Cover Story: Soldier of Fortune, May 2010
 

For those of you who are interested, the exact article written by MAJ John L. Plaster, referenced in TS' now-closed thread, "The Humble Knight: COL Robert L. Howard," is the cover story for the May 2010 edition of, "Soldier of Fortune," magazine under the title, "SOGs Most Ferocious Warrior?". COL Howard is pictured on the cover, as well as three or four times throughout the article.

I read the article to my Privates here in Iraq. I felt the next generation should know the size of the boots they and I are trying fill. I think by comparing themselves to the best, they are more likely to be challenged to excel than if they reach stagnation measuring themselves against many of the system riders in our standard Army. Anyway, one Private in particular was so moved, he spent the rest of the day reading through CMH recipient citations online. I heard him parroting the stories to others in the smoke pit at different times during the day. It pleases me to know the memory of such men, though I haven't had the honor of knowing any personally, lives on in the hearts and war stories of the Soldiers who follow; that good Soldiers never die. V/R -Dexter

If that article is the one that was handed out at the Memorial Service at Bragg and at the Ceremony at Arlington, I'm the one that "Shined His Boots"!!

Bob was the best BOSS that I have ever worked for!! He covered our '6-24/7!!!

I'm glad that my youngest son got to meet him!!

Later
Martin

God Bless,Rest in Peace Warrior ...................:(

Big Teddy

For anyone who wants to know a bit about Bob Howard, leadership, and to watch and hear him tell his own story, here's a link to a program worth viewing.

Recon: Courage under Fire

http://player.theplatform.com/ps/pla...4yLZspt4Z5mpgc

Richard :munchin

RIP COL Howard
 

RIP COL Howard. Your Country needs more men like you. We who know, appreciate and hold in honor your service.

It would have been the biggest honor of my life to meet COL Howard. I'm glad I stumbled upon his name or else I would have never known of him.

Rest in Peace, Sir!

It was definitely mine.

Thanks for the link Richard.

Rest In God's Peace Warrior.

RF 1

John Plaster's memorial editorial to Bob Howard.

Richard :munchin

The Humble Knight: Colonel Robert L. Howard
John Plaster, SOFMag, 12 Jul 2010
Part 1 of 2

RECON COMPANY AT COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRAL

In 1968, Robert L. Howard was a 30-year-old sergeant first class and the most physically fit man on our compound. Broad-chested, solid as a lumberjack and mentally tough, he cut an imposing presence. I was among the lucky few Army Special Forces soldiers to have served with Bob Howard in our 60-man Recon Company at Command and Control Central, a top secret Green Beret unit that ran covert missions behind enemy lines. As an element of the secretive Studies and Observations Group (SOG), we did our best to recon, raid, attack and disrupt the enemy’s Ho Chi Minh Trail network in Laos and Cambodia.

UP THERE WITH AMERICA’S GREATEST HEROES

Take all of John Wayne’s films—throw in Clint Eastwood’s, too—and these fictions could not measure up to the real Bob Howard. Officially he was awarded eight Purple Hearts, but he actually was wounded 14 times. Six of the wounds, he decided, weren’t severe enough to be worthy of the award. Keep in mind that for each time he was wounded, there probably were ten times that he was nearly wounded, and you get some idea of his combat service. He was right up there with America’s greatest heroes—Davy Crockett, Alvin York, Audie Murphy, the inspiring example we other Green Berets tried to live up to. “What would Bob Howard do?” many of us asked ourselves when surrounded and outnumbered, just a handful of men to fight off hordes of North Vietnamese.

To call him a legend is no exaggeration. Take the time he was in a chow line at an American base and a Vietnamese terrorist on a motorbike tossed a hand grenade at them. While others leaped for cover, Howard snatched an M-16 from a petrified security guard, dropped to one knee and expertly shot the driver, and then chased the passenger a half-mile and killed him, too.
One night his recon team laid beside an enemy highway in Laos as a convoy rolled past. Running alongside an enemy truck in pitch blackness, he spun an armed claymore mine over his head like a lasso, then threw it among enemy soldiers crammed in the back, detonated it, and ran away to fight another day.

Another time, he was riding in a Huey with Larry White and Robert Clough into Laos, when their pilot unknowingly landed beside two heavily camouflaged enemy helicopters. Fire erupted instantly, riddling their Huey and hitting White three times, knocking him to the ground. Firing back, Howard and Clough jumped out and grabbed White, and their Huey somehow limped back to South Vietnam.

