Submitted by: Dan Rich

Bernard Joseph Howland

South Bend Tribune - November 21, 1942, November 24, 1942, August 2, 1943 and March 12, 1948

Bernard Joseph Howland was born April 21, 1922 in Mishawaka, St. Joseph County IN, and died October 26, 1942. He was killed in action on Guadacanal, US Marines, World War II, Pfc. 7 Regt., 1 Div USMC. He was the first Mishawaka member of the armed forces killed in World War II.

November 21, 1942, His parents were notified by telegram from the War Department that he had been killed in action. He had enlisted in the Marines on January 7,1942, just weeks after the war began. On November 10th his parents had received a letter from him saying in was in Guadacanal.

On August 2, 1943 his parents were presented with his Purple Heart Certificate by Col. John Dixon of the US Marines, with the engraved Purple Heart Medal to arrive about 2 months later.

With the presentation of the Certificate, a citation was presented to his parents from Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox. It was issued in the name of the marine division under the command of Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift. It read as follows:

"The officers and enlisted men of the First Marine division reinforced, on August 7th to 9th, 1942, demonstrated outstanding gallantry and determination in successfully executed forced landing assaults against a number of strongly defended Japanese positions in Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, Florida and Guadalcanel, British Solomon Islands, completely routing all the enemy forces and seizing a most valuable base and airfield within the enemy zone of operations in the South Pacific ocean. From the above period until December 9, 1942, this reinforced division not only held their important strategic positions despite determined and repeated Japanese naval, air and land attacks, but by a series of offensive operations against strong enemy resistance drove the Japanese from the proximity of the airfield and inflicted great losses on them by land and air attacks. The courage and determination displayed in these operations were of an inspiring order."

His body was returned to his parents on March, 2,1948 by the US Government as they chose to bury him in Mishawaka, rather than in Arlington National Cemetery to which he was entitled. He was buried in the family plot next to where they were later interrned.

Final Services were held November 24, 1942, Requiem High Mass at St. Monica's Catholic Church, Mishawaka, St. Joseph County IN

March 04, 1948, Memorial Mass at St. Monica's Catholic Church, Mishawaka, St. Joseph County IN. Members of the VFW and the American Legion conducted full military burial at the gravesite, Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka, St. Joseph County IN