TrUe HeRo *Robert L. Howard* (Retired)

ROBERT L. HOWARD

First Lieutenant Robert L. Howard

30 December 1968

U.S. Army

5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

1st Special Forces

Republic of Vietnam

Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala.

Born: 11 July 1939, Opelika, Ala.

CITATION

FIRST LIEUTENANT ROBERT L. HOWARD, UNITED STATES ARMY, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, then sergeant first class, distinguished himself on 30 December 1968, while serving as a platoon sergeant on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier in enemy-controlled territory. The platoon left its helicopter and was moving out when it was attacked by an estimated two company force. Lieutenant Howard was wounded and his weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion and his platoon leader was wounded seriously and exposed to enemy fire. Although unable to walk and weaponless, Lieutenant Howard unhesitatingly crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader. As he was rendering first aid, an enemy bullet struck one of the ammunition pouches on the lieutenant’s belt, detonating several magazines of ammunition. Lieutenant Howard began dragging the seriously wounded officer toward the platoon area. Through his indomitable courage and bravery, Lieutenant Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense force. With complete disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Howard crawled from position to position, directing fire on the encircling enemy. For three and one-half hours, his small force and supporting aircraft successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. Lieutenant Howard did not leave the bullet-swept landing zone until all were safely aboard.

THANKYOU

Robert L. Howard I want to thank you for what you have done which is save someones life. That is something that you, your family and many other people counting me are and should be really proud of you. You are a really brave person which many of us would like to be as. No body told you, you have to do this or that to get the Metal of Honor you just did what you really felt like doing. You went to do a mission which made you get the Metal of Honor and you were nominated three times for the Metal of Honor but then in 1917, the laws governing the award of the Medal of Honor ended all DOUBLE awards of the Medal of Honor, but you still got many awards. Now you are one of those 100 survivers of the reseptians of the Metal of Honor awards. I just have one question, do you really want to have the Metal of Honor award or would you best not prefere to have it? For last time THANK YOU again my hero!!!!!