thedrifter
08-19-08, 07:47 AM
A hard knock life: The Marine Corps & teaching
By TOM WILLIAMS
Not many people call the White House in the middle of the night, but when that happens, and when someone unexpected answers, an episode can unfold that will change the history books. Such are the adventures, exploits and life lessons learned by Marco Islander William C. Howey. His new book reads like a novel and hits home with a reality that keeps the pages turning.
With the recent publication of former Lt. Col. Howey’s “Hard Knocks and Straight Talk,” the 32-year veteran of the Untied States Marine Corps delves into three action packed tours of Vietnam, the inside story of Marine counter intelligence, and a refreshing look on the education system in America from the vantage point of a combat Marine turned social studies teacher. The book also offers a wake up call for all Americans in the form of some very insightful and pragmatic observations.
On Howey’s 8th birthday, World War II was in full swing, and as he looked around the high ground of his hometown in Hazelton, Penn., he became determined not to work in the deep coal mines that employed most of the township.
After watching his mother and father struggle with war rationing everything from gasoline to sugar, he began to understand the values and personal goals that would shape his life.
The day before high school graduation, Howey sat down with his parents. His dad asked what his plans were after school, and Howey replied, “I’m not going down into the mines and that’s for sure.”
His father, a World War II Navy veteran, suggested, “With the Navy, you will have a warm clean bed to sleep in every night, three healthy meals a day and less hazards to deal with.”
After dad’s dissertation, Howey’s older brother simply stated, “If you want to be a man, join the Marines.”
The next day Howey graduated from high school. Within the week, he joined the Marine Corps and was headed to basic training at Parris Island, S.C.
When Howey’s basic training was complete, he became frustrated after being assigned to an administrative wing of the Marines stationed in Quantico, Va.
Howey had been looking forward to an assignment with the Fleet Marine Force, but because he could type only 30 words a minute, the Marine Corps had plans for Howey that he could scarcely imagine.
Upon arrival at Quantico, disappointment melted away and events became interesting as Howey was issued a top-secret security clearance and asked to escort a Marine, a beautiful woman no less, with a briefcase of classified material to Washington. A few days later, his superior officer asked if he would train another young Marine in the duties of escorting a top-secret courier.
Howey replied, “Of course,” but within minutes, the newcomer was examining a pistol and accidentally had shot a round through the back of Howey’s chair. Luckily, Howey had just stood up to file some documents at the time. His cool response to the incident though would only lead to an escalating future where a level head under stress would more than once save the day.
On his first overseas assignment in India, Howey made a decision that saved and defined his life. After he was offered the chance to go hunting in the wilds near New Delhi, he set out with a guide to make the choice of a lifetime.
Many of the staffers at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi were eager for distractions, and when Howey arrived in the Indian rough country, he was determined to bring back fresh venison and poultry to improve the diet of his fellow Marines and the diplomatic corps.
After traveling many miles from the sprawling New Delhi suburbs, Howey was ready to bring home the feast for the upcoming American holiday — Thanksgiving was just around the corner — and as peacocks were plentiful in India and much tastier than turkeys, Howey set his rifle sights accordingly.
With three birds already in the bag, the young Marine caught sight of a large peacock. As he peered through a Winchester riflescope, the beautiful bird began to spread its tail feathers in an unbelievable and breathtaking arc. With his finger on the trigger, Howey made a choice and lowered the rifle. The big peacock was so magnificent and grand, the American could not bear to take the life of such a handsome creature.
With a light heart and knowing that the bird had been spared, Howey reached down to toss a rock across the grassy meadow where the peacock began to strut. The intention was not to hit or harm the bird, but to get its attention for another display of the incredible feathers.
To the young hunter’s surprise, as the rock landed among a section of knee-high grass, several large cobras raised their heads to investigate the vibration. If Howey had not been a sensitive young man, and if he had shot the beautiful bird, the poisonous cobras would have surly attacked when he went to claim his trophy.
The choice that day for Howey was simple. The decision to observe what was beautiful and vow not to destroy it would mold his life for the future and pave the way for a second career in the American classroom.
