Bill Brower, U.S. Air Force
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Bill Brower joined the U.S. Air Force at the age of 17 because he decided he needed to make a change in his life.
He went to the recruiting office when he was 16 after dropping out of school because he thought he needed it, he got an interview but they told him to come back. He said he had his share of difficulties as a young man and realized he needed to do something.
As a result Brower spent 20 years in the Air Force from February 7, 1961 to March 1, 1981. His rank upon retirement was a Master Sergeant-E7, Aircraft Armament Systems Superintendent.
His basic training was at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in San Antonio, Texas. From 1961 to 1965, he was at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire working with a B-47 bomber. He went to the Philippines from 1965 to 1966 at