thedrifter
01-11-07, 10:36 AM
MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga.(Jan. 11, 2007) -- The origins of Fred Howard’s arrival here can be traced back to 1975, when the Marine Corps Supply Activity in south Philadelphia began consolidating with the depot maintenance and materiel storage operations here in southwest Georgia. Close to 200 employees of Philadelphia’s Inventory Control Point made the move to Albany, Ga., during this time, and Howard was one of the first.
Back then, Building 3700 was erected specifically to house the “Philly Clan” as some employees here still term them. And while Howard said he’s never heard the term, Philly Clan, he has been in Building 3700 arguably longer than anyone else here.
When you imagine working in one place for a period of 31-plus years, with a brief break (U.S. Navy for three years and Defense Logistics Agency for six months), many things cross your mind as you reflect. To get a glimpse of what was happening in America during 1975, think about this …
Gerald Ford became the first unelected vice-president of the United States; the U.S. involvement in Vietnam ended; Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier in the famed Thriller in Manila heavyweight boxing match; Patty Hearst was arrested after one year on the FBI’s Most Wanted List; and, popular cartoons on the tube were “Hong Kong Fooey,” “Fat Albert” and “Josey and the Pussycats.”
For many, these memories might make you sit back, smile and simply think about how old you’re getting. And while the same might be true for Howard, reflection caused him to look at the changes and the mainstays he has seen in Albany during his tenure here.
“You know, it’s funny, I always hear people saying we’re resistant to change. But this place has been changing since I’ve been here,” Howard said with a hearty laugh.
The Philadelphia native has seen his share of changes as he outlasted 16 commanding generals, two base name changes, a few U.S. wars and an unthinkable number of base and command reorganizations, just to name a few. Yet, amidst all of the changes, Howard seemed to focus on the constant.
“Albany has always had a secret weapon,” Howard pointed out, “and that’s the people. The biggest single change has been automation. But as far as our people, I’ve seen our workforce shrink tremendously since I’ve been here, yet our work output has tremendously increased.
“Albany has an incredible workforce here,” Howard stressed. “What’s needed for the Marines in the field, this workforce pulls together and produces. That has always impressed me.”
In 1975 when the Philly Clan linked with personnel who now make up what is known as the Marine Corps Logistics Command, it added new definition to the command’s mission, required new dedication from its workforce and created new capabilities for the operating forces.
But with four years served in the U.S. Air Force, Howard had to discover the Marine way of doing things when he arrived in Albany. That certainly didn’t pose a problem for Howard.
“Working with Marines has always been an absolute joy,” Howard said. “One thing I can honestly say is that I’ve never had trouble getting up in the morning to come to work because I had a sense of purpose; I knew that what I was doing everyday was supporting those Marines in the field.
“That’s what this command is about,” he continued. “The title Civilian-Marine really means something, and you will find the same level of commitment from the Civilian-Marines here, at Blount Island, at Barstow, in Quantico – it’s not just Albany. Marine Corps commands are filled to the brim with dedicated civilians. The only thing that makes this place (Albany) unique is the town itself.”
With only a couple of brief interruptions in his stay in Albany, Howard’s lone moment here that looked like it might put a damper on his overall outlook was when he was diagnosed with cancer not long ago.
“The first thing I thought was I wasn’t going to let cancer just take me,” Howard said, almost defiantly. “And just like most other things, I kept my sense of humor about it. Even as I went into surgery I looked up at my doctor while I was being rolled back into the O.R. and said, ‘While you got me back there can you give me a southern accent after you take out half of my head?’”
Howard said that those who don’t know him may be a little taken back by his outlook, but added that he just has to see the humor in everything.
“My life philosophy is, ‘Will this make a difference 100 years from now?’ If not, get over it and move on,” he said.
With another chuckle, Howard added that his medical condition is “good.”
During Howard’s retirement ceremony in December 2006, a former commanding general here, Maj. Gen. Paul Lee commented, among other accolades, that Howard was the “last man standing” from the original Philadelphia crew who transferred here back in 1975 and 1976.
Many of those original 200 or so employees have passed away, retired or left the federal service in earlier years. Howard said he wanted to somewhat clarify that statement.
“General Lee made that statement at my retirement ceremony. I may be the last original Philadelphia man that transferred, but there are three women, Patty Crawford, Barbara Banks and Joan Montague, who are also original Philadelphia people,” Howard stressed. “Those three are still holding the fort down for the Philly folks.”
Moving the spotlight from himself to others seems to come quite naturally for Howard. For someone who almost refuses to take credit for anything, he still has some noteworthy accomplishments throughout his illustrious career.
Howard spent four years in the U.S. Air Force with two tours to Southeast Asia. He served as chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., in security assistance as the logistics advisor for Korea, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. He also worked at DLA headquarters as an Inventory Management Specialist writing supply policy. He has been in his current billet of deputy director, Supply Chain Management Center for 12 years.
Howard arrived here as a GS-11 and retires as a GM-15. In his parting thoughts he highly praised his wife Rhonda and gave credit to all spouses of Marines for their undying support and dedication. His final comment was, “Throughout the 30-something years I’ve been here, and through all the changing and moving and flux, we’ve (Albany) always gotten better.”
