Howard Warren Stokes was born in 1926 in Lodi, California and was an only child. His father supported his family during the Great Depression by working in the oil industry. While growing up, Stokes rode his bicycle to school, and he had a lot of friends that he would play with in his neighborhood. Stokes does not recall his reaction to the attack on Pearl Harbor [Annotator’s Notes: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. He was on the track team in high school, graduated in 1944, and soon after was drafted into the Army. He was sent to Camp Roberts, California, for boot camp. Adjusting to boot camp was difficult because he did not know anyone there. After four months of training, he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Division and shipped to Okinawa [Annotator's Notes: Okinawa, Japan]. A soon as he arrived on the island, he was told to dig a foxhole. He saw action soon after he arrived and at one point injured his hand. He was eventually sent to the hospital in Saipan [Annotator's Note: Saipan, Marianna Islands] thinking it was for his injury, but soon found out he had contracted Malaria. After he recovered, he was sent back to his regular unit. He was put on patrol duty to find any Japanese still on the island. Not long after, the war ended. He was then given orders to go the Japan.

[Annotator's Note: Howard Warren Stokes served in the 27th Infantry Division. Soon after the war's end, he was sent from Okinawa, Japan to mainland Japan for occupation duty.] Howard Warren Stokes arrived in Japan and recalled seeing a sad scene of the local population out of supplies and scared of the Americans. He thought overall the Japanese were nice people, but desperate because they did not have anything. Stokes was sent to Hakata Airfield [Annotator's Note: in Fukuoka, Japan]. Stokes and some buddies joined the 11th Airborne Division and made their jumps. Stokes recalled that he was taken by the military police and put in jail for a couple hours due to a misunderstanding. Stokes returned home about a year after he went overseas and was discharged in 1946 as a Private First Class. He enrolled in college on the G.I. Bill and received a scholarship for being on the track team. He became an elementary school teacher after college and retired when he was about 58 years old.

Howard Warren Stokes is thankful for being alive and for the government paying for his education. He is also happy about Veteran's Affairs. He did not have a choice to fight but he made sure to have a good time. He appreciates the people in the military and the jobs they do to keep this country safe. He is proud that he served. He hopes that the United States will not be in a world war again because it cost lives. He hopes countries will be more diplomatic. Stokes enjoyed The National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: in New Orleans, Louisiana] and believes its important. He wants to tell people to live a good life and be a lawful citizen.