Gypsy
07-21-2006, 19:48
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/15077306.htm
Hero's son just wants 'to be a good soldier'
BY MICK WALSH
Staff Writer
Following in the footsteps
Pvt. Robert Howard was able to stay out of his dad's shadow for 12 of his 14 weeks in basic training.
But when Howard's company commander, Capt. Jeff Beauchamp, learned that Howard's father just happened to be the most decorated of all soldiers who fought in Vietnam, a man with more medals than even the legendary Audie Murphy, then Howard's secret was out of the rucksack.
Some of Howard's buddies also learned about the father-son relationship from a book on past Medal of Honor winners.
"You related to this Robert Howard?" the young soldier at Fort Benning was asked.
He confirmed that he was.
"And those guys wanted to know more about my dad," he said this week, as his fellow trainees cleaned their weapons outside the company day room, preparing for Friday's graduation ceremony.
Now everyone knows of the Howards, father and son. The elder Howard will be afforded VIP status as he comes to Fort Benning from his home in San Antonio to speak at his son's graduation.
So why hadn't Howard Jr. told his buddies the story of Howard Sr.?
"I didn't need the additional pressure of being the son of a Medal of Honor winner," said the 22-year-old member of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Regiment of the Infantry Training Brigade. "It's not that I'm embarrassed or anything, it's just that Dad suggested before I began training that I not tell anyone of our relationship."
Retired Col. Robert Howard, a native of Opelika, Ala., was actually nominated for the Medal of Honor on three different occasions during a 13-month tour in Vietnam in 1968-69.
The Medal of Honor was awarded to then-platoon Sgt. Howard for heroic actions during a rescue attempt of a missing American soldier on Dec. 30, 1968, including dragging his wounded platoon leader to safety despite his own injuries. During his Vietnam service, he also was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star, America's second- and third-highest medals for valor, for different actions.
'My dad's very humble'
During the six days in the field leading to the climb up Honor Hill, which represents the unofficial end of basic training, Howard's son spent some time thinking of what it must have been like for his dad in combat.
"Our Field Training Exercises present us different scenarios to prepare us for what we might face in combat," he said. "I guess you really never know how you'll react in that situation until you've been there. I don't doubt that I'll be OK, though."
Since his parents divorced when he was 7 years old, young Howard hasn't spent as much time as he'd like with his father, who retired from active duty in 1992.
"I really didn't know him as a soldier," Howard said. In fact, it wasn't until he was in high school back in his home of Dos Palos, Calif., midway between San Jose and Fresno, that he understood what the hoopla about his dad was all about.
"We were asked to write about the person we most admired and I decided to write about my dad," he said. "My dad's very humble but he did tell me about Vietnam. I've read stories about him since and even attended some of the Medal of Honor events at which he speaks."
Different career path
The younger Howard seemed to be on a different career path than his father just a couple of years ago.
A three-sport letterman in high school, he concentrated on football at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. He had passed on an opportunity to attend West Point, a privilege allotted sons and daughters of Medal of Honor winners.
"I sort of regret that now," he said.
But 2 1/2 years into college, he made an about face and enlisted in the Army.
"I plan to finish one day, but I was just ready for something else," he said.
That "something else" turned out to be the Army.
"Now, I'm thinking maybe I'll make it a career," he said.
Next up: Airborne School, then the Ranger Indoctrination Program.
"My dad told me that joining the Rangers is the way to go," Howard said. It should be noted that his dad was both a Ranger and a Green Beret in Vietnam.
The young soldier, who played strong safety at Cal Poly, said he's excited to visit his dad and to hear his speech on Friday.
"I admire him greatly for everything he's done," Howard said. "He just got back from Iraq and Afghanistan, where he talked to our soldiers over there. My dad's a hero. That's not my goal, though. I just want to be a good soldier."
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Hero's son just wants 'to be a good soldier'
BY MICK WALSH
Staff Writer
Following in the footsteps
Pvt. Robert Howard was able to stay out of his dad's shadow for 12 of his 14 weeks in basic training.
But when Howard's company commander, Capt. Jeff Beauchamp, learned that Howard's father just happened to be the most decorated of all soldiers who fought in Vietnam, a man with more medals than even the legendary Audie Murphy, then Howard's secret was out of the rucksack.
Some of Howard's buddies also learned about the father-son relationship from a book on past Medal of Honor winners.
"You related to this Robert Howard?" the young soldier at Fort Benning was asked.
He confirmed that he was.
"And those guys wanted to know more about my dad," he said this week, as his fellow trainees cleaned their weapons outside the company day room, preparing for Friday's graduation ceremony.
Now everyone knows of the Howards, father and son. The elder Howard will be afforded VIP status as he comes to Fort Benning from his home in San Antonio to speak at his son's graduation.
So why hadn't Howard Jr. told his buddies the story of Howard Sr.?
"I didn't need the additional pressure of being the son of a Medal of Honor winner," said the 22-year-old member of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Regiment of the Infantry Training Brigade. "It's not that I'm embarrassed or anything, it's just that Dad suggested before I began training that I not tell anyone of our relationship."
Retired Col. Robert Howard, a native of Opelika, Ala., was actually nominated for the Medal of Honor on three different occasions during a 13-month tour in Vietnam in 1968-69.
The Medal of Honor was awarded to then-platoon Sgt. Howard for heroic actions during a rescue attempt of a missing American soldier on Dec. 30, 1968, including dragging his wounded platoon leader to safety despite his own injuries. During his Vietnam service, he also was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star, America's second- and third-highest medals for valor, for different actions.
'My dad's very humble'
During the six days in the field leading to the climb up Honor Hill, which represents the unofficial end of basic training, Howard's son spent some time thinking of what it must have been like for his dad in combat.
"Our Field Training Exercises present us different scenarios to prepare us for what we might face in combat," he said. "I guess you really never know how you'll react in that situation until you've been there. I don't doubt that I'll be OK, though."
Since his parents divorced when he was 7 years old, young Howard hasn't spent as much time as he'd like with his father, who retired from active duty in 1992.
"I really didn't know him as a soldier," Howard said. In fact, it wasn't until he was in high school back in his home of Dos Palos, Calif., midway between San Jose and Fresno, that he understood what the hoopla about his dad was all about.
"We were asked to write about the person we most admired and I decided to write about my dad," he said. "My dad's very humble but he did tell me about Vietnam. I've read stories about him since and even attended some of the Medal of Honor events at which he speaks."
Different career path
The younger Howard seemed to be on a different career path than his father just a couple of years ago.
A three-sport letterman in high school, he concentrated on football at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. He had passed on an opportunity to attend West Point, a privilege allotted sons and daughters of Medal of Honor winners.
"I sort of regret that now," he said.
But 2 1/2 years into college, he made an about face and enlisted in the Army.
"I plan to finish one day, but I was just ready for something else," he said.
That "something else" turned out to be the Army.
"Now, I'm thinking maybe I'll make it a career," he said.
Next up: Airborne School, then the Ranger Indoctrination Program.
"My dad told me that joining the Rangers is the way to go," Howard said. It should be noted that his dad was both a Ranger and a Green Beret in Vietnam.
The young soldier, who played strong safety at Cal Poly, said he's excited to visit his dad and to hear his speech on Friday.
"I admire him greatly for everything he's done," Howard said. "He just got back from Iraq and Afghanistan, where he talked to our soldiers over there. My dad's a hero. That's not my goal, though. I just want to be a good soldier."
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