Perhaps “The Greatest Hero America Never Knew”
Ask many Americans who Audie Murphy or Sergeant York or George Patton – or many other famous American military figures are – and you’ll likely get at least a fair number who know who you’re talking about. But ask them if they know who Robert Howard was, and I’d guess 95% or more would give you a blank look – or would say “He was some soldier, right?”.
That’s a damn shame. The man deserves far better than that.
I don’t believe I can portray the essence of the man better than these two articles, so I won’t try; you’ll have to read them yourself. The first was written by someone who served with COL Howard. The second is by a young man originally from Ireland who is now a naturalized US citizen because of COL Howard – and whose article’s title I used above in a slightly-modified form.
Though I can’t do better, I’ll provide a summary giving some background about the man. COL Robert Lewis Howard was raised in Opelika, Alabama. He enlisted in the US Army in July 1956, at age 17. He served for roughly 13 1/2 years as an enlisted soldier, earning the rank of Master Sergeant (MSG) during that time. In December 1969, he received a direct appointment from MSG to 1LT while in Vietnam. He continued his career as an officer until retirement, attaining the rank of Colonel prior to retiring. COL Howard was medically retired from the US Army in September 1992, having served in various capacities for over 36 years.
Unlike many of the fakes we see here at TAH, COL Howard really was Airborne/Ranger/Special Forces. He served in the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, as well with XVIII Airborne Corps. He served in Ranger and Special Forces units. He served with both the 101st Airborne Division and with Special Forces (mostly in MACV-SOG) in Vietnam, spending a total of 54 months in-country. The vast majority of his 36+ year career was spent in the Airborne and Special Operations communities – either in operational units, or in developing doctrine and/or leading training for same. He had over 33 years on active jump status.
Hardcore? Yeah – seriously hardcore.
COL Howard’s record of heroism under fire is similarly stunning. He has the distinction of being the only US soldier to be recommended three times to receive the Medal of Honor, for three separate acts of valor. These acts occurred in November 1967; November 1968; and December 1968. The first two recommendations were downgraded to the Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross, respectively. COL Howard received the Medal of Honor for the third action. Many he served with believed he deserved the Medal of Honor for all three.
As incredible as this might seem, those three actions alone don’t tell the whole story of COL Howard’s combat valor. Except for the Distinguished Flying Cross (he was not a pilot), COL Howard was awarded every other existing Army decoration that can be awarded for combat valor at least once. He was wounded in combat 14 times – though he only received 8 Purple Hearts, reportedly because he considered the other 6 wounds “too minor” to merit award of a Purple Heart. A complete listing of his awards, decorations, and tabs/badges is at the end of this article. The list is . . . awe-inspiring. Literally.
COL Howard’s courage extended to more than facing physical risk. As a senior officer, he publicly suggested in 1986 that US POWs had been left behind in Vietnam, and was apparently willing to testify to that effect to Congress. He had to know that such a public statement would almost certainly kill any chances he might have of further advancement – but he was willing to stick to his guns and do what he thought was right anyway. (For the record, I think COL Howard was wrong about US POWs being left behind. But regardless of whether he was right or wrong, you have to admire his guts in choosing to do what he thought right over probable stars.)
After his retirement from the Army, COL Howard served in a civilian capacity with the Veteran’s Administration for 13 years. He spent much of the last 3 years of his life visiting soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
COL Howard was claimed by pancreatic cancer on 23 December 2009. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on 22 February 2010. Reputedly, he eschewed the narcotic painkillers prescribed by his doctors as much as possible during the terminal phase of his illness, often clandestinely spitting them out after pretending to take them. Why? He wanted to remain as clear-headed and lucid as possible while he was among us.
. . .
Many people speak of the mythical “great American Hero”; others speak of some mythical “ultimate warrior”. If you want to see what either might look like – look at the photograph above. IMO that’s about as close as you’ll get to those ideals in real life.
RIP, COL Robert L. Howard – my elder brother-in-arms and a true American hero indeed. You’ve certainly earned that.
