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     United States District Judge George Howard, Jr., has spent a lifetime building bridges - both literally and figuratively-and fighting for good causes. Thus, the official motto of his beloved Seabees seems tailor-made for him-Constuimus, Batuimus -"We Build, We Fight." His remarkable career was shaped, in no small part, by his World War II military service in the "Seabees," the militarized Naval Construction Force, where the idea of studying law first came to a young George Howard, Jr., in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
     On January 5, 1942, twenty-nine days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the Seabees were born. That same year, a bright young 10th grader attending a racially segregated high school in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, read an article in the local newspaper that piqued his interest. The article announced an opportunity for young people to receive "real world" job training in their local communities. For those who did well, there was the chance to travel to parts of the country far from Arkansas-places that young George Howard, Jr., had seen only in books.
     His parents were skeptical. Education was a core family value, along with devotion to God and service to others. They feared that if their son left high school to participate in the National Youth Administration ("NYA") program, he might never finish his education.¹ But the young man, a passionate advocate even then, made his case: There was a shortage of labor in industries in the North and East as the nation geared up for the Second World War, and young Howard wanted to earn the chance both to travel and to be a part of the war effort. Reluctantly, his parents agreed to let him present his plan to his high school principal. He convinced his high school principal, who assured him that when the certain-to-be-brief war ended, he would be allowed to return to high school to earn his diploma.
     The young man studied hard and excelled in the NYA program. At the end of the training course, the superintendent of the Pine Bluff NYA recommended that Howard be sent to Connecticut to work in support of the war effort. His parents brought him to Little Rock, where he boarded a train to Plainville, Connecticut. Once there, he began working in a ball bearing plant, making parts for airplane engines.
     George Howard's destiny did not lie, however, in a ball bearing plant in Plainville, Connecticut. As soon as he turned eighteen, he was drafted. He returned to Arkansas and reported for duty. A young lieutenant approached him after inspection and asked him what branch of the military he wanted to serve in. Young Howard was taken aback. He thought he knew, from reading the news and from the rumor mill, that all black inductees were automatically assigned to the United States Army. No chance to join the Navy or Air Force. He did not know until that moment that in June 1942, the Navy had begun accepting black inductees.² When he learned that he really did have a choice, he was quick to reply: "The United States Navy, Sir." And it was done.
     He was directed to one side of the room, with the white inductees; all of his black friends were sent to the other side of the room. Only later did he figure out that his NYA training and service accounted for his having had the choice to join the Navy. That day, he was the only African-American to follow the young lieutenant onto the train bound for boot camp in Williamsburg, Virginia.
     Once they arrived at boot camp in Williamsburg, the group learned their lot: "We're going to establish a construction battalion, so you're all Seabees," they were told. (The nickname Seabees is derived from the initial letters C and B of Construction Battalion.) True to their calling, Howard and the other young Seabees learned to build bridges, airstrips, piers, ammunition magazines, warehouses, hospitals, and roads. They also received assault training supplemental to their primary duty of building.
     Seabee Howard regularly went to chapel, continuing a life-long habit of attending church. He liked to describe himself as a "church man," for after all, his father was a Baptist preacher. At chapel that first Sunday, Howard noticed that the chaplain had no pulpit, but only a table, to use during the worship service, so he spent his spare time the next week foraging for materials and building a lectern so that the minister would have a place to rest his Bible. Without a word, Howard placed it in the chapel. At the next church service, the delighted chaplain insisted that the builder identify himself, and a reluctant George Howard raised his hand. The chaplain was so impressed with Howard's initiative that he asked him to be his assistant. "Can you type?" In fact, he could not. Undeterred, the chaplain offered to teach him, and Howard happily transferred to the chaplain's command where he typed letters to family members of servicemen.
     After basic training, the Seabees were sent to Gulfport, Mississippi, for advanced training. Rumor had it that they would soon be deployed overseas-maybe to Europe, maybe to Africa. But fate intervened.
     The second Sunday in Gulfport, after chapel, the Seabees gathered for lunch- mostly whites at the front of the line, mostly blacks at the back. They were served steaks that day. However, the kitchen apparently ran out of steaks and began to substitute chicken. Because most of the black Seabees were at the end of the line, they wound up with chicken instead of steak. One black Seabee began to complain loudly. The protest escalated into a scuffle.
