Howard registered for the draft on 16 October 1940; he was listed as 5'7 1/2" tall, with gray eyes and brown hair. He weighed 145 pounds and had a light complexion.

On 12 November 1942 Howard entered the service as a private in the Air Corps from Erie, Pennsylvania (Enlisted Service #13110738). He had four years of high school education, was single, without dependents and his civilian occupation was listed as: "Toolmakers and die sinkers and setters".

Howard is listed in the Operation VARSITY orders, Serial A-8 as the Co-pilot of CG-4A #43-36996, Chalk #53, being towed by C-47 #42-100589, Formation Position #27.