————————————————————————
Awards and Decorations, COL Robert L. Howard, US Army (Ret)
US Individual Awards:
MoH
DSC (initially awarded 2, but one was interim award later upgraded to MoH)
SS
DSSM
LM w/3 OLC
BSM w/3 OLC and V Device
PH w/7 OLC
MSM w/2 OLC
AM w/Numeral 3 and V Device
JSCM
ARCOM w/6 OLC and V Device
JSAM
AAM
GCM w/4 loops
NDSM w/Bronze Star
AFEM w/3 Bronze Stars
VSM w/3 Campaign Stars
AFRM
NCOPDR w/Numeral 2
ASR
OSR
Foreign Awards:
RVN Gallantry Cross (Individual) w/Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stars
RVN Armed Forces Honor Medal (Individual), 1st Class
RVN Civic Actions Medal (Individual), 1st Class
RVN Wound Medal (Individual)
RVN Staff Service Medal (Individual), 2nd Class
ROK Order of National Security Merit (Individual)
RVN Vietnam Campaign Medal
US Badges and Tabs:
Special Forces
Ranger
Combat Infantryman
Expert Infantryman
Aircrew
Master Parachutist
Air Assault
Pathfinder
Expert Marksman (w/two bars, presumably rifle and pistol)
Foreign Badges:
French Parachutist
RVN Ranger
RVN Civic Actions Medal (Individual), 1st Class
RVN Master Parachutist
ROK Master Parachutist
Thai Master Parachutist
Thai Balloonist
Unit Awards:
PUC
MUC
NUC
RVN Gallantry Cross (Unit Citation)
RVN Civic Actions (Unit Citation)
Category: Historical, Real Soldiers
I had the honor and pleasure of meeting COL Howard at a 5th Group Christmas banquet back in…about 1996 or so at Ft. Campbell. He was still a rough and tough guy even then.
I had a boss who had him as an instructor one time back at SWC way back in the day and he said that one day, and I quote, “we were all standing around and COL Howard was in the midst of us and he said, ‘I’ll take all you M-Fs on and take you all down.’ And we believed him!”
But I could have my story wrong a bit now that I think about it. We had 4 or 5 MOH recipients at that banquet and he could have been talking about another one.
COL Howard never received the accolades due him. But he embodied the ethos of the “Silent Professional”. He didn’t look for accolades. He simply did what he did because that was what was expected of him. He should have received the MOH all three times but political expediency wouldn’t permit it.
I met Colonel Howard when I was a young enlisted solider in Korea. We had just supported the opening ceremonies of the ’88 Olympics and were at the (I think) DAV hall in Seoul for a party with the Golden Knights and all the US members of the skydiving exhibition team. We were all there in civvies, enjoying a few adult beverages and someone pointed out Colonel Howard (who I had met just a few minutes before) as “the most decorated guy in the service right now.”
It wasn’t until several years later that I found out he was a Colonel. He introduced himself as “Bob Howard” as I remember. Total class act. Total.
He sounds every bit like a real man and a Real Warrior. The ones who’ve done the most talk about themselves the least!
Oh, my. Someone who’s BT-DT for real. Keep that picture hanging on the wall.
He was a Legend even when he was alive.
I wonder if he had a 7th Group tattoo on his calf???
Where is the movie about this remarkable man?
Breathtaking; my eyes have shriveled up in my head because of the salt from that picture.
COL Howard was hardcore to the core…nothing else needs to be said…
I, too, met (then) MAJ Howard as a young Soldier. Like other commenters have said, he was a low-key, no BS sort of leader. As friendly and genial as he was, he had that “Don’t eff with me” air about him. He certainly made a DEEP impression on young PFC LebbenB.
@#3 Proud Infidel and Patriot:
” The ones who’ve done the most talk about themselves the least!”
Ain’t that the truth. A friend of mine, active duty type, has also BTDT, and I didn’t know of any of his past until his wife mentioned it in casual conversation a couple of months ago.