Howard and his wife plan to remain in the local area – at least for the time being, he said. He should have plenty of time to take up his favorite hobbies of hunting and fishing before he even thinks about getting another job “and everything,” he concluded.
Ellie
Back then, Building 3700 was erected specifically to house the “Philly Clan” as some employees here still term them. And while Howard said he’s never heard the term, Philly Clan, he has been in Building 3700 arguably longer than anyone else here.
When you imagine working in one place for a period of 31-plus years, with a brief break (U.S. Navy for three years and Defense Logistics Agency for six months), many things cross your mind as you reflect. To get a glimpse of what was happening in America during 1975, think about this …
Gerald Ford became the first unelected vice-president of the United States; the U.S. involvement in Vietnam ended; Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier in the famed Thriller in Manila heavyweight boxing match; Patty Hearst was arrested after one year on the FBI’s Most Wanted List; and, popular cartoons on the tube were “Hong Kong Fooey,” “Fat Albert” and “Josey and the Pussycats.”
For many, these memories might make you sit back, smile and simply think about how old you’re getting. And while the same might be true for Howard, reflection caused him to look at the changes and the mainstays he has seen in Albany during his tenure here.
“You know, it’s funny, I always hear people saying we’re resistant to change. But this place has been changing since I’ve been here,” Howard said with a hearty laugh.
The Philadelphia native has seen his share of changes as he outlasted 16 commanding generals, two base name changes, a few U.S. wars and an unthinkable number of base and command reorganizations, just to name a few. Yet, amidst all of the changes, Howard seemed to focus on the constant.
“Albany has always had a secret weapon,” Howard pointed out, “and that’s the people. The biggest single change has been automation. But as far as our people, I’ve seen our workforce shrink tremendously since I’ve been here, yet our work output has tremendously increased.
“Albany has an incredible workforce here,” Howard stressed. “What’s needed for the Marines in the field, this workforce pulls together and produces. That has always impressed me.”
In 1975 when the Philly Clan linked with personnel who now make up what is known as the Marine Corps Logistics Command, it added new definition to the command’s mission, required new dedication from its workforce and created new capabilities for the operating forces.
But with four years served in the U.S. Air Force, Howard had to discover the Marine way of doing things when he arrived in Albany. That certainly didn’t pose a problem for Howard.
“Working with Marines has always been an absolute joy,” Howard said. “One thing I can honestly say is that I’ve never had trouble getting up in the morning to come to work because I had a sense of purpose; I knew that what I was doing everyday was supporting those Marines in the field.
“That’s what this command is about,” he continued. “The title Civilian-Marine really means something, and you will find the same level of commitment from the Civilian-Marines here, at Blount Island, at Barstow, in Quantico – it’s not just Albany. Marine Corps commands are filled to the brim with dedicated civilians. The only thing that makes this place (Albany) unique is the town itself.”
With only a couple of brief interruptions in his stay in Albany, Howard’s lone moment here that looked like it might put a damper on his overall outlook was when he was diagnosed with cancer not long ago.
“The first thing I thought was I wasn’t going to let cancer just take me,” Howard said, almost defiantly. “And just like most other things, I kept my sense of humor about it. Even as I went into surgery I looked up at my doctor while I was being rolled back into the O.R. and said, ‘While you got me back there can you give me a southern accent after you take out half of my head?’”
Howard said that those who don’t know him may be a little taken back by his outlook, but added that he just has to see the humor in everything.
“My life philosophy is, ‘Will this make a difference 100 years from now?’ If not, get over it and move on,” he said.
With another chuckle, Howard added that his medical condition is “good.”
During Howard’s retirement ceremony in December 2006, a former commanding general here, Maj. Gen. Paul Lee commented, among other accolades, that Howard was the “last man standing” from the original Philadelphia crew who transferred here back in 1975 and 1976.
Many of those original 200 or so employees have passed away, retired or left the federal service in earlier years. Howard said he wanted to somewhat clarify that statement.
“General Lee made that statement at my retirement ceremony. I may be the last original Philadelphia man that transferred, but there are three women, Patty Crawford, Barbara Banks and Joan Montague, who are also original Philadelphia people,” Howard stressed. “Those three are still holding the fort down for the Philly folks.”
Moving the spotlight from himself to others seems to come quite naturally for Howard. For someone who almost refuses to take credit for anything, he still has some noteworthy accomplishments throughout his illustrious career.
Howard spent four years in the U.S. Air Force with two tours to Southeast Asia. He served as chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., in security assistance as the logistics advisor for Korea, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. He also worked at DLA headquarters as an Inventory Management Specialist writing supply policy. He has been in his current billet of deputy director, Supply Chain Management Center for 12 years.
Howard arrived here as a GS-11 and retires as a GM-15. In his parting thoughts he highly praised his wife Rhonda and gave credit to all spouses of Marines for their undying support and dedication. His final comment was, “Throughout the 30-something years I’ve been here, and through all the changing and moving and flux, we’ve (Albany) always gotten better.”
Howard and his wife plan to remain in the local area – at least for the time being, he said. He should have plenty of time to take up his favorite hobbies of hunting and fishing before he even thinks about getting another job “and everything,” he concluded.
Ellie