Col. Robert Lewis Howard

Most people have never heard of U.S. Army Col. Robert Lewis Howard who was the most decorated soldier of the Vietnam War. He served five tours of duty in Vietnam and was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times, but a soldier can only be awarded the Medal of Honor once. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Col. Howard was awarded eight Purple Hearts, a Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, four Bronze Stars a Defense Superior Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Legion of Merit, three Air Medals, seven Army Commendation Medals, and a Joint Service Commendation. He served in the Army from 1956 to 1992.

Howard's three recommendations for the Medal of Honor came when he was a Staff Sgt. assigned to Military Assistance Command Special Operations Group. He received a direct commission from Master Sgt. to First Lt. in December 1969. Howard attended and graduated from Ranger School in May 1973. He retired from the Army as a full Colonel in 1992, and he settled in Texas. After retirement, he worked with veterans, and he also took several trips to Iraq to visit troops serving there.

Howard died at age 70 from pancreatic cancer in Waco, Texas, on Dec. 23, 2009. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Vietnam War lasted from 1955 to 1975, and 260 Medals of Honor were awarded to U.S. service members during the war. These medals were awarded for extreme acts of courage and sacrifice often made while saving the lives of comrades. During all wars and especially during the Vietnam War and in our current wars, the thousands of courageous acts are ignored or quickly forgotten by the general public. They are, however, honored and embedded in the memories of those who were there.

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He lives in Chaffee, Missouri.