HOWARD DDG 83

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Arleigh Burke (Flight IIA) Class Destroyer Keel Laid 11 December 1998 - Launched & Christened 20 November 1999 USS HOWARD DDG-83 Commissioned 20 October 2001

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

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1. USS Howard DDG-83 Covers Page 1    (1998-2017)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Close-Up Image	Thumbnail Link To Full Cover Image

 

Locy Type FDC 2-2(n+) (USS,FPO AP 96667-1274)

2001-10-20

Commissioning, cachet by Wolfgang Hechler

 

Locy Type FDC F "FIRST DAY IN COMMISSION"

2001-10-20

Commissioning, cachet by Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Locy Type 2-2(n+) (USS,FPO AP 96667-1274)

2006-03-16

Serviced by Rich Hoffner

 

Locy Type 9-2(n+) (USS,FPO AP 96667-1274)

2006-03-16

Serviced by Rich Hoffner

 

Locy Type 11-2n+ (USS, FPO AP 96667)

2017-11-11

Veterans Day, cachet by Mike Brock

 

Locy Type 12-2cn+ (USS, FPO AP 96667)

2020-06-24

Cachet by Richard F. Hoffner

 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. CD-10

2008-12-08

Serviced by Wolfgang Hechler

 

Locy Type Meter PVI1 (#00097811-01) FPO AP 96667-1274

2006-03-16

Serviced by Rich Hoffner

 

Other Information

NAMESAKE - Gunnery Sergeant Jimmie Earl Howard, USMC (July 27 1929 - November 12 1993).
Howard received recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. He was promoted to Private First Class upon graduation from recruit training in January 1951, then remained at the Recruit Depot as a drill instructor until December 1951.
After completing advanced infantry training in February 1952, he was ordered to Korea where he was assigned duty as a forward observer with the 4.2” Mortar Company, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. For his service in Korea, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart, the Navy Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. He was a promoted to Corporal in March 1952.
Staff Sergeant Howard 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 become the sixth U.S. Marine to be awarded the Nation’s highest honor for heroism in combat in Vietnam. The Medal of Honor was presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson in White House ceremonies on August 21 1967.
In addition to being awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on Hill 488, for wounds received in action against insurgent Communist forces in Vietnam on June 16 1966, Howard received a gold star in lieu of a third Purple Heart. Members of Howard's platoon were honored for their actions in this fight — four Navy Crosses and thirteen Silver Stars.
Howard retired from the Marine Corps on March 31 1977 at the rank of First Sergeant.

The ships sponsor is Theresa M. Howard, 1stSgt Jimmie Howard's widow.

 

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