A fighter pilot with the 8th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Fighter Group, Lauren fought with the Chinese-American Composite Wing, flying his P 51 Mustang against enemy forces located just over the Japanese occupied portions of China. He also served as a stint as a flight instructor for young pilots at Pinellas Air Base in Florida, where many pilots serving in both the China Burma India and European theater of the war owed their lives to his instruction.

On August 27, 1946, the Silver Star Medal was presented to Major Howard at Selfridge Field, Michigan by Col Douglas Johnson. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action on January 5, 1945 where he carried out an aggressive attack on a heavily defended enemy airdrome in occupied China. With over 40 enemy fighters in the vicinity and intense ground fire, he made 11 passes over the field in his fighter destroying seven enemy fighters and one bomber. He continued to attack even with a damaged plane until his ammunition was expended before nursing the crippled plane safely home.