Military

DDG 83 Howard

The Howard was commissioned on Oct 20, 2001 in Galveston, Texas.

Shield & Crest

The dark blue and gold throughout the shield are the traditional colors of the United States Navy, representing the sea and excellence. The dragon represents the service of our ship's namesake in the Pacific region. The chevron is a symbol of strength and represents Hill 488, the site of Jimmie Howard's heroic stand. The stars, in the configuration of the Southern Cross, symbolize the First Marine Division patch worn by Gunnery Sergeant Howard.

The six battle stars on the crest around the top of the shield represent the distinguished service of the previous USS HOWARD in World War II. The neck pad below them represents the Congressional Medal of Honor, which Howard won at Hill 488. The crossed swords are of two types, representing the Navy and the Marine Corps cooperation with an officer's and mameluke sword, respectively.

The lightning flashes in the red and gold (Marine Corps colors) represent the swift combat action and network centric warfare for which HOWARD is designed.

"Ready For Victory" represents the Navy's Core Values of honor, courage, and commitment, and it demonstrates to the nation that the sailors on HOWARD are always prepared in peace and war to carry out the missions of today's fighting Navy.

Jimmie E. Howard

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.