(from a 2009 bio)
2LT, (now LTC) XXXX XXXXX, a 1996 graduate of OCS served in 3/75th Ranger Regiment during Operation Just Cause and with SFOD-D during Somalia prior to commissioning. 2LT XXXXX currently serves as a rifle platoon leader in “B” 1-501st PIR, Fort Richardson, AK. He is a graduate of PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, SF Qualification Course, Ranger School, Airborne, Jumpmaster, SCUBA, Military Freefall, LRS Leaders Course, OCS, IOBC and Pathfinder. His awards include the EIB, CIB, U.S. Airborne wings with star for combat jump and the Bronze Star with combat “V” device.
If you get up here to my AO in the next month or so, I will introduce you to him.
Amazing story. My dad knew him from Special Forces days in the 1970s.
We have a living MoH recipient joining us at Fort Hood this week- COL (R) Bruce Crandall of Ia Drang/LZ X-Ray fame.
Was totally humbled to meet and be around him as he’s still spry and happy to be with Troopers of the 1st Cavalry Division again.
About 5 years ago or so, I had the honor of meeting and speaking with COL Howard when he visited the DFW Airport USO. At no point did he speak about himself but rather the men and women in uniform that he was so very proud of. To me, that spoke volumes.
It is inspiring to see a TRUE Soldier. A leader that would have you follow him to hell just to kick the devil’s dentures out of his mouth, and succeed. Unlike a lot of COL’s that if the lead an assualt on a head( Latrine for you Army types) no one would follow them.
Choosing what he thought was right over gettting his Stars, makes him even more unique than his Uncommon Valor.
My “buddy” in Vietnam said the first time he worked with him he thought he was crazy. The next time he worked with him he saw that SFC Howard put the word “Super” next to man…and he was it.
The lunch time “PT run” at Camp Merrill with a 120′ rapelling rope tied to him and another new instructor and then to a jeep that was driven to go to “point A” at no less than 5 mph was jaw dropping.
Hooah! 🙂
One of my Ranger instructors in 1976; he chewed my ass for going swimming after an unitentional water landing during the airborne insertion for the last patrol for Mountain Phase. I met him again in Baghdad in 2009 when he came through on his last MoH tour. Great man!
As many of you I too have met COL Howard
It is men like this that God (or whatever divine entity you choose) places among us so that we have something to emulate
What a man
Thank the dear Lord alone for men like for this, they permit lesser men to live in peace!
Col Who? Here’s a REAL MAN! You can’t be a hero without a book deal.
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=36374
Very, very impressive!
Awesome. It is wonderful to read about a man such as this.
I had the pleasure of meeting COL Howard. He had a quite aire of dignity about him. They don’t make them like that anymore.
We are so lucky to have had men like this in our Armed Forces. Truly the embodiment of the professional soldier.
Godspeed to him and his family.
What a true American Hero! I wish they would make a movie of his life. That I would pay to see, twice.
In today’s Army, a recruiter would probably turn away all three of these larger-than life soldiers: Howard, Murphy, and York. Not one of them possessed a high school diploma at enlistment and two of the three never entered high school at all.
My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Medal of Honor Convention in 2009 in Chicago. He introduced himself as Bob Howard. Very down to earth and very sincere. He did not look for accolades or fame. Just a great guy to be around. All of them were/are.
I am not worthy!
Great read. Thanks for reminding us, Hondo.
Wow, thanks for the story. Gotta say though, I suspect in today’s army he’d just be a well decorated major…warriors need not apply.
I was lucky enough to have my picture taken with COL(R) Howard when he and two other MOH recipients visited us in Iraq. Tom Brokaw did a nice segment on him when he died:
Thanks for writing about this great man. I had never heard of him before.
Krag: precisely why I wrote the article, amigo. Far too many people haven’t.
As I said above: that’s a damn shame.
Bad Fucking Ass…….. Thats is all
I had the privilege of meeting Col Howard downrange in 2008 while he was on the MOH tour. Since I was on duty, I showed up a little early and was hanging out in the back. He saw me and joked, wanting to know if I was the MOH recipients’ security. Very down to earth, sincere, and humble. You could tell he geniunely cared about all of us. Amazing man.
