MEGR
04-28-2004, 09:56 PM
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 (Green Berets) and spent most of his five tours in Vietnam 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 it's 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.
Although he had been seriously wounded in Vietnam and had been awarded eight Purple Hearts, he later went on to command companies of the 2/75 Rangers, and trained soldiers during Special Forces Phase One selection where it is reported that he personally led "every run and rucksack march in every class that was under his command".
Robert L. Howard's gallant deeds have gone virtually unrecognized by the media and unknown to most of the American public, but he is said to be our nation's most decorated soldier from the Vietnam War. He was the last Vietnam Special Forces Medal of Honor recipient still on active duty when he retired on Sept. 29, 1992. His story is told in John Plaster's excellent book, SOG The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam.
It is important for future generations that we remember our military heroes and the great sacrifices they have made for us in the name of Freedom.
Another great soldier who can be found in John Plaster's SOG book.
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.
Although he had been seriously wounded in Vietnam and had been awarded eight Purple Hearts, he later went on to command companies of the 2/75 Rangers, and trained soldiers during Special Forces Phase One selection where it is reported that he personally led "every run and rucksack march in every class that was under his command".
Robert L. Howard's gallant deeds have gone virtually unrecognized by the media and unknown to most of the American public, but he is said to be our nation's most decorated soldier from the Vietnam War. He was the last Vietnam Special Forces Medal of Honor recipient still on active duty when he retired on Sept. 29, 1992. His story is told in John Plaster's excellent book, SOG The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam.
It is important for future generations that we remember our military heroes and the great sacrifices they have made for us in the name of Freedom.
Another great soldier who can be found in John Plaster's SOG book.