Edited by
Wally Howerton
Contributing Editors
John F. Howerton
Bryan R. Howerton
Volume Five, Issue 3 Summer 2001
FROM THE EDITOR
Greeting Cousins:
Whew! What a summer! I'm almost glad that school is starting up again. I undertook a community service this summer and managed the Richwood City Swimming Pool which just about sucked the life force out of me. It was fun and we made many quality improvements for our area residents.
It made me realize that it was becoming extremely hard for me to publish a hard-copy of the Howerton Heritage Newsletter and more specifically, to be on time with it and do quality work. So, to maintain the quality and timeliness of the Newsletter, I have decided that I will discontinue the hard-copy edition after the Spring 2002 edition.
I hope this doesn't cause an inconvenience for anyone. Instead of being sad, I am overjoyed, as now I will not be restricted to how many pages or how many pictures I decide to use. Look for future issues on the internet to be even better than they have been.
Regards,
Wally
Admiral Charles Cabaness Howerton
Letters From the Old Writing Desk
Obituary: Clifford Scott Howerton
BRYAN
ROSCOE HOWERTON
by Wally
Howerton
Usually, when writing or compiling a story from our Howerton Database, I know what I am looking for. Not true in the next article! Out of maybe 30 or 40 DB files I selected one at random and scrolled down and stopped on an article about a little girl, Maxine LaVerne Howerton, who happened to be Bryan Howerton's sister who died before he was born. I was so moved by the article that I decided to read on and discovered Bryan's story immediately following. This is what Bryan wrote about himself many years ago. I have included afew bits of information but in no way have I altered his story. Enjoy!
Bryan Roscoe Howerton was born 25 Dec 1925 at Black Rock, Lawrence Co, Ark; the son of Roscoe Emiul Howerton 10-221 and Lucinda "Louise" Segraves.
Bryan lived with his parents at Black Rock, Ark where his father was employed as a school teacher and part time clerk in a mercantile store operated by J Crone.
In 1926 the family resided near White Rose School in Lawrence Co, Ark until the flood of 1927 washed away their home, school house where his father was teaching, and the crop of cotton owned by his father.
The first memories of Bryan R Howerton are those of being in a "John" boat, in which his father removed the family from their home and rowed across the flooded land into Black River where they were taken aboard a steamboat gathering refugees from the flood.
They remained on the steamboat for two or three days. The family then moved to St Francois Co, Mo where his father was employed as a miner in the lead mines - the family lived at Evans, Mo for a time and later at Flat River where his father also operated a small grocery store.
In 1930 the family moved to Ouachita Co, Ark and lived near the village of Louann, Ark where Roscoe E Howerton was employed first by the state highway department and later by a paper mill.
In the winter of 1931-32 the family moved to Monette, Craighead Co, Ark where they lived for a time with Bryan's paternal grandparents, later moving into a home of their own.
Lucinda "Louise" Segraves Howerton died 13 Nov 1933 during childbirth at Monette. Following the death of his mother, Bryan and his family were sometimes separated with he or some of his siblings living in the homes of relatives in Craighead, Greene, Lawrence, or Sharp Co, Ark.
He enjoyed little of the recreation and play common for others of his age due to the loss of his mother and his position as the eldest of five surviving children. At a very early age he was encouraged to find odd jobs to augment family income. He maintained three separate newspaper routes, mowed lawns on a scheduled basis from Monday through Friday during the appropriate season, sold vegetables and garden produce from door-to-door, and worked at various farm labor tasks, construction work, etc., for whomever would hire him. (The social engineering imposed by our national government at present would probably not permit a young child to work as was common during the 1930s. Since that time, the limitations of authorized parental and school authority are probably responsible to a high degree for the moral and educational decline of many of our present-day youth. Perhaps society was better off when young children were expected to assist the family as necessary.)
About 1939 the entire family moved to Los Angeles, California where his father was employed in various heavy manufacturing factories. Bryan attended Metropolitan High School and was first employed at a factory making storage battery components, then as a messenger for Western Union Telegraph Co; and finally as a bonded messenger for Red Arrow Delivery Co, all in Los Angeles. On 9 Jan 1943 Bryan enlisted in the U S Navy (Regular) as an Apprentice Seaman. He underwent basic training at USN Training Base, San Diego, California and USMC Camp Elliot, San Diego, Calif. He departed the continental U S in August 1943 from US Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, California and returned to the U S In May 1945 having served primarily on aircraft carriers, USS Bunker Hill and USS Cowpens, and numerous islands in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II. From the outset, he served in bombers or bombing type aircraft, both seaplanes and carrier type aircraft.
