Tribute to Veterans • November 10, 2023 • Page 2
Maj. Gen. Bowden wants to help By Rose Lane Editor
Maj. Gen. William P. Bowden shakes the hand of President Ronald Reagan in a Oct. 24, 1986 White House photograph.
The Bowden family includes Bill, Andy, Reagan, Ross, Wes, Marjorie, Jimmy and Samantha.
At 91, Maj. Gen. William P. Bowden, USAF Retired, wakes up every morning and tries to determine how he can help. After he hung up his uniform for the last time, the General went to work for the State Regents for Higher Education. He visited each of Oklahoma’s 25 colleges and universities. One of his projects was to help the University of Oklahoma acquire 14 new airplanes for its aviation program. But, it’s time for those to be replaced. “How can I help them do that?” the General said has been one of his early morning thoughts. Born in Swifton, Ark. on a cotton farm outside the 500-people town in 1932, Bowden would go on to have a very illuminous military career. Out of a high school class of 18, he and a girl named Helen were the only two to go to college. The Reserved Officers Training Program (ROTC) was required for the first two years of classes. Bowden said he completed that requirement and his advisor told him that if he stayed in the program, he could go to the Korean War as a second lieutenant, so he did. Bowden went on to train as an Air Force bombardier. His military career included 18 bases in Harlington, Texas, Roswell, N.Mex., Dayton, Ohio and the Pentagon and Tinker Air Force Base twice, as well as service in the Vietnam War. He also was on the faculty of the Alabama Air Force College. “The Pentagon duty was great for me and my career,” he said. Along the way and stints at various headquarters, he obtained two masters degrees while on active duty. One was from George Washington University and one from Auburn. One is in business and the other in political science. And he earned many promotions. Flying much during his early career,
Bowden said he logged 4,500 hours. Along the way, he built a family. He and his late wife, Isabelle, had two children. His daughter and her husband live in Oklahoma City. A “farm boy,” he also was able to see the world. “I got to travel most of the continents,” Bowden said. “Name a big city in the world and I got to go.” He traveled to places like Tokyo, Berlin and Stockholm. As commander of Tinker Air Force Base the Logistics Center, Bowden said his office door was always open. He said he spent much of his time just talking to people. Tinker was his last assignment. After 35 years of active duty, plus his four years of ROTC, Bowden had given all he could to the Air Force and had to retire. At 75, he retired again from civil service with the State Regents for Higher Education. Along the way, and still today, Bowden said he has a couple of mantras. His “styles of life:” One: Show up on time. Two: Get as much education as you can. “It’s important to get a job and progress, but education is the key,” he said. With a son and two grandsons who are Eagle Scouts, Bowden also said it is important to live by the Boy Scout Law. That includes being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Baden Powell established the Boy Scouts in 1904. “It’s just great,” Bowden said. In any project he has been involved with, he said he has entered the work scope with the idea of helping out. “You never do anything yourself, you just help,” Bowden said. “Then you leave and someone else will follow.” Maj. Gen. Bowden was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame in 2005.
Tribute to Veterans • November 10, 2023 • Page 3
Army recruiter changes Jill Castilla’s life By Rose Lane Editor As CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond, Jill Castilla follows the Army directive of “mission first and people always.” “As a soldier, you are taught to ‘never quit’ and empowered to be a ‘guardian of freedom and the American way of life’ and are directed to ‘always place the mission first’ – these statements have been touchstones throughout my career,” she said. Castilla was carrying out groceries
full-time in Okmulgee at the age of 19. She said she was at a point of barely being JILL CASTILLA able to afford to eat and had basically reached the end of her resources, mentally, physically and financially. “Just as hope was running out, my life was changed when I carried the groceries out for an Army recruiter,” Castilla said. “He told me that, if I enlisted, I would be considered an ‘independent student’ and
Jill Castilla is reappointed as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army serving Oklahoma, the U.S. Army and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth.
