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| 67k | USS HOWARD’s namesake is Marine Corps First Sergeant Jimmie E. Howard. Born and raised in Burlington, Iowa, Jimmie Howard enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1950 at the age of 21. He proved his valor in Korea awarded the Silver Star. Among his other awards are three Purple Hearts. Sixteen years later the 37 year-old father of six returned again to war, this time in the jungles of Vietnam. Serving as platoon leader, Staff Sergeant Howard and his 18-man platoon from Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division were operating as forward observers deep in enemy territory on Hill 488. Against overwhelming odds in the face of a determined and much larger force of Viet Cong, Staff Sergeant Howard and his men successfully defended their position and platoon until relieved. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson presented our nation’s highest military honor to Howard for his efforts in Vietnam. GYSGT Jimmie E. Howard stood proudly at attention next to his wife and six children while the story of his heroic stand at Hill 488 was read. President Lyndon B. Johnson then placed the Medal of Honor around the neck of an incredible leader and true American hero. The citation is as follows: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. G/Sgt. Howard and his 18-man platoon were occupying an observation post deep within enemy-controlled territory. Shortly after midnight a Viet Cong force of estimated battalion size approached the Marines' position and launched a vicious attack with small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire. Reacting swiftly and fearlessly in the face of the overwhelming odds, G/Sgt. Howard skillfully organized his small but determined force into a tight perimeter defense and calmly moved from position to position to direct his men's fire. Throughout the night, during assault after assault, his courageous example and firm leadership inspired and motivated his men to withstand the unrelenting fury of the hostile fire in the seemingly hopeless situation. He constantly shouted encouragement to his men and exhibited imagination and resourcefulness in directing their return fire. When fragments of an exploding enemy grenade wounded him severely and prevented him from moving his legs, he distributed his ammunition to the remaining members of his platoon and proceeded to maintain radio communications and direct air strikes on the enemy with uncanny accuracy. At dawn, despite the fact that 5 men were killed and all but 1 wounded, his beleaguered platoon was still in command of its position. When evacuation helicopters approached his position, G/Sgt. Howard warned them away and called for additional air strikes and directed devastating small-arms fire and air strikes against enemy automatic weapons positions in order to make the landing zone as secure as possible. Through his extraordinary courage and resolute fighting spirit, G/Sgt. Howard was largely responsible for preventing the loss of his entire platoon. His valiant leadership and courageous fighting spirit served to inspire the men of his platoon to heroic endeavor in the face of overwhelming odds, and reflect the highest credit upon G/Sgt. Howard, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service." Following retirement from the United States Marine Corps in 1972, Jimmie Howard settled in San Diego working for the local Veterans Affairs office and volunteered as a coach for community youth sports organizations to include serving as an assistant football coach at Point Loma High School. On November 12, 1993 Jimmie Howard passed away at his home in San Diego. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 166k | Undated, recovering a rigid hull inflatable boat after small boat operations aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG-83) in the Gulf of Mexico. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 114k | Undated, Friends and Family Day Cruise aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG-83) in Galveston, Texas.. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 87k | The launching ceremony phamphlet. | Chester O. Morris | |
| 75k | May 2000 at Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME. | Brian J. Johnson | |
| 92k | As above. | Brian J. Johnson | |
| 78k | As above. | Brian J. Johnson | |
| 81k | A low oblique stern view of the Arleigh Burke Flight IIA Aegis Class guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) underway at high speed during her builders acceptance trials on 21 May 2001. Bath Iron Works Photo. ID# DN-SC-03-10003. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 130k | A starboard beam view of the Arleigh Burke Flight IIA Aegis Class guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) underway at high speed during her builders acceptance trials on 21 May 2001. Bath Iron Works Photo. ID# DN-SC-03-10000. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 85k | USS Howard Bravo Sea trials photo "Power Shot," May 24 2001. | Steven A. Cardali | |
| 108k | 031109-N-4768W-145. Pacific Ocean, November 9 2003, Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Tina Lamb, from Delran N.J., videotapes the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) from the window of a CH-46D Sea Knight assigned to the "Gunbearers" of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Eleven (HC-11). Lamb is assigned to USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and is documenting Carrier Strike Group activities during the group's Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in the Southern California operating area. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Joshua Word. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 70k | The first sunset of the year provides a beautiful backdrop for the guided missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS Stethem (DDG 63), USS Howard (DDG 83). The ships are decorated with holiday lights as they are moored in San Diego. U.S. Navy photo. | Fred Weiss | |
| 79k | USS Howard DDG-83, Pacific Ocean March 31 2004, the guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) makes her approach alongside the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) to perform a Replenishment at Sea (RAS). Stennis and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are currently at sea participating in the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Mark J. Rebilas. | Steven A. Cardali | |