     The next day, the commander of Howard's group called all of the black Seabees to a meeting. Once the black troops were assembled, the commander announced that they were all to be dispatched back to Virginia immediately. When asked why, he responded: "The problem that we had yesterday cannot be tolerated. We are in a war. We will be going overseas, and we don't want any problems. So, get packed. You're going back to Virginia." After the meeting, Howard went straightaway to the commander's office. He asked to stay with his group in Mississippi, but the request was summarily denied. All black Seabees, including Howard, were returned to Virginia to form the newly created 21st Special Seabees unit. It was composed almost entirely of black Seabees, with the exception of a few whites who worked in headquarters and as technicians. After it was organized, the group was sent to California for advanced training. They then boarded a ship headed to the South Pacific.
     Three days into the journey to the Admiralty Islands, the ship encountered a violent storm. To make the perilous circumstance worse yet, a Japanese submarine was trailing the ship, requiring the ship to make evasive maneuvers while trying to survive the roiling waters of the Pacific. Seabee Howard drew on his faith to get through the terrifying night.
     Once in the Admiralty Islands, Howard was assigned to a naval supply area where he worked supplying the Navy with medical supplies, food, ammunition, weapons, clothing, and whatever else was needed. He helped build warehouses and roads as well.
     Even though Howard had lost his mentor, the chaplain, in the overnight reassignment of the black Seabees from Mississippi to Virginia, his energy and determination were noticed again, this time by a lieutenant on the Island of Manus. Through the intervention of the lieutenant, Seabee Howard was given the opportunity to take an exam to become a coxswain, in charge of a small craft delivering messages and transporting officers from ship to ship for meetings. True to form, he passed the exam with flying colors, scoring 100%.
     The next stop for Coxswain Howard was Subic Bay, Philippines, for a course in self defense. Rumors circulated that this group was to be a part of the initial invasion of the island of Japan, and the course was meant to prepare the builders to fight. Tears were shed and prayers sent up, but they all had dedicated their lives to defending their country, and they all willingly followed orders. They boarded the ship and set sail for the Philippines.
     Coxwain Howard was again singled out for a special assignment. He was ordered to drive a Jeep to Manila to deliver an important package. He made the difficult journey alone, never stopping along the way, and successfully completed his mission. Looking back, he believes that the mission was a test of sorts, another test he passed with distinction.
     Two days later, the commander assembled the troops to announce that Japan had surrendered. Unbridled joy, relief, and thanks filled the room to the rafters. An aircraft carrier, the USS Horen, was converted to a troop ship to return the weary Seabees to their homes across the waters. Howard's group was assigned to an area on the third level of the ship. All were using the same washroom, whites and blacks alike. All ate in the same mess hall. On the third day out, however, when Howard rose early and walked to the washroom, he was met by an armed guard posted at the washroom door. The guard warned Howard not to enter. A new order had relegated black Seabees to the use of only certain black-only washrooms.
     Howard returned to his area, awakened his friends, and told them of the disturbing development. He had already begun to formulate a plan. "Let's select a committee and register a complaint with the officers." But even his good friend balked. "No. I haven't seen my wife in years, and I don't want to be accused of starting a riot, or risk receiving a dishonorable discharge." Others agreed, fearing that this might be an attempt to get them all discharged dishonorably. Not a single person stepped forward to go with him. Howard was stunned by the response, but decided to press on alone. He returned, by himself, to the armed guard and asked where to find the officer of the day. Predictably, the officer of the day was busy when Howard arrived, and he was instructed to sit and wait. For two hours he waited. When the officer finally received him, Howard explained the problem. The officer disclaimed any responsibility for the new policy. "That order came from up above. I'm simply carrying it out. Now, if you want to go further with this, you can see the ensign who is my immediate superior. He's on the next floor."
     Up to the next floor marched Coxwain Howard, where he sat waiting for another two hours. The ensign listened as Howard made the case: Black Seabees had willingly given all that they had-some even their lives-to fight for the nation. It was not right for them now to be subjected to the humiliation of racial segregation. The ensign asked his name. "George Howard," came the determined reply. He said, "George, listen to me carefully. I agree with you. The order came from up above, and there's nothing I can do to change it. You need to go to my superior and talk with him. But, whatever you do, maintain your calm. Don't get emotional or upset. I'm with you. I support you, but this has to stay between the two of us." Before Howard left, though, the ensign asked whether Howard had eaten anything that day. As a matter of fact, he had not, and by now, it was well past both breakfast and lunchtime. The ensign gave the hungry young man a drink and a sandwich.
