081031 - Howard_Howard-Kane                                 

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 From: Skybird343
Sent: 11/5/2008 11:53:44 P.M. Central Standard Time
Subj: Fwd: Your Dad
You may already have the info, but this is a message I just received from Ray Howard's daughter... He was in the 38th Sq. and I just don't remember who's crew he was on... but good to know that Gene Murphy is there in Omaha to fill you in...sorry to see another of our older troops gone... Concord, Arkansas is deep in the hills of the Ozarks and we never heard from Ray since he retired...

(Aside: It's a shame that some of our children grew up never quite knowing what their Dad did in the 55th... some of us may have been TOO security conscious... me included )
Joe G
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In a message dated 11/05/08 11:47:57 Eastern Standard Time, jhoward119 writes:
Hi Joe,
Dad passed away early Monday morning, a little after midnight. He had a disease called Shy-Drager syndrome, or multiple system atrophy. It affects the autonomic nervous system.

Dad was first in the Navy during WW2, then went to Wichita State University for a couple of years and was in the AF ROTC, then was commissioned in the Air Force in 1948. I think he was in the 55th most of his AF years and was stationed various places, including Biloxi MS, Rapid City SD, Topeka KS, Alaska, and Omaha. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for some missions he flew. He retired in 1967 as an LT. Colonel. He was a member of MOWW (an association of folks who served during the World War) and also the Distinguished Flying Cross society.

The visitation was yesterday evening. His funeral is today at 2:30 in Heber Springs, AR. We did find his DD214 and he will receive a full military servicec today. They are sending a 7 man team from the base in Little Rock, including a bugler. Olmstead Funeral Home.

His widow is Liz Howard, 599 Bullard Rd, Concord, AR 72523

Thanks so much for calling the other day. I did let the webmaster for the 55th organization know of his passing, and also I heard from Gene Murphy who worked with dad and went duck hunting with him on occasion also. Dad did smile when we told him you had called and Gene had emailed. He was not very responsive the last few days, so it was nice to see him smile.

Thanks again, I appreciate your good thoughts,
Jane Howard