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Home Town Philadelphia and West Orange, New Jersey
Last Address Capt. John David 'Dixie' Howell, USN (Ret), 90, of Johnson City, TN, died Wednesday, November 25, 2009, at the Johnson City Medical Center after a lengthy illness. John donated his body to the James H. Quillen College of Medicine.
Date of Passing Nov 25, 2009
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Capt. John David 'Dixie' Howell, USN
John Howell was appointed to the United States Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Maryland and was graduated in the class of 1940 with top honors.
During World War II, John, a naval officer, saw action in the Pacific theater. As Plotting Officer aboard the USS Boise (CL-47) he was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic measures during action against enemy Japanese naval forces off Savo Island during the Battle of Cape Esperance on the night of October 11, 1942. After most efficiently performing his duties in Plot during action, Lieutenant Howell left Plot of his own volition, when the ship broke off the action, and entered the Five-inch magazines. Here he organized working parties to shift five-inch ammunition from flooding magazines to dry ones, thereby saving many rounds of ammunition. He had all magazine doors securely dogged which prevented further flooding. As Plotting Room Officer Lieutenant Howell knew the dangerous condition the ship was in, yet he did not hesitate to enter the danger area and do all in his power to save the ship, at the risk of his own life. He also received the Purple Heart Medal for injuries sustained during battle.
He became a Naval Aviator and participated in Operation Highjump as part of Admiral Richard Byrd’s 1946-1947 Antarctic Expedition. He served on the aircraft carriers USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) and USS Hancock (CV-19). As Captain, John Howell re-commissioned the tanker USS Kaskaskia (AO-27), participating in the sea recovery for NASA’s Project Mercury and the Cuban Missile Crisis naval blockade.
John retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain. He later became a Master in the Merchant Marines. As Master, he captained large commercial ships throughout the world.
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Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant John David Howell, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Plotting Room Officer on board the Light Cruiser U.S.S. BOISE (CL-47), during action against enemy Japanese naval forces off Savo Island during the Battle of Cape Esperance on the night of 11 - 12 October 1942. After most efficiently performing his duties in Plot during action, Lieutenant Howell left Plot of his own volition, when the ship broke off the action, and entered the Five-inch magazines. Here he organized working parties to shift five-inch ammunition from flooding magazines to dry ones, thereby saving many rounds of ammunition. He had all magazine doors securely dogged which prevented further flooding. As Plotting Room Officer Lieutenant Howell know the dangerous condition the ship was in, yet he did not hesitate to enter the danger area and do all in his power to save the ship, at the risk of his own life. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.
Action Date: October 11 - 12, 1942 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Company: Plotting Room Officer Division: U.S.S. Boise (CL-47)
Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)/Battle of Savo Island
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
August / 1942
Description On 7 Aug 1942, the United States committed to its first land based counterattack. The Marines landed at both Tulagi and Guadalcanal, on both sides of Savo Sound. The installation at Guadalcanal was mostly construction workers and was an easy landing. The more established base at Tulagi involved heavy fighting, but was captured in two days. The Japanese responded immediately with air attacks from their bomber bases in New Britain (Rabaul) from the north and fighter strips in the northern Solomons (Bougainville). US carrier planes operating near the invasion fleet in Savo Sound defended. Thirty-three enemy were shot down for a loss of 12 US planes, one destroyer crippled, and a transport, George F. Elliot (AP-13), set afire and lost. The IJN also sent the Eighth Fleet from Rabaul to attack the US beachhead. This fleet (VAdm Mikawa) consisted of five heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and a destroyer.
The western approaches to Savo Sound were guarded by a screening force of six heavy cruisers and six destroyers (the battle fleet had been destroyed at Pearl Harbor) in two groups covering both passages. Radar pickets were the destroyers Blue (DD-387) and Ralph Talbot (DD-390) deployed west of Savo Island. The south passage was defended by HMAS Australia (flagship of RAdm Crutchley, RN), HMAS Canberra, USS Chicago (CA-29), Bagley (DD-386) and Patterson (DD-392). The northern group was made up of Vincennes (CA-44), Quincy (CA-39), Astoria (CA-34) and destroyers Helm (DD-391) and Wilson (DD-408). The eastern approaches also had a screening force, made up of light cruisers San Juan (CL-54 flag), HMAS Hobart, and destroyers Monssen (DD-436) and Buchanan (DD-484).
The IJN 8th fleet of fast cruisers arrived the second night and meet the US screening force for the Battle of Savo Island. At the same time, the three US carriers and their escorts, including North Carolina (BB-55), six cruisers, and 16 destroyers, were withdrawing to get out of sight of land-based bombers from Rabaul.
The enemy force of fast cruisers sent out scout floatplanes that reported the American forces. Both radar picket ships (radar range about 10 miles) were at the extreme ends of their patrols sailing away from the Japanese fleet which passed undetected about 500 yards from Blue. The enemy was lost in the visual and radar shadow of nearby Savo Island. Allied ships were faintly silhouetted by a freighter burning far over the horizon. The enemy discovered the southern force and fired torpedoes before they were detected. Simultaneously with the explosions, the scout plane dropped flares illuminating the allied fleet. Canberra was stuck by two torpedoes and heavy shelling. The US ships fired star shells and opened fire. Chicago of the southern force was torpedoed. The Jap force turned north in two columns. The northern defense force had not gotten the word, there was a rain squall in the area, and they assumed the southern force was shooting at aircraft. The two Jap columns passed on each side of the US force and opened fire on Astoria, Quincy, and Vincennes. The American captains ordered "cease fire" assuming they were Americans firing on their own ships. Vincennes caught a torpedo. Robert Talbot came charging south and was attacked first by friendly fire and then raked by the enemy escaping to the north. Quincy and Vincennes went down. During rescue operations for Canberra, Patterson was fired on by Chicago. Canberra was sunk the next morning to prevent capture as the US fleet left the waters that was hereafter called Iron Bottom Sound. Astoria sank about noon while under tow. Chicago had to undergo repair until Jan'43.
In just 32 minutes the enemy had inflicted massive damage. Four heavy cruisers were sunk and a heavy cruiser and destroyer badly damaged. 1,270 men were killed and 708 injured. The enemy had comparative scratches on three cruisers.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
August / 1942
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories During World War II, John, a naval officer, saw action in the Pacific theater. As Plotting Officer aboard the USS Boise (CL-47) he was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic measures during action against enemy Japanese naval forces off Savo Island during the Battle of Cape Esperance on the night of October 11, 1942. After most efficiently performing his duties in Plot during action, Lieutenant Howell left Plot of his own volition, when the ship broke off the action, and entered the Five-inch magazines. Here he organized working parties to shift five-inch ammunition from flooding magazines to dry ones, thereby saving many rounds of ammunition. He had all magazine doors securely dogged which prevented further flooding. As Plotting Room Officer Lieutenant Howell knew the dangerous condition the ship was in, yet he did not hesitate to enter the danger area and do all in his power to save the ship, at the risk of his own life. He also received the Purple Heart Medal for injuries sustained during battle.
Navy Cross