to the rank of colonel in April 1940. World War II Howard served in that capacity until May 1941 and then joined 2nd Marine Division under Major General Clayton B. Vogel at San Diego as Divisional Chief of Staff. He became Vogel's protégé and followed him to the staff of 2nd Joint Training Force and subsequently to I Marine Amphibious Corps as chief of staff. Howard was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in August 1942 and sailed to the Pacific area in October of that year. He was stationed at Noumea, New Caledonia, and was co-responsible for the administrative matters for all Marine forces in Southwest Pacific area, including all logistical and personnel matters affecting combat operations. General Vogel did not meet expectation of Commandant Holcomb and was relieved by general Alexander Vandegrift in July 1943. Vandegrift brought his own personnel to the staff of I Marine Amphibious Corps and Howard was succeeded by Gerald C. Thomas. Unlike Vogel, Howard remained in Pacific area and was appointed Island Commander at Guadalcanal and New Georgia. He held this assignment until May 1944 and distinguished himself in this capacity. Howard was subsequently decorated with Army Distinguished Service Medal. His official citation reads: He was ordered back to the United States in June 1944 and assumed command of the Marine Corps Base San Diego as substitute for retiring Brigadier General Matthew H. Kingman. Howard was responsible for the recruit training of replacements for the units in Pacific area until June 1945. He was then ordered to Hawaii and appointed inspector general, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under Lieutenant General Roy S. Geiger. For his new assignment, Howard was promoted to the rank of major general on July 26, 1945. Howard was ordered to China in December 1945, and replaced Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. as commanding general, 6th Marine Division. His new unit was located in Tsingtao area and was tasked with the repatriation of Japanese prisoners-of-war and refugees back to their country. The situation was complicated by the fact of the ongoing Chinese Civil War during which Kuomintang forces were attacked by Chinese communist guerillas. The 6th Marine Division handed its responsibilities to 8th Chinese National Army at the beginning of March 1946 and was deactivated in accord with an established post-war Marine schedule on March 31. Its staff and several units formed 3rd Marine Brigade under Howard's command. General