Colonel Bob Howard, USA (Ret); MOH; RIP
Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names
soldier.
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http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/80016797.html
WACO (December 23, 2009)�Retired Army Col. Robert L. Howard, 70, who
died Wednesday in Waco, was a Medal of Honor winner who at the time of
his death was believed to be the most-decorated living American
soldier.
Howard will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Services were pending Wednesday through OakCrest Funeral Home in
Waco.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry issued a statement late Wednesday afternoon in
which he said Howard �was the bravest soldier I ever met.�
�His unshakeable commitment to freedom, displayed in countless
episodes of battlefield gallantry, lives on in the actions of our
military men and women who continue to serve in hostile conditions
overseas,� he said.
Howard, who grew up in Opelika, Ala., enlisted in the Army in 1956 at
the age of 17 and retired as a full colonel in 1992.
In Vietnam, he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and spent most
of his five tours in the secret Military Assistance Command,
Vietnam-Studies and Observation Group, or MACV-SOG, which was an
unconventional force whose members were assigned to deep-penetration
reconnaissance and interdiction missions.
He was nominated three times for the Medal of Honor, which he was
awarded in 1971 for the rescue of a seriously wounded platoon leader
who was under enemy fire.
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Bob Howard's MOH citation:
HOWARD, ROBERT L.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces
Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces.
Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 30 December 1968.
Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala.
Born: 11 July 1939, Opelika, Ala.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Howard
(then Sfc .), distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant
of an American-Vietnamese platoon which was on a mission to rescue a
missing American soldier in enemy controlled territory in the Republic
of Vietnam. The platoon had left its helicopter landing zone and was
moving out on its mission when it was attacked by an estimated
2-company force.
During the initial engagement, 1st Lt. Howard was wounded and his
weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion. 1st Lt. Howard saw his
platoon leader had been wounded seriously and was exposed to fire.
Although unable to walk, and weaponless, 1st Lt. Howard unhesitatingly
crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader.
As 1st Lt. Howard was administering first aid and removing the
officer's equipment, an enemy bullet struck 1 of the ammunition
pouches on the lieutenant's belt, detonating several magazines of
ammunition. 1st Lt. Howard momentarily sought cover and then realizing
that he must rejoin the platoon, which had been disorganized by the
enemy attack, he again began dragging the seriously wounded officer
toward the platoon area.
Through his outstanding example of indomitable courage and bravery,
1st Lt. Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense
force. With complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Howard crawled
from position to position, administering first aid to the wounded,
giving encouragement to the defenders and directing their fire on the
encircling enemy.
For 3 1/2 hours 1st Lt. Howard's small force and supporting aircraft
successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient
control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. 1st Lt. Howard
personally supervised the loading of his men and did not leave the
bullet-swept landing zone until all were aboard safely.
1st Lt. Howard's gallantry in action, his complete devotion to the
welfare of his men at the risk of his life were in keeping with the
highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on
himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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Obituary
Col. Robert L. Howard, Retired US Army, 70, of Waco and formerly of
San Antonio, and who at the time of his death was the most decorated
American soldier, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2009 in Waco.
Full military honors are pending and will be held at Arlington
National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and will be announced by
OakCrest Funeral Home of Waco.
Col. Howard grew up in Opelika, Alabama and enlisted in the US Army in
1956 at the age of 17. He retired as a full Colonel in 1992 after 36
years of service.
During Vietnam, he served in the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets)
and spent most of his five tours in the super-secret MACV-SOG.
Col. Howard was nominated three times for the Medal of Honor, his
first nomination being downgraded to the DSC.
His second and third nominations were simultaneous for two separate
actions and the Medal of Honor was awarded for the first of them and
was presented to him by President Richard M. Nixon at the White House
in 1971.
The other nomination was downgraded to the Silver Star.
Col. Howard was wounded 14 times in 54 months of combat duty in
Vietnam and was awarded 8 Purple Hearts.
Col. Howard is survived by his children, Denicia Howard of Florida,
Melissa Gentsch and husband, Asst. Chief of Police Frank Gentsch of
Waco, Rosslyn Howard of California and Robert Howard, Jr. and wife,
Tori of California; and his grandchildren, Victoria Batey and husband,
Luke of Denton, Holley Gentsch of Waco, Trey Howard of California and
Isabella Gentsch of Waco.
Marcus Aurelius
military service!
Dai Uy
<PopUlist...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Some of us have lost a good friend and this country has lost one fine
> soldier.
The passing of an American hero...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34579550#34579550
He did a 90 minute interview for the Pritzker Military Library on
July 27, 2006 (listen to the audio):
http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org/events/2006/07-27-robert-howard.jsp
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