FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- All I'll add is that I cannot imagine what it means to families to know their loved one's sacrifices truly will never be forgotten. Matthew's Bowe's should never be, with or without a building.

Details from Fort Drum MEDDAC:

The Fort Drum Medical Department Activity, the 10th Mountain Division (LI), family, friends and fellow Soldiers of Specialist Matthew C. Bowe gathered Friday, July 22, in front of the Troop Medical Clinic II for a ceremony to rename the medical center as the Bowe Troop Medical Clinic.

The clinic's renaming honors Specialist Bowe, a combat medic assigned to the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, for his actions in Iraq  while providing treatment to an injured comrade. 

On Sept. 21, 2006, an improvised explosive device detonated near a vehicle and gravely wounded a fellow Soldier. Bowe rushed to the aid of his injured comrade, provided treatment and then shielded the injured Soldier with his own body when a second explosion occurred. Bowe was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with V device for his actions that day.

On Feb. 19, 2007, Specialist Bowe was killed in action when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by an IED.

"You hear the word 'hero' talked about a lot today - in fact, that word is sort of abused," said retired Col. Mark Suich, who was Bowe's squadroncommander. "And quite frankly, there are only a few people who meet that (definition).  A hero is someone who, without thinking, puts (his or her) life on the line to save another's. And that's who Matt was - not just saving our own troopers, but anybody, like some of our Iraqi partners who were shot," he continued. "Matt always said that he was the medic and that was his job, and he (helped) without thinking. And to me, that means a hero."

Suich took time to address the past and present Soldiers of 1-89 Cavalry, thank them for coming, remind them to keep Bowe in their living memories and follow his example of selfless service to each other and the nation.

"I have three sons, and I just hope to God that they can act with just a little bit of the professionalism and maturity exhibited by a 19-year-old specialist from western Pennsylvania out there in the mean streets of Iraq. We should also hope that America continues to produce guys like Matt. I'll never forget him."

The Bowe Troop Medical Clinic provides primary care and medical services for the 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum active duty population, as well as Army Reserve/National Guard service members.

 

U.S. Army Photo

Lt. Col. Thomas Smith, left, commander of 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), and retired Col. Mark Suich, former 1-89 Cavalry commander, unveil a plaque on Friday naming the Bowe Troop Medical Clinic in honor of Spc. Matthew C. Bowe, a combat medic with 1-89 Cavalry, as his mother Lori Bowe and his best friend Steven Downey look on.