Lance Cpl. Jason T. Little Hometown

Walter B. Howard

Friday, February 10 2006 @ 05:54 PM MST

www.southbendtribune.com -- MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) -- A soldier from Michigan died after an improvised explosive device blew up near his M1 Abrams tank in Iraq, the military said.

Spc. Walter B. Howard II, 35, who grew up in Macomb County's Clinton Township, was married about two years ago and re-enlisted in the military last summer to help provide a steady income for his family, said his mother, Carolyn.

Howard's wife and 15-month-old daughter live on base at Fort Carson, Colo., family members said.

Howard died in Balad on Thursday of injuries sustained that day in the blast in Ashraf, the Defense Department said in a statement issued late Friday.

Howard joined the Navy a few months after graduating from Fraser High School. He returned to Michigan three years later, but stayed in the active reserves and frequently went on exercises while working with computers in the automobile design field, his family said.

After meeting his wife at work and getting married, the couple moved to nearby Rochester.

Their daughter was born in November 2004. Because he experienced several layoffs in his field, Howard decided to join the Army.

His father, Walter B. Howard, said his son was one or two classes away from getting an associate's degree in a computer field. He was working toward a four-year degree so he could become an Army officer, Howard said.

The parents were told of his death by their daughter-in-law, who telephoned from Colorado on Thursday. Later that night, uniformed soldiers came to the parents' Clinton Township home, said Carolyn Howard.

"There's something about you seeing that person at the door and you know it's final," she said.

Howard was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Army Cpl. Walter B. Howard II

Army Cpl. Walter B. Howard II, 35, of Rochester, Michigan.

Cpl. Howard died in Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained earlier that day in Ashraf, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1 Abrams tank. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. Died on February 2, 2006.

By Tom Watts

Army Cpl. Walter B. Howard II of Clinton Township was buried Wednesday with military honors and remembered as a shy, neighborhood boy who emerged as an American hero.

Howard, 35, died Feb. 2 of injuries suffered in Ashraf, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1 Abrams tank.

"He was an awesome person," Howard's wife, Jamie, said following an emotional and patriotic military ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township. "He was so awesome."

Howard would have turned 36 on Feb. 12. He leaves behind his wife of just two years and 15-month-old daughter, Katherine, who was restless "like her daddy" during the funeral proceedings at First Baptist Church in Sterling Heights.

Howard's father, Walter Howard, said he hoped the funeral was the last for American troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I hope it's the last one," Howard said after Army officials presented Howard and his wife, Carolyn, with a U.S. flag draped over their son's coffin. "He was a good boy."

Jamie Howard, a native of Shelby Township, also received a tightly bound military-wrapped U.S. flag during ceremonies attended by hundreds.

Howard was honored with three distinguished medals Wednesday from U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John Bartley: the Purple Heart, Bronze Star medal and Combat Action patch.

"Walter is an American hero," Bartley said. "He was a good man living the good life."

Howard served three years in the Navy in the 1990s, but after terrorists struck on Sept. 11, 2001, the 1988 graduate from Fraser High School re-enlisted in the U.S. Army to support America and provide financial stability for his family.

Howard first became an active reserve at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in 2002 and joined the Seabees before he enlisted in the Army last year.

Howard left Michigan in December for Fort Carson, Colo., where he was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team and 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson. He was sent to Iraq in January.

According to the U.S. Army, the improvised explosive device went off under the M1 tank he was in during a nighttime maneuver. Howard's father said the IED "exploded in its underbelly." Three other soldiers riding in the tank survived the explosion.

"I served with Walter in the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion," said Matt Howard of Wyandotte, who is not a blood relative to Walter Howard but bound by "military blood."

"I remember him mostly by his big smile," Howard said. "He was missed by us as soon as he left us to join the Army. We all knew he did it to support his family."

Cpl. Howard was also remembered for his passion for hunting, although his first love was his family.

"He was so proud of his daughter's (Katherine) milestones," said Brig. Gen. Hartley, who recited Howard's top three achievements as "family, duty to country, and loyalty to comrades."

Cpl. Howard was born Feb 12 1970, Son of Walter and Caroline Howard, Father to Katherine Grace Howard, Husband to Jamie Howard and Brother to Pam and Lisa. Walter lived in Rochester Hills for a short time before he was posted to Iraq.

Corporal Ross A. Smith, aged 21, of Wyoming, was killed in action on Thursday, February 9, 2006 while serving his country in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was born on March 4, 1984 and graduated from Wyoming Park High School in 2002. He loved sports and hangin' out with his friends, girlfriend and brothers. He joined the Marines after High School because he wanted to serve his country. This was his Third Tour of Duty in Iraq. He always enjoyed his time on leave so he could spend time with his family and friends and he looked forward to civilian life and going into business. Ross saw many in his Marine Corps Unit injured and killed in Iraq and he had a tattoo made in their honor. Ross was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill and Ike Hoogeveen, Helen Anderson, Joan Smith, and his uncle, Bill Hoogeveen. He will be greatly missed by his parents, Mark and Susan Smith; brothers, Matt (Brie), and Luke; nephews, Dylan, Kaleb; girlfriend, Samantha Legg; grandfather, Edwin Smith of CA; uncles, Mike Hoogeveen, Brian Hoogeveen, Glenn Smith, Tracy Smith; "special aunt", Mary Chew; aunts, Cathy Smith and Jane (Mike) Fleck; cousins, Cody, Jason and Stanson Smith, Angela, Rachelle and Nicole Hoogeveen and many Marine brothers and civilian friends. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Grand Rapids First Church, 2100 44th Street SW, Wyoming, with Rev. Sam Rijfkogel, officiating. Interment Rest Lawn Memorial Park. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Cpl. Ross A. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund at Wyoming Park High School. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com

Corporal Ross A. Smith
Wyoming, Michigan