Mar 22, 2022

Gene Howard – From the Pacific to Political Leader

Future Oklahoma State Senate Pro Tempore Gene Howard served Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in the Pacific Theater Douglas MacArthur as a staff sergeant during the Pacific campaign. Howard served on Leyte Island, Luzon and the Philippines, and Japan.

“When (MacArthur) came into the Manila City Hall, it had a wide main hall, and you jumped to the side” to keep from getting run over, Howard recalled. “He had a rapid pace….The people who came in with him nearly had to run to keep up with him. The general was focused on one thing…winning.”