After India, and learning to speak Hindustani, Howey returned stateside. There, he met a gorgeous young female Marine with whom he’d fall in love and marry at the Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet Chapel on New Year’s Eve 1960: Margaret. The newlyweds combined wealth was $3.75.
During the following years, President John F. Kennedy recognized that the Republic of South Vietnam needed help to fight encroaching Communists. In the years that followed, President Lyndon Johnson agreed and Howey was assigned accordingly to counter intelligence in the Fleet Marine Force. After rough and stormy Pacific crossing, Howey arrived in the Orient and began his first of three tours in Vietnam.
After landing in Saigon, Howey soon learned that his assignment in Vietnam was classified. He did not wear the uniform of a Marine, but a plain Army uniform with a simple U.S. collar ornament and no rank insignia.
His mission in the Marine counter intelligence was to learn about the people of Vietnam, the country, the customs and how deeply embedded the Communists were. His duties involved many lengthy flights over the Mekong Delta and he became friends with many pilots of the “airline” ran by the CIA.
After dealing with surprising Buddhist uprisings against the South Vietnamese Army, and learning of vast corruption within the U.S. supposed allies, Howey began to reflect upon the advice and warning that President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave President John F. Kennedy. With the experience of a combat general, Eisenhower had warned the newly elected Kennedy to not become involved in South East Asia because it could not be won.
After traveling virtually all over South Vietnam, his first tour was complete, but before returning home, Howey took time in Japan to climb Mount Fuji and watch the sunrise in the land of the rising sun. The view was breathtaking from that lofty peak and as Howey was inspired to further his Marine Corps career, new developments quickly unfolded that would change his life forever.
After returning home to his bride and visiting his parents, Howey signed the papers to move into a new house and was assigned to Fort Holabird, where he began a crash course on safe cracking and lock picking. This was clearly more “spy” training for his future in counter intelligence.
Completing a safe cracking class, Howey was then assigned to a Vietnamese language school where he learned the difficult and challenging tongue of the people of North Vietnam. He learned the language of the enemy, but a new bomb dropped and Howey’s life stateside was compromised. With his family for only four months, Howey was informed that the First Marine Division was going to Vietnam, himself included. This was not welcome news, but Howey was a Marine and it was time to do his duty.
He returned to Vietnam, via another stormy Pacific crossing, and Howey was soon challenged with gathering counter intelligence from the labyrinth of tunnels used by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese army. On any occasion that an enemy tunnel was discovered, Howey went in first and alone, “tunnel rat” style, and was armed with only an officer’s pistol.
As the war continued, the rules of engagement became ridiculous. Howey was informed that he could no longer throw tear gas grenades down the enemy tunnels as that was now considered chemical warfare. It was all right to blow the enemy to pieces but counter intelligence officers were not allowed to make the enemy cry.
Between his second and third tours of Vietnam, Howey watched the war on television and felt guilty that he was not there and not helping his fellow Marines and American service personnel. He then volunteered for a third 13-month tour, where he discovered numerous secret tunnel systems and plots to attack major American interests.
During this tour in 1968, Howey and another intelligence officer dropped by a small rest and recreation bar and were greeted by USO celebrities. As the two war weary veterans sat down at the bar, they were surprised to discover they were sitting next to Tippi Hedren, from Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” and comedian Joey Bishop.
As the Hollywood folk told stories of movie star gossip and filmmaking, an air-raid alarm sounded warning everyone to retreat to the bomb shelters. When Hedren and Bishop got up and started for the bunkers, they looked back to Howey and his colleague.
“Aren’t’ you guys going for the shelters?”
“No, thanks,” Howey laughed. “With what we go through every day it’s not even a consideration.”
After Vietnam, Howey’s counter intelligence team was assigned to work with the Secret Service to protect presidents and he was deployed to Okinawa to debrief returning American prisoners of war returning from Vietnam. New postings followed along with more promotions and as Howey and his family traveled around the world, he worked in Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Hawaii and ultimately Jamaica, where midnight telephone calls to the White House ensued as Howey attended parties with Russian diplomats while he was watched by the KGB.
When Howey was assigned as a Defense and Naval attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, he was told by his counter intelligence superiors to get busy. The year was 1983, and the old Soviet regime was on the move to dominate the Caribbean. Russian Embassies throughout the islands, south of Cuba and down to South America were eagerly supporting pro-Communists activities with a particular interest in Grenada.
