When I think about military heroes, images from movies about Audi Murphy and Alvin York come to mind. Until yesterday I thought that the highest/most decorated US serviceman was Audi Murphy. Then I stumbled across this write up at a site dedicated to verifying the service claims of US Special Forces operators.
Here is a name that you may have never heard of, the name of a quiet warrior: Col Robert Howard. He was wounded 14 times over 54 months of combat and awarded 8 purple hearts.
He was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times over a 13-month period but received lesser medals for the first two nominations, which were for actions performed in Cambodia where the U.S. was fighting covertly. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 30, 1968, his third nomination. It is noteworthy that many of his awards were earned while Col Howard was a NCO in Army Special Forces.
You might think of yourself as a tough SOB, but there are very, very few 8 purple heart awards tough SOB’s out there (living or dead). In addition to the awards, medals, and appurtenances shown below, he also earned or was awarded: Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Aircrew Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge
Vietnamese Ranger Badge, Vietnamese Master Parachute Badge, Thai Master Parachute Wings, Korean Master Parachute Badge, Thai Balloonist Badge, French Parachutist Badge.
And of course the government in Vietnam showered him with objects of their gratitude as well. They include: Campaign Medal with 60 device, Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star (Corps citation), Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star (Division citation), Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (Regiment/Brigade citation), Armed Forces Honor Medal 2nd Award, Wound Medal, Civil Actions Medal 2nd Award, Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation with Palm, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster.