Aaron W. Howard
Private First Class, United States Army
January 9, 1971 – February 26, 1991
Age – 20
Battle Creek, MI
Operation Desert Storm, Persian Gulf
C Company, 82nd Engineering Battalion, Fort Riley, KS
Killed by friendly fire
PFC Aaron Winship Howard, 82d Engineer Battalion, was Killed In Action on 26 February 1991, clearing land mines for his Regiment’s Movement To Contact against the Iraqi Army, in Operation Desert Storm.
He had written to a Cub Scout den in his hometown several weeks before his death saying “There is no glory or glamour in war or being in the Army. Real life is not a Rambo movie.”
Later, the Army released his name in a group of other KIA’s who were actually killed by “Friendly Fire.”
He was remembered by fellow soldier J. Schwartz –
“PFC Aaron Howard(Track driver), named and wrote “Janis” for Janis Joplin across his APC. He wore those round lensed glasses that reminded me of John Lennon. He was a pretty cool and mellow guy.”
SGT Silver remembered him with the following words. –
“I didn’t know Aaron Howard very well, but he was a great soldier. He was always there when you needed him, did what he was told to do without argument, and volunteered when no one else would. He had pride in his M113 APC, (that’s an armored personnel carrier for those that didn’t know).”