     Revived and still determined, Howard went to see the ensign's superior. There he sat for another two hours. He was met with hostility: "Why are you trying to create a problem? Do you want to start a riot?" He remembered the ensign's advice and knew that the ensign had anticipated the reaction. He tried to assure the officer that his intent was simply to right a wrong, but to no avail. The new policy of segregation would remain in place.
     Next he went to see the Captain. Another wait. It occurred to Howard that perhaps all of the waiting was another test of sorts. Maybe they thought he would just give up, go back to the ship's third level, and live with segregated washrooms. When the Captain received him, Howard patiently made the case again for equal treatment of black Seabees. As the story unfolded, anger flashed in the Captain's eyes, but his fury was not meant for Howard. Instead, he thanked Howard for reporting the situation to him, then excused himself to make a call. When he returned, he asked Howard to deliver the message to all in his group: "You tell your friends to go back to the washroom tomorrow morning. It'll be right by then." By the time Howard returned to his group, darkness had fallen. In fact, most in his group had retired to their bunks when Howard delivered the welcome news.
     That night, as he lay in his bunk, Howard thought back on his experiences as a Seabee. He pondered the situation in Gulfport, Mississippi, where the black Seabee complained loudly about the food. He remembered the unfairness of the commander's sending all black Seabees back to Virginia, even those who had not been a part of the mess hall disturbance. He thought about the young lieutenant who gave him the chance to join the Navy. He remembered the sense of empowerment he felt at being given a choice. He thought about the chaplain and the lieutenant who gave him opportunities to advance. He remembered the commander who singled him out of the group for the mission to Manila. It was then, at the end of a long and arduous day, that it dawned on Howard what a long struggle for racial equality lay ahead. But someone had to persevere. Someone had to press on. Someone had to fight the good fight against racial segregation, not with guns and bombs, but with unrelenting determination. He knew his destiny: "I'm going to be a lawyer."
     That journey, too, required perseverance. When the war-weary troops arrived back in the States, Howard immediately went to his old high school to re-enroll. The principal was reluctant, however, to readmit him. It had not been the brief war that all had expected. Howard was no longer a youngster; he was now a grown man whose experience and maturity did not fit well in a high school setting. Howard prevailed upon the principal, however, and was allowed to complete high school. In fact, he finished ahead of schedule due to credit for his studies while in the military.
     After high school, Howard used the GI Bill of Rights to attend Lincoln University. He was accepted into Lincoln University's Law School, but he had read that the University of Arkansas had begun to admit black students. He wanted to return to his home state.
     He was accepted at the University of Arkansas School of Law, but there was one more hitch. When he arrived at the office of the Dean of Students for his dormitory assignment, the Dean candidly admitted, "We didn't know you were black. We haven't integrated our dorms yet." The Dean arranged for Howard to live with a local black family temporarily. Several months later, another hurdle fell and Howard was assigned to Hall Dormitory, a University residence hall for veterans, where he was readily accepted. In fact, a group of white veterans asked him to run for president of Hall Dormitory. He did and was elected.
     George Howard, Jr., did become a lawyer and devoted his practice to representing those whose voices would not otherwise be heard. He took the lessons gleaned from his years as a Seabee-as an African-American Seabee-and chose the path of nonviolence and persistence championed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In doing so, he blazed trails for other African-American lawyers, becoming the first black person to serve on the Arkansas Supreme Court and the first black person in the state to be appointed as a federal district judge. He has served with distinction.
     Judge Howard's story reveals the truth of human nature-people, black and white, at their noblest and their most ignoble. He stands as a living reminder of the power of hard work, hope, faith, optimism, and persistence. Although the struggle for civil rights continues, the example set by Judge Howard and the other civil rights pioneers exhorts us-both as individuals and as a nation- to heed "the better angels of our nature."³ •

Endnotes
1. The NYA was headed by Aubrey Williams, an Alabaman with close ties to     Eleanor Roosevelt. The head of the Texas division, for a time, was Lyndon     Baines Johnson.
2. About 167,000 blacks served in the Navy in WWII, with almost 12,500 African-    Americans serving in the Seabees.
3. President Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address (ending with the following:     "The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot     grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell     the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the     better angels of our nature.")