Upon return to the US he was assigned to a squadron equipped with PB2Y-3 Coronado seaplanes located at US Naval Air Station, Alameda, Calif., following World War II his squadron was equipped with JRM-2 Martin Mars seaplanes (The world's largest airplane at that time, which operated in the Pacific Ocean area with detachments located in Hawaii, Kwajalein, Saipan, Philippines, and Shanghai, China.) He earned rapid promotions during the war, becoming a Petty Officer First Class at age 19. Upon discharge from the Regular Navy transferred to the U S Naval Reserve as a Petty Officer First Class on 19 Feb 1947.
On 12 Nov 1945 he married Imogene Freeman (b 21 Oct 1926 at Nelsonville, Sharp Co, Ark); the daughter of Thomas Barney Freeman and Mary Ellen Nichols, at the Methodist Church in Evening Shade, Sharp Co, Ark; ceremony was performed by Rev. M B Short. Immediately after the ceremony they departed by automobile for San Francisco, California where Bryan was stationed at NAS Alameda. On 28 Jul 1947 he transferred to the US Army Air Forces (Regular) in the grade of Technical Sergeant as a (primary) airborne radio operator and (secondary) supply sergeant. The Army Air Forces became independent of the U S Army later in 1947 and became the U S Air Force, within which the majority of his service would be with the Strategic Air Command, with about 4 years in Far East and Pacific Air Forces, and over 4 years in Headquarters, U S Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Bryan and Jean are the parents of three children: Bryan Richard, born 30 Mar 1947 at Batesville, Independence Co, AR; Peggy Elaine, born 12 May 1949 at Tucson, Pima County, AZ; and Donald R Howerton, born 3 May 1951 at Tucson, Pima County, AZ. Jean and the children accompanied him on overseas duty assignments on Guam, Okinawa, and Hawaii.
In January 1951 Bryan was promoted to Master Sergeant (highest enlisted grade at that time) and in 1952, after competing in AF-wide examinations, was appointed Warrant Officer (junior grade) in the Air Force Reserve. On 9 Jun 1955 he was confirmed as a Warrant Officer (junior grade) in the Regular Air Force. About 3 or 4 years later the USAF discontinued the appointment of new warrant officers. Those on board at that time were continued in service, filling positions for which Captains, Majors, or Lt Colonels were authorized.
Throughout his military career, he primarily served in the aerial bombardment area from torpedo and dive bombing in the U S Navy to intercontinental strategic bombing in the USAF - the last several years of his service were spent in staff assignments at headquarters at various levels where he developed operational procedures and regularly inspected operations of subordinate units. From 1947 until 1954 he was a member of the 43rd Bombardment Group, an elite nuclear-equipped unit of the Strategic Air Command. His unit pioneered the use of the British Hose System of air refueling, using B-50A Bombers and KB-29 Tankers (converted from B-29 Bombers) and utilizing that system, in 1949 one of their aircraft, “Lucky Lady” (later renamed “City of Tucson”), was the first to fly around the world non-stop. During the Korean War his unit (64th Bomb Squadron, 43rd Bomb Group) was deployed to Andersen AB, Guam, Mariana Islands, in preparation for possible entry into the Korean War, eventually moving to Yokota AB, Japan; however, after a few months his unit returned to Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona as service of a unit of their capability was not required.
About May 1954 he was assigned to a semi-mobile Radar Bomb Scoring/Electronic Counter Measures Unit (SAC) at Phoenix, Arizona – in December 1954 that unit relocated to the municipal airport at Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1956 he was assigned to Headquarters, 3rd Air Division (SAC) at Andersen AB, Guam, Mariana Islands. In 1958 he was assigned to the 96th Bomb Wing (SAC) at Dyess AFB, Abilene, Tex. Early in 1959 he was detached to Headquarters, 15th Air Force (SAC) to inspect and coordinate activity at SAC bases in the western U S, Alaska, and the Pacific area, under the command of 15th Air Force. After a short time he was permanently assigned to the staff of Lieutenant General Archie Olds, commander of 15th Air Force. His next assignment in July 1962 was at Headquarters, 313th Air Division, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Ryuku Islands. After one year on Okinawa he was assigned to Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, whose area of responsibility included Southeast Asia. He spent considerable time in Southeast Asia early (1963-1965) in the Vietnam War, present at various locations when hostile action occurred.
