I Got The News Today (IGTNT), which is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos, provides members of this community a venue to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Resolute Support, Operation Joint Guardian and Operation Octave Shield. The IGTNT title is a reminder that far too often the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. 1st Lt. Trevarius Ravon Bowman, 25, from Spartanburg, South Carolina, died May 19, 2020, in Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan, from a non-combat-related incident. The incident is under investigation. Bowman was assigned to Company B, 198th Signal Battalion, 261st Signal Brigade, Newberry, South Carolina. The unit is attached to the 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, South Carolina National Guard. ~ DoD News Release
Stars and Stripes confirmed that Bowman’s death was not a result of coronavirus which has been spreading rapidly in Afghanistan.
1st Lt. Trevarius Ravon Bowman
1st Lt. Trevarius Ravon Bowman
Trevarius “Tre” Bowman was a graduate of Dorman High School where he was a member of the JROTC program.
Spartanburg School Board District 6 released this statement on Thursday:
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Lieutenant Tre Bowman. As a member of the Dorman High School JROTC program, Lt. Bowman showed great promise and had a strong desire to serve his country. He quickly rose to the rank of Major and later served as Battalion Executive Officer, the second-highest position in the JROTC program. Lt. Bowman also served as Rifle Team Commander and is still highly spoken of by his former teachers, administrators, and peers from Dorman. We are thankful for his dedication, commitment, and service while in the United States Army. He will forever be a part of our Cavalier family. ~ News Source
Following his High School graduation, Trevarius then enlisted in the South Carolina Guard in 2015 and later earned his bachelor’s degree in information management systems from the University of South Carolina Upstate. He received his commission from the National Guard, then joined the university’s Palmetto College campus as an IT specialist in 2018. ~ News Source
“It is with heavy hearts and deepest condolences that we announce the passing of 1LT Trevarius Bowman. This is never an outcome we as soldiers, leaders, and family members wish to experience. Please keep the service members in his unit in your thoughts and prayers, as well as his family as they work through this difficult time.” Maj. Gen. Van McCarty, Commanding General for the South Carolina National Guard
"On behalf of U.S. Central Command, we extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of our fallen American Soldier who was deployed in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. 1st Lt. Trevarius Ravon Bowman, Operation Freedom's Sentinel. 1st Lt. Bowman's service to his country and his sacrifices will not be forgotten." General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr, U.S. Marines ~ News Source
1st Lt Bowman’s sister, Kierra Bowman made the following posts on her Facebook page:
“Let me be the first to say this. On Monday my brother Tre Bowman passed away in Afghanistan. No me and my family are not doing fine. This has taking all of by surprise. Never in a MILLION Years would I thought I would have to bury my little brother or my mother bury her baby. This a hard time for me and my family and prayer is needed and appreciated. Out of respect for my family please do not ask what happened?!”
and this one was posted early Saturday:
“Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers, my family and I greatly appreciate all of your support. In honor of my brother, we have started a scholarship in his name. The scholarship will be awarded to a Dorman High School Senior participating in the JROTC program. If you are seeking ways to honor his legacy and celebrate his numeral is contributions to our community and nation, you can donate at www.scngf.org. Ensure you place “Tre Bowman Scholarship” in the notes. You will receive a memo for tax deduction.
Tre has impacted so many lives and I will ensure his legacy continues. If you would like to send flowers contact me and I will provide the information on where to send them.”
Trevarius Bowman’s mother, Birtha M. Thompson-Foster posted on her
Facebook page a video that had been provided to her from the Chaplain of Bowman’s Battalion. It was a Service of Remembrance being held at the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan for 1st LT Trevarius Ravon Bowman. It was attended by a large number of his fellow service members. Bowman’s Commanding General spoke followed by his Commander, then a personal friend and ended with loving words of comfort and prayers by Chaplain A’Shellairien Lang. At the conclusion of the ceremony a bugler played Taps.
1st Lt Trevarius Bowman's awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
No funeral services have been announced. Our brother First Lt Trevarius Bowman leaves behind his mother, a sister, a brother, grandparents and many friends and fellow service members who loved him dearly.
As an added note, below is something I learned while researching this tribute. This is something that had not occurred to me but obviously impacts many of our troops stationed outside the US:
Some units from the S.C. National Guard have been stuck overseas because of the COVID-19 pandemic and a strict travel ban put on service members by the Pentagon. Last month, the S.C. National Guard said roughly 40 members of the 751st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, also out of Newberry, are in the Middle East for the foreseeable future because of the Department of Defense orders. ~News Source
Let us continue to keep all of these brave men and women in our prayers.
I Got the News Today" is a series intended to honor, respect, and remind us of the sacrifices made by our US troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno in 2004 and now is maintained by Sandy on Signal, i dunno, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Ekaterin, Joy of Fishes, SARBill and me, JaxDem. These diaries are heartbreaking to write but are an important service to those who have died and allows our community to show respect for the fallen and express condolences to those who mourn them. These posts usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories.
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Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service member(s) mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.
