Col. Robert Lewis Howard, Retired US Army
Born: July 11, 1939
Died: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Robert L . Howard, one of America's most decorated soldiers, served five tours in Vietnam and is the only soldier in our nation's history to be nominated for the Medal of Honor three times for three separate actions within a thirteen month period. At the time, it could only be awarded once to an individual, men who served with him said he deserved all three.
He received a direct appointment from Master Sergeant to 1st Lieutenant in 1969, and was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon at the White House in 1971. His other awards for valor include the Distinguished Service Cross - the award he received for the first nominated for the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star - the award he received for the third nomination, and numerous lesser decorations including eight Purple Hearts. He received his decorations for valor for actions while serving as a Sergeant First Class.
Robert L. Howard grew up in Opelika, Alabama and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 at age seventeen. He retired as a full Colonel in 1992 after 36 years service. During Vietnam, he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and spent most of his five tours in the super-secret MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group) also known as Special Operations Group, which ran classified cross-border operations into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam. These men carried out some of the most daring and dangerous missions ever conducted by the U.S. military.
The understrength sixty-man recon company at Kontum in which he served was the Vietnam War's most highly decorated unit of its size with five Medals of Honor. It was for his actions while serving on a mission to rescue a fellow soldier in Cambodia, that he was submitted for the Medal of Honor the third time for his extraordinary heroism.
Robert L. Howard's story is told in John Plaster's excellent book, SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam. In SECRET COMMANDOS Behind Enemy Lines, another of John Plaster's books, on page 303 he laments about Col. HOWARD,
The day that President Nixon draped the Medal of Honor's pale blue ribbon around Howard's neck, I sat before the TV in my parents' living room watching the evening news. Coming on top of his previous decorations - the Distinguished Service Cross and multiple Silver and Bronze Stars, plus eight Purple Hearts - Howard's combat awards exceeded those of Audie Murphy, America's legendary World War II hero, until then our most highly decorated serviceman. At last, Howard would get his due. I flipped station to station, but not one of the networks - not CBS or NBC or ABC - could find ten seconds to mention Captain Robert Howard or his indomitable courage. I found nothing about him in the newspapers. Twisted by the antiwar politics of that era, many in the media believed that to recognize a heroic act was to glorify war. They simply c hose not to cover the ceremony. It might as well not have happened.& nbsp;
NOTE: In 1917, the laws governing the award of the Medal of Honor ended all DOUBLE awards of the Medal of Honor.
Upon his death NBC has given him the story that should have been broadcast in 1971. (
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...79550msnbc.com)
Bob came to Iraq severa l times to let the troops know how much he appreciated their service. There were no parades for him upon his return but he did not get excited. His showed us who he was and lived the life of a "quiet professional" and a dedicated hero. He will be missed but remains alive with those who knew him. Burial will be with a field of heros in Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be announced. God Speed.
See the Medal Of Honor Citation here:
http://rlhtribute.com/howard_citation.htm