21 MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS ENDORSE REP. THOMPSON’S LEGISLATION HONORING COL. ROBERT HOWARD
Prevision removed by Senate after House passage, now being debated in Conference Committee
Washington, DC,
Dec 11 -
21 Medal of Honor recipients sent a letter today urging Senate and House leaders who are negotiating the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to include Rep. Mike Thompson’s (CA-1) provision honoring Colonel Robert Howard in the legislation. Thompson’s provision was passed by the House as an amendment to H.R. 4310, the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2013 and honors Col. Howard by renaming a Special Forces training and support complex being built at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as the ‘‘Colonel Robert Howard Training and Support Complex.’’ The complex is currently referred to as ‘‘Patriot Point.’’
“When 21 Medal of Honor recipients endorse something, people should pay attention,” said Rep. Thompson. “Colonel Howard is one of the most decorated soldiers in American history and he has earned the honor of having “Patriot Point” forever named in his honor. The Senate took this provision out after the House had acted. It’s time to put it back in.”
Colonel Robert Howard, a Green Beret, was awarded the Medal of Honor (the citation of which can be found here), the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, a Defense Superior Service Medal, four Bronze Stars for Valor, eight Purple Hearts, four Legion of Merit awards, three Meritorious Service Medals, and more than forty other awards and decorations for his service.
Colonel Howard enlisted in the Army in 1956 at the age of 17 and served in the Army for 36 years. He served five tours (54 months) in Vietnam during the Vietnam War in the Army Special Forces and was wounded 14 times. After his retirement, Colonel Howard worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs, combining for more than 52 years of government service on behalf of veterans and members of the Armed Forces. During his retirement, he traveled to war zones to speak to and inspire troops several times during the current conflicts.
Colonel Howard died of pancreatic cancer on December 23, 2009 at the age of 70, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on February 22, 2010 with full military honors.
When complete, the Patriot Point complex being developed at Ft. Bragg will be used by Army special operations units, including the 3rd Special Forces Group.
In addition to the support of 21 Medal of Honor recipients, Thompson’s provision is supported by the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), and the Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America (NCOA).
A full copy of the letter is below.
December 11, 2012
The Hon. Carl Levin The Hon. Buck McKeon
Chairman Chairman
Senate Armed Services Committee House Armed Services Committee
228 Russell Senate Office Building 2120 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
The Hon. John McCain The Hon. Adam Smith
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Senate Armed Services Committee House Armed Services Committee
228 Russell Senate Office Building 2120 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairmen Levin and McKeon and Ranking Members McCain and Smith,
We, the undersigned Medal of Honor recipients, urge you to keep Sec. 2685 in the House-passed 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 4310) as you begin conference committee negotiations on a final version of the bill. Sec. 2865 names a complex being built at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina after Colonel Robert L. Howard (Retired), a Medal of Honor recipient and a true American hero.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Col. Howard, a Green Beret, received the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, a Defense Superior Service Medal, four Bronze Stars for Valor, eight Purple Hearts, four Legion of Merit awards, three Meritorious Service Medals, and more than forty other awards and decorations for his service.
Col. Howard enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 at the age of 17 and served in the Army for 36 years. He served five tours (54 months) in Vietnam during the Vietnam War in the Army Special Forces and was wounded 14 times.
After his retirement, Col. Howard worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs, combining for more than 52 years of government service on behalf of veterans and members of the Armed Forces. During his retirement, he traveled to war zones to speak to and inspire troops several times during the current conflicts. He died of pancreatic cancer on December 23, 2009, at the age of 70, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on February 22, 2010, with full military honors.
The Patriot Point complex being developed at Ft. Bragg will be used by Army special operations units, including the 3rd Special Forces Group. We believe that there is no better person to name this complex after than Col. Howard and we urge you to keep this section in any final conference version of the NDAA.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Colonel Donald Ballard (Retired), U.S. Army
Sergeant Gary Beikirch (Retired), U.S. Army
Major General Patrick Brady (Retired), U.S. Army
Captain Paul Bucha (Retired), U.S. Army
Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Crandall (Retired), U.S. Army
Colonel George Day (Retired), U.S. Air Force
Major Drew Dix (Retired), U.S. Army
Major Frederick E. Ferguson (Retired), U.S. Army
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hagemeister (Retired), U.S. Army
Petty Officer Robert Ingram (Retired), U.S. Navy
Colonel Jack Jacobs (Retired), U.S. Army
Captain Tom Kelley (Retired), U.S. Navy
Major General James E. Livingston (Retired), U.S. Marine Corps
Sergeant Allen Lynch (Retired), U.S. Army
Staff Sergeant Hiroshi Miyamura (Retired), U.S. Army
Colonel Gordon Roberts (Retired), U.S. Army
Major James A. Taylor (Retired), U.S. Army
Lieutenant Michael Thornton (Retired), U.S. Navy
Colonel Jay Vargas (Retired), U.S. Marine Corps
Sergeant Major Kenneth Stumpf (Retired), U.S. Army
Master Sergeant Richard Pittman (Retired), U.S. Marine Corps
Cc: Members, National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Committee
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