Central Texas Heroes: Lt. Col. Robert Howard
WACO, Texas He is believed to be America's most decorated service member nominated for the Medal of Honor three times and receiving it once, something no one else has ever done.
And that doesn't begin to quantify all the awards Lieutenant Colonel Robert Howard received for serving with incredible bravery in Vietnam. He passed away in 2009 but the legacy of this Central Texas Hero lives on.
You might know what bravery means. But have you seen it? Missy Gentsch told us, "my father was this strong man and I remember so many times he always used his finger. He taught me what he would tell the troops; 'Never give up your weapon and always face the enemy.' In a day to day life he lived by that because your weapon isn't just a weapon, it is your character; your actions are your character." And Gentsch says that's something her father, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Howard lived by.
In 1970 he received the Medal of Honor. In 1968 he and about 40 other men were on a rescue mission in enemy territory. They were trying to clear a helicopter landing zone when Howard was injured by a land mine and everyone came under fire. He couldn't walk and his weapon was destroyed by the blast. But he dragged himself from person to person providing first Aid. And amid the chaos he pulled together the survivors and directed them to keep fighting. For three and a half hours they fought until they were rescued. "They lived a reality the civilians cannot understand and they came through that time," she told us. Two other staggering acts of bravery earned him his other nominations.
Along with the Medal of Honor he received the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, Bronze Stars, and 8 Purple Hearts even though he was injured 14 times. But those who knew him best say his gentleness was as powerful as his bravery. "The strength and the gentleness at the same time. To me there will never be a more handsome man. I'm proud of my father, to see into his past, a moment in his time is priceless," Gentsch said. Gentsch remembers standing by her father on the day he received the medal and visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. "I asked Daddy on the way, What is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? He explained to me, and even in that picture I have a smile on my face because I looked at my father and he had a tear in his eye and I remember the words my father just explained to me and I thought I understand," Gentsch told us. He would visit that tomb again, at the side of President Obama decades later as the nation remembered those lost.
Lt. Colonel Howard spent years in the military. Afterward he did what he could to reach out to other veterans, working with those with PTSD and even visiting troops in Iraq. Missy says her father taught her so many things including the value of gratitude toward veterans. She said, "don't just 'thank you, let me shake your hand, appreciate it' and walk off. Actually give a damn about them because obviously they gave a damn about us."
WACO, Texas He is believed to be America's most decorated service member nominated for the Medal of Honor three times and receiving it once, something no one else has ever done.
And that doesn't begin to quantify all the awards Lieutenant Colonel Robert Howard received for serving with incredible bravery in Vietnam. He passed away in 2009 but the legacy of this Central Texas Hero lives on.
You might know what bravery means. But have you seen it? Missy Gentsch told us, "my father was this strong man and I remember so many times he always used his finger. He taught me what he would tell the troops; 'Never give up your weapon and always face the enemy.' In a day to day life he lived by that because your weapon isn't just a weapon, it is your character; your actions are your character." And Gentsch says that's something her father, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Howard lived by.
In 1970 he received the Medal of Honor. In 1968 he and about 40 other men were on a rescue mission in enemy territory. They were trying to clear a helicopter landing zone when Howard was injured by a land mine and everyone came under fire. He couldn't walk and his weapon was destroyed by the blast. But he dragged himself from person to person providing first Aid. And amid the chaos he pulled together the survivors and directed them to keep fighting. For three and a half hours they fought until they were rescued. "They lived a reality the civilians cannot understand and they came through that time," she told us. Two other staggering acts of bravery earned him his other nominations.
Along with the Medal of Honor he received the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, Bronze Stars, and 8 Purple Hearts even though he was injured 14 times. But those who knew him best say his gentleness was as powerful as his bravery. "The strength and the gentleness at the same time. To me there will never be a more handsome man. I'm proud of my father, to see into his past, a moment in his time is priceless," Gentsch said. Gentsch remembers standing by her father on the day he received the medal and visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. "I asked Daddy on the way, What is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? He explained to me, and even in that picture I have a smile on my face because I looked at my father and he had a tear in his eye and I remember the words my father just explained to me and I thought I understand," Gentsch told us. He would visit that tomb again, at the side of President Obama decades later as the nation remembered those lost.
Lt. Colonel Howard spent years in the military. Afterward he did what he could to reach out to other veterans, working with those with PTSD and even visiting troops in Iraq. Missy says her father taught her so many things including the value of gratitude toward veterans. She said, "don't just 'thank you, let me shake your hand, appreciate it' and walk off. Actually give a damn about them because obviously they gave a damn about us."