federal, State, County, and local dignitaries were also in attendance to honor Sgt. James Mills Howie. Included in that group were United States Congressman, Mike Bost; State Senator, Terri Bryant; State Representative David Friess; Randolph County Circuit Clerk, Julie Carnahan; Randolph County Commissioner, Ronnie White; and City of Chester Alderman, Don Berry.
Fr. Mwamba began service with prayer and liturgy. Throughout the service, music was provided from start-to-finish with bagpipe. Immediately following a very impressive fly over by a United States Air Force B1 bomber; there was a Salute by the Air Force Firing Squad.
To conclude the service, the Air Force Honor Guard conducted the ceremonial folding of the American Flag and presented it to Jim C. Howie, surviving grandson of Technical Sgt. James Mills.
After a brief wait accompanied by more bagpipe music, there was a second fly over, this time by a Commemorative Air Force B-25 Bomber that was very similar to the B-24 Bomber that carried Sgt. Howie into battle. That fly over was a very fitting closure to a very heart-warming, emotional, patriotic, Military Funeral.
Following the ceremony, there was plenty of time for visiting the family of James C. Howie to reminisce and extend condolences.
Looking out towards Palestine Road which runs in front of the Catholic Cemetery, flags flew in the wind along the road, throughout the cemetery and in the yards of neighbors who lived along Palestine Road. People stood throughout the cemetery and in yards along the way to pay tribute to the fallen WWII Technical Sgt. James Mills Howie.
Jim Howie of Chester said, “Our family is rather disjointed. We have some distant second or third cousins, but my immediate family, Laura and children Hunter and Tayler, are the primary survivors of my grandfather, Tech. Sgt. James Mills Howie. We are all very grateful for all of the support we have been given throughout this long process.”
“It is hard to put into words, but this whole process has been wonderful and an incredible experience. We are very grateful for all of the agencies and individuals that it took to get him from Romania, to Belgium, to St. Louis and then home to Chester.”
“This whole process has been much more meaningful than we thought it would be. We are super excited to have this celebration of life for my grandfather and hope that this experience will shed some light on those service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country.”
The Howie Blood Line
M.S. Howie: He and wife Minerva gave birth to James Mills Howie on June 12th 1919. (M.S. and Minerva are great grandparents of survivor Jim C. Howie of Chester).
James Mills Howie: He and wife Irma C. Howie gave birth to James Jim L. Howie. They lived at 1150 George Street in Chester. (James Mills and Irma C. Howie are grandparents of survivor Jim C. Howie of Chester).
Several Federal, State, County and City dignitaries attend funeral of Technical Sgt. James Mills Howie to pay respects. Pictured (left to right) are David Friess, State Representative; Julie Carnahan, Randolph County Circuit Clerk; Terri Bryant, State Senator; Ronnie White, Randolph County Commissioner; and Mike Bost, Congressman. Not pictured: Don Berry, City of Chester Alderman. Jim Beers Photo
Immediately following the conclusion of the funeral of his grandfather, Technical Sgt. James Mills Howie, Jim C. Howie of Chester, speaks with the excellent bagpipe player who provided appropriate music for the service. Howie proudly holds the American Flag that was presented to him by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard to close out the event. Jim Beers Photo
Fr. Elvis Mwamba from the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows officiated the funeral of Technical Sgt. James Mills Howie Saturday June 3. He did a wonderful job and made everyone in attendance feel comfortable at the Funeral Service. Jim Beers Photo
The Jim C. Howie Family and relatives, sit under the funeral tent Saturday June 3 at the funeral of Howie’s Grandfather, Technical Sgt. James Mills Howie. The event took place at the Catholic Cemetery in Chester with Fr. Sebastian Ukoh officiating the service. Also, on hand was a United States Air Force Honor Guard, a combined Chester American Legion Post 487 and Chester VFW Post 3553 Honor Guard, The Patriot Guard, a bagpipe player, and others who came to honor Howie. Jim Beers Photo
Part of the United States Air Force Honor Guard, the Bugler stands at the ready to play TAPS for the funeral of Tech. Sgt. James Mills Howie Saturday June 3 at the Catholic Cemetery in Chester. Jim Beers Photo
A combined honor guard consisting of members of the Chester American Legion Post 487 and the Chester VFW Post 3553 gather to honor Tech. Sgt. James Mills Howie Saturday June 3 at the Catholic Cemetery in Chester. Joining them was one Chester Boy Scout. The entire group stood together to honor Sgt. Howie throughout his funeral. Jim Beers Photo
The “Patriot Guard” a group of veterans that travel to various patriotic events, came to Chester the morning of Saturday June 3rd to escort the ashes of Tech. Sgt. James Mills Howie from Pechacek Funeral Home to the Catholic Cemetery in Chester for Howie’s funeral. The group travels on motorcycles and serve as a non-government honor guard at such occasions. Shown here, the Guard organizes at the funeral tent that housed the immediate Howie Family during the service. Jim Beers Photo