Robert L. Howard
| Robert L. Howard | |
|---|---|
Colonel Robert L. Howard
|
|
| Born |
July 11, 1939 Opelika, Alabama |
| Died | December 23, 2009 (aged 70) Waco, Texas |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery Section 7A Grave 138 |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1956–1992 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit |
5th Special Forces Group MACV-SOG Special Operations Command Korea |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Bronze Star (4) Purple Heart (8) Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal (3) Joint Service Commendation Army Commendation Medal (7) |
| Other work | Department of Veterans Affairs |
Robert Lewis Howard (July 11, 1939 – December 23, 2009) was a highly decorated United States Army Special Forces officer and Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War.
He was wounded 14 times over 54 months of combat, was awarded the Medal of Honor, eight Purple Hearts, a Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, and four Bronze Stars.
He was nominated for the Medal of Honor three separate times over a 13-month period but received lesser medals for the first two nominations, which were for actions performed in Cambodia where the U.S. was fighting covertly. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 16, 1967 in North Vietnam, his third nomination.
He retired from the US Army after 36 years of service as a full colonel, and the most highly decorated service member on active duty.
He died as a result of pancreatic cancer, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on February 22, 2010.
At the time of his death he was the most decorated living Medal of Honor recipient.
Howard enlisted in the Army in 1956 at Montgomery, Alabama and retired as Colonel, Army Special Forces, in 1992.
As a staff sergeant of the highly classified Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), Howard was recommended for the Medal of Honor on three separate occasions for three individual actions during thirteen months spanning 1967–1968. The first two nominations were downgraded to a Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross due to the covert nature of the operations in which Howard participated.
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Wikipedia