High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! James Howell Howard (April 13, 1913 – March 18, 1995) was a general in the United States Air Force and the only fighter pilot in the European Theater of Operations in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor — the United States military`s highest decoration.CBS commentator Andy Rooney, then a wartime reporter for Stars and Stripes, called Howard`s exploits "the greatest fighter pilot story of World War II". In later life, Howard was a successful businessman, author, and airport director.