Rob Bowman Passed Away
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LTC Erik Kurilla (L) and SFC Rob Bowman after terrible car bomb in Mosul, Iraq (April 2005)
15 January 2013
The United States has lost a great Soldier and fine man to cancer. Rob struggled with the disease for about 20 months before passing yesterday. It is with great sorrow that I write these words.
In combat, Rob was courageous and tactically expert. I got to know him in the Deuce Four battalion in Iraq, where Rob was recon platoon sergeant.
Few battalions in Iraq or Afghanistan saw as much combat as the Deuce Four. Recon platoon was the leading edge. I was lucky enough to do many missions with recon, and we were close neighbors for five months during some of the heaviest fighting of the war. Later I came back and had dinner with Rob and his wife Coleen at Fort Lewis and we kept in touch.
During the combat time, Rob brought courage and steadiness to his platoon, and kindly offered much time to help make my dispatches accurate.
Staff Sergeant Adam Lingo of Deuce Four wrote to me yesterday, “He told me something that stuck with me and made me understand why he was a great leader he said "don't ever forget what it was like to be a private. You take care of your Joes and they'll take care of you!"
After Iraq, Rob Bowman helped with my book, Inside the Inferno. In 2011, when I learned he had cancer, I called from Afghanistan and we enjoyed a long conversation via satellite phone. It was an honor to call Rob a friend.
SFC Bowman shades his commander's eyes after he was shot in Iraq.
During our call, Rob was his normal self, exuding confidence in the face of a lethal enemy. He remained inspirational. Even on the day that he died, I had gone for a walk and wondered how he was doing. Rob is one of those men in war whom you never forget, and always remember.
Numerous people in the Deuce Four contacted me with the news. All of these veterans are terribly saddened.
Goodbye Rob Bowman. You are missed and remembered by many people. Rest in Peace.
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Comments
God bless and protect Rob Bowman...and every other American military member in harm's way.
It remains one of the great mysteries of life I suppose
In retrospect I remember vividly Michaels reporting of the firefight shown above wherein Michael and Sgt. Bowman played a key role in saving LTC Kurilla, by Michael picking up the Col's rifle and plastering the enemy with .223 rds
I think Michael got chewed out by the Colonel, but was thanked by everyone else, including Sgt Bowman!
I hope Sgt Bowman meets my little brother and my father in heaven and they have a beer or two, or three...
RIP Bro
Thunder Phil out.
-Charles
Cpl. Andrew USMC 94-98
I have to wonder if all that damn bottled water that we drink over there isn't partly to blame. It comes in plastic bottles that have warning labels that say something to the effect of "Store in a cool place away from sunlight ... " But that never happens. You know you've got a good bottle when the water only has a faint taste of old diesel fuel. And when it has a strong taste of ODF ... then you just joke with your buddies about getting cancer someday. Sad. Another reason why this damn war needs to end soon.
CSM Mark W Bowman
It is time to pass the torch.
RIP
He epitomizes what is best in our nation and Military.
God bless and rest in peace Sgt. Bowman.
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