By Nicholas Deshais
The Spokesman-Review
Randy Howard’s a soldier and a survivor. He’s been shot in the head by a Vietnamese sniper. Bayoneted in the gut. Flesh ripped by grenade shrapnel.
He went to Vietnam as an Army Airborne Ranger for 13 months in 1966 and 1967. He went home for five months and was called back, this time for the Tet Offensive in early 1968. It was the bayonet that got him discharged for good.
“So I got five Purple Hearts,” Howard said. “I believe my training really saved me. These guys that were draftees, they didn’t last too long. But we were trained to fight behind enemy lines. Well, we weren’t behind them, we were surrounded by them.”
Howard, 70, heads the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which counts 200 Purple Heart recipients from Eastern Washington, North Idaho and Montana as its members. The military decoration is given to those wounded or killed while serving. Nearly 2 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1928.
On Tuesday morning, Howard and some of his fellow veterans will gather to welcome a 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor truck on its way from Washington, D.C., to Dallas on an 8,500-mile trek to raise awareness about wounded veterans. After a brief stop in Spokane, the truck is heading west, driven by a rotating cast of amputee veterans.
On Aug. 13 in Dallas, the truck will be given to Marine Sgt. Marshall Kennedy, who lost both his legs and sustained severe damage to his left arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device on his fourth tour in Afghanistan in 2011.
Howard’s life has been shadowed by his time in war. Besides the fighting, he was sprayed with Agent Orange, leading to systemic heart disease and five bypasses. Still, he said he’s proud to be among those who served.
“All of my uncles were in the service. Father. Brother,” he said.
The ceremony to welcome the Purple Heart Truck Run begins at 9 a.m. at the Purple Heart monument on the southeast side of the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave.
UPDATED: JULY 24, 2017, 11:32 P.M.
Randy Howard keeps a Spokane Chronicle clipping in his scrapbook reporting on the first Purple Heart he was awarded out of five, as seen at his home on Monday, July 24, 2017, in Spokane. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
Recipient of five Purple Hearts will help welcome pickup through Spokane on way to veteran in Texas
Military Hero Randy Howard
October 27, 1946 - August 3, 2023
Randolph Max Howard (Randy) was born the eldest child to Max and Maxine (Berg) Howard. Randy was a fourth Generation Spokanite; Paternal great-great-grandson of Franz Pietsch, builder of the Clock Tower and the Spokesman-Review Building. He was also the Maternal Grandson of Mary (Gooby) Berg, the original homesteader of Sandpoint. Born and raised in East Central Spokane, he attended Edison Elementary, Libby Jr. High, and was a proud Lewis & Clark Tiger, Class of 65. He maintained friendships with his neighborhood buddies until his death. Like his father before him, Randy volunteered for the Army Airborne serving with the 1st of the 8th Cavalry and the 82nd Airborne as well as being an Army Ranger. While serving two tours in Vietnam, Randy was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak-Leaf Clusters and five Purple Hearts. After returning from Vietnam, Randy attended SFCC where he played football and received an AA Degree in Business. He was recruited to the Spokane Fury, Spokane's Semi-Pro football team. Randy was well known for his 20+ years playing softball for many Spokane leagues. He also loved to hunt and fish. While cruising Riverside in 1967, Randy met Yvonne Gull, daughter of Al and Marion Gull. Randy and Yvonne celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in June. Randy was employed in the Supply Chain Industry for about 20 years and ended his career with the USPO due to his wounds from Vietnam. He was a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, serving in various capacities for the Chapter. He and Yvonne attended numerous 1st of the 8th Cav reunions across the country. Randy was active until a fall in April which he never fully recovered from, and died of complications. Yvonne was at his side when he passed. He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws. He leaves behind his wife Yvonne, his sons, Brian Howard (Kara), and grandson, Zach of Rosalia, WA, Duane Howard, and Todd Howard of Spokane. A brother, Jack Howard, sisters Lynette (Jim) Spilker, and Robin (Roger) Waller, Sister-in-Law, Joyce Chapman, Brother-in-Law, Alan Gull (Debbie), nieces, nephews, and numerous cousins. His family and friends will truly miss Randy's stories and relentless friendly banter. The family would like to thank everyone for their cards and prayers, and also the Spokane Veteran's Home for their excellent and loving care. Sgt. Randolph M. Howard will be laid to rest in the Washington State Veteran's Cemetery on Thursday, September 28th at 11:15 a.m. A reception will follow at 1:00 at Darcy's Restaurant in the Spokane Valley.