Meanwhile, Ronald Reagan was in the White House with a strong determination to keep the Caribbean free. Almost daily, the Soviet activities in Grenada grew more alarming. The Russians were building an incredibly long airport runway — far longer than a 747 would require, but the type of airfield the largest Russian bomber would need after it flew half way around the world.
Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop had befriended the Soviets, but as the Russian expansion continued, the people of Grenada were overwhelmed. On Oct. 19, 1983, Bishop and his chef advisors and a group of civilians were lined up against a wall and shot. Shortly afterward, the lights in the White House were burning around the clock. There was a group of American medical students attending an offshore university in Grenada and President Reagan had no intention of allowing another American hostage crisis to develop in a faraway land.
On the eve of the Grenada invasion, with almost every military force in the Caribbean poised to assist in the U.S. invasion, Howey was called by the Jamaican Defense Force and informed the Jamaicans could not participate because their airliner had been sabotaged. Howey immediately called the White House after midnight and spoke to Oliver North. After explaining the problem, North promised an untainted airliner would arrive in time to transport the Jamaicans.
After Grenada, and after 32 years in the Marine Corps, Howey retired and decided to give something back to America again. He attended one year of university to receive his teaching degree and began the best 15 years of his life.
During his tenure as government, history and social studies teacher extraordinaire, he ultimately was recognized in the “Who’s Who of American Teachers” for 12 consecutive years. He was awarded teacher of the year by Boyertown High School in Pennsylvania in 1999, and as his teaching career progressed, he was told that if he did not write a book about his life story that he would be doing a disservice to America.
After retiring from his second career as a teacher, life coach and friend to all of his students, Howey discovered Marco Island and fell in love. With the tragic loss of Margaret, and a sojourn of mourning, Howey found love again and married his new wife Cindy in 2005.
His new book was published in 2008 and dedicated to his wife, also to Margaret, the fabulous students of Boyertown Area Senor High School in Pennsylvania, and to his fellow Marines.
Bill Howey’s “Hard Knocks and Straight Talk” is available on Amazon.com.
Ellie
By TOM WILLIAMS
Not many people call the White House in the middle of the night, but when that happens, and when someone unexpected answers, an episode can unfold that will change the history books. Such are the adventures, exploits and life lessons learned by Marco Islander William C. Howey. His new book reads like a novel and hits home with a reality that keeps the pages turning.
With the recent publication of former Lt. Col. Howey’s “Hard Knocks and Straight Talk,” the 32-year veteran of the Untied States Marine Corps delves into three action packed tours of Vietnam, the inside story of Marine counter intelligence, and a refreshing look on the education system in America from the vantage point of a combat Marine turned social studies teacher. The book also offers a wake up call for all Americans in the form of some very insightful and pragmatic observations.
On Howey’s 8th birthday, World War II was in full swing, and as he looked around the high ground of his hometown in Hazelton, Penn., he became determined not to work in the deep coal mines that employed most of the township.
After watching his mother and father struggle with war rationing everything from gasoline to sugar, he began to understand the values and personal goals that would shape his life.
The day before high school graduation, Howey sat down with his parents. His dad asked what his plans were after school, and Howey replied, “I’m not going down into the mines and that’s for sure.”
His father, a World War II Navy veteran, suggested, “With the Navy, you will have a warm clean bed to sleep in every night, three healthy meals a day and less hazards to deal with.”
After dad’s dissertation, Howey’s older brother simply stated, “If you want to be a man, join the Marines.”
The next day Howey graduated from high school. Within the week, he joined the Marine Corps and was headed to basic training at Parris Island, S.C.
When Howey’s basic training was complete, he became frustrated after being assigned to an administrative wing of the Marines stationed in Quantico, Va.
Howey had been looking forward to an assignment with the Fleet Marine Force, but because he could type only 30 words a minute, the Marine Corps had plans for Howey that he could scarcely imagine.
Upon arrival at Quantico, disappointment melted away and events became interesting as Howey was issued a top-secret security clearance and asked to escort a Marine, a beautiful woman no less, with a briefcase of classified material to Washington. A few days later, his superior officer asked if he would train another young Marine in the duties of escorting a top-secret courier.
