Bart Howard

Bart Howard was born and raised in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He is part of a military family and enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school. In the Marines, he was an All-Marine wrestler and became a Bulk Fuel Specialist. After his service, he returned to Williamsport and raised a family. He discusses his transition to civilian life and the important role the military has played in his life.

Transcription Tabs

Index

0:41 - Introduction to Bart Howard

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart discusses his childhood and his many interests including music, athletics and the outdoors.

Keywords: All-Marine Wrestling Team; Athletics; Football; Hillsgrove, Pennsylvania; Music; Musicians; Nature; October 9, 1964; Outdoor recreation; Pool table; South Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Wrestling

4:19 - High School

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart describes his experience at high school.

Keywords: Mason; Mentors; Penn College and Technology; South Williamsport Highschool; Teachers

6:16 - Enlistment in the Marines

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart describes his close relationship with his father and why he chose to join the Marines.

Keywords: Battle of Okinawa; Korean War Veteran; Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island; Military family

8:51 - Boot Camp

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart describes his experience at Boot Camp.

Keywords: Camaraderie; Firearms; First aid; Military education; Military history

14:47 - MOS 1391 Bulk Fuel Specialist

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart discusses his MOS training.

Keywords: Family; Fort Lee, Virginia; Graduation; MOS 1391 Bulk Fuel Specialist; Rifleman; Weapons

18:08 - Camp Pendleton

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart describes his first enlistment at Camp Pendleton.

Keywords: Camaraderie; Camp Pendleton, California; Exercise; Fishing; Football; Rifleman; San Diego, California

23:37 - Twentynine Palms

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart describes his experience at Twentynine Palms as a cook and wrestler. He also explains desert training and uniforms.

Keywords: Airdrop; Desert cammies; Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

28:06 - El Toro

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart describes his experience at El Toro.

Keywords: Camping; Fishing; Marine Corps Air Station El Toro; Yosemite National Park

32:07 - Quantico to Okinawa

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart discusses wrestling at Quantico, military leave and his transition to Okinawa.

Keywords: Greco-Roman Wrestling; Hunting; Marine Corps Base Quantico; Military family; Okinawa, Japan

36:59 - Okinawa, Japan

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart describes his deployment in Okinawa, Japan.

Keywords: Culture shock; Military family; Okinawa, Japan; Physical injury

45:14 - Peacetime Military

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart discusses the combat incidents that occurred during his deployment.

Keywords: 1983 Beirut barracks bombing; Ronald Reagan; United States invasion of Grenada; USS Stark Incident

47:10 - The Strategic Importance of Okinawa

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart discusses the importance of a base like Okinawa and the looming presence of the Cold War.

Keywords: Okinawa, Japan; Soviet Union; Weather

50:55 - End of Active Service

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart explains why he chose not to reenlist in the military.

Keywords: Camp Pendleton, California; End of Active Service (EAS); Reenlistment

54:02 - Civilian Life

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart discusses his career after the military.

Keywords: Chemical factory plant; Dairy; Home buyer; Military family

58:58 - The Benefits of Military Service

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart discusses the benefits of military service.

Keywords: College; Enlistment; Higher education; Military family; Patriotism; Peacetime; Vietnam War

62:10 - Brotherhood

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart describes the friendships he maintains with his former Marines.

Keywords: Camaraderie; Friendship

63:54 - Gold Star Families

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart discusses what it means to be a Gold Star Father.

Keywords: Camaraderie; Disabled veteran; Family; Grief; Military family; Montana; Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Suicide; Tattoos

78:28 - Military-Civilian Relationships

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Bart discusses the role of the civilian population for the military.

Keywords: Dunkirk

powered by OHMS

Project Goals

The Veterans Empathy Project is an ongoing work in oral history focused on the military experience among U.S. soldiers and marines in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Its purpose is to bridge the gap in the United States today between veterans of foreign wars and civilians who never served in the military. Designed for scholarly research, it's meant to round out public understanding of military obligation today, in the past, and near future.

Evan.Reibsome@lsus.edu