Captain Winthrop S. Jameson of Cambridge, who commanded Battery D, and 1st Lieutenant Arthur M. Frederick, who commanded the 212 Armored Field Artillery's Headquarters' Battery, spoke at the ceremony.

Captain Jameson described Richard as "an ideal battery commander, whose courage and professional ability in leading a New Bedford battery through months of actual combat were a source of deep satisfaction to the men and to their parents at home." Captain Jameson and Lt. Frederick told the assembly they were proud to have command units comprising mainly New Bedford men, and the two officers paid tribute to the fighting spirit and courage of area men in combat. Lt. Frederick said that while Richard was a member of Headquarters Battery, his devotion to duty was in keeping with the tradition of New Bedford soldiers through all wars.

Richard and William, known as "Dick and Billy," were sons of Eugene Howland, Sr. and Stella (Murphy) Howland. Eugene Jr. worked full time for the National Guard and served during the Berlin Crisis and the Vietnam War, according to his son, Dennis. The brothers had two sisters, Florence Washburn and Barbara Sylvia.

William Howland

Tec 5, Howland, enlisted at the age of 21, on March 17, 1943 and served with the 1st Battalion of the 254th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division at Inglifingen, Germany when he was killed in action April 11, 1945.

Howland Memorial Square was rededicated with 11 rounds of artillery fire on Saturday, more than 60 years after the "chilly December day in 1946" when it was dedicated to the fallen brothers Sgt. Richard F. Howland and Cpl. William Howland.

Richard F. Howland

Sergeant, U.S. Army

Service # 20113294

212th Field Artillery Battalion, 6th Armored Division

Entered the Service from: Massachusetts

Died: 27-Sept-1944

Buried at: Plot A Row 27 Grave 42

Lorraine American Cemetery

St. Avold, France

Awards: Purple Heart