30DEC1968: Acting as a platoon sergeant for a Hatchet platoon in Vietnam, SFC Robert Howard was inserted behind enemy lines to search for a missing American Soldier. Coming under fire almost immediately from a force five times their size, Howard was wounded by an explosion that destroyed his weapon. Noticing his platoon leader had also been wounded, Howard crawled under enemy fire to recover and drag the wounded PL back to friendly lines. He then spent the next 3 1/2 hours of the fight treating the wounded, organizing the defense, and calling in airstrikes to keep the enemy at bay. Finally, US helicopters were able to enter the LZ. Howard oversaw the evacuation of all of his men before loading himself. For his actions that day, SFC Howard would be awarded the Medal of Honor. Maybe the most decorated Soldier since WWII, Howard was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star to go with his eight Purple Hearts during his time in Vietnam.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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