Born on November 10, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois, General Howard T. Markey enlisted as a Flying Cadet in August 1941 and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant, March 1942. He received promotion to 1st lieutenant, January 1943; to captain, May 1944; and to major, April 1946. He served as Instructor Pilot and Engineering Officer with Flying Training Command and as Jet Test Pilot and Project Officer (Jet Aircraft) with Air Material Command during this period, including flying the P-59 and P-80 jets in their first cold-weather tests in Alaska in 1945-1946. He was released from active duty in July 1946.
He was promoted to lieutenant colonel, January 1950, while serving as Commander, 437th Troop Carrier Group. Ordered to active duty in August 1950, for the Korean War, he served as Wing Deputy for Operations; Group Commander and Deputy Commander for Operations, 315th Air Division, Far Eastern Air Force. Released from active duty in May 1952, he resumed service with the 437th Troop Carrier Wing as Wing Inspector until joining the Illinois Air National Guard in May 1954 as Wing Executive Officer. He was promoted to colonel, in January 1955, and assigned as Commander, 126th Air Defense Wing, in January 1956. General Markey received Federal recognition as brigadier general in December 1958. On July 1, 1961, the wing was redesignated the 126th Air Refueling Wing.
Schools: Loyola University, 1949, LLB; Marshall Law School, 1950, MPL; Pilot Training, Luke Field, Arizona, 1942; Engineer Officers Course, 1943; Jet Engine Course, 1945.
Decorations and Awards: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Arrowhead and two Bronze Service Stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Air Force), Republic of Korea Order of Military Merit Ulchi Class, United Nations Service Medal for Korea, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
Civic Affiliations: American Legion, Rotary International, American and Chicago Bar Associations, Reserve Officers Association; Life Member, Military Order of the World Wars, Air Force Association (President, 1959-1960), Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry, Phi Alpha Delta, Quiet Birdmen, Life Member and Member of Executive Committee, National Guard Association of the United States.
Civilian Occupation: Partner, Parker and Carter, Patent Law Firm, Chicago, Illinois.
NOTE: He commanded the Illinois Air National Guard before transferring to the Air Force Reserve from which he retired in 1976 as a major general.
References:
General Officers of the Army and Air National Guard, Office of Public Affairs, National Guard Bureau, August 1966; DuPre, Flint O., Col. USAFR, USAF Biographical Dictionary (1965) – Markey, p. 160.