Howey replied, “Of course,” but within minutes, the newcomer was examining a pistol and accidentally had shot a round through the back of Howey’s chair. Luckily, Howey had just stood up to file some documents at the time. His cool response to the incident though would only lead to an escalating future where a level head under stress would more than once save the day.
On his first overseas assignment in India, Howey made a decision that saved and defined his life. After he was offered the chance to go hunting in the wilds near New Delhi, he set out with a guide to make the choice of a lifetime.
Many of the staffers at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi were eager for distractions, and when Howey arrived in the Indian rough country, he was determined to bring back fresh venison and poultry to improve the diet of his fellow Marines and the diplomatic corps.
After traveling many miles from the sprawling New Delhi suburbs, Howey was ready to bring home the feast for the upcoming American holiday — Thanksgiving was just around the corner — and as peacocks were plentiful in India and much tastier than turkeys, Howey set his rifle sights accordingly.
With three birds already in the bag, the young Marine caught sight of a large peacock. As he peered through a Winchester riflescope, the beautiful bird began to spread its tail feathers in an unbelievable and breathtaking arc. With his finger on the trigger, Howey made a choice and lowered the rifle. The big peacock was so magnificent and grand, the American could not bear to take the life of such a handsome creature.
With a light heart and knowing that the bird had been spared, Howey reached down to toss a rock across the grassy meadow where the peacock began to strut. The intention was not to hit or harm the bird, but to get its attention for another display of the incredible feathers.
To the young hunter’s surprise, as the rock landed among a section of knee-high grass, several large cobras raised their heads to investigate the vibration. If Howey had not been a sensitive young man, and if he had shot the beautiful bird, the poisonous cobras would have surly attacked when he went to claim his trophy.
The choice that day for Howey was simple. The decision to observe what was beautiful and vow not to destroy it would mold his life for the future and pave the way for a second career in the American classroom.
After India, and learning to speak Hindustani, Howey returned stateside. There, he met a gorgeous young female Marine with whom he’d fall in love and marry at the Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet Chapel on New Year’s Eve 1960: Margaret. The newlyweds combined wealth was $3.75.
During the following years, President John F. Kennedy recognized that the Republic of South Vietnam needed help to fight encroaching Communists. In the years that followed, President Lyndon Johnson agreed and Howey was assigned accordingly to counter intelligence in the Fleet Marine Force. After rough and stormy Pacific crossing, Howey arrived in the Orient and began his first of three tours in Vietnam.
After landing in Saigon, Howey soon learned that his assignment in Vietnam was classified. He did not wear the uniform of a Marine, but a plain Army uniform with a simple U.S. collar ornament and no rank insignia.
His mission in the Marine counter intelligence was to learn about the people of Vietnam, the country, the customs and how deeply embedded the Communists were. His duties involved many lengthy flights over the Mekong Delta and he became friends with many pilots of the “airline” ran by the CIA.
After dealing with surprising Buddhist uprisings against the South Vietnamese Army, and learning of vast corruption within the U.S. supposed allies, Howey began to reflect upon the advice and warning that President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave President John F. Kennedy. With the experience of a combat general, Eisenhower had warned the newly elected Kennedy to not become involved in South East Asia because it could not be won.
After traveling virtually all over South Vietnam, his first tour was complete, but before returning home, Howey took time in Japan to climb Mount Fuji and watch the sunrise in the land of the rising sun. The view was breathtaking from that lofty peak and as Howey was inspired to further his Marine Corps career, new developments quickly unfolded that would change his life forever.
After returning home to his bride and visiting his parents, Howey signed the papers to move into a new house and was assigned to Fort Holabird, where he began a crash course on safe cracking and lock picking. This was clearly more “spy” training for his future in counter intelligence.
Completing a safe cracking class, Howey was then assigned to a Vietnamese language school where he learned the difficult and challenging tongue of the people of North Vietnam. He learned the language of the enemy, but a new bomb dropped and Howey’s life stateside was compromised. With his family for only four months, Howey was informed that the First Marine Division was going to Vietnam, himself included. This was not welcome news, but Howey was a Marine and it was time to do his duty.
