Private First Class Ned A. Howard
United States Army - World War I
Company A, 509 Engineers
May 19, 2026 - Ned was born on Thursday, October 20, 1892 in Shelby County which is located in far east Texas. Just two months earlier the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper had published its first issue. His parents Malinda and Columbus Howard were both native-born Texans of African American descent. When Ned was a child the family moved to Falls County, Texas where he grew up on a farm with brother Tresser and sisters Nellie and Marden.
On June 5, 1917, two months after the United States entered the World War, Ned registered for the military draft at Precinct 18, Falls County as required by the Selective Service Act of 1917. His registration card (Form 1) noted: age as 24; address Chilton, Texas; natural born citizen; self-employed as a farmer in Chilton; single; African race; no prior military service; and no exemption to the draft was claimed. Physically he was described as tall and stout with brown eyes and black hair and was not bald.
Four months later Ned received his draft notice and took the oath of enlistment in Marlin, Texas on October 30, 1917 becoming US Army Private Howard, serial # 281633. He and the other inductees of the day were then entrained to Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas to begin basic training with the 165 Depot Brigade. Following basic, he was assigned to the all-black Company A, 509 Engineers that had also been formed at Camp Travis. Proving his worth Ned received a promotion to Private First Class on December 1, 1917.
Following furloughs home, the 509 boarded ship # 35 at the port of Hoboken, New Jersey, and departed for the war in France. Ned listed his mother Malinda of Chilton, Texas as his next of kin. Arriving some eleven days later and according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, on June 14, 1919 the 509 Engineers established an Army record for continuous service in one place by remaining in Montoir [de-Bretagne, a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department, western, France] for fifteen months on railroad construction work.
The Great War ended with the Armistice of November 11, 1918, and Ned remained in France with the 509 until June 3, 1919. On that Tuesday, they board the troopship USS Floridian and began the journey home to the United States with Mother Malinda once again designated as the next of kin. On June 14 the Floridian docked at Pier 6, Bush Terminal, Brooklyn, New York with 1,791 officers and men. From there they were transported to Camp Upton, New York for physicals and discharge processing. On June 24, after twenty months of military service, Private First Class Ned Howard was honorably discharged and awarded the World War I Victory Medal.
Following the war, Ned married Mable Slaughter in Fort Worth, Texas where they resided at 2710 Holland Avenue and he had employment with the Armour and Company as a laborer. It is believed that they were blessed with six children and were living at 2603 Ross Avenue before Ned died at the age of 44 on August 23, 1937 in Fort Worth. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Old Trinity Section, Row 400, Space 3, Fort Worth. On December 31, 1940 his widow Mable made an application for his veteran headstone. Day is done, God is nigh.
Sources:
(1): Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 5, Falls, Texas; Roll: T624_1551; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0055; FHL microfilm: 1375564
(2): Registration State: Texas; Registration County: Falls County
(3): "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MN-4QCM?cc=2202707&wc=3342-SP8%3A1560656702%2C1560884901 : 26 March 2015), Enlisted men > Holmes, Tullus P-Hubbell, Jay B, 1917-1920 > image 3032 of 3801; Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
(4): The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 533
(5): The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 99
