Local Viet Nam Veterans served aboard two De-Commission Naval Ships
Younger Howard
Sergeant Flemmen N.M. Howard (USMC Veteran) served aboard two Naval Ships during the year of 1964. Currently, Naval Ships USS Spiegel Grove and the USS John Mitchell have been De-Commissioned. The ships are being used as an artificial reef off the coast of our city Fort Lauderdale, Fla. During the Viet Nam era in 1964, Sgt. Howard was transported to Elferro, Spain, and Oporto, Portugal for simulation combat training maneuvers (Steel Spike II). During this time for approximately two months, Sgt. Howard stayed aboard the USS Spiegel Grove.
After the operation Steel Spike II, Sgt. Flemmen Howard was returned by the USS Spiegel Grove to Camp Lejune, N.C., during that same year of 1964 Sgt Howard received orders to report to the Republic of Viet Nam for combat. At this time, he boarded the USS John Mitchel in Quantico, Va., for a one-way trip by ship to Okinawa, Japan. Thirty days later Sgt. Howard was put aboard a C-130 Aircraft and flown to Danang, Vietnam for combat duty. After serving one year of combat duty in Vietnam, he returned back to the states for duty with the MACS-9 Air Squadron in Beaufort, S.C. After a year back in the state’s new orders returned Sgt. Howard back to the Republic of Viet Nam. As mentioned before the two Naval Ships are being used as artificial reefs of the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Since being retired Sgt. Howard has many hobbies such as spending time with his grand children and family. Sgt. Howard is the big brother of Percy Howard, Dillard Alumni and Professional football player of the Dallas Cowboys. Sgt. Howard is a proud member of the American Legion Post #220 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
