Navy Veteran William Howard served his country as an environmental oceanographers’ mate from 1986-1990. He was with a mobile team out of Norfolk, Virginia. “I completed twenty three missions on twenty one different ships including one Canadian ship. We used ships of all types- frigates, destroyers and cruisers.”
Mr. Howard grew up in Monroe, Louisiana and still as family there. He went to school at what is now the University of Louisiana at Monroe and received his Bachelors of Science in Toxicology and Chemistry. After leaving the Navy, he worked for the Louisiana Cotton Association in the safety division.
“I came to St. Francis House after getting in trouble with my drinking. I got several DWIs and went to through the addiction program at Fort Roots. They discharged me to St. Francis House.”
Mr. Howard has begun part-time employment at the VA in the Sterilization Processing Service. “I have sisters in Monroe, but I’m not sure if I’m going to move back or stay here. I’m hoping to get hired full-time at the VA and if I do, I’ll stay here. I’m going to meetings daily. I go to a lot of them virtually, so I’ve been to meetings all over the world. St. Francis House is helping me work on my goal of staying sober. I like it here, they give you room to transition back into normal life.”