On July 16, 1944, Thomas Howie was ordered to lead his troops to relieve their brother battalion of the 116th Infantry Regiment, which has been surrounded by Germans, and to liberate St Lo in Normandy.

Howie was a well respected officer who had graduated from the Citadel and then taught and coached football in Virginia. A National Guardsman, he went on active duty with the 29th Division, trained in England from 1942, and landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Howie personally led the attack on July 16, destroying to German machine gun nests. When ordered to break through to St Lo, on July 17, Howie radioed, “We can do it. We will see you in St Lo!”, to the division commander. Moments later, he was cut down by shrapnel.

Howie’s flag draped body was placed on the rubble of St Lo’s cathedral; soldiers filed by in respect and French civilians placed flowers at the site.  

A photo of Howie’s body was widely circulated in the United State and became one of the most iconic images of the War,  symbolizing the sacrifices of American men in Europe. Because Howie’s next of kin had not been notified, the photo became known as “the Major of St. Lo.” Honor and remember Thomas Howie.