could apply for financial aid – I signed up for the Army the next day.” Enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, Castilla served as a construction surveyor and then construction engineer for both the Guard and the Army for four years. After marrying LTC (r) Marcus
Castilla, they moved to Hawaii for his active service. She moved into the inactive ready reserve. The Castilla children have followed in their parents’ footsteps. Son Ryan graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and See CASTILLA, Page 6
Tribute to Veterans • November 10, 2023 • Page 4
Lt. Gen. Burpee saved Tinker four times By Rose Lane Editor Lt. Gen. Richard Burpee saved Tinker Air Force Base from being closed four times. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on Dec. 3, 1953 and retired in 1990. He said he chose the Air Force over the Army draft. Upon retirement, he was a lieutenant general and commander of the 15th Air Force, March Air Force Base, California. On Veterans Day 1984, Burpee saved the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker from being closed for the first time. On
that day, a fire started and burned for 49 hours, destroying half of the near mile-long Building 3001. “After, the fire was put out, I was told by the commander of the Air Force Logistics Command to not repair the building as they were going to close Tinker AFB and transfer the depot to San Antonio,’” he said. “I told him that was not possible since I had already let a contract to repair the building. Building 3001 was repaired and the depot remained at Oklahoma City.” In 1993, the Base Closure Commission (BRAC) in Congress announced that Tinker AFB was on the closure list, Burpee said.
“Senator Dan Boren called me and requested that I defend Tinker FFB,” he said. “I was working for Governor (George) Nigh at UCO and he told me to do whatever was possible to save Tinker. “I was successful after meeting with the Base Closure Commission in defending Tinker AFB 30 days later.” Congress announced there would be another BRAC in 1995 and Tinker AFB would again be considered for closure. “I established a committee of Oklahoma City community leaders See BURPEE, Page 6
LT. GEN. RICHARD BURPEE
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Sgt. Billy Coyle learned honor, courage By Rose Lane Editor The Marine Corps instilled a sense of honor, courage and commitment to do everything the best you can in Billy Coyle. Coyle’s uncle was a Marine and he had repeatedly told his nephew that the service was very hard, but very honorable. Coyle enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1993 at the age of 18 from Miami, Fla. “I had done well in high school but felt like I needed some discipline and have always had a deep love for this great country and a deep belief
that freedom isn’t free,” Coyle said. “When the recruiter came to the school in dress blues I was sold. “Six months later I was standing on yellow footprints at Parris Island, South Carolina. I enlisted as a tow gunner infantryman.” A tow missile is an anti-tank weapon fired from the ground or from a Humvee. “I was able to attend boot camp, infantry training and specialty training and then transition to the reserves,” Coyle said. “I was in the Marine Reserves for seven years, attaining the rank of sergeant.” Being able to pin the eagle, globe and anchor on his uniform was a
feeling like no other for Coyle. “A lot of people that have the means to go to college don’t join the military. Many times they are encouraged not to,” he said. “For me it has kept me focused and driven my entire life.” He is still active with the United State Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Oklahoma as he serves on the board. “I was only a reservist and did not fight in combat, but I have worked very hard to create a nice family and opportunity for them,” Coyle said. “The Marine Corps See COYLE, Page 6
SGT. BILLY COYLE
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DELBERT L. STEELE U.S. Army Vietnam War
CASTILLA From Page 3
WELFORD A. BROWN U.S. Army Vietnam War is currently serving on active duty as a military intelligence captain. The past 4 years, he worked as an armor officer and recently returned from a deploy-
ment to South Korea. Daughter Olivia is a senior at the U.S. Naval Academy and is director of public affairs for the U.S.N.A. Foreign Affairs Conference, executive officer of spirit teams and a cheerleader. She is to graduate in May and plans to serve as a surface warfare officer. Son Nicholas recently graduated from Casady School and is currently serving as a U.S. State Department NSLI-Y scholar in Taiwan for the academic year. Castilla said she continues to serve the U.S. Army as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA), a three-star protocol position, representing Oklahoma with fellow CASAs Mike Brown and Kevin Offel. After leaving the military, Castilla started a career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and, after about a decade, she moved into community banking leadership. Fourteen years ago, Castilla came to Citizens Bank of Edmond where she has served as the CEO for nearly 10 years. Serving in the military provided the ethical and leadership foundation that Castilla built both her career and personal life upon. “I joined to escape poverty and provide a pathway to a better future,” she said. “The experience brought me so much more than that – especially the understanding of the sacrifices made by service members and their families to build our great country and to keep it and its allies safe and free.”
DON L. STEELE U.S. Army
TOM GRAHAM U.S. Navy World War II
started this COYLE path.”
As soon as Coyle transiFrom Page 5 tioned to the reserves, he went right to college, earning a bachelor of science degree in finance from Florida State University and then a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. He has been practicing law for 20 years. “I focus on criminal defense,” he said. “I love representing people accused by the government. I love to fight and challenge the other side.” Coyle said that while he was not called to war, he is very thankful for those who have served in that capacity. “Today’s America reminds me of when I served (1993-2000), peaceful for several years, with violence around the world just beginning,” he said. “America cannot be complacent and must be ready. A strong human driven military is what is needed. “I honor and thank those that have and will serve.”
