Allen, Howard Paul

SGT HOWARD PAUL ALLEN April 3, 1974 – September 26, 2005 Operation Iraqi Freedom Howard Paul Allen was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 3, 1974. His family later moved to Arizona where he graduated from Paradise Valley High School. He enlisted in the US Navy on 22 November 1995, completing Naval Boot Camp, Basic Enlisted Submarine School, and the Mess Management and Shipboard Fire Fighting courses. He was assigned to the USS Memphis and after completing his 4 year tour, he was discharged on 21 November 1999. He married his wife, Patience, in 2004 and had one son, Devlin and 2 step-children, Edwin and Caitlyn. He enlisted as a Food Service Specialist in the Arizona Army National Guard on 24 June 2003, and was later transferred to the 860th Military Police Company, deploying to Iraq on 7 March 2005. He assisted anywhere he was needed and although not qualified as a Military Policeman, he often accepted the position of driver for MP teams performing convoy or escort missions. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 16 August 2005. SGT Howard Paul Allen was killed in action on 26 September 2005 when his up-armored HMMWV was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device while performing a search and rescue mission near Baghdad, Iraq. SGT Allen’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd Awd), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Army Service Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Arctic Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Enlisted Submarine Breast Insignia, and Rifle M16 Marksman Qualification Badge.