Obed Donald Howard was born May 17, 1926 in Tuckertown, Navarro, Texas to George Phillip & Ura May Coggin Howard. June 4, 1948 he married Helen Irene Pipkins, both living in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. at that time. She was born in Pocola, Le Flore, Oklahoma. In 1920 the Howard family was living in South Sebastian Co., Ar. and in 30 Navarro, Texas, and in 1940 the family was in Bonanza, Sebastian Co., Ar. May 9, 1946 Don registered for the military draft at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. He states he was born in Corsecana, Texas. During the war he served in the US Navy. Nothing more is known about his service.