The Corpsman Who Miraculously Survived The Beirut Bombing: Don Howell

Don Howell’s life took a profound turn on October 23, 1983, when he survived the devastating Beirut barracks bombing. As a young Navy corpsman, Don was stationed in Beirut, where his close friend, Bryan Earle, tragically lost his life. The night before the attack that would take the lives of 241 U.S. servicemen in one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, Don said the Lord’s Prayer before transferring to the basement of the BLT building, where he narrowly escaped death. Buried under the rubble, a chunk of concrete hit Don in the right eye, leaving him blind in that eye to this day. Despite the darkness and chaos, he followed a beam of light and dug himself out. He was evacuated to Germany, where he was awarded a Purple Heart by General Paul Kelly. Don’s story of survival is a testament to resilience and faith, and today, he shares that powerful journey with us as part of our limited series: Beirut Survivors.

00:00 - Intro
01:29 - Who is Don Howell
02:58 - Don's Path into the Military
04:16 - Boot Camp
05:50 - Lebanon Experience
12:34 - Landing In Beirut
15:17 - Daily Life in Beirut
20:14 - The Experience of Rising Shelling
25:00 - When Things Go from Bad to Worse
28:40 - Meeting Brian Earl
33:21 - Heading Towards the Bombing
46:56 - A Deep Dive into the Bombed Basement
49:11 - Finding a Way Out
54:16 - The Aftermath
55:37 - The Flight Out
1:03:08 - Arriving To Germany
1:07:14 - Leaving Germany
1:11:17 - Brian Earl's Wife
1:24:14 - Lessons From The Beirut Experience

Don Howell is a retired U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman, Chief Petty Officer, who served 22 years in the U.S. Navy, with postings in various critical medical roles across the globe. After retiring as a critical care nurse, he continues to pursue his passions, including music and fitness, while maintaining strong ties with those he served alongside, demonstrating a life marked by service, resilience, and dedication.

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