CONSIDER THE RESCUE OF JOE WALKER

“Just knowing Bob Howard was ready to come and get you meant a lot to us,” said recon team leader Lloyd O’Daniels. Consider the rescue of Joe Walker. His recon team and an SOG platoon had been overrun near a major Laotian highway and, seriously wounded, Walker was hiding with a Montagnard soldier, unable to move. Howard inserted a good distance away with a dozen men and, because there were so many enemy present, waited for darkness to sneak into the area. Howard felt among bodies for heartbeats, and checked one figure’s lanky legs, then felt for Joe’s signature horn-rimmed glasses. “You sweet Son of a Gun,” Walker whispered, and Howard took him to safety.

What’s all the more remarkable is that not one of these incidents resulted in any award. Howard was just doing what had to be done, he thought.

“HOPELESS” WAS NOT IN HIS VOCABULARY

Unique in American military history, this Opelika, Alabama native was recommended for the Medal of Honor three times in 13 months for separate combat actions, witnessed by fellow Green Berets. The first came in November 1967. While a larger SOG element destroyed an enemy cache, Howard screened forward and confronted a large enemy force. He killed four enemy soldiers and took out an NVA sniper. Then, “pinned down…with a blazing machine gun only six inches above his head,” he shot and killed an entire NVA gun crew at point-blank range, and then destroyed another machine gun position with a grenade. He so demoralized the enemy force that they withdrew. This Medal of Honor recommendation was downgraded to a Silver Star.

The next incident came a year later. Again accompanying a larger SOG force, he performed magnificently, single-handedly knocking out a PT-76 tank. A day later he wiped out an anti-aircraft gun crew, and afterward rescued the crew of a downed Huey. Repeatedly wounded, he was bleeding from his arms, legs, back and face, but he refused to be evacuated. Again submitted for the Medal of Honor, his recommendation was downgraded, this time to the Distinguished Service Cross.

Just six weeks later, Howard volunteered to accompany a platoon going into Laos in search of a missing recon man, Robert Scherdin. Ambushed by a large enemy force, Howard was badly wounded, his M-16 blown to bits—yet he crawled to the aid of a wounded lieutenant, fought off NVA soldiers with a grenade, then a .45 pistol, and managed to drag the officer away. Having been burned and slashed by shrapnel, we thought we’d never see him again. But he went AWOL from the hospital and came back in pajamas to learn he’d been again submitted for the Medal of Honor. This time it went forward to Washington, with assurances that it would be approved.

Howard did not know the word, “hopeless.” Many years later he explained his mindset during the Medal of Honor operation: “I had one choice: to lay and wait, or keep fighting for my men. If I waited, I gambled that things would get better while I did nothing. If I kept fighting, no matter how painful, I could stack the odds that recovery for my men and a safe exodus were achievable.”

Although eventually sent home, he came back yet again, to spend with us the final months before his Medal of Honor ceremony. By then he had served more than 5 years in Vietnam. Why so much time in Vietnam? “I guess it’s because I want to help in any way I can,” Howard explained. “I may as well be here where I can use my training; and besides, I have to do it – it’s the way I feel about my job.”

THE WARRIOR TRADITION

The warrior ethic came naturally to Bob Howard. His father and four uncles had all been paratroopers in World War Two. Of them, two died in combat and the other three succumbed to wounds after the war. To support his mother and maternal grandparents, he and his sister picked cotton. He also learned old-fashioned Southern civility, removing his hat for any lady and answering, “Yes, ma’am.”

He also possessed a deep sense of honor and justice, and lived by his unspoken warrior’s code, with the priorities mission, men, and his own interests coming last. He absolutely fit the bill as a leader you’d follow through hell’s gates – IF you could keep up with him. A hard-charging physical fitness advocate, he even had our Montagnard tribesmen running and doing calisthenics.

After draping the Medal of Honor around Howard’s neck, President Nixon asked him what he wanted to do the rest of that memorable day – lunch with the president, a tour of the White House, almost anything. Howard asked simply to be taken to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to share his thoughts with others who had gone before him. Tragically, the U.S. media, reflecting the anti-war sentiments of that period, said not one word about Howard or his valiant deeds, although by the time he received the Medal of Honor he was America’s most highly decorated serviceman.

HIS FRAME OF REFERENCE WAS SOG—HARD COMBAT

Despite the lack of recognition, Howard went on serving to the best of his ability. He was the training officer at the Army’s Airborne School, then he was a company commander in the 2nd Ranger Battalion at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He continued to excel at everything he did, making Distinguished Honor Graduate in his Officer Advance Course class.

