Country's most decorated soldier has died

[scandal 951]

Highly decorated Army colonel dies in Texas

WACO, Texas — Retired Col. Robert Lewis Howard, a man considered to be the country's most decorated soldier, died Wednesday. He was 70.

Howard was battling pancreatic cancer and died about noon at a hospice, his friend Benito Guerrero, a Vietnam veteran and retired sergeant major, told the San Antonio Express-News.

The Army veteran died in Waco, according to Oak Crest Funeral Home. At the time of his death he was the most decorated American soldier, the funeral home obituary said. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. No date has been set, the funeral home said.

Howard grew up in Opelika, Ala., and served in the Army from 1956 to 1992. He was part of the U.S. Army Special Forces, known as the Green Berets, and ran cross-border operations in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam. He was wounded 14 times in Vietnam and was awarded eight Purple Hearts.

He was nominated three times for the Medal of Honor, the nation's most prestigious award for combat veterans. President Richard M. Nixon presented him with the honor at the White House in 1971 for his bravery in Vietnam during a mission to rescue a missing soldier in enemy territory.

During that mission, the platoon was attacked. Howard tended to his wounded platoon leader while under fire and rallied platoon members into and organized defense force until rescue helicopters could land.

"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," according to his Medal of Honor citation.

His other two nominations were downgraded, one to the Distinguished Service Cross and the other to the Silver Star.

At a gathering earlier this year for Medal of Honor recipients, Howard said he and others given the medal don't wear their awards for themselves.

"It is for all those who have and do wear the uniform of this great country of ours," Howard told the crowd. "For those who stood beside us and for those who did not come home."

In April, Howard traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan to talk to troops. About two months ago he visited troops in Germany, Bosnia and Kosovo, the Express-News reported.

"As one of America's most decorated veterans, Col. Howard inspired everyone he met to consider their own commitment to our nation's essential values, and was the bravest soldier I ever met," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said in a statement. "His unshakeable commitment to freedom, displayed in countless episodes of battlefield gallantry, lives on in the actions of our military men and women who continue to serve in hostile conditions overseas."

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

[john & jean 37]

RIP Col. Howard

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

r.i.p.

[Danno 1,228]

Inspiring story, thanks Scandal!

[alienlovechild 75]

Howard grew up in Opelika, Ala., and served in the Army from 1956 to 1992. He was part of the U.S. Army Special Forces, known as the Green Berets, and ran cross-border operations in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam. He was wounded 14 times in Vietnam and was awarded eight Purple Hearts.

He was nominated three times for the Medal of Honor, the nation's most prestigious award for combat veterans. President Richard M. Nixon presented him with the honor at the White House in 1971 for his bravery in Vietnam during a mission to rescue a missing soldier in enemy territory.

We throw out the word "hero" so much now that it cheapens the term when it really applies to guys like COL Howard. Nominated for the MOH three times? Most recipients get it posthumously and this guy lived to tell the tale.

The irony is that he was awarded for his actions in war that many disagreed with and claimed there weren't any heroes.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

From Scandal on another post!

Glad that your brother made it!

Apparently the army doesn't see it as their responsibility to reunite soldiers with their families for the holidays.

There was a story on the NBC Nightly news tonight about a National Guard unit that was training in Wisconsin and furloughed to go home to South Carolina. However they needed the local community to pitch in to bring them home for the holidays.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

RIP

[Nagishkaw 510]

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

From Scandal on another post!

Glad that your brother made it!

Apparently the army doesn't see it as their responsibility to reunite soldiers with their families for the holidays.

There was a story on the NBC Nightly news tonight about a National Guard unit that was training in Wisconsin and furloughed to go home to South Carolina. However they needed the local community to pitch in to bring them home for the holidays.

wrong thread, marc!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

wrong thread, marc!

Let's not be selective. Every thread is the right thread for his rants.

[Jasman0717 9]

RIP pancreatic cancer is a death sentence. Did anyone watch the last lecture by Randy Pausch? He had pancreatic cancer too.

[scandal 951]

From Scandal on another post!

Glad that your brother made it!

Apparently the army doesn't see it as their responsibility to reunite soldiers with their families for the holidays.

There was a story on the NBC Nightly news tonight about a National Guard unit that was training in Wisconsin and furloughed to go home to South Carolina. However they needed the local community to pitch in to bring them home for the holidays.

I'm not following you Marc. (Not that that is unusual, by any means...)

1. A hero of this nation, who served gallantly in uniform, has passed. We mourn his passing and recognize his service.

2. Members of a South Carolina National Guard unit, who were training in Wisconsin, were able to return home briefly for Christmas before they ship out to Afghanistan for combat duty in January. In a heartwarming story, they returned home through the generosity of the local community who paid for their travel (and a contribution from Lowes). The army gave them the time off, but not the transportation. I don't think anything is wrong with that - I just thought it was a touching story, and fit in well with angelfire's account of trying to get her brother home for the holidays too.

The only thing 1. and 2. have in common is that they deal with service members in the uniform of our armed forces.

Again, your point?