John M. HowellCullum: 25918 Class: 1965 Cadet Company: C2 Date of Birth: December 10, 1940 Date of Death: December 10, 1940 Died in: Herndon, VA Interred: West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY - View or Post a Eulogy |
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John Michael Howell was born in Indianapolis, IN, the son of Kathryn Jean Brown and Norbert Howard McAtee. Growing up, John first started to consider the military when he attended a military-themed summer camp. However, after graduating from South Pasadena High School in Pasadena, CA, he ended up attending the University of California at Los Angelas for three years. After thoroughly enjoying his time at UCLA, participating in a variety of social activities and rowing on the UCLA’s crew team, John decided to take a more serious turn by pursuing his childhood thought of the military. He received a congressional appointment to the Academy from Representative Glennard Lipscomb from the 23rd District of California.
John was an enthusiastic admirer of UCLA’s spirit and social activities and brought that knowledge and exuberance with him to West Point. In addition to serving as the chairman of the Ring and Crest Committee, business manager of the Howitzer, and activities chairman of the First Class Club, “Johnny” also planned, organized, and flawlessly executed, the first and possibly only card stunt by the entire Corps at the Army-Navy Game in 1963. In addition to his tireless efforts toward building esprit de corps within his class and at West Point, he also found the time to serve as the coach and captain of the cadet Volleyball Team. Having never lost his passion for rowing, John tirelessly attempted to establish a team at West Point. While he may have come up short in this endeavor, his efforts planted the seeds that would bear fruit years later when USMA did finally establish a Rowing Team in the 1980s. John’s efforts came full circle when his son, Patrick ’92, rowed in the four-man shell “Strength and Drive ’65” while serving as the team captain.
After graduation and commissioning the Field Artillery, John served two tours in Vietnam: first, with the 1st Cavalry Division supporting 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (“Garryowen”), earning a bronze star and air medal; second, in the 5th Special Forces Group, earning a Silver Star, second Bronze Star Medal, second Air Medal, and a Purple Heart. John was then assigned to the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Iran as the Special Forces adviser and aide to the chief of the Army Section from 1968 to 1969, where he met and married Shirley Jean Mataxis. Their son, Patrick, was born in Wiesbaden, Germany when John was commanding an Airborne Artillery Battery as part of the 8th Infantry Division.
Returning to the United States, John and his family moved to Oklahoma for the Field Artillery Advanced Course and then to California, where he earned an MBA from the University of Southern California. He then happily returned to his Rockbound Highland Home that he loved so much as the tactical officer for C-4 from 1972 to 1975. John earned the nickname of “Coach” from his cadets for his seemingly inhuman ability to be present for (and “occasionally” coach) every Cowboy intramural sport team—simultaneously. During his time as a TAC, C-4 won countless accolades and awards. Fittingly, John’s second child, Kristin, was born at his beloved West Point in 1972.
After his second assignment at West Point, John attended the Marine Corps CGSC at Quantico, VA before serving in the 82nd Airborne Division and 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, NC from 1977 to 1979, only to return to West Point for the third time in his career. Never one to sit idle and simply do his assigned job of teaching military science, serving as the lead planner for Cadet Field Training at Camp Buckner and then serving the deputy post commander from 1979 to 1983, John was also the officer in charge (OIC) and coach for the Men’s Volleyball Team, the OIC for Rabble Rousers, and the leader of the West Point Booster group.
Unable to avoid an assignment to the Washington, DC area, John spent the last five years of his career with jobs with the Concepts Analysis Agency and then the United States Security Assistance Command from 1983 to 1988. He concluded his 23-year Army career as the special assistant to the commanding general.
Although formally retired from the Army, John never retired from the Long Gray Line or his class. He regularly organized and planned a variety of class activities, such as numerous Army-Navy Game get-togethers, and served as the chair for his 35th Class Reunion. As the Ring and Crest chair, he represented the class at numerous events with their 50-Year Affiliation class, the Class of 2015. While not a legendary striker of the golf ball, John heartily enjoyed and looked forward to the class’s annual golf outings, as they allowed him to spend time with his dear friends.
He is survived by his two children and their spouses along with his seven grandchildren: Patrick and Kristin Howell, with Lauren, Caitlin, Patrick, and Michael; and Kristin and David Marks, with Landon (USMA 2026), Cameron, and Marin.
John exemplifies the third stanza of the Ranger Creed: “one hundred percent, and then some.” He carried that approach to life with his love for his family, his class, West Point, and his country. No matter how busy he was or what he had going on, John always found the time and energy to help anyone—just because it was the right thing to do.
