Howard had belonged to the 16th Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, U.S. Marines. On the evening of his death, the Marines finished driving the Germans from Belleau Wood. The following Red Cross report, under the date of August 23, 1918, gives an accounting of Howard's death. It was written by a witness, Phil McDermott:
"Howard was killed in Belleau Woods near Château-Thierry, France, about 7:30 P. M. on June 23, 1918. The German attack began a few minutes after 7:00 P. M. As part of the Allies' response, Howard was advancing toward the enemy lines. When he was within less than twenty yards from the German lines, he was struck in the mouth by machine gun fire. He was killed instantly.
There is nothing but good I could say about Corporal Wood. He was very popular among the men. We used to show each other letters from home. I have never yet seen a man with better nerve or one cooler in a fight. He was a good Christian and used to read his Testament frequently. He carried his Bible with him always. He was reading it shortly before we went over the top that evening.
I attended his burial, which took place two days later on the battle field where he fell. The grave was marked in the usual way, with a white stone cross replacing the battlefield headstone: a barrel-attached bayonet used to anchor Wood's down-turned rifle-allowing its use as a support post for his helmet."
