December 2010 (6).qxd - United States Special Operations Command

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, center, stands with Class 284 at the Naval Special Warfare Center,
Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, Calif., Aug. 13. Photo by Cherie Cullen.
Staff Sgt. Shaun Meadows, a wounded warrior
from the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, shares
a laugh with his son after completing his jump
June 14. He became the first active-duty double
amputee to successfully participate in a
personnel drop at Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Wash. Photo by Airman Leah Young.
Staff Sgt. Robert Harris listens to retired Col. Robert L.
Howard, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as he
shares a story at a military base in Southwest Asia.
Harris is a 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier
– the same unit Howard was assigned to when he
earned his Medal of Honor in Vietnam. He earned the
top medal as a platoon sergeant in December 1968. He
was wounded 14 times over 54 months of combat, was
awarded eight Purple Hearts, four Bronze Stars, and
was nominated for the Medal of Honor three separate
times. Howard died Dec. 23, 2009, and was buried at
Arlington National Cemetery Feb. 22, 2010. Photo by
Dustin Senger.
Tip of the Spear
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