Howell enlisted in 1941 at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg Mississippi when he was 22. He entered the 106th Engineering Battalion, 31st Infantry "Dixie" Division at Camp Blanding, Florida, 1942. During his time there, he got his nickname, “Dixie”, from his division, a name he would keep throughout the war.While there Howell served as a trumpeter and trained in the American Theatre of Operations.
After his time in “Dixie” Howell Re-enlisted in late 1942 at Cal Aero Flight Academy in Ontario,California with the army air corps. He again served in the American Theatre of Operations as an aviation cadet at War Eagle Field, Lancaster California. After a month of service Howell was stationed at Marfa, Texas in April 1943 for advanced training (Class 43-F). It was here that he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After his time in Marfa Howell was moved to the 462nd Bombardment Squadron at a bomber base at Scotts Bluff, Nebraska.