Papers (1930-1949) consisting of correspondence, dispatches, military records, photographs, newspaper, clippings, journal, log book, and miscellaneous.
Captain William Stamps Howard, Jr. (1902-1962) was a native of Tarboro, NC, and a 1925 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. At the outbreak of World War II he commanded the destroyer USS STURTEVANT in convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic. In 1943, Howard commanded Escort Division 28 in the Pacific and subsequently oversaw various other task groups in the Marshall-Gilbert-Ellice campaigns.
Personal correspondence (1944-1945) consists of letters from Howard to his wife written from the Central Pacific Theatre. The letters reflect day-to-day ship activities and the responsibilities of Howard as commander of an escort task group which numbered at times as many as sixty vessels. Letters comment on local military engagements and incidents, atrocities, Japanese prisoners-of-war, souvenir hunting, recreation problems for his men, and the sinking of submarines. Other letters comment on a Marine invasion of January 31, 1944, and sailing past Japanese islands to draw fire. A letter (Feb., 1945) outlines Howard's activities in the South Pacific; and another letter (April, 1945) comments on Roosevelt and Truman, the fear of socialism as an outgrowth of racial changes, and the effectiveness of Black combat soldiers.
General correspondence (1935-1943) pertains to ships on which Howard served. Letters (1935, 1936) pertain to exercise performance of the USS TREVER, commanded by Howard, which won a "red E." A report (Jan, 1942), concerns a depth charge attack by the USS STURTEVANT on a submarine. A letter (Nov., 1941) outlines naval escort strategy for an escort group in the Atlantic; and a letter of August 14, 1943, concerns the commissioning of the USS CLOUES.
Pacific Area Escort Division 28 records concern Howard's command of task groups 57.7 and 96.3. A typescript "Wartime History of Commander Marshalls-GilbertsPatrol and Escort Group (CTG 96.3)" (undated) outlines Howard's role in the conflict. The bulk of the records pertain to Task Group 57.7 commanded by Howard.
The log book (1941) of the USS STURTEVANT, a destroyer in Destroyer Division 62, Squadron 31, reflects convoy duty in the submarine infested waters of the North Atlantic just prior to the outbreak of World War II and shortly afterward. Log entries provide details of the rigors of convoy duty and delineate numbers, names, and positions of convoy ships, and records ships torpedoed. Entries concern attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent news bulletins regarding war news. Information concerning the sinking of the USS REUBEN JAMES is also recorded. Entries record daily reports of submarine positions, and an entry (Dec. 15, 1941) describes an encounter of the STURTEVANT with a submarine.
Also in the log is a copy of a letter (Dec. 16, 1941) describing the detection of a torpedo; evasive and offensive action; and evaluation of sound detection gear. A handwritten copy of a communique account of the REUBEN JAMES sinking and a similar entry for the USS KEARNY also appear, as does a list of destroyers turned over to England by the U.S.
A journal (1930-1943) records Howard's activities while serving on the USS NIAGARA and MAYFLOWER and other duties. Entries reflect his on and off duty activities and professional and social activities. Entries for 1931 concern the fire and sinking of the MAYFLOWER. An entry for 1934 logs war maneuvers of a fleet cruise, and entries for 1940 pertain to the outbreak of war. Personal financial entries (1936-1943) record information on his stocks- shares bought, dividends paid, etc.
Gift of Mrs. W. Stamps Howard
Processed by D. Lawson, February 1979
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Descriptions updated by Ashlyn Racine, May 2023
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.