As the officer-in-charge of Special Forces training at Camp Mackall, near Ft. Bragg, N.C., and later, commanding the Mountain Ranger Training Camp at Dahlonega, Georgia, he did his utmost to inspire young students. Howard’s frame of reference was SOG—hard combat, the toughest kind against terrible odds with impossible missions. He knew good men would die or fail in combat without martial skills, tactical knowledge and physical conditioning. He was famous for leading runs and long-distance rucksack marches— stronger than men half his age, usually he outran entire classes of students. A whole generation of Army Special Forces and Rangers earned their qualifications under his shining example, with some graduates among the senior leaders of today’s Special Forces and Ranger units.

His highest assignment was commander of Special Forces Detachment, Korea. He might have gone higher but he dared to publicly suggest that American POWs had been left in enemy hands, and was willing to testify to that before Congress in 1986. After he retired as a full colonel, he went through multiple surgeries to try to correct the many injuries he’d suffered over the years.

But he could not stop helping GIs. He spent another 20 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs, helping disabled vets. He had a reputation for rankling his superiors as an unapologetic advocate of veterans.

(cont'd)

The Humble Knight: Colonel Robert L. Howard
John Plaster, SOFMag, 12 Jul 2010
Part 2 of 2

THIS HUMBLE KNIGHT BELONGS TO HISTORY

His spirit never waned. In 2004 I sat with Green Berets of the 1st Special Forces Group at Ft. Lewis, Wash., who laughed and cheered when he joked about still being tough enough to take on any two men in the audience—not one raised his hand. After retiring from the VA, Col. Howard often visited with American servicemen to speak about his combat experiences, making five trips to Iraq and Afghanistan. In the fall of 2009, he visited troops in Germany, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Despite increasing pain and sickness, on Veterans Day 2009 he kept his word to attend a memorial ceremony, but finally he had to seek help. He was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and given a few weeks to live. In those final days old Special Forces and Ranger friends slipped past “No Visitors” signs to see him. When SOG vets Ben Lyons and Martin Bennett and a civilian friend, Chuck Hendricks, visited him, Howard climbed from his bed to model the uniform jacket he would be buried in, festooned with the Medal of Honor and rows upon rows of ribbons. A proud Master Parachutist and military skydiver, he showed them the polished jump boots he’d been working on, and asked Bennett to touch up the spit shine. Though his feet might not be visible in his coffin, he wanted that shine just right.

As they left, Col. Howard thanked Bennett, and then saluted him and held his hand crisply to his eyebrow until Bennett returned it. Bob Howard passed away two days before Christmas.

This great hero, a humble knight who was a paragon for all, belongs to history now. He is survived by his daughters Denicia, Melissa and Rosslyn; an Airborne-Ranger son, Robert Jr., and four grandchildren.

http://www.sofmag.com/humble-knight-...obert-l-howard

Richard, that says it all. So cool.

https://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary....d-Tracy-3.aspx

Here's a great interview with Col. Howard which has been posted before. It's from the Pritzker Military Library.

col howard
 

I met howard in Viet Nam in 1967-68. When I first met him he was working in the arms room at FOB#2 at SOG Kontum. Later he went on missions. Also I taught phase one when Howard was in charge of Camp McCall. I was in the 7th at the time but was sent there to run the phase one for a couple of classes. Later linked up with him at Korea in 1989-1991 and we used to tell wars stories when we a had a few to many which was often. Still have an 8x10 picture of him in my china cabinet. He was harder than woodpeckers lips when he had to be but I really liked him. There was to many students in Phase class so he took them on a run with rucksacks and as they dropped out he got the class size down to the right size and sent the dropouts packing. Boy did that cause a big stink.

I went on one of those. :D

Yup... went on one too... "Grab your Rucks!! We're going for a walk, girls..." :eek: That was NOT what you wanted to hear from the Major in the pre dawn light .....

Yup, me too.

The rest of this story:

When we were leaving his room, we decided to do so one by one and not all at once. I was the last..............and as I shook his hand,...........I told him that I would be looking for him at the Rally Point, just off of that Final DZ!!

That was when............HE SALUTED ME!!!

Later
Martin

Colonel Howard definately had a presence about him. He was gone from Mackall by the time that I got there but I saw him many mornings at the mata mile doing PT by himself.

