Robert L. Howard
Robert L. Howard (born July 11, 1939 in Opelika , Alabama , † December 23, 2009 in Waco , Texas ) was a Colonel in the Special Forces . He was the recipient of the Medal of Honor , which was awarded to him in the Vietnam War , and is considered one of the most highly honored soldiers in the US armed forces of all time.
Life
Robert L. Howard joined the US Army in Montgomery , Alabama and had reached the rank of Colonel upon retirement.
As a staff sergeant , he was assigned to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG) (German: "Military Support Command, Vietnam - Study and Observation Group (-brigade)"), a special task force for asymmetrical warfare , which during conducted top-secret operations across Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War .
He showed such extraordinary achievements that he was proposed three times for the Medal of Honor (three different cases), during a 13-month secret operation in the years 1967 to 1968. The first nomination was downgraded for reasons of secrecy, so that he only the Distinguished Service Cross was awarded, because otherwise his location would have become public within the framework of the usual award procedure, but where officially no US military was operating. On December 30, 1968, he risked his life as deputy platoon commander on a rescue mission to the missing Robert Scherdin in Cambodia , for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Howard was last living in Texas and spending time with veterans . He traveled regularly to Iraq to visit troops there.
Orders and decorations
US armed forces
-
Medal of Honor
-
Distinguished Service Cross (with an oak leaf cluster ) -
Silver Star
- Defense Superior Service Medal
-
Legion of Merit (with three oak leaf clusters ) -
Bronze Star (with three oak leaf clusters and a "V" device ) -
Purple Heart (with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster ) - Meritorious Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters )
-
Air Medal (With "V" Device and numeral 3. One for bravery, two for outstanding performance) - Joint Service Commendation Medal
-
Army Commendation Medal (with "V" device and a silver and bronze oak leaf clusters , four for bravery and three for excellence) - Joint Service Achievement Medal
- Army Achievement Medal
- Good Conduct Medal , 4 Good Conduct Loops (awarded four times)
-
National Defense Service Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal
-
Vietnam Service Medal
- NCO Professional Development Ribbon with two emblems
- Army overseas ribbon
- Army Service Ribbon
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal , with service stars (awarded three times)
- Army Presidential Unit Citation , 1st Oak Leaf Cluster
- Presidential Unit Citation 2001, Studies and Observations Group
- Navy Unit Commendation
- Army Meritorious Unit Citation
Foreign armed forces
- Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60s clasp
- Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with gold star (Honorable Mention (Corps))
- Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with silver star (Honorable Mention (Division))
- Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with bronze star (honorable mention (regiment or brigade))
- Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, awarded twice
- Vietnam Wound Medal
- Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, awarded twice
- Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation with Palm, Oak Leaf Cluster (Honorable Mention (Unit))
- Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit (Samil Medal)
Badges and clasps
- Ranger tab
- Special Forces tab
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Aircrew badge
- Master Parachutist Badge
- Pathfinder badge
- Air Assault Badge
- Expert Infantryman's Badge
- Vietnamese Ranger Badge
- Vietnamese Master Parachute Badge
- Thai Master Parachute Wings
- Korean Master Parachute Badge
- Thai balloonist badge
- French Parachutist Badge
literature
- John Plaster: SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam
- John Plaster: Secret Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines with the Elite Warriors of SOG
Web links
- Private Page rlhtribute.co (English)
- Presentation of the Medal of Honor homeofheroes.com (English)
- Pritzker Military Library (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Howard, Robert L. |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American military, Colonel in the US Army |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 11, 1939 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Opelika , Alabama |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 23, 2009 |
| Place of death | Waco , Texas |