| Robert Howard - The Real Rambo This is from last year, but what a legacy |
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Jodi Lou
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
11 comments:
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Anonymous said...
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Robert Howard had more honor and courage in his little finger than all of the occupants of both houses of congress. I won't even get into the salute from Ohbummer but the man isn't qualified to shine Mr. Howards shoes.
phaatbastard -
8/19/10, 7:33 PM
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Anonymous said...
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What a Stud!
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8/19/10, 7:39 PM
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CDR J said...
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Eight Purple Hearts??? Put's John F'n Kerry's measly three to shame. And I am willing to bet that Bob's Purple hearts were for wounds that actually needed treatment, unlike Kerry's that needed a bandaid.
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8/19/10, 9:16 PM
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Snackeater said...
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COL Howard was one of the toughest sons-of-bitches and most gung-ho individuals I've ever had the honor of serving under. But when it came to his troops, he was also one of the most caring people I've known.
He was the Alpha Company CO (I was in Charlie Company) in the 2d Ranger Battalion. Everyone in the battalion knew about him, and to see him in his dress uniform with all those medals--especially that pale blue one--was quite a sight.
The first time I met him was after my wife gave birth to our first child and I went to Madigan to visit her. When I got there, he was in the room visiting with her. He was in a wheelchair--recouperating from surgery to remove shrapnel left over from Vietnam--but he'd heard there was a Ranger wife in there and he went to visit her.
Our paths crossed again when I went to Ranger school. He'd transferred to Benning and was the TAC officer for my class. He was always offering advice and when he spoke, you listened.
One tradition in Ranger School is for the students to throw the TAC officer into the Gulf after completing small boat ops training--we nearly lost 3 students, but we got him into the water.
When it came time to graduate, we were all standing outside the graduation hall waiting to go in, but CPT Howard wasn't there. Word quickly circulated that CPT Howard had been passed over for promotion to MAJ and was at the Commandant's office "discussing" the matter. We were all so angry for him that we refused to go in the hall to graduate. To a man, we were willing to forfeit our Tabs as a show of support for him. That is how much he inspired loyalty in his men.
He was one of the best and he will be missed. -
8/19/10, 11:06 PM
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Anonymous said...
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Snackeater,
Thanks for sharing that, and thank you for your service.
I visited a website honoring Col. Howard, and recognized one of the men with him in Vietnam as a man I've had the honor and pleasure of knowing. He's also one of the toughest, smartest, kindest men I've ever met, and sadly, like Col. Howard, he also has cancer. I wish men like these could be with us longer.
May God bless Col. Howard.
Lt. Col. Gen. Tailgunner dick -
8/20/10, 12:25 AM
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Rodger the Real King of France said...
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Snackeater - that vignette is a treasure as good as the video.
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8/20/10, 7:18 AM
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Chuck Martel said...
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After tangling w/ Colonel Howard, Death walks with a limp.
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8/20/10, 9:06 AM
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Anonymous said...
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Nineteen men have received it twice. They erred on that.
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8/20/10, 11:40 AM
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Rodger the Real King of France said...
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19 men --
What era? I know that early on it was awarded for making a good cup of coffee. -
8/20/10, 1:14 PM
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Anonymous said...
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The CMH was not such a big deal back before WWI. It was the equivalent to the silver star. The criteria is completely different now, they gave out 1500 in the civil war and almost as many fighting the injuns as they did in WWII. They only give them to dead Marines and seriously brave Soldiers now days.
One of the coolest things I ever did was follow a Master Chief into the commissioning ceremony of the USS Benfold. This Chief in his sixties was in uniform. Huh, sez I, then all the young Marines lining the path take notice and start saluting the Chief, saluting a Chief, huh? I mean, they were giving salutes with GUSTO and wide eyes. Then I saw the thin blue ribbon above the collar of his pea coat, Ah HA! A "Blue Max" right in front of me. Top ten best things I ever saw. -
8/20/10, 1:45 PM
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Anonymous said...
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The blue Max isn't as distinguished as the MoH.
can of worms..
Opened..
thoR~
III -
8/21/10, 1:41 AM
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