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2nd Lt Howard E. Kasten attended high school for four years and was a pressman before he joined the National Guard in Chicago, Illinois on 5 March 1941.

He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously for gallantry in action on 4 December 1944 when G Company left their positions in the vicinity of Henriville to attack Théding. 2nd Lt Kasten was leading his rifle platoon in an assault on enemy machinegun emplacements. The focal point of enemy resistance was a farm house. All avenues of approach to this position offered neither cover or concealment and the advance of the platoon was temporarily delayed. 2nd Lt Kasten personally assaulted the farm house, over an open field and directly facing the machinegun fire. Hurling hand grenades he silenced one of the enemy emplacements before he was mortally wounded. Unable to continue, he lay on the ground, calling his platoon to continue the attack and directing them as they passed his position.