| 51k | 040331-N-6213R-020. Pacific Ocean, March 31 2004, the guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) makes her approach alongside the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) to perform a Replenishment at Sea (RAS). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Mark J. Rebilas. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 96k | 040829-N-1513W-105 South China Sea August 29 2004, guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG-83) prepares to come along side the Military Sealift Command (MSC) fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) for a scheduled replenishment at sea (RAS). Howard and Rainier are currently participating in a scheduled deployment with the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (CSG). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Richard R. Waite. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 58k | 040919-N-1513W-142. Indian Ocean, September 19 2004, MH-60S Knighthawks assigned to the "Gunbearers" of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Eleven (HC-11) conduct a vertical replenishment with the guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83). Howard is assigned to the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Group. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Richard R. Waite. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 105k | 041018-N-6213R-026. Pacific Ocean, October 18 2004, waves crash over the bow of the guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) during exercises with the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Mark J. Rebilas. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 59k | 041018-N-0841E-467. Pacific Ocean, October 18 2004, the guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) cruises behind the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), as it conducts "Plane Guard" duties during early morning flight operations in the Pacific Ocean. The primary mission of the Plane Guard ship is to aid and rescue aircrew if they have to eject from their aircraft upon landing on the aircraft carrier. Stennis and embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are at sea on a scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Oscar Espinoza. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 85k | 050517-N-1397H-026. San Diego, Calif., May 17 2005, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Walter F. Doran, returns a salute as he passes through a sideboy detail aboard guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83). Adm. Doran visited the Howard to have a luncheon and meet with the ships junior officers. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Prince A. Hughes III. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 103k | 060913-N-1328S-032. Pacific Ocean, September 13 2006, Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Pat Fox signals a thumbs-up to an SH-60B Seahawk helicopter crew assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 after a safe landing aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83). Howard and HSL-49 are part of Expeditionary Strike Group 5, which is currently conducting operations in support of the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman James Seward. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 153k | 070304-N-4965F-014. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, March 4 2007, sailors aboard guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) heave around on a line while mooring pierside Naval Station Pearl Harbor. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 129k | 070304-N-4965F-008. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, March 4 2007, the guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) prepares to moor pierside Naval Station Pearl Harbor. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 94k | 070304-N-4965F-009. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, March 4 2007, the guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) transits Pearl Harbor as she prepares to moor pierside Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Howard and her crew are currently in port Naval Station Pearl Harbor after returning from a deployment as part of Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group, which is currently conducting Maritime Security Operations in support of 5th Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 39k | 070304-N-4965F-013. A sailor on board guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) tosses a line to sailors on the pier while mooring at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, March 4, 2007. Howard and its crew are returning from a deployment in the North Arabian Gulf. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 82k | 070313-N-2420K-022. San Diego, March 13 2007, family and friends of Electronics Technician 3rd Class Colby Karaim hold up signs in hopes he will see it during a homecoming celebration for guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83). Howard returned from a six-month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism with USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Kulp. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 102k | 070607-N-2143T-009. Portland, OR, June 7 2007, the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) arrives to help celebrate Portland's Fleet Week festivities during the city's 100th Annual Rose Festival. Howard is one of four U.S. Navy ships visiting Portland for the weeklong celebration. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maebel Tinoko. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 117k | 070609-N-7732W-603. Portland, OR, June 9 2007, the Honorable William A. Navas Jr., the assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), is greeted by sideboys upon his arrival aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83). Navas visited Howard to speak to various educators from the city of Portland during the 100th Annual Portland Rose Festival Fleet Week Celebration. Four Navy ships participated in this year's festival that included USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), USS Vandergrift (FFG 48), USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), and the USS Howard (DDG 83). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seamen Charles Whetstine. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 93k | 080404-N-4776G-005. April 4 2008, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) steams through the Pacific Ocean during a simulated straights transit and small boat attack drill. She is part of the Ronald Reagan Strike Group conducting composite training unit exercises to prepare for an upcoming deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kathleen Gorby. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 17k | Ships patch. | Steven A. Cardali | |
| 30k | Ships patch. | Mike Smolinski | |
| 38k | Ships patch. | Mike Smolinski | |
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