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Major <em>Howard Marshall Batson, Jr.</em>, was born in Vaughan, West Virginia, April 13, 1910, the only son of Dr. and Mrs. H. M. Batson. When he was quite small his family moved to Mannington, West Virginia, where he spent most of his early years. After graduating from Mannington High School he attended Kansas State University and then the University of West Virginia. With his heart set on West Point and a career in the army, he became a member of the C.M.T.C. and the National Guard. Howard received his appointment to West Point during his senior year at the University of West Virginia. At the university he was active on the campus, being a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, national social fraternity; and Torch and Serpent, and Sphinx, honorary fraternities. Throughout his college course he was a high grade student. He was admitted to the Military Academy in July, 1930. Duty, Honor, and Country were held closely and sacredly to his heart.</p>
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Upon graduation in 1934, Howard was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 2nd Battalion 76th Field Artillery at the Presidio of Monterey, California, where he was stationed for three years. From there he went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he graduated from the Field Artillery School on June 10, 1939. His next assignment was with the 3rd Field Artillery at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. In 1940 he was assigned to the 29th Field Artillery, Fourth Division at Fort Benning, Georgia. This was the same division his father served with in the First World War. While at Benning he received the following letter of commendation from Major General L. R. Fredenall:</p>
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“1. You are commended for the highly efficient manner in which you and the officers and men commanded by you procured and convoyed obsolescent type trucks from Camp Shelby, Mississippi, to Fort Benning, Georgia, July 9th to 12th, 1941, inclusive.</p>
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“2. The expeditious manner in which your detachment worked, the sound judgment displayed in the selection of the vehicles, the requirements as to motor maintenance necessary before starting the return trip, the highly orderly and efficient conduct of the convoy, and the fact that no accidents were reported in a trip approximating 40,000 vehicle miles with old vehicles encountering all types of roads, conforms to the standard desired for the division, and is indicative of sound leadership, alertness, a high order of specialist training, and sound organization and aggressiveness within the 29th Field Artillery Battalion. The morale of the men on completion of this difficult mission was high.”</p>
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While at Fort Benning Howard received orders to report to San Francisco. He sailed from there October 4, 1941, on the transport Holbrook for the Philippines. There he was given command of Battery B, 88th Field Artillery at Fort Stotsenburg. He received his majority in the field on December 19, 1941. The first news from Howard during the Bataan campaign came in a radio broadcast. A Filipino sergeant, Jose Calagos, was given the Congressional Medal of Honor for exceptional heroism under fire. The broadcast stated “the sergeant’s superior officer, Major Howard M. Batson, filled in details for the <em>United Press</em> man on Bataan Peninsula”.</p>
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When Bataan fell he was taken prisoner. Howard’s mother received three letters and six cards from him while he was a prisoner of war. The last letter, written December 13, 1944, was given to Lieutenant Miller at Old Bilibid Prison in Manila. They were scheduled to leave there that day. Captain John J. Morrett, who served in the same battery with Howard during the Bataan campaign, and was in the same prison camps until March, 1944, wrote: “Howard has what it takes, he did a wonderful job during the war”</p>
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The following information came from General Headquarters in the Pacific: “Major Howard Batson left the Philippines on board the ‘O-Ryoku Maru’. This ship was sunk on the fifteenth of December, 1944, and all prisoners of war unloaded at Olongapo, P. I. and later transferred on board the ‘Eno-Ura-Maru’ on the 27th of December, 1944 at San Fernando. From Taiwan to Japan he was transferred from the ‘Eno-Ura-Maru’ to the ‘Brazil-Maru’. On the way to Moji Major Batson became ill and on reaching Japan entered an army hospital. Major Batson died on the thirtieth of January, 1945, from acute inflammation of the intestines”.</p>
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In the <em>Howitzer</em>, Howard is described in his graduating year, 1934:</p>
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“After attending, and possibly studying at several different colleges, Batson finally came to the academy with enough information absorbed to sail through academics with no apparent difficulty. Chevrons, too, seemed to come without the customary ‘file-boning’ and, fortunately, Batson is one of those who has never abused his rank. In fact, his attitude is practically that of the proverbial ‘buck’. For things in which he is interested, Batson works hard and enthusiastically. As a plebe he knew nothing of wrestling, yet hard work and natural ability have gained him, besides a cauliflower ear, the reputation of being one of the best ‘grapplers’ in his weight that the academy has had in years. Consideration and a sense of humor (don’t let his puns fool you) have made him a cheerful companion and a real friend”.</p>
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I think that the Reverend George McPherson Hunter summed up his character in these words—”One on whom you could count—One who never turned back, but marched breast forward”.</p>
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Major Batson is survived by his mother, Mrs. Anna G. Batson, Mannington, West Virginia, and two sisters, Mrs. Brewett Lea of Los Angeles, California, and Mrs. Hugh J. Hall of Winchester, Virginia.</p>
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<em>—A. B. H.</em></p>
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