Howard Street in Urbanna is named for Howard Bristow, a 1942 graduate of Saluda High School, a faithful member of the Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department, a former Southside Sentinel employee and killed in action during World War II in Normandy, France.
He is buried in France among the many U.S. GIs who fought and died for their country during World War II.
His Aug. 24, 1944 obituary in the Southside Sentinel reads that he was killed in action on July 31, 1944. He was 20 years old and “his letters home were always cheerful and encouraging to his parents and sister, Miss Weldon Bristow,” the obit stated.
During high school, Howard worked for the Southside Sentinel in afternoons and “his work was satisfactory in every respect as well as his pleasant manner and cheerful disposition and he was always interested in doing the very best he could and do it right and proper regardless of the hours day or night, and we have a warm place in our hearts for him from association as well as a business standpoint,” wrote co-owner and editor of the Sentinel Carl Tomlinson.
Howard was born April 23, 1924 and grew up on what was to become Howard Street. His mother and father were Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Bristow who owned a home there.
When he was killed, Howard was a private first class in the U. S. Army. Before his death, he wrote to his aunt Eleanor Knorr in University Park, Md. that he had arrived in Ireland and being homesick for Urbanna, he told his aunt, “I don’t think there is a girl in Ireland that could keep me over here,” he wrote.
Shortly after his death, members of the Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department in Urbanna wrote a resolution stating that “in the passing of Howard Bristow Jr., the (fire) Company has sustained a great loss and desired to record its deep sorrow.” It stated, “His devotion to duty and unselfish spirit endeared him to all of us. It is with deep regret we record our sorrow.” It was signed by Urbanna fire department committee members E.M. Folliard, I.T. Burbage and L.A. Newbill.
It should be noted that two other letters from the War Department came about the same time to Urbanna.
Mrs. Frank Fitchett of Urbanna learned of her son’s death. Private Forest Fitchett was killed during the D-day invasion and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Thrift learned their son Tyler had died in the Pacific campaign.
Although Howard’s tombstone is an ocean away in France, Howard Street is a reminder of his life and speaks to courage of our country’s Greatest Generation and the ultimate price boys like Howard paid for our freedom.
It happened here in Rivah Country!
(Patty Hall of Urbanna graciously provided information from her own family research that led to this story. Eleanor Knorr, Howard’s aunt, is Patty’s grandmother. Mrs. Knorr had 11 nephews overseas during World War II. She knitted sweaters for each one.)