He returned to Vietnam, via another stormy Pacific crossing, and Howey was soon challenged with gathering counter intelligence from the labyrinth of tunnels used by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese army. On any occasion that an enemy tunnel was discovered, Howey went in first and alone, “tunnel rat” style, and was armed with only an officer’s pistol.
As the war continued, the rules of engagement became ridiculous. Howey was informed that he could no longer throw tear gas grenades down the enemy tunnels as that was now considered chemical warfare. It was all right to blow the enemy to pieces but counter intelligence officers were not allowed to make the enemy cry.
Between his second and third tours of Vietnam, Howey watched the war on television and felt guilty that he was not there and not helping his fellow Marines and American service personnel. He then volunteered for a third 13-month tour, where he discovered numerous secret tunnel systems and plots to attack major American interests.
During this tour in 1968, Howey and another intelligence officer dropped by a small rest and recreation bar and were greeted by USO celebrities. As the two war weary veterans sat down at the bar, they were surprised to discover they were sitting next to Tippi Hedren, from Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” and comedian Joey Bishop.
As the Hollywood folk told stories of movie star gossip and filmmaking, an air-raid alarm sounded warning everyone to retreat to the bomb shelters. When Hedren and Bishop got up and started for the bunkers, they looked back to Howey and his colleague.
“Aren’t’ you guys going for the shelters?”
“No, thanks,” Howey laughed. “With what we go through every day it’s not even a consideration.”
After Vietnam, Howey’s counter intelligence team was assigned to work with the Secret Service to protect presidents and he was deployed to Okinawa to debrief returning American prisoners of war returning from Vietnam. New postings followed along with more promotions and as Howey and his family traveled around the world, he worked in Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Hawaii and ultimately Jamaica, where midnight telephone calls to the White House ensued as Howey attended parties with Russian diplomats while he was watched by the KGB.
When Howey was assigned as a Defense and Naval attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, he was told by his counter intelligence superiors to get busy. The year was 1983, and the old Soviet regime was on the move to dominate the Caribbean. Russian Embassies throughout the islands, south of Cuba and down to South America were eagerly supporting pro-Communists activities with a particular interest in Grenada.
Meanwhile, Ronald Reagan was in the White House with a strong determination to keep the Caribbean free. Almost daily, the Soviet activities in Grenada grew more alarming. The Russians were building an incredibly long airport runway — far longer than a 747 would require, but the type of airfield the largest Russian bomber would need after it flew half way around the world.
Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop had befriended the Soviets, but as the Russian expansion continued, the people of Grenada were overwhelmed. On Oct. 19, 1983, Bishop and his chef advisors and a group of civilians were lined up against a wall and shot. Shortly afterward, the lights in the White House were burning around the clock. There was a group of American medical students attending an offshore university in Grenada and President Reagan had no intention of allowing another American hostage crisis to develop in a faraway land.
On the eve of the Grenada invasion, with almost every military force in the Caribbean poised to assist in the U.S. invasion, Howey was called by the Jamaican Defense Force and informed the Jamaicans could not participate because their airliner had been sabotaged. Howey immediately called the White House after midnight and spoke to Oliver North. After explaining the problem, North promised an untainted airliner would arrive in time to transport the Jamaicans.
After Grenada, and after 32 years in the Marine Corps, Howey retired and decided to give something back to America again. He attended one year of university to receive his teaching degree and began the best 15 years of his life.
During his tenure as government, history and social studies teacher extraordinaire, he ultimately was recognized in the “Who’s Who of American Teachers” for 12 consecutive years. He was awarded teacher of the year by Boyertown High School in Pennsylvania in 1999, and as his teaching career progressed, he was told that if he did not write a book about his life story that he would be doing a disservice to America.
After retiring from his second career as a teacher, life coach and friend to all of his students, Howey discovered Marco Island and fell in love. With the tragic loss of Margaret, and a sojourn of mourning, Howey found love again and married his new wife Cindy in 2005.
His new book was published in 2008 and dedicated to his wife, also to Margaret, the fabulous students of Boyertown Area Senor High School in Pennsylvania, and to his fellow Marines.
Bill Howey’s “Hard Knocks and Straight Talk” is available on Amazon.com.
Ellie