5th Special Forces Group

Medal of Honor

Recipient

First Lieutenant Robert L. Howard

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. 

Obituary

Col. Robert Lewis Howard, Retired US Army 
Died: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, in Waco 
Burial Location: Arlington National Cemetery 

Col. Robert L. Howard, Retired US Army, 70, of Waco and formerly of San Antonio, and who at the time of his death was the most decorated American soldier, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2009 in Waco. 

Full military honors are pending and will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and will be announced by OakCrest Funeral Home of Waco. 

Col. Howard grew up in Opelika, Alabama and enlisted in the US Army in 1956 at the age of 17. He retired as a full Colonel in 1992 after 36 years of service. 

During Vietnam, he served in the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and spent most of his five tours in the super-secret MACV-SOG. 

Col. Howard was nominated three times for the Medal of Honor, his first nomination being downgraded to the DSC. 

His second and third nominations were simultaneous for two separate actions and the Medal of Honor was awarded for the first of them and was presented to him by President Richard M. Nixon at the White House in 1971. 

The other nomination was downgraded to the Silver Star. 

Col. Howard was wounded 14 times in 54 months of combat duty in Vietnam and was awarded 8 Purple Hearts. 

Col. Howard is survived by his children, Denicia Howard of Florida, Melissa Gentsch and husband, Asst. Chief of Police Frank Gentsch of Waco, Rosslyn Howard of California and Robert Howard, Jr. and wife, Tori of California; and his grandchildren, Victoria Batey and husband, Luke of Denton, Holley Gentsch of Waco, Trey Howard of California, Isabella Gentsch of Waco and George Harris of Florida. 


Dedicated to Robert L. Howard, one of America's most decorated soldiers. 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). 

Robert L. Howard grew up in Opelika, Alabama and 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. 

Robert L. Howard is said to be our nation's most decorated soldier from the Vietnam War. He was the last Vietnam Special Forces Medal of Honor recipient still on active duty when he retired on Sept. 29, 1992. His story is told in John Plaster's excellent book, SOG The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam.