Jimmie E Howard News

The Department of the Navy will commission the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer Howard in a ceremony Saturday, Oct. p.m. CDT at pier 27 in Galveston, Texas. The ship is named in honor of Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard (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 (1920-1945), named for Charles W. Howard, a U.S. Navy hero from the Civil War, earned six battle stars in World War II.

Bath Iron Works will launch its 10th Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS guided missile destroyer, Howard, on November 20 at the West Gate. The vessel bears the name of Marine Corps Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard, a Medal of Honor recipient who was honored for his leadership of a platoon against attacks by a Viet Cong force. Bath will launch two more destroyers on its traditional building ways before utilizing the modern land-level transfer facility for ship construction.