I first met Bob Howard in the fall of 1970 at Fort Sherman, Canal Zone. We were both First Lieutenants and were sent to Panama to go through the Jungle Operations School. All infantry officers enroute to their first tour in Vietnam were required to attend this course. Of course, Bob had already served multiple tours in Vietnam, spending most of his time with MACVSOG doing strategic recon across the borders. The Army deemed that this didn’t count, so Bob tagged along with us rookies.
He was then assigned to Command and Control Central in Kontum and I was assigned to an aviation unit in Pleiku. Our aircraft supported CCC as well as the border SF/ARVN Ranger camps along the border and my recon platoon ran missions on the Vietnam side of the border. I would get to Kontum from time to time and pay Bob a visit. He only served four months on that tour when he was called back to Washington to receive the Medal of Honor. The Army would not let him come back to Vietnam, so his combat days were over.
When I met Bob, he was wearing plain jane jungle fatigues. I knew that he had multiple tours as a NCO, but that was not that big a deal. He never mentioned what he had done, except to say it was “recon stuff”. We had to wear Class B’s for graduation and Bob showed up wearing all his decorations including two Distinguished Service Crosses (one was an interim award for the MOH), multiple Silver Stars and Purple Hearts. In Vietnam he soldiered hard and partied hard, and was respected by all who served with him.
Sounds like he was truly a man among men. America has lost a good one.
RIP Col. Howard and thank you.
Thanks for your posts.