A Hero has fallen

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  • Speedbag
    Author of the Speed Bag Bible, founder of speedbagcentral.com

    • Feb 2006
    • 7109

    A Hero has fallen

    I'm very saddened to hear that Mr. Robert L. Howard, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient (Viet Nam, 1968) has died. I had the honor of spending several days with him and many other CMOH recipients at the CMOH convention in Branson, MO, 2003 as the guest of John Baca, CMOH recipient. I most remember his very humble personality and wry sense of humor. Caked in medals all over his suitcoat, I was amazed enough to ask him how many medals he had received in the military. With a small grin he looked at me and replied "all of them."

    Photo's of his life

    Below is a picture of Mr. Howard (left) confiscating my wife and John Baca with my mother. Mr. Howard was kind enough to come to our table, sit down and speak with my mother for a while and ask me if he could "have a dance with this beautiful lady". Baca told him to "buzz off, she's with me...". It was pretty funny and my mother loved it. Throughout that week we got to speak several times, since he was a fellow Texan with family in Waco near me.

    In a world that cries out for Hero's we are often given false prophets from sports or celebrity. Mr. Howard was the real deal, trial by combat, and the only American Soldier to be nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest award given for valor IN combat, THREE TIMES. With 14 purple hearts, cancer finally did what the enemy could not.

    RIP, Colonel. I'll never forget you.
    Attached Files
    Last edited by Speedbag; 12-23-2009, 08:08 PM.
    Speed Bag

    Put a little Rhythm in YOUR workout!
    *attendee: Every SB gathering so far!
    The Quest Continues...
    Hoping for another Gathering...


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    The Art of the Bag
  • Tim
    Administrator and Founder of SpeedBagForum.com


    • Jan 2006
    • 3428

    #2
    A true hero indeed, may he rest in peace.

    Comment

    • Biff
      Speed Bag Wizard

      • Feb 2008
      • 1190

      #3
      Sorry to hear of his passing, Alan

      Comment

      • Jordan
        Senior Member
        • Jun 2009
        • 234

        #4
        My condolences Alan...I'm truly sorry for your loss

        Comment

        • spinsmashpop
          Speed Bag Wizard

          • Nov 2008
          • 1081

          #5
          Sorry about this loss Alan.....
          He sounds like a very strong individual that made a difference. To know someone like that is a rarity.....
          RIP

          Comment

          • USMCBay
            Speed Bag Trainee
            • Dec 2009
            • 14

            #6
            God Bless our Veterans... we are about to lose the Greatest Generation and our Vietnam vets are held in high esteem here in our home... as are all of our Vets...

            Comment

            • Speedbag
              Author of the Speed Bag Bible, founder of speedbagcentral.com

              • Feb 2006
              • 7109

              #7
              this post started with the passing of Col. Robert Howard, and now Lt. John W. Finn, 100 years old, has died. He was the first recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II, for actions taken during the attack on Pearl Harbor. I was honored to spend a week with him during the Congressional Medal of Honor Covention in 2003.

              I recently spoke to my close friend and bag master, John Baca, CMOH recipient during Viet Nam, who was one of Mr. Finn's closest friends. Baca escorted Mr. Finn to many public events and Presidential inaugurations. He's grieving as you can imagine. He's lost two dear friends this year: Col Robert Howard and now John Finn. Baca wishes peace to all baggers and forum members, and wants you to know he now has two wall units up in his garage and his teaching some of the local kids around his neighborhood.
              Speed Bag

              Put a little Rhythm in YOUR workout!
              *attendee: Every SB gathering so far!
              The Quest Continues...
              Hoping for another Gathering...


              sigpic

              The Art of the Bag

              Comment

              • Biff
                Speed Bag Wizard

                • Feb 2008
                • 1190

                #8
                Another WWII hero has left us.

                Alan, I sure it was a true honor to spend time with men of such courage and patriotism. My condolences to you and their families. There aren't too many WWII veterans still alive.

                My Dad, a Purple Heart recipient, was just one of many who served in Europe during WWII. My brother and I created this memorial for him a few years back

                As for John Baca, please let him know how much we appreciate his service during the Viet Nam War, and thank him for his efforts to spread the speed bagging legend.

                Comment

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