General Bowers graduated as a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps honor graduate from Mercer University in 1951 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. During the early years in his career, he was detailed to the Artillery Corps. Serving in Korea with the 2nd Division Artillery, he was wounded in action in 1952 during the Second Korean Winter Campaign.
General Bowers taught financial management at the Quartermaster School, both in Germany and at Fort Lee. Important staff assignments during his distinguished career included Chief of the Budget and Accounting Branch in the Quartermaster Market Center System, US Army, Europe; Chief, Analysis and Statistics Branch, Management Division, Southern Area Command, US Army, Europe; Coordinator of the Stock Fund, Army Supply and Maintenance Agency, US Army, Europe; Chief of the Procedures and Performance Branch, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics; Executive Officer to the Comptroller, Defense Logistics Agency; and Staff Officer in the Logistics Directorate, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Some of his principal commands included Commander, 9th Supply and Transportation Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Vietnam; Commander, 593rd Support Group, Fort Lewis, Washington; Commander, US Army Troop Support Agency, Fort Lee; and Commander, Defense Personnel Support Center, Philadelphia.
Among his many lasting contributions, General Bowers expedited movement of the communications zone from France to Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, that was key to North Atlantic Treaty Organization success over the last two decades. Plus, he conducted a thorough study of Department of Defense commissary operations that led to many reforms.