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View Full Version : U.S. Robert Howard Medal of Honor , Nominated 3 different times for differnet actions



bobdina
07-30-2009, 03:31 PM
HOWARD, ROBERT L.H


Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 30 December 1968. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Born: 11 July 1939, Opelika, Ala.

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Howard (then Sfc .), distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant of an American-Vietnamese platoon which was on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier in enemy controlled territory in the Republic of Vietnam. The platoon had left its helicopter landing zone and was moving out on its mission when it was attacked by an estimated 2-company force. During the initial engagement, 1st Lt. Howard was wounded and his weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion. 1st Lt. Howard saw his platoon leader had been wounded seriously and was exposed to fire. Although unable to walk, and weaponless, 1st Lt. Howard unhesitatingly crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader. As 1st Lt. Howard was administering first aid and removing the officer's equipment, an enemy bullet struck 1 of the ammunition pouches on the lieutenant's belt, detonating several magazines of ammunition. 1st Lt. Howard momentarily sought cover and then realizing that he must rejoin the platoon, which had been disorganized by the enemy attack, he again began dragging the seriously wounded officer toward the platoon area. Through his outstanding example of indomitable courage and bravery, 1st Lt. Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense force. With complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Howard crawled from position to position, administering first aid to the wounded, giving encouragement to the defenders and directing their fire on the encircling enemy. For 3 1/2 hours 1st Lt. Howard's small force and supporting aircraft successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. 1st Lt. Howard personally supervised the loading of his men and did not leave the bullet-swept landing zone until all were aboard safely. 1st Lt. Howard's gallantry in action, his complete devotion to the welfare of his men at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.



He served five tours in Vietnam and is the only soldier in our nation's history to be nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor three times for three separate actions within a thirteen month period. Although it can only be awarded once to an individual, men who served with him said he deserved all three. He received a direct appointment from Master Sergeant to 1st Lieutenant in 1969, and was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon at the White House in 1971. His other awards for valor include the Distinguished Service Cross - our nation's second highest award, the Silver Star - the third highest award, and numerous lesser decorations including eight Purple Hearts. He received his decorations for valor for actions while serving as an NCO (Sergeant First Class).

He 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 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 its 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.

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Congressional Medal of Honor

Distinguished Service Cross

Silver Star

Bronze Star for Valor, 3d Oak Leaf Cluster

Purple Heart, 8th Award, 7th Oak Leaf Cluster

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit, 3d Oak Leaf Cluster

Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement

Air Medal for Valor, 2d Oak Leaf Cluster

Army Commendation Medal for Valor, 3d Oak Leaf Cluster

Air Medal for Aerial Flights

Army Meritorious Service Medal, 2d Oak Leaf Cluster

Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Achievement, 2d Oak Leaf Cluster

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Army Achievement Medal

Good Conduct Medal 4th Award

National Defense Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal

PNCO Ribbon W/2 device

Army Overseas Ribbon

Army Service Ribbon

Expeditionary Medal, 2d Oak Leaf Cluster

Vietnam Service Medal

Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star

Vietnam Honor Medal 2d Award

Vietnamese Wound Medal

Vietnamese Civil Action Medal 2d Award

Army Presidential Unit Citation, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster

Navy Valorous Unit Citation

Army Meritorious Unit Citation

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster

Republic of Korea Samil Medal

Combat Infantryman's Badge

Aircraft Crewman's Badge

Master Parachute Badge

Pathfinder Badge

Air Assault Badge

Expert Infantryman's Badge

Vietnamese Ranger Badge

Army Ranger Tab

Special Forces Qualification Tab

Thai Master Parachute Wings

Vietnamese Master Parachute Badge

French Parachutist Badge

Korean Master Parachute Badge

Thai Balloonist Badge

bobdina
07-31-2009, 07:04 PM
Unbelievable nominated for 3 MOH's for different incident's. This is a real American hero , didn't do it for the money ,the fame or any other reason today's so called "hero's" do. A football player making 25 million a year donates money to a charity and he's labeled a hero B.S. (i love football by the way) FTM

Ripcord
07-31-2009, 11:43 PM
I don't even know what to say.
absolutely amazing what this man did

and as for sports and entertainment "heroes" and "role models" they do not deserve that title EVER.
unless they do something that actually puts their life on the line for another persons.

nastyleg
08-01-2009, 01:38 AM
Unbelievable nominated for 3 MOH's for different incident's. This is a real American hero , didn't do it for the money ,the fame or any other reason today's so called "hero's" do. A football player making 25 million a year donates money to a charity and he's labeled a hero B.S. (i love football by the way) FTM

100% agreement!