The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Sergeant Squire Edward Howard, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 14 January 1863, while serving with Company H, 8th Vermont Infantry, in action at Bayou Teche, Louisiana. First Sergeant Howard voluntarily carried an important message through the heavy fire of the enemy to bring aid and save the gunboat Calhoun.