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<em>William Earl Bowers</em> was born on 18 Sep 1957 to William and Betty Bowers in Chicago, IL. The oldest of five children, Bill learned at an early age to be a role model, mentor and teacher, even if the lessons he provided were not all conventional. Whether it was volunteering to chaperone his younger siblings’ sleepovers, teaching them to disco, or instigating “Whoopee Time” during driving lessons, Bill always gladly played big brother.</p>
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Bill attended Schaumburg High School, lettered in football and wrestling, was a member of the undefeated conference cham­pion wrestling team, and was a member of the National Honor Society. These years evidenced Bill’s good nature, natural leader­ship and intelligence. Energy and commit­ment would typify his entire life, whether in support of his family, friends, soldiers, or students.</p>
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An appointment to West Point came Bill’s way in recognition of his athletic and academic prowess and his demonstrated leadership ability. After Beast Barracks, Bill found himself in “Chargin’ Charley 1,” where he numbered among those who played the game well and laughed off the trials and tribulations of being a Plebe. He became a member of the H-3 Hawks in our Cow year. During his entire tenure as a ca­det, Bill absolutely lived by the mantra, “co­operate and graduate.” If a classmate needed help, he was the first to drop what he was doing to assist. Not one to “sweat the small stuff,” Bill was able to keep his perspective and to ground others at critical times. H-3 roommate Rick Jordan remembers, “Bill was always there to help keep me sane and yuck it up when things were borderline out of control.” Bill graduated in the top 20 per­cent of the class and was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers.</p>
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After the Engineer Officer Basic Course and Ranger School, Bill was assigned to the 588th Combat Engineer Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, Ft. Polk, LA, where he rose in rank to captain and commanded a line Engineer company. In June of 1981, Bill married the love of his life, Evelyn, who characterized him as “the greatest man I ever knew.” After the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, where he was named the honor graduate, Bill was assigned to Northern Illinois University as an assistant profes­sor in the Department of Military Science. After a short tour in Korea with the 2nd Engineer Group, Bill and his family traveled to Hawaii, where he was assigned as the S-3 and executive officer of the 65th Engineer Battalion, as well as the assistant division engineer for the 25th Infantry Division. He then reported to the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, CA, where his expertise as a trainer earned him a fourth Meritorious Service Medal. Bill’s final assignment was as the Third Army deputy assistant chief of staff (Engineer), which began his association with the Middle East, and during which he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Upon his retirement in 1999, Bill was awarded the Legion of Merit.</p>
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Bill’s civilian career started in April 1999 when he joined Lockwood Greene Technologies as a project manager and civil engineer on projects which included Refugee Camp Construction in Albania.</p>
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In May 2001, Bill joined the SEI Group as a program manager for contracts provid­ing immediate engineering support to mili­tary operational contingencies and disaster relief around the world. In this capacity, Bill led teams supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom with projects in Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, he led humanitarian proj­ects in Eritrea, Africa. His exemplary contri­butions and leadership abilities were recog­nized by his promotion to vice-president of SEI in May 2002. It was during his final trip to Iraq, in September 2004, that Bill exem­plified the phrase “Scouts Out” in clearing the way for others so that they could follow in safety. Unknowingly traversing between the enemy in front of him and an Army unit behind him, he was ambushed by insurgents while traveling alone between U.S. facilities. In what proved to be his final act of selfless­ness and generosity, Bill gave his body armor to a member of his team so that they did not have to travel without protection.</p>
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Bill was buried at Arlington during a driving rainstorm in November 2004. The weather seemed somehow appropriate, as heaven wept with the rest of us as we said our final goodbyes.</p>
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Bill Bowers lived life large. In doing so, he became larger than life to his colleagues, his friends, and his family. Those of us in his social circle at West Point remember that he memorized the famous Rudyard Kipling poem, <em>Gunga Din.</em> Although he intended it as a trifle to amuse his friends, propheti­cally, the poem’s story of a common man who dedicates himself to the service of others and dies in that pursuit turned out to be a metaphor for Bill’s life. Its final lines contain a fitting epitaph:</p>
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<em>By the livin' Gawd that made you, You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din!</em></p>
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Bill is survived by his wife Evelyn; son Brian; daughter Jennifer; parents William and Betty; siblings Brian ’81, Blaine, Bonny, and Beth; nephews and nieces; and brothers and sisters-in-law. He also leaves behind many students, employees, colleagues and classmates who carry his spirit with them.</p>
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<em>—Harvey Humphrey, classmate</em></p>