For shame
 

With a history stemming from men like Col. Howard, MSG Benividez(sp?), CPT Roger Donlon and MAJ Plaster how is it possible that we have so many whiny men in SF, or society for that matter? I realize that this is a different era and a different generation but I have men who complain about the most inconsiquential stuff, incessently. I had a few guys that got "shot at" by 2 INS from 500 meters away (with AKs, max effective range of what? 400m?) and these kids are walking around with their chests poked out! When I think about the guys I respect the most, some I've met and some I've only read about, two of the words used most often are quiet and humble. What a shame that more of our young men don't have a better understanding of true courage and spirit.
Please don't misunderstand me, I certainly fall into this category more often than I like to admit. But what's happened to us?
Sorry for venting...

Quit snivelling. :D

Touchet Dusty. Message received.

Things haven't changed. You just weren't there to know the whiners first hand. We honor and remember those who rose above, not those who stood in the back and bitched.

I'm at the USMA prep school in Alabama right now and we have the Alabama Military Hall of Honor located here on campus. COL Howard has a plaque in there and it turns out that he was my CO's great uncle. My jaw dropped when I figured both of those things out. Just something a little something I felt like sharing.

I can tell you that COL Howard "shared" with many of us on this website! And most of what the Colonel Howard shared with us was "pain"........;)

...and aggressiveness of spirit... ;)

The man could thin a herd most ricky-tick.

Outstanding post.........:lifter

Big Teddy :munchin

If CPL Desmond T. Doss is the embodiment of undying faith, COL Howard is one for indomitable spirit. From time to time, I'd walk to the All American Medal of Honor hall, look at the profile of these legends and reflect. Always came out with renewed resolve...

Thanks for the inspirational posts, Richard

I'd like to echo those thanks.

COL Howard was my mentor's mentor. My gratitude to my mentor (and, indirectly, COL Howard) can never be fully expressed.

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.

I was assigned to CCC a few months after this action took place. (May, 1969) When I arrived, Col. (then SFC) Bob Howard was the Recon Company First Sergeant. My first impression of this man was that he was someone you always paid attention to whenever he spoke. He had a presence that made him stand out in any room, no matter how large. I was an inexperienced new guy in an organization of exceptionally professional, and ,sometimes, legendary soldiers. The SOA/SOG mission demanded a constant and elevated attention to detail and a willingness to expose oneself to additional dangers when it came to planning and execution of missions, a fact that made my head spin and my heart beat ferociously in my chest as First Sergeant Howard explained the scope of the unit's mission and my role in it at my initial in-briefing. He pulled no punches when he described what I'd be doing and where I'd be doing it. He definitely made an impression me, one that I've never forgotten. He expected much of us and I think we delivered as a unit. He was Bob Howard - how could you ever think of disappointing him?! If anyone has read this, please know that I couldn't resist commenting when I saw the post containing his MOH Citation. I'm proud to say that I served with the man, no matter how briefly, and that I will never forget him

Jay Holland
RT South Caroline
RT Ohio
B Co, Hatchet Force

Right on, thesushi (I have huge a sushi addiction/habbit by the way).

Thank you for your service. I am certain that the high standards and demands held by Robert L. Howard continue through men like yourself, and thus his expectations and life continue through men like you. This is the path of warriors; and following in the footsteps of or serving along side warriors who lead the way.

Thus the path never ends and insures a continious life.

Thanks for sharing part of yours.

EDIT: Excuse me: Colonel Robert L. Howard.

My uncle was a friend of the late Col. Howard, and approved of this piece I showed him.

Rest in peace, Colonel.

http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/D_Maga...ican_Hero.aspx

From that piece:
 

"The name Robert Lewis Howard belongs beside George Washington, John Paul Jones, Chesty Puller, Alvin York, and Audie Murphy, to name a few of the greatest."

Shoulda read "The name Robert Lewis Howard belongs at the top of a list which includes George Washington, John Paul Jones, Chesty Puller, Alvin York, and Audie Murphy, to name a few of the greatest."

It's always amazed me that no authorized bio's been written for Bad Bob.

Number one greatest Warrior in history...

I dunno, Audie Murphy and Alvin York and a few others are right up there too. ;)

Audie Murphy and Bob were VERY close Friends!!

I'd put Ashley, Donlon, Zab, Caviani, Benavidez, Mawhinney and Hathcock before those guys.

Also anybody who served in CCN, CCS, Project Delta or a Hatchet Co. ;)

I had the Honor of meeting Col Howard, words can not describe what it was like just to be able to hear him talk. I am truly in awe of you guys that had the opportunity to work for him or with him.

You seem to have forgotten CCC..............Where Howard, Miller, Walker, and a few others held their own!!

Later
Martin

Well, it was inferred, but-you're right-I should have put that first on my list. :cool:

An entire book could be written about Doug or Joe alone...