Levi Bowman, Jr.

Major Levi Bowman, Jr., U.S. Army (Retired) was born on March 5, 1940, in Round O, South Carolina. He was the first of five children born to Levi and Maggie Henderson Bowman.

Born into a Christian family, he attended the former Oak Grove United Methodist Church, where he was actively involved. He received his early education at Mission Providence Elementary School in Round O, South Carolina. After completing elementary school, he attended Colleton Training School in Walterboro, South Carolina, and graduated in 1957 from Colleton High School. He excelled academically and, during his senior year, drove a school bus.

Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army at the young age of seventeen on July 29, 1957. His initial duty station was Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the induction station for new recruits. Two weeks later, he departed for basic training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. After completing eight weeks of basic training and a short leave spent with his family, he proceeded to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, where he completed eight weeks of advanced individual training as a Signal Corps supply clerk.

On December 23, 1957, he was assigned to West Germany with duty at Headquarters, United States Army Europe (USAEUR), in Heidelberg, Germany. In July 1960, he was promoted to Sergeant (E-5) and reenlisted for six years.

Following the completion of his tour in Germany, he was reassigned to Fort Meade, Maryland, where he served with the 69th Signal Company as an Assistant Supervisor. After approximately one year, he was reassigned to Germany in 1961. During this tour, he began working toward a college degree through the University of Maryland Extension Program and completed numerous pre-commissioned officer correspondence courses.

In the spring of 1965, he was reassigned to Okinawa, Japan. After months of dedicated study and service, he applied for Officer Candidate School and was accepted to attend the Field Artillery and Missile Center, Class 1-67, beginning in June 1966. He successfully completed Officer Candidate School on December 17, 1967, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery, and received orders for a third tour in Germany. He was assigned to the 84th Army Missile Detachment near Düsseldorf, Germany.

While serving in Düsseldorf, he applied for and completed Airborne Training conducted by the 9th Infantry Division (509th Airborne Infantry Battalion). At that time, paratrooper training was two weeks in duration. In November 1968, he requested an assignment to the Republic of Vietnam and specifically asked to serve with the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers), the same brigade in which his youngest brother, William Bowman, had previously served.

During his Vietnam service, he was promoted to Captain and served as an Artillery Battery Commander. Although the normal tour of duty was one year, he requested and completed an additional combat tour.

He later served his final years on active duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as an instructor at the Artillery School. He was promoted to Major in 1976 and retired in 1977 after more than twenty years of honorable service to the United States of America.

After retiring from active duty, he continued his commitment to public service by joining the Maryland Defense Force. After many years of service, he retired with the rank of Colonel.

His final chapter of public service was with the Washington, DC Public School System. He served as a classroom teacher in several schools before joining the JROTC program at Anacostia High School, where he served as an instructor and later as Senior Army Instructor. He retired from DC Public Schools on July 11, 2014.

His military awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm; Parachutist Badge; Bronze Star Medal; Good Conduct Medal with Bronze Clasp (2 loops); Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters; Vietnam Staff Service Medal with First Clasp; Meritorious Service Medal; Marksmanship Badge (Rifle M-14); Expert Badge (M-16); three Overseas Service Bars; and the State of Maryland Commendation Medal.

His major military education included Officer Candidate School, the Advanced Artillery Course, and numerous artillery and missile-related courses. His civilian education included a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland and a Law degree from Antioch University. He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Following more than sixty years of public service, he became a successful businessman and was known as a generous supporter of his community and contributor to worthy causes.

Major Levi Bowman, Jr. answered his final call to duty early in the morning of Friday, January 16, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Washington, DC.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, William Elie Bowman and Leon Jeremiah Bowman.

He leaves to cherish his memory one son, Kevin Bryant (Maria) Bowman of Germany; one daughter, Levina (Charles) Branch of Franklinton, North Carolina; four grandchildren, Charlotte, Myles, Jordan, and Tadeo; one brother, Matthew Richard (Sophia) Bowman; one sister, Queen Bowman; one sister-in-law, Ernestine Bowman; one aunt, Louise Henderson; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

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