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.

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.

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.

From September 1957 until April 1960, he served as Special Services Chief and a military policeman with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton.

On the evening of June 13, 1966, Howard and his platoon of 15 Marines along with two Navy corpsmen were dropped behind enemy lines atop Hill 488.

Within days, the enemy descended on them in force; on the night of June 15, 1966, a full battalion of Viet Cong (over 300 men) engaged the squad of 18.

He was a coach for the Point Loma High School football team which went undefeated in 1987 and won the San Diego Section CIF championship.

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

By his outstanding courage, initiative and unyielding devotion to duty, Corporal Howard served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.