THE WALL OF FACES

In October 1968, Jimmy was killed in action. She found out when she saw several friends arrive at the front door of her home. Realizing the reasons for them being there, she began screaming and crying. Howard remembered the days following Jimmy's death in her autobiography, going through the days and weeks by "forcing" herself to keep going. She had trouble eating and sleeping, taking pills on a regular basis to help her through the anxieties and grief. "I was crying when I woke up, and crying when I went to sleep," she wrote in 1987.  

( END OF PART ONE  OF  TWO )

== CONTINUED ==

IN REMEMBRANCE OF JAN HOWARD,
MOTHER OF JAMES " JIMMY "  HOWARD  

( CONTINUED ... PART TWO OF TWO )

One morning, Howard made the decision to dispose of all her medicine and continue on with her life.

" As I walked into the den and saw the relief on Corky and David's faces, my efforts were worthwhile," she wrote.

Howard's youngest son, David, began abusing drugs in the years following Jimmy's death. Prior to this, he had been employed at the OPRYLAND USA theme park, where he appeared as an actor in several shows, including a major role in the cast of the play I Hear America Singing. Howard then began noticing changes in his behavior, including coming home late at night and having symptoms of depression. When she would ask David, he would reply by saying that he was " just tired." She also noticed he began associating with people who provided David with substances. She eventually had him see a psychiatrist for his personal setbacks, but only found out that he was using the time for other reasons. 

One morning in 1972, Howard found David in his bedroom dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She recalled that the next several days were a " blur ".

Devastated by her son's suicide, she stayed in bed for days at a time. After many weeks of grieving, Howard cleaned out his room and sold his Volkswagen Beetle. "
" When everything was done, I took one last look around, walked out, and closed the door on the past. But it would never be locked," she wrote.

In the years following David and Jimmy's deaths, Howard's middle son Carter began working with military veterans. He also owned his own business and became a real estate broker in Nashville.

( END OF PART TWO OF TWO )

From her first marriage, Jan Howard gave birth to three sons: Jimmy, Carter (Corky), and David.

As a young child, Jimmy was hospitalized in critical condition with spinal meningitis. Within four weeks, he recovered from the illness.

During the Vietnam War in 1968, Jimmy was drafted into the military. Once he received his draft notice, Carter volunteered for the army. "If Jimmy's going, I'm going," he said to Howard.

After being sent to basic training, the military was supposed to let Jimmy come home, but they refused. Upset about the situation, Howard discussed the situation with her friend and country DJ, Ralph Emery. Through the assistance of Emery, Howard got in contact with Congressman Richard Fulton. Emery found Fulton at a restaurant at nine o'clock the same night when he contacted him. Fulton got permission from the military to send Jimmy home for 21 days. In her autobiography, Howard recounted the phone call she received from Jimmy the day he came home, "Mom! What did you do? The Secretary of the Army himself called down here! My sergeant came and got me and said, 'Howard! Go call your mother, then be prepared to work you ass off!'"

Howard also recalled Jimmy's nervousness as he prepared for Vietnam. The evening before his departure, he sat at her bedside explaining his nervousness and anxieties. The next evening, he flew out at three o'clock in the morning.

On the days following the death of her son she wrote ... " The world was black. I prayed for death. The room was filled with people ... One by one they filled in. Owen, Hubert, my brothers, Junior, Pete, Dick, and Bob ... So many more. Each time I'd open my eyes someone would put a pill in mouth. Merciful sleep. Voices kept coming through. Someone said it would be ten days before they could get the boys home. Then I heard Dr. Goldner say, " she can't live ten days ".

In October 1968, Jimmy was killed in action. She found out when she saw several friends arrive at the front door of her home. Realizing the reasons for them being there, she began screaming and crying. Howard remembered the days following Jimmy's death in her autobiography, going through the days and weeks by "forcing" herself to keep going. She had trouble eating and sleeping, taking pills on a regular basis to help her through the anxieties and grief. "I was crying when I woke up, and crying when I went to sleep," she wrote in 1987.

( END OF PART ONE OF TWO )

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your neighbor Peggy Buchanan is moving and reflects her admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

I recently read an account of your U.S. Army service in Vietnam with the Americal Div. 196th Inf. Bgde. ,my unit A/2/12 Infantry ,4th Infantry Div. secured your old base camp in Tay Ninh ,after your unit went north in late March 1967 .You were a fine young patriotic man who was a credit to his country, family, and state! God bless and R.I.P. !

I recently read an account of your U.S. Army service in Vietnam with the Americal Div. 196th Inf. Bgde. ,my unit A/2/12 Infantry ,4th Infantry Div. secured your old base camp in Tay Ninh ,after your unit went north in late March 1967 .You were a fine young patriotic man who was a credit to his country, family, and state! God bless and R.I.P. !