By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Lt. Col. (Ret.) Howard Tobias Rowell, U.S. Air Force Reserve (USAFR), received what he describes as “the most comforting award” recognizing his service in both the USAFR and the U.S. Marine Corps when he was presented a hand-made quilt from the Quilts of Valor Foundation, Wed., July 25.
The presentation at Rowell’s home in northeast Columbia marks the 621st quilt awarded to an American military veteran nationwide, this week; the 1,701st awarded, this month; and one of more than 192,430 quilts awarded nationally to veterans since Quilts of Valor was established in 2003.
“Quilts of Valor is doing something very good for veterans,” said Rowell, 89. “This is a gift I’ll enjoy right away and every day.”
Rowell, a Charleston and Great Falls, S.C. native who enlisted in the Marines at 17 as World War II ended, has always maintained that when the Japanese learned he was old enough to enter service, “They gave up,” he laughs. Rowell graduated from boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. then Sea School at Marine Corps Base–San Diego before shipping aboard the cruiser, USS Manchester, followed by a stint at Marine Barracks–Philadelphia Navy Yard.
A former “golden gloves” boxer who fought around the fleet while in the Marines, including matches with fighters in foreign ports-of-call, Rowell went on to earn a BA degree in journalism from the University of South Carolina where he also boxed as an intramural fighter. He was subsequently commissioned into the Air Force Reserve and served for more than 20 years during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, including a brief tour of duty at the U.S. Air Force Academy, simultaneously founding Acta-Fax Business Machines in Columbia and Charleston.
[INTERESTING ASIDE: As president Of Acta-Fax, Rowell oversaw the construction of the Acta-Fax headquarters buildings and warehouse, which today house the Benedict College Football offices and Tiger football weight-training facilities in Columbia.]
“Men like Howard not only served the nation with distinction during times of both peace and war, but those of his generation literally built this country,” says Col. Steven B. Vitali, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), a decorated veteran of both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “The military experiences of these American veterans is amazing, but equally extraordinary is the building of a nation which they did beyond their military service.”
Anne Mixon, the South Carolina state coordinator for Quilts of Valor, agrees.
“Colonel Rowell and others like him are why we do what we do,” says Mixon. “A thank you seems not enough. A beautiful quilt is a better expression of our gratitude.
Quilts of Valor was founded by Catherine Roberts during the first year of the Iraq War when her son was deployed to that country. Established as “Quilts for Soldiers,” Roberts changed the name to a more-inclusive brand honoring veterans from all U.S. armed forces.
Quilts of Valor’s quilting standards are uncompromising.
“I knew a ‘quilt of valor’ had to be a quality-made quilt, not a ‘charity quilt,’” says Roberts according to the Quilts of Valor website. “A Quilt of Valor had to be quilted, not tied, which meant hand or machine quilting. Quilts of Valor would be awarded, not just passed out like magazines or videos. A Quilt of Valor would say unequivocally, ‘Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor.’”
Quilts of Valor’s national headquarters is located in Winterset, Iowa. The organization’s Palmetto State headquarters is based in St. Matthews, S.C.
– For more information, visit https://www.qovf.org/.
