Samuel Lutz Howard (March 8, 1891 – October 12, 1960) was a United States Marine Corps general who served with distinction in the Marine Corps for thirty-eight years. In the early stages of World War II, General Howard commanded the 4th Marine Regiment on Bataan and Corregidor from December 7, 1941 to May 6, 1942. For distinguished service in that bitter encounter, he was awarded the Navy Cross. Captured by the Japanese at Corregidor, he was forced to march many miles to a prison camp where he was held as a prisoner of war from 1942 until being liberated in 1945. He was the senior U.S. Marine held captive during World War II. After the war, he continued to serve until 1953, including posts as Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division, and his final post as Inspector General of the Mari