BURPEE
LONNIE CHILDRESS U.S. Army Signal Corp 1968-1972
and worked for two years, meeting with our Congressional delegation and BRAC Commission From Page 4 people,” Burpee said. “Finally, a meeting with the BRAC Commission in Dallas was successful in saving Tinker AFB. BRAC closed San Antonio Air Logistics Center.” A final BRAC was scheduled for 2005 by the Congress. “I was successful in saving Tinker AFB for the fourth time,” he said. “I considered saving Tinker four times a major accomplishment. People from all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties would have been impacted.” Following his retirement, Burpee went on to consult with the Riverside Chamber of Commerce and serve as vice president of development/administration at the University of Central Oklahoma. “When the Base Closer Commission announced they planned to close Tinker, I was requested to work for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce,” he said. “I worked military issues, became vice president for development and president of the chamber. “All my military attributes were carried over to my civilian vocation.” Those included loyalty, patriotism, discipline and hard work. Burpee is married and has two sons.
Tribute to Veterans • November 10, 2023 • Page 7
Military helpful for Harding in implementing leadership By Rose Lane Editor From his service in the Air Force, Cortado Ventures co-founder Nathan Harding gained an appreciation for service members and the wide diversity of how they contribute to our nation’s interests and security. “I’m thankful to have been a part of the officer training program and the values they instill, like dealing with uncertainty and ethical decision making,” he said. Harding turned 42 last week. He was in the Air Force 2009-17 and was deployed to Kabul,
Afghanistan in 2012. A civil engineer, Harding worked logistics and base operations with NATO allies. When he was deployed, he and wife Amana had one 2-yearold. Now the Harding family includes three kids, ages 13, 9 and 6. Following his time in the Air Force, Harding worked as a petroleum engineer and later co-founded Cortado Ventures, a venture capital firm. “The military background has been helpful in implementing situational leadership and working under pressure,” he said.
Oklahoma good for investing in Veterans
Nathaniel Harding served in the Air Force 2009-17.
A new study has named Oklahoma the 10th-best state for investing in its veterans, based on state expenditure data that has been scaled to their population. The ranking reveals the best states for veterans, considering factors such as total state expenditure on veterans, as well as specific spending data on medical care and education for veterans. For veterans who are looking for the best place to settle after serving, there are many factors to consider, especially for those struggling with their physical or mental well-being.
Tribute to Veterans • November 10, 2023 • Page 8
Rear Adm. Slavonic discovered importance of service By Rose Lane Editor Military service taught retired Rear Adm. Greg Slavonic the importance of service to country, resilience, flexibility, determination and leading in difficult situations. “With a 34-year career (active and reserve), I developed leadership skills which have served me well in various military assignments and in my civilian career,” he said. The 74-year-old was in the U.S. Navy 1971-2005, both in active duty and as a reservist. He retired as a rear admiral. Slavonic was deployed to Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-91) and Iraq (2004). He was a part of
CAPT. ELIZABETH LANE U.S. Army 2010-2021
President Trump’s Administration 2018-2021 as the assistant secretary of the Navy and acting under secretary of the Navy. “I chose the US Navy to see the world,” he said. After attending boot camp, he went on to Signalman “A” School. He was aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CVA 64) where he made two deployments to the western Pacific aboard the carrier to Tonkin Gulf (Vietnam) to support combat operations. “As a signalman, I provided visual ship-to-ship communications,” he said. He was married only a month before being deployed to Vietnam. The Slavonics have three children and seven grandchildren. Their son
RAYMOND NORWOOD U.S. Army Vietnam War
CARROLL MAYFIELD U.S. Army Vietnam War
and his family and three children and one daughter with her three children reside in Oklahoma City. The other daughter lives in Miami, Fla. with her two children. Following retirement, Slavonic worked in sales and marketing in both the print and electronic industry. The opportunity to serve in the U.S. Navy both in uniform and as a senior civilian was very challenging and rewarding. “The friendships and bonds were established during my military career and have been truly valuable,” he said. “Many relationships remain today.” Today, he is the executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs.
LELAND GOURLEY U.S. Army World War II
REAR ADM. (RET.) GREG SLAVONIC
JAMES TILFORD, JR. U.S Navy Vietnam Seabee
CARL R. STEELE U.S Navy