His terminal assignment in 1965 was to the Headquarters, U S Air Force, at the Pentagon. On 22 August 1969 he was placed on the USAF Temporary Disabled Retired List and rated at 50% disabled from war-time injuries and foreign service – in December 1969 the Veterans Administration rated his disability at 70%. On 8 Feb 1971 he was removed from the Temporary Disabled Retired List and permanently retired in the grade of Chief Warrant Officer W-4 (the highest warrant officer grade at that time), having served in three wars and numerous minor incidents. He had served in units equipped with various types of aircraft including: TBF, SBD, SB2C, PBM-3&5, PB2Y3, JRM-1&2, B-29, B-36, B-47, B-50, B-52, and B-58 aircraft.
He graduated from High School at Monette, Ark in absentia during World War II – (graduation certificate issued by Monette High School, based upon completion of GED while in the U S Navy). He wanted a college education and over the course of many years attended college courses offered at various military bases during off-duty hours. When assigned in areas where such training was unavailable he completed study through college extension courses. He sold his home in Woodbridge, Prince William Co, Va and began looking for a place to permanently settle. He and his wife spent several months traveling around the southern U S looking for a place and finally settled at Searcy, White Co, Ark where they bought a home. That location was chosen because of its proximity to their parents, all of whom were of advanced years and in failing health. Following retirement, as his health improved somewhat, Bryan and his wife traveled around the U S extensively, driving to Alaska on one occasion. He worked steadily searching his family history and visited over 350 courthouses, numerous libraries, cemeteries, archives, etc., throughout the South and Mid-West. He and his wife played golf and camped in various recreation motor vehicles for recreation. They frequently formed a two-person team and entered numerous tournaments, winning their share.
Bryan joined the Masonic Order in July 1947 and has steadily maintained his membership in Poughkeepsie Lodge No. 611. The Lodge awarded him a gold lapel emblem in recognition of his fifty-year membership in 1997 and made him an honorary life member. He and his wife are members of Saint Paul Methodist Church of Searcy, Arkansas and River Oaks Golf Club. He also belongs to the Retired Officer Association, Sons of the American Revolution, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Air Force Association, and National Rifle Association.
ADMIRAL
CHARLES CABANESS HOWERTON
Compiled by Bryan R. Howerton
Charles Cabaness Howerton was born 13 Jul 1907 at Cuero, DeWitt County, Texas; the son of James C Howerton and Lonie Woodworth. He graduated from Cuero High School, Cuero, TX and was then selected to attend the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland as a midshipman, from which he graduated in the Class of 1930 and was commissioned an Ensign in the U S Navy, where he would advance to the rank of Rear Admiral. He married Ann Catherine Ainsworth of Yorktown, TX. A son, Charles Cabaness Howerton III was born on 24 Jun 1938 in DeWitt County, TX.
His first active duty assignment was aboard the battleship USS Tennessee, where he served for one year before entering flight training. Upon graduation from flight training and designation as a naval aviator, he was assigned to the Navy's first aircraft carrier, USS Langley. He served in the USS Langley as a pilot in the scouting squadron and participated in an aerial survey unit of the Aleutian Islands Survey Expedition. Subsequently he served in the carrier, USS Ranger as an aviator and as landing signal officer, followed by command of a cruiser scouting squadron, which furnished air patrol for the first convoy of ships passing through the Panama Canal after the declaration of World War II.
In early 1942 he was ordered ashore to take command of the Naval Air Station at Kingsville, TX when it was commissioned. He then went aboard the Essex Class aircraft carrier, USS Franklin where he commanded the air group which participated in invasion of the Marianas Islands. Aircraft from his air group also conducted strikes on enemy targets in the Bonin, Palau and Caroline Islands. In the latter part of 1944 he joined the staff of the escort carrier group commander, designated "Taffy 2", embarked on the USS Ommaney Bay, helping plan the invasions of Palau and the Philippines at Leyte and Lingayen Gulf. On 30 October 1944, shortly after he left the USS Franklin, it was hit by a Japanese suicide plane, which caused serious damage and killed 56 of her crew. The Franklin was again subject to an attack on 19 March 1945 by a Japanese plane that approached the ship undetected and hit the ship with two bombs. The resulting inferno badly damaged the carrier and resulted in the deaths of 724 crew members. The Franklin received four battle stars.
Although he was not present when the USS Franklin was struck, Charles later experienced another deadly Japanese kamikaze attack while aboard the Ommaney Bay. The USS Ommaney Bay was an escort aircraft carrier, of the type commonly called "baby flattops". This type vessel was not as sturdy as the full-size Essex class attack carriers, but were speedily built. The hull of the Ommaney Bay was laid on 6 October 1943 by Kaiser Company, Inc., Vancouver, WA and was launched 29 December 1943 and commissioned 11 February 1944. At the beginning of the Battle off Samar, P.I., on 25 October 1944, the escort carriers began launching air strikes in an effort to cripple as many of the approaching enemy force as possible. In the ensuing battle, Ommaney Bay's planes contributed to the sinking of one Japanese cruiser and helped to damage a number of other warships. Ommaney Bay launched some 6 strikes that day, and helped to turn threatened defeat into victory.
