Howard D. Cawein, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, was born on August 27, 1928, and entered the US Army at the age of 18 on July 23rd, 1946. While in high school, his enlistment record noted he worked as a tinsmith. He shipped out to Japan to join occupation forces on November 9th, 1946, arriving on November 23rd. Upon arrival to Japan, Cawein was assigned to Medical Detachment, 8th Cavalry Regiment as a Medical Noncommissioned Officer (MOS 673). Medical Noncommissioned Officers supervised personnel of medical units in an administrative or caretaking capacity. They also assisted in operating various hospital units, mess halls, latrines, and garbage pits as well as cleaning and policing medical wards. Medical Noncommissioned Officers could also requisition medical supplies, instruct junior enlisted personnel in basic first aid and medical duties, and prepare medical records and reports. While attached to the 8th Cavalry Regiment's medical detachment, Cawein served as the detachment's First Sergeant.

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First Sergeant Cawein arrived in Japan on November 23rd, 1946, arriving in time for the 8th Cavalry Regiment's 80th birthday, enjoying the festivities at regimental headquarters at the former Imperial Marine Barracks in Tokyo, Japan. He also participated in the 1947 Army Day Parade held in Tokyo, marching down the boulevards to cheering crowds of American GIs, civilians, and Japanese citizens. Prior to his departure from Japan, 8th Cavalry Regiment commander Colonel Thomas D. Roberts presented him a letter of commendation, praising his work as the medical detachments First Sergeant, writing "I have never, while you were in charge, worried about anything going wrong in the medics.”