World War II Honoree

Howard William Reather

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Midland, Arkansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 11, 1942. SERVED AS AN AIRPLANE PROPELLER TECHNICIAN OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. STATIONED IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS; MARIANA ISLANDS; AND ON OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. HE WAS ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945 WHEN THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT FORMALLY SURRENDERED TO THE ALLIES ON BOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS MISSOURI (BB-63), AND PRESIDENT TRUMAN PROCLAIMED VICTORY OVER JAPAN DAY (V-J DAY). AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE TECHNICIAN QUALIFICATION BADGE WITH AIRPLANE PROPELLER SPECIALIST BAR. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON DECEMBER 20, 1945 AS A SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. REENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AND SERVED AS A CHAPLAIN IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL.