Alton Howell was born in Lucedale, MS on January 3, 1926. Howell was the son of Louis (Lewis) Napolean Howell and Hulda Annabell Tanner. Howell went to Perkinston Agricultural High School and Junior College, now known as MGCCC. Before enlisting, he helped in general farms. At the age of 14, Howell worked without pay for sixteen weeks while attending seventh grade in elementary school.
Howell’s mother, Hulda Tanner (December 1, 1903-June 3, 1974), was also from George County, MS. Her highest level of education was in high school, first year. His father, Louis Napoleon Howell (October 12, 1897-August 20, 1965) lived in Beat 3, George County, Mississippi. Worked as a farmer, Howell’s father was able to read, write, and speak English. Both of his parents were born in Mississippi. Hulda and Louis married when Hulda was 19 and Louis was age 26. They were both buried in the Fairley Cemetery in George County, Mississippi.
Hulda and Louis had 14 children: Elder Howell, Alton Howell, Louis Mason Howell, Marcella Howell, Clemon Howell, Metro Howell, Vermelle Howell, Estelle Howell, Clayton Howell, Dorothy Nell Howell, Julian Ann Howell, Louis Napoleon Howell Jr., Rosella Howell, and Dot Dement Howell.
Alton was drafted into war and was not married, having no dependents. He was drafted during his attendance at the Junior College on the 26th of April in 1944. The term of enlistment was “for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law.”
He was first moved to Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on May of 1944 and transferred to Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama until September of 1944; from here, he transferred again to Camp Rucker in Dale County, Alabama, where he waited to join the rest of the 66th Division.
In the three camps, Alton trained for the war. Camp Shelby and Camp Rucker both served as a training site for various military branches. Fort McClellan was a mobilization camp used to quickly train men during World War II.