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Thomas Bowman - War On Terror
Colonel Tom Bowman of Springfield, Illinois commanded a group of seventeen Illinois Army National Guard officers during a 2005-2006 deployment to Iraq. The group, officially known as Joint Forces Headquarters Forward-9, worked as a U.S. Army liaison team to the Multinational Division that was responsible for an area of Iraq south and east of Baghdad. The division’s commander and its largest contingent was Polish, but eleven other nations had contingents in the division as well. Colonel Bowman worked directly with the division’s senior command element, and oversaw the other Illinois officers, who were assigned to various staff sections throughout the division.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Watching a SHG football game
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Military career from 1990 thru 2005, and deployment to Iraq in 2005
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Command of ARNG liaison team with Multinational Div. in Iraq 2005-06
Related Materials
See Also
Tom Bowman's interview about his Vietnam War experiences
Photos
Caption
COL Bowman was often able to attend Mass in the Polish chapel on Camp Echo during his deployment. The Poles provided a priest as part of their contingent.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005-2006
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
This photo was taken from the open door of a Polish helicopter while COL Bowman was traveling between Diwaniyah and Al Kut in 2005. Note the herd of wild camels on the ground.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A bug trap outside of the group’s sleeping area at Camp Echo drew a wide variety of vermin, including a camel spider. KBR often sprayed to keep the bugs down.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Faris Dawood, COL Bowman’s translator, spoke Arabic, Polish, and English fluently. He was Tom’s near constant companion whenever they were on duty. They’re standing next to a Ukrainian BMP during a visiting to Camp Delta in Al Kut, circa 2005.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
COL Bowman with his translator, Faris Dawood, while they visited the city of Babel in 2005. Faris was born in Iraq, educated in Poland and lived in Detroit prior to returning to Iraq to work with the Americans.
Where:
Babel, Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The leaders of the various nations that made up the Multinational force prepare for a VIP ceremony at Camp Echo, circa 2005. COL Bowman is fourth from the left.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
One of the many government facilities in the Green Zone that were taken over by the occupation forces after the fall of Baghdad. By 2005 it was being used as a MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) facility.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
COL Bowman met with General Martin Casey, the senior coalition commander in Iraq, following a Corps level meeting at Diwaniyah, circa 2005. The Polish commander, Major General Piotr Czerwinski, can be seen in the background.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
One of the several border stations COL Bowman visited while inspecting the border area between Iraq and Iran east of Al Kut. It was one of the construction projects in the Multinational Division’s area of operation.
Where:
Border area between Iraq and Iran east of Al Kut
When:
Circa 2005-2006
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A Polish CIMIC team helps a pair of Iraqi children near the city of Diwaniyah. Iraqi children invariably were drawn to these teams.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005-2006
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Map of the Multinational Division Central-South’s area of responsibility in 2005-2006.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005-2006
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom sent this photo to his family in IL. His caption read, “We call this the Hajj Mart, or Iraqi Mall, or Bazaar. You can buy lots of things here too, mobile phones, DVDs, computer equipment, rugs, knives, holsters, you name it. It is an experience!”
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005-2006
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A KBR team loaned Tom Bowman a cowboy hat while they were working on a project at Camp Echo in the summer of 2005. They then snapped this photo and had a bit of fun at his expense, creating this wanted poster.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The closing ceremony at Camp Charlie at Al Hillah in the summer of 2005.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Joint Forces Headquarters Forward-9, the team Colonel Bowman led, visited the ancient city of Babel during the summer of 2005. Bowman is in the front row, second from the left.
Where:
Babel, Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Several team members of JFHQ-9 stand outside the entrance to the ancient archeological site of Babel in the summer of 2005.
Where:
Babel, Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The leaders of the various nations that made up the Multinational force prepare for a VIP ceremony at Camp Echo, circa 2005. COL Bowman is fourth from the left.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The original eleven members of JFHQ-9 gathered for a picture near the city of Ur in the early summer of 2005, shortly after arriving in-country. The team was later augmented with five more officers.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Down time at Camp Echo during the summer of 2005. Tom Bowman tries his hand at pitching in a slow-pitch softball game.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
This row of cubicles served as living quarters for the officers based at Camp Echo. COL Bowman, by virtue of his rank, didn’t have to share a cubicle.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005-2006
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Children typically gathered around the CIMIC (Civil-Military Cooperation) Teams whenever they visited villages such as this one near Diwaniyah, Iraq circa late 2005.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
This contracting officer, who was detailed to the team’s area of operation, enjoyed fishing in one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces at Camp Victory in Baghdad in the fall of 2005. Saddam regularly stocked the lake.
Where:
Camp Victory in Baghdad
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Tom was touring one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces at Camp Victory in Baghdad when this photo was taken in the fall of 2005. The lavish setting contrasted sharply with the way the rest of Iraqis lived.
Where:
Camp Victory in Baghdad
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Tom ran across an old friend and contractor, Brian Wubker, at Camp Victory in Baghdad. Wubker was a former Ranger who helped dispose caches of Iraqi weapons when the two met in the fall of 2005.
Where:
Camp Victory in Baghdad
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Activation of the 89th Iraqi Division at Diwaniyah in the fall of 2005. Major General Piotr Czerwinski and LTG Dempsey, presided over the ceremony.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
COL Bowman visited an Iraqi border station in the winter of 2005. Iran is in the background.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A Polish CIMIC convoy heads out for a mission on the road to Diwaniyah in the winter of 2006. Convoy discipline was closely adhered to.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
This young girl was one of the grateful recipients of the items that CIMIC teams always passed out to the children during their missions. Winter of 2005 in Diwaniyah.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Officers gathered at Camp Echo in the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) briefing room in late 2005. The CENTCOM (Central Command) commander was present on this date.
Where:
Iraq
When:
Circa 2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Outside COL Bowman’s office complex at Camp Echo during Christmas, 2005. From left to right are MAJ Smith, MAJ Camp, CPT Reichen, LTC Mayberry, Faris Dawood, CPT Shakman, MAJ Bury, LTC Plawer, LTC Thoele, COL Bowman, LTC Zerbonia and LTC Hodge.
Where:
Camp Echo, Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Tom used this photo to wish the folks back home a Merry Christmas in December, 2005. The flag hung on the wall in his office at Camp Echo.
Where:
Camp Echo, Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The contractors who operated Camp Echo’s dining facility went all out during holidays to make their customers feel welcome. The facility was decked out in the Christmas spirit in December, 2005.
Where:
Camp Echo, Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The interior of Tom Bowman’s cubicle, decked out for the Christmas holiday in December, 2005.
Where:
Camp Echo, Iraq
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
COL Tom Bowman (center) with his fellow Multinational Division officers at the activation ceremony for the 89th Iraqi Division at Diwaniyah, Iraq in January, 2006.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2006
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Iraqi Brigadier General Othman al-Farhoud signs some documents during the activation of the 89th Iraqi Division at Diwaniyah in January, 2006.
Where:
Iraq
When:
2006
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo