02-01-2004, 16:05
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#1
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The Team Sergeants Little Sister
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 138
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Howard, Robert L.
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, Alabama
Born: 11 July 1939, Opelika, Alabama
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.
For more information and photos, visit Col. Howard's web site
__________________
How do you do? My name is Trouble
I'm coming in for the kill...
And you know I will
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Martinez is offline
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02-01-2004, 17:00
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,780
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COL Howard, you are THE MAN!!
Well done, Sir.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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02-01-2004, 19:39
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: below the radar
Posts: 61
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2nd what you said TR. I recently had the honor of speaking with Col. Howard and he truly is "the man".
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thriving in an ambiguous environment
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desafiamos is offline
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02-01-2004, 19:55
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LA
Posts: 1,653
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Should have received the other two as well. The Man indeed.
__________________
Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.
Still want to quit?
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NousDefionsDoc is offline
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02-01-2004, 22:02
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 20,929
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Quote:
Originally posted by desafiamos
2nd what you said TR. I recently had the honor of speaking with Col. Howard and he truly is "the man".
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I had the honor of first meeting Col Howard (Maj then) at Phase One, where he proceeded to "ruck" my ass (and many other young studs) into the ground.
The man is harder than woodpecker lips.
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"The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy, but where they are."
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Team Sergeant is offline
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02-11-2005, 21:12
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 2,531
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i didn't exactly meet him...
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Team Sergeant
I had the honor of first meeting Col Howard (Maj then) at Phase One, where he proceeded to "ruck" my ass (and many other young studs) into the ground.
The man is harder than woodpecker lips.
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but he was the chief of either tower or ground branch when i went through jump school....
dayum, that was a long time ago...seems like yesterday...,.
lksteve
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lksteve is offline
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05-30-2006, 12:18
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#7
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: In transit somewhere
Posts: 4,044
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TS-
Was that honor or horror? I kinda remember it as both when I went through, Maj Howard was one bad mf when it came to rucking - and the grenade simulators in the quonsets were a way to lively up a very late night........
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x SF med is offline
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05-31-2006, 13:18
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Williamston, SC
Posts: 2,018
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TYhe first time I met him he was issuing my gear at FOB-2 in 1968. I thought he was the baddest supply sergeant I ever saw. 
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QRQ 30 is offline
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05-31-2006, 18:23
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#9
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Asset
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 22
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Sounds like one hell of a guy.
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PeteyMcPete is offline
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12-22-2011, 22:58
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#10
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Fredericksburg VA
Posts: 3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lksteve
but he was the chief of either tower or ground branch when i went through jump school....
dayum, that was a long time ago...seems like yesterday...,.
lksteve
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If that was in late 72", He was Chief of the Tower committee.
Ran across him again in 74 at B Co 75th at Ft Lewis, Ranger School in 76 and worked for him in PH1 and 3 in 81-83,
He was truely amazing and harder than chicken lips.
Last edited by hharke; 12-22-2011 at 23:07.
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hharke is offline
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02-01-2004, 23:09
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#11
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DFW Texas Area
Posts: 4,741
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Not trying to "One Up" any one here, but I had the honor of working for the then Captain Bob Howard, CO of Recon Company, (more of a Platoon!), at Command and Control Central, Kontum, RVN.
I will say that I have never worked for anyone, before or since, that I respect as much as him !!! I will put together some of my thoughts and memories, from when I worked WITH him in RVN.
Later
Martin
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Martin sends.
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Ambush Master is offline
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02-01-2004, 23:12
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#12
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,780
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AM:
While you are at it, tell some Billy Waugh stories.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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02-02-2004, 07:31
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#13
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The Team Sergeants Little Sister
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 138
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Ah that Billy... he is also the Man!!!
Jennifer sends
__________________
How do you do? My name is Trouble
I'm coming in for the kill...
And you know I will
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Martinez is offline
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02-14-2004, 16:58
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#14
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Guest
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ambush Master
Not trying to "One Up" any one here, but I had the honor of working for the then Captain Bob Howard, CO of Recon Company, (more of a Platoon!), at Command and Control Central, Kontum, RVN.
I will say that I have never worked for anyone, before or since, that I respect as much as him !!! I will put together some of my thoughts and memories, from when I worked WITH him in RVN.
Later
Martin
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Please do.
I've met him and believe that he's one of the greatest Soldier's in US History.
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02-29-2004, 11:39
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#15
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The Team Sergeants Little Sister
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 138
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.
__________________
How do you do? My name is Trouble
I'm coming in for the kill...
And you know I will
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Martinez is offline
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