Namesake:
Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard, USMC
The ship is named in honor of Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard, USMC,
(1929-1993), recipient of the Medal of Honor for his leadership of a
platoon against repeated attacks by a battalion-sized Viet Cong force.
After receiving severe wounds from an enemy grenade, he distributed
ammunition to his men and directed air strikes on the enemy. By dawn,
his beleaguered platoon still held their position. Howard also received
the Silver Star Medal for service in Korea. A previous HOWARD (DD 179)
(1920-1945), named for Charles W. Howard, a U.S. Navy hero from the
Civil War, earned six battle stars in World War II.
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