From 12 to 17 December 1944, Ommaney Bay operated in the Mindanao and Sulu Seas in support of operations on the island of Mindoro. On the 15th, a day of heavy enemy air attacks, she splashed an enemy bomber as it dived for the ship from the port bow. On 19 December, she returned to Kossol Passage to prepare for the landings in Lingayen Gulf.
Ommaney Bay left on New Year's Day 1945 and transited Surigao Strait 2 days later. The next afternoon, while in the Sulu Sea, a twin-engine Japanese suicide plane penetrated the screen undetected and made for Ommaney Bay. The plane nicked her island, then crashed her starboard side. Two bombs were released, one of them penetrated the flight deck and detonated below, setting off a series of explosions among the fully-gassed planes on the forward third of the hanger deck. The second bomb passed through the hanger deck, ruptured the fire main on the second deck, and exploded near the starboard side. Water pressure forward was lost immediately, along with power and bridge communications. Men struggling with the terrific blazes on the hangar deck soon had to abandon it because of the heavy black smoke from the burning planes and ricocheting .50 caliber ammunition. Escorts could not lend their power to the fight because of the exploding ammunition and intense heat from the fires. By 5:50 p.m., the entire topside area had become untenable, and the stored torpedo warheads threatened to go off at any time. The order to abandon ship was given. At 7:45 p.m., the ship was sunk by a torpedo from the destroyer USS Burns. A total of 95 men were lost, including 2 killed on an assisting destroyer when torpedo warheads on the carrier's hangar deck finally went off. Ommaney Bay received 2 battle stars for World War II service.
Following World War II, (then) Commander Howerton assisted in the planning and implementation of the Naval Air Reserve Training Program. When communist forces blockaded Berlin, Germany in 1948, Charles was ordered to Germany to participate in the Berlin Air Lift, with duty as commanding officer of one of the Navy squadrons taking part in the operation and serving as senior naval aviator in Berlin.
The Korean War found Charles in command of the seaplane tender USS SUISUN assigned to the 7th Fleet in the western Pacific. The ship served a total of three tours in the Korean War and earned two battle stars in that war. Following that command, he was assigned as Commander of the Naval Air Station at Miami, Florida.
Further assignments included duty in South America as naval attaché to Argentina and Paraguay, and final duty as chief of staff in a research and development command from which he was transferred to the retired list on 1 October 1961. In addition to campaign and service decorations earned during a long, distinguished career, he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Navy Unit Commendation while on active service, and the country of Argentina had honored him with El Orden al Merito Naval and Piloto Aviador Naval 'Honoris Causa' after his assignment in that country. He was a member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association.
Upon retirement, Admiral Howerton settled in Austin, TX. He died 8 Nov 1984 in Comal County, TX and was survived by his wife, Ann; son, Charles Cabaness Howerton III; and three granddaughters.
(NOTE: This writer had the pleasure of meeting the future Admiral in Los Angeles, CA in 1942 and again at the Pentagon, Washington, DC in 1960. Information in this article was derived from material graciously supplied by Mrs. Ann Howerton, widow of Admiral Howerton, and data from various USN archives.
THE EMPTY BUCKET
compiled by Wally Howerton
Imagine the horror of not knowing what happened!
Edward "Ned" Howerton was born in 1801 in Virginia; the son of William Williams Howerton. His parents moved to Claiborne Co, Tennessee, where his mother died before 1807. Family legend handed down by those of the family who stayed in Tennessee says that Edward, called "Ned", was sent to the spring for water by his stepmother one day and never returned. After a prolonged wait for water another child was sent to the spring to hurry Ned along, but returned with an empty bucket, reporting that the empty bucket was found at the spring, but Ned was gone.
Some months later, it was learned that Ned had joined his favorite older brother, James, in St. Francois County, Missouri. Edward stayed in St Francois County, Missouri until the late 1830's when he moved to Camden County, Missouri. By 1850 he had established residence in Clark County, Arkansas. His wife, Mary - - - - b 1801 Virginia, had died by 1880 at which time Edward was living in the household of his daughter, Rachel Howerton Lambert, in DeRoche Township, Hot Springs County, Arkansas.
Letters From the Old Writing
Desk
compiled
by Wally Howerton
In an earlier issue of Howerton Heritage I wrote, "One of the small pleasures as editor affords me the opportunity to read documents from years gone by. I'd like to quote the old cliché, 'the good old days' as they certainly seem more romantic, more personal, and the written word very often just sounded melodious."