Hardcore.
A true hero, no doubt. Another hero was Lewis Millett. Wikipedia has a page on him. The only man I ever heard of that deserted from the army only to receive the Medal of Honor. I served under Col. Millett in 1965-66 while he was CO of the ASA Tra Cen at Fort Devens. Many of us were headed to SE Asia at the time and he believed that we were unprepared. On his own initiative he established a training course for the non combat techs and Morse intercept types. I was in casual status and became an aggressor force (VC)gunner. The troops were ambushed, harassed, and did an escape and evasion course. The things they learned there were ment to help save their lives if they ended up in the bush. Dude was a great American.
@37- In the mid-60s, Millett pulled a stunt while at Leavenworth (as a CG&S Instructor). The “Army” was screwing with student officers making them wear only aviator wings or jump wings…could not wear both if they were authorized. They (someone) just made this “rule” up. Millett showed his true colors (he was pissed at the idiocy of the school) and would wear his GCM only. The “rule” was quickly rescinded.
Another (MOH awardee) hero who gave one of the greatest speeches ever-
Hondo, Plaster’s inside SOG(or is it just SOG? Have it in a box somewhere.) is still one of my benchmark childhood reads. Every so often I pick it up and just start thumbing through it, still recall from memory much of it.
Colonels Hackworth and Howard were always compared and contrasted. Hackworth claimed to be the most decorated living soldier(he also was in Korea) and like Howard had a battlefield commission. He just never had the MOH(he supposedly refused one in the 9th ID as a battalion commander). They were both in the 1st Brigade of the 101st when it deployed separately(Hackworth was a major, Howard I assume a sergeant). Hackworth had a raider unit, Howard a Ranger company post Vietnam. Overall I think Hackworth had a better claim for overall service but Howard in Vietnam.
In one of the links you posted there was the “Truck story” about how SOG team stopped a truck with a claymore mine. I remember Plaster’s take on it and he led that mission, where they wanted a truck driver for a prisoner. The question was how do you stop a truck(before the invention of spike strips) without killing it’s occupates. The solution? Claymores! I didn’t recall Howard being on that but maybe my memory is fading or I’m confusing this with something else.
Besides Hackworth the other comparison was with “Mad Dog” Shriver because both had been on recon teams and later were with Mike/Hatchet forces, which did on occasion go beyond the borders of South Vietnam. Except obviously Shriver never came back from the COSVN raid.
Cedo: as I recall, Hackworth also had a battlefield commission, in Korea.
Hackworth did have an exemplary record – but with a wart or two.
There’s the matter of his Ranger Tab (or not). I’ve also read a few (unverified) accounts that cast a bit of doubt on some of Hackworth’s awards for valor – one such account I read years ago said he was drunk in his hooch during the action for which he received either one of his DSCs or SSs, can’t remember which. He also did leave service as somewhat of a persona non grata – and it wasn’t solely due to his public opposition to Vietnam. He reputedly was allowed to avoid courts-martial for some pretty serious alleged crimes via retiring when he did.
Not sure how much of all of that is true – maybe all, maybe none, or (IMO) probably some but not all. Hackworth did stay away from the US for a fair number of years after he retired.
For what it’s worth: I don’t believe I’ve ever seen or heard those types of allegations voiced or written about Howard by anyone.
@37, When I was in 2/27 IN (Wolfhounds) Col Millet used to come talk to us. What he said about the day he earned his MOH was hillarious. He said he order the men to fix bayonets and charged up the hill. He then said he looked back and “those crazy sons o’ bitches actually followed me”. I used to swear the if the retention NCO would stand behind him during one of Col Millet’s speaches, then when Col Millet was done the retention NCO would make mission.
Awesome story…Looks like the phony list was hacked. Latest entry was Ladner’s from June
Look up the word badass in the dictionary and his picture is there.