Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Sheldon | The late Col. Francis A.I. "Miki" Bowers Jr. was known as the malasada man at the...... read more read more
Subscribe
WAHIAWA, Hawaii - The 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery’s Wahiawa armory is officially renamed the Col. Francis A.I. "Miki" Bowers Jr. Armory at an armory memorialization ceremony held May 4, 2014. The renaming honors the service and accomplishments of the battalion’s first commanding officer.
Honolulu-born Col. Bowers graduated from Punahou High School in 1945. He attended Stanford University for half a year, but upon turning 18, he enlisted in the Army. He served a year and a half on active duty before entering the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at the University of Hawaii, where he earned his commission, as well as a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1950.
Bowers served with the U.S. Army Reserves twice before permanently transferring to the Hawaii Army National Guard in 1950. In November 1965, Bowers became the first commander of the 1/487th Field Artillery Regiment, 29th Infantry Brigade. In 1968, as part of the 29th Brigade’s mobilization, the 1/487 FA received activation orders and deployed to Vietnam. While in Vietnam, Bowers earned the Bronze Star (with V device for valor), the Legion of Merit, and nine Air medals.
Bowers’ other commands included the 2nd Missile Battalion 298th Artillery, the 227th Engineer Battalion (which became the 487th Field Artillery) and the 29th Brigade. After 31 years, seven months, and one day of military service, Bowers retired on July 7, 1979.
Bowers’ son, Andy Bowers, spoke at the ceremony and described his father as a man of strong character. Andy, a West Point graduate, followed in his father’s footsteps as an artillery officer and retired as a colonel, said his father lived by a philosophy of selfless service.
“He had a strong desire to serve, and a belief that service was important. My father had many passions, and loved to share his passions with others. More importantly, he encouraged others to achieve their best.”
Andy credits his exposure to his father’s military service with his own decision to attend West Point and pursue his own military career.
“He told all of us early on, he would not be able to pay for our education. I chose West Point as a way to get mine,” continued Andy. “The qualities were seen in all aspects of dad’s life, including his devotion and passion he had for mathematics and his desire to teach his passion to others.”
Employed at his alma mater of Punahou, he devoted 40 years as an educator. As a testament to his character and intelligence, during this time he earned a masters degree from the University of Kansas and a doctorate in mathematics education from Ohio State University.
While at Punahou, Dr. Bowers, as his colleagues knew him, taught every math course the school offered. When the math book did not meet his requirements, he wrote a textbook to meet his own needs. He later spent 12 years as the math department chairman and supervised the College Board Examination Center for 25 years. He is also responsible for introducing the Advanced Placement Program. As a testament to his ability and dedication as an educator, Dr. Bowers was named “Most Influential High School Mathematics Teacher” three times by Stanford University.
Within the “Pocho” (Portuguese) community, Bowers earned himself another nickname. For 53 years he manned and supervised the Punahou Carnival’s malasada booth, earning him notoriety as the "Malasada Man." He used this opportunity to give back to the school he loved and the community he served.
In addition to his 40 years as an educator, and his more than 31 years as a Soldier, Bowers found other ways to serve those around him. An avid swimmer, he coached swimming and water polo. As a talented musician, he toured with many civic organizations, and from 1962 to 1965 was the featured performer on a live call-in show where he performed with other local stars.
Whether recognized as Colonel Bowers, Dr. Bowers, the "Malasada Man," or just "Miki," he distinguished himself. His actions, as a leader in the Hawaii National Guard and in service to his community, embodied the true meaning of Citizen-Soldier. While speaking at the memorialization ceremony, Andy Bowers said his father was never one to seek glory, but he would be proud to be once again associated with his father’s “most beloved command.”
The dedication of the Bowers Armory completes Bowers’ legacy of selfless service and his life now serving as inspiration to 487th Soldiers. His pride in service will forever be present in the voices of current and future Soldiers sounding off with the battalion motto, and the words “Hiki No,” (Hawaiian for “can do”) echoing through the halls of the building now named in his honor.
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2014 02:43 |
| Story ID: | 130413 |
| Location: | WAHIAWA, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 468 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Col. Francis A.I. ‘Miki’ Bowers Jr. memorialization ceremony, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT