Major Thomas Dry Howie was a World War II hero who was killed during the Normandy campaign. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, French Legion of Honor, French Fourragere, and Combat Infantry Badge. Howie was born in Abbeville, South Carolina. After graduating from The Citadel, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. On the front line when his division landed on D-Day, Howie fought through the Normandy campaign until July 17, 1944, when he was killed by German mortar fire in route to the French town of St. Lo. His courage and leadership so inspired his troops that they liberated the village the following day. A monument to his memory was erected in the village, and the Thomas Dry Howie Carillon Tower was erected at The Citadel in his memory.
00000177-2120-db48-a97f-fb22304a0000South Carolina has a rich military history, beginning in the Colonial Era. Today, the state has a significant military presence. SC Public Radio and SCETV offers news coverage of South Carolina's active bases, military personnel and veterans, and the economic and cultural impact they have on communities throughout the state and across the nation, as well as stories and profiles exploring our state's military history.
S.C. Hall of Fame: Maj. Thomas Dry Howie
National Archives