| Howie Sturgis | |
| Fictional Character | |
| The Hot War POD: November, 1950 | |
| Appearance(s): | Fallout; Armistice |
| Type of Appearance: | Direct |
| Nationality: | United States |
| Date of Birth: | c. 1920 |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Military Branch: | United States Army (World War II, Korean War, World War III) |
Howie Sturgis (born c. 1920) was an American soldier. A veteran of World War II, he served in the Korean War both before and after it was folded into World War III. He started the war as a sergeant, but by September 1951, Sturgis was one of a number of soldiers who held officer's rank thanks to battlefield heroics and attrition. As second lieutenant, he was assigned to the regiment defending Kaeryong under Captain Cade Curtis. Sturgis was older than Curtis, and so initially dubious of Curtis' abilities as a commander. However, after he learned that Curtis had survived the Chosin Reservoir disaster, he realized that Curtis might know what he was doing.[1] Sturgis was initially uncertain about Jimmy, the South Korean soldier with whom Curtis had bonded, but came to see Jimmy's value.[2]
With the Treaty of Versailles ending the war in Europe, U.N. forces began increased pressure in Korea, with B-47s now picking up where the B-29s had left off.[3] Unfortunately, there was still fighting on the ground, and during a shelling, Curtis received shrapnel to the leg. Sturgis and Jimmy helped get Curtis to a medic.[4] After several operations, the doctors had no choice but to take his leg off below the knee.[5]
A few weeks later, Curtis found a solution for his "Jimmy problem" when Jimmy and Howie Sturgis came to visit him. As they spoke, Curtis proposed to adopt Jimmy as his son to insure he would escape South Korea after the fighting was done. The attending nurse was horrified by the plan, proclaiming it fraudulent, and calling Jimmy a "gook" to his face. When Jimmy confronted the nurse, Sturgis had to remind Jimmy that the nurse was an officer, though he took Jimmy's side during the confrontation.[6]
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