Jimmie Earl Howard (July 27, 1929 – November 12, 1993) was a Marine Corps staff sergeant when he led an eighteen-man reconnaissance patrol in a fierce battle against a battalion of Viet Cong in June 1966. As a result of his heroic actions, Howard became the sixth U.S. Marine to be awarded the nation's highest honor for heroism in combat in Vietnam. The Medal of Honor was presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson in White House ceremonies on August 21, 1967. Biography Jimmie Earl Howard was born July 27, 1929, in Burlington, Iowa, and graduated from high school there in 1949. He attended the University of Iowa for one year prior to enlisting in the United States Marine Corps on July 12, 1950. He went through recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, and was promoted to Private First Class upon graduation from recruit training in January 1951, remaining at the Recruit Depot as a drill instructor until December 1951. In his book Hill 488, Ray Hildreth – who served alongside Howard in Vietnam – remembered: "Howard was a John Wayne type of guy. A hard slab of a man with a poker face … he walked into an area and you could almost hear the theme song from The Sands Of Iwo Jima." Korean War After completing advanced infantry training in February 1952, he was ordered to Korea, where he was assigned duty as a forward observer with the 4.2" Mortar Company, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. For his service in Korea, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart, and the Navy Unit Commendation. He was a promoted to corporal in March 1952. Inter-war service Upon his return to the United States in April 1953, Corporal Howard served as Tactics Instructor, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, he was promoted to sergeant in June 1953. In March 1954, Sergeant Howard joined the Marine Detachment on board the , as a squad leader. The following January, he returned to Camp Pendleton and served as a squad leader, 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company. The 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company was redesignated as the 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, and Sgt Howard remained with this unit until September 1957. He was promoted