I find myself returning time and again to "The Old Writing Desk" to browse and let the words of my kin, and the flavor of those words, envelope me. . . . . . . .
Coahoma
County, Miss
15th December 1839
To: Mr
Thomas J. Howerton
Black Walnut
Halifax County, Va
Dear Thomas,
I again will presume to write you a line or two whether it is accceptable or no merely to let you know where I am and what I am about. I left Tennessee last February and came down to this state, Mississippi, as an overseer for A Jackson and I have agreed to stay with him another year. We live right on the bank of the Mississippi. We have enjoyed good health this year and I am inclined to think this is as healthy country as any with prudence and I am sure that the citizens have more liberality than any country I have ever lived in. This is a poor man’s country. Wages are high, land cheap and rich as the Lord can wish. There are thousands of acres yet belonging to Uncle Sam, unsurveyed, and if the pre-emption law should be extended this winter, which I have no doubt will be, the country will be settled in a few years. This country would suit you first rate, but I said too much to you in my last as was necessary upon this subject.
Thomas, I wrote to Philip some time ago and sent my letter to Holly Springs by private hands where it would be mailed and I failed to say in it where he should direct an answer if he should think proper to write. I will be glad if you will say to him if he should write to direct his letter to Helena, Arkansaw, where you will also direct yours if you should think proper to answer this scrawl.
Thomas, I should be glad if you would come to this country and if you should take it in your head to come and will let me know it will give me pleasure to serve you in any way in my power. Let me know where Harriett Cheaney is and whether she would come to this country if it was in her power. If she would and you or anyone else will aid her in coming I will see that they shall be satisfied for their trouble and expense. Say to Harriett that if she was here she could by her own labor in a short time pay for a quarter section of land which in 5 or 10 years would be worth to her children a pretty little estate. Say to Ransom Wiles if he wishes to make a living by overseeing to leave that picayune country and come to Mississippi where he can get from $600.00 to $1200.00 as easy as he can get $250.00 to $300.00 there. Overseers are the big men to this country. I count my wages for the next year at $1000.00 or $1200.00 and everything to live on found me, even sugar and coffee, without allowance. I mregret that I did not come here long before. I did have one thing to lament - that we have no Baptist Church near us as yet, but we have preaching at our house once a month regular and we expect to build a meeting house before long. We live in hopes that the Lord will bless the labors of his people in this neighborhood with a revival of religion. We have some Baptist brethern near us and some Methodists and we unite in our efforts to serve God. We love and try to worship and we trust that you will have us in mind when at a throne of grace and we hope that the time is not far distant when the wilderness will blossom like the rose and our souls made to rejoice by this influence of the Holy Spirit shed abroad in our hearts.
You can say to those my friends in Virginia that in a few days I shall be able to make amends for the favor they bestowed on me when I left Virginia. If God will bless me with health and strength I shall be able to pay all just claims versus me and rise above the grounds of poverty and the sneers of the wealthy who know nothing of the pangs of poverty and who even laugh laughs at their distress, but you will not understand me complaining of the dealings of Providence to me but to my own imprudence I attribute my losses, crosses and difficulties. I have therefore no right to complain. How do you all get on at Black Walnut? I hope in peace as the great eyesore is removed. Say to Jonathan McCargo that I have been expecting a letter from him since last December. He could do well in this country and I should be glad to see him here and would give any aid in my power.
My best respects to Sophronia and children for I esteem her as a sister and friend. Susan says you both feel near and dear to her and wishes to be remembered to you both and the children also. She will write to you as soon as possible. Your friend and brother.
/s/ James Howerton
CURRENT EVENT
Michella Leigh
Outlaw, daughter of Donald R & Linda Kay Howerton of
Dothan, AL and David George Bennett Jr, son of Mr & Mrs David
G Bennett Sr
of Brush Creek, TN were married in the Methodist Church of Brush
Creek, TN
at 6:00 p.m. on 23 June 2001. The celebration continued at
the Bennett
Farm in rural Brush Creek following the wedding. The newly-weds
departed
for a honeymoon cruise in the Caribbean.
The people in the group
photo and their relationship to Bryan R. and Jean Howerton are:
Sarah Sewell, granddaughter (her husband took the photo); Jean Howerton; Donald R Howerton, son; Brooke Widmer, granddaughter; David Widmer (Brooke's husband); Heather Sauter, granddaughter; Peggy Kifer, daughter; Chris Brown (Heather's fiance); Bill Kifer, Peggy's husband; and Bryan R. Howerton.
NOTE: Sarah's husband, Donny Sewell, took the photo.
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