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Army Spec4 Thaddeus J. Bowden of Harvey drives a Chaparral vehicle into position during training at Fort Bliss, Texas. Carrying up to 12 missiles at a time, Bowden’s vehicle is used for short range air defense. (Photo by Spec4 Guadalupe Hernandez)High tech soldieringBy SFC RICH LAMANCEFORT BLISS, TEXAS - What began nearly 140 years ago as a campsite for soldiers in pursuit of marauding Apaches has evolved, today, into a sprawling post that has become the center of air defense technology.Spec4 Thaddeus J. Bowden of Harvey is one of the Army’s “high tech” soldiers involved with the air defense mission for the Rapid Deployment Force, ready to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice.The Army’s web of air defense coverage is spread across the globe, providing low, mid and high altitude coverage with an array of highly advanced missile systems.AIR DEFENSE coverage includes Chaparral, a fair weather, surface-to-air system; the Sgt. York, a 40mm radar controlledgun; the shoulder fired Stinger missile; or the all-weather day or night system of Roland.Medium and long-range coverage is provided by Patriot and Hawk, radar controlled systems that can track and shoot simultaneously.Bowden, 23, son of Elishes and Iona Bowden, is a Chaparral missile crewman assigned with the Fourth battalion, First Air Defense artillery.“I’m the driver of a Chaparral, which is a 14-ton vehicle used for short range air defense,” explained Bowden. “It’s equipped with 12 missiles that can travel at a distance up to six kilometers (nearly four miles).”Bowden, a 1980 graduate of Thornton Township high school, said he joined the Army for a change of pace.
Newspaper Details
Chicago Heights Star Super Saver
Chicago Heights, Illinois, US
Sun, Jul 22, 1984
Page 34
Full Page
Clipped by
Alice P.
TX, USA 03 Mar 2021
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