During World War II, the 788th Bombardment Squadron was attached to the 467th Bombardment Group in 1943. They trained in the United States and then moved to England where they participated in the European Theater of Operations until V-E Day in Europe on May 8, 1945. They flew bombing missions with B-24 Liberator planes. They earned the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for their assistance liberating France.

Green County airman James R. Howe served with the 788th Bomber Squadron, 467th Bomber Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces.

James Ray Howe was born November 23, 1923 in Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin to William and Mary (Hefty) Howe.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Howe family lived in Monroe. The family included father William, mother Mary, and children Laura, Bernice, Marian, Jerome, William, Charles, James and Stanley. Father William was a carpenter.

Father William E. Howe died in 1931.

From the 1940 U.S. Census, the Howe family lived in the same house they lived in 1935 in Monroe. The household included mother Mary, and sons Jerome, Charles, James, and Stanley. Jerome worked as a service man in the electrical industry, and Charles and James were ushers in a motion picture theater. 

On June 30, 1942, James Ray Howe registered for the WWII Draft in Monroe. He was 18 and his employer was Ruby Maurer in Monroe.

On March 10, 1943 James R. Howe was among a group of Green County selectees called for service in Milwaukee.

From May 9, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Sgt. James Howe Killed in Action,” the news from Monroe stated “Staff Sgt. James R. Howe, 20, one of three brothers in service, was killed in action on Apr. 22, his mother, Mrs. Mary Howe, Monroe, was notified Sunday by the war department.

Sgt. Howe was a waist gunner aboard a Liberator bomber and arrived in England about six weeks before his death. He entered service in March, 1943...”

From the May 17, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Memorial Rites Held for Sgt. James Howe,” the news from Monroe stated “Memorial services for Staff Sgt. James R. Howe, waist gunner who was killed in action over the European continent Apr. 22, were conducted Tuesday... Mrs. Mary Howe, mother of James, received a letter from his chaplain, Arthur L. Duhl, stating that her son was killed when his plane, returning from a sortie, was intercepted and attacked by enemy planes, that his death was instantaneous, and that his body was recovered and buried with full military honors.”

From the July 3, 1948 Janesville Daily Gazette article titled “Body of Monroe Vet Returned for Burial,” the news from Monroe was that “Mrs. Mary Howe has been notified that the body of her son, S/Sgt. James R. Howe, of the air force, who was killed April 22, 1944 in the European theatre is being returned on the United States army transport, Lawrence Victory...

Surviving are his mother; four brothers, Jerome, Charles, and Stanley, Monroe, William F., Racine, three sisters, Mrs. Lee M. Riese, Monroe, Mrs. Russel Beach, Racine, and Mrs. Carson Hunt, Browntown.”

S SG James R. Howe was listed on the National Archives WWII Honor Roll for Green County, Wisconsin. He was killed in action and awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously.

SSG James R. Howe was repatriated and reburied in 1948 in Greenwood Cemetery in Monroe.

Thank you, Staff Sergeant James Ray Howe, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.