Private Howard Miller Tohill US Army

Howard Miller Tohill was born November 2, 1924 In Santa Fe NM to Noah Miller “Alabam” and Martha Tohill.  His father, a veteran of the First World War, was an Optometrist.  Raised in Santa Fe, he graduated from St Michaels HS 1943.  Enlisting in the US Navy, he served during World War II.  After leaving the service he enrolled at UNM in the fall of 1946 and then NMHU in 1949.  In the summer 1950 he enrolled at NMAMC, however, before the summer was over he withdrew and on 7 July, 1950 he was enlisted in the US Army.  It is assumed that he may have been in the US Army Reserve due to the brief interlude between his enlistment and his arrival in Korea.  He was assigned as an infantryman to the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.  Records are spotty as the 9th Infantry was the first US based unit to deploy to Korea after hostilities began in July 1950.  By August the 9th was engaged in heavy fighting on the Pusan perimeter.  In September 1950, the Inchon landing caught the North Koreans off guard and allowed the breakout from Pusan, up to Seoul and then across the 38th Parallel into North Korea.  By early November many of the North Korean forces had retreated across into China.  The US forces continued their offensive in the belief that the end was near.