03/25/2026
With today being National Medal Of Honor Day I’d like to recognize Streator’s own Orion P. Howe. Howe earned the award due to his actions on May 19, 1863 during an assault on the fortifications of Vicksburg, MS. He was a 14 yo drummer boy in the 55 th ILL. When he heard a group of infantry from the 55th. Were pinned down and out of ammunition, he and 2 other drummers boys dropped their drums and headed to the front where they crawled around the battlefield getting ammunition from the dead and wounded soldiers to take to the pinned down soldiers. Col Malmberg ordered them from the field, but to find General Sherman to let him know they need ammunition. The three boys ran across the field to find Sherman. Two of them were shot and killed almost immediately, Howe was shot through his left thigh and crawled off the field. Once at a safe distance he got up and limped to Sherman where he gave the message about the need for ammunition. Sherman was impressed with boys courage and the fact the remembered that they needed a special caliber of ammunition, caliber 54.
After the war Howe and his brother both settled in Streator where they spent most of their lives. Orion became a dentist and saddle maker. Though his wife and daughter are buried in Riverview Cemetery, Orion is interred at the National Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri. Orion P. Howe is recognized as the youngest recipient of the MOH, at 14 years old. Happy MOH day Orion!
