Book Review

Beyond the Call of Duty: The Life of Colonel Robert Howard, America’s Most Decorated Green Beret (American War Heroes)
By Stephen L. Moore
Dutton Caliber (December 3, 2024)
304 pages
Available in paperback, Kindle and audiobook

By How Miller

Colonel (R) Robert Howard was the most decorated Green Beret to serve in and around Vietnam. A Medal of Honor recipient, he was awarded dozens of medals in his four tours of duty, largely for his fearless conduct on missions. Half of that was with the super-secret MACV-SOG, running missions “across the fence” into Laos and Cambodia.

In Stephen Moore’s excellent book, Beyond the Call of Duty, you will find unrelenting, unbelievable exploits, helping keep his vastly outnumbered teammates alive and accomplishing the mission.

There is more captivating action in this book than Hollywood scriptwriters are capable of manufacturing. In between all the intense action, Stephen tells us about important parts of Robert’s life and his 36 year Army career and beyond, right up to his burial spot with a view of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that so moved him.

Having been assigned to the supply room because he had previously demonstrated skills in that area, though it was a very important part of the mission’s success, he longed to get out on missions as often as he could. He always had his pack and rifle handy to leave on a moment’s notice, and he was frequently given the opportunity because he was so good on missions. Since he was not permanently assigned to a Recon Team, he would always be on the team as a “straphanger”, but there was not another straphanger more respected and sought after than he was.

Something his grandmother taught him, early in life, was to “always face your problems head on.” From taking on school bullies to facing the NVA weapons fire, he seemed to always follow that course. Always more concerned about others than himself, he was steady under fire, and repeatedly did amazing things, fighting through the pains of wounds to quell the enemy and protect his men, both indigenous and American.

At the end of his 3rd tour in Vietnam, Bob was awarded a battlefield commission to First Lieutenant, and after required schools in “the States” he returned to SOG as Recon Company Commander. He did have to accept one disappointment. Since his Medal of Honor recommendation was being processed, he was forbidden from going out on operations.

He continued on in many roles throughout his career, including being the commander of SF in Korea. Many of these roles were in training new Green Berets.

After retiring, Bob worked for the VA and for several years was an officer of the Medal of Honor Society.

Steven has included so many tales and incidents in Bob’s life that you can feel that you have caught the essence of the man.