Robert L. Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert L. Howard
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Colonel Robert L. Howard
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| Born | July 11, 1939 Opelika, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | December 23, 2009 (aged 70) Waco, Texas, U.S. |
| Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery Section 7A Grave 138
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| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1956–1992 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 101st Airborne Division 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 Medal (4) Purple Heart (8) |
| Other work | Department of Veterans Affairs |
Robert Lewis Howard (born July 11, 1939 – died December 23, 2009) was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He was a Special Forces officer. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Colonel Howard was wounded 14 times during his 54 months of combat. He earned many important awards. These included eight Purple Hearts and a Distinguished Service Cross. He also received a Silver Star and four Bronze Stars.
He was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times. This happened over a period of 13 months. He finally received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 30, 1968. He retired from the Army as a full colonel. He served for 36 years.
Many people believe he was one of the most decorated soldiers. He might even be the most decorated service member in U.S. history. Howard passed away from pancreatic cancer. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
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Robert Howard's Army Career
Robert Howard joined the United States Army in 1956. He enlisted in Montgomery, Alabama. He served for many years. He retired as a colonel in the Army Special Forces in 1992.
Serving in Vietnam
Howard served in Vietnam for a long time. He was part of several important units. These included the 101st Airborne Division. He also served with the 5th Special Forces Group. He was also part of MACV-SOG.
MACV-SOG stands for Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group. This was a highly secret group. As a Staff Sergeant in MACV-SOG, Howard was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times. These nominations were for actions between 1967 and 1968.
His first two nominations were changed to lesser awards. This was because his missions were very secret. They involved covert operations.
Medal of Honor Mission
On December 30, 1968, Howard was a Sergeant First Class. He was on a rescue mission in Cambodia. His team was looking for a missing American soldier. During this mission, he risked his life. For his bravery, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
He actually learned about his award while still under enemy fire. He was also wounded at that moment. This injury was one of his eight Purple Hearts.
Promotions and Training
Howard was wounded 14 times during the Vietnam War. This happened over 54 months. Because of his amazing service, he received a special promotion. In December 1969, he went from Master Sergeant directly to First Lieutenant.
He also completed tough training. In May 1973, he graduated from Ranger School. He then served as a company commander. Later, he became a Mountain Ranger Training instructor. He also led Special Forces training at Camp Mackall.
Howard continued his education. He earned two master's degrees during his time in the Army. He also graduated from the National War College. He retired as a colonel in 1992.
Most Decorated Soldier
Robert Howard is known as one of the most decorated soldiers. He served in the Vietnam War. Some sources, like NBC News, say he might be the most highly decorated American soldier of the modern era. Others state he was "the most decorated service member in the history of the United States."
Life After the Army
After retiring, Robert Howard lived in Texas. He spent a lot of his time helping other veterans. He also made trips to Iraq. He visited active duty troops there.
Howard passed away on December 23, 2009. He died from pancreatic cancer in Waco, Texas. He was survived by his four children and five grandchildren. His funeral was held at Arlington National Cemetery in February 2010.
Robert Howard's Legacy
In 2014, Howard received a special award. It was the United States Special Operations Command's Bull Simons award. This award recognizes lifetime achievements in Special Operations.
In April 2017, a building was named in his honor. It is called Howard Hall. It is located at the Rowe Training Facility on Camp Mackall.
