Lt. U.S. Army Veteran, World War II-Mr. Ferdinand died at his residence in East Peoria, Illinois on 4-6-2000.

He is the husband of Dr. Alice Cooper, and they were married in Crown Point, Indiana on June 7, 1941, and the father of two sons, Jed {Anita} of Bettendorf, Iowa, Timm of East Peoria, Illinois. There is one brother, Angus of Port Richey, Florida.

He served is country in WW II with the 82nd Airborne Division, and he jumped into France on June 6, 1944 behind Utah Beach between Ste Mere-Elise and Carentan, and the 82nd was involved in after D-Day, was Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. He enlisted in the Army in Peoria, Illinois on June 5, 1942.

Awards: Purple Heart Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Jump Wings, American Campaign Medal, European Campaign Medal with Four Battle Stars, Army Good Conduct Medal, WW 2 Victory Medal.

Niche marker for Howard R. Ferdinand in the First Federated Columbarium, Peoria (Peoria county), Illinois.

Howard enlisted in the Army at Peoria, IL on 5 June 1942.

SSgt Ferdinand was on Detached Service with the 508th PIR until released, i.e., transferred, 22 February 1945.  Nothing more is known of his service record.

Note/; Although his obituary begins "Lt", it cannot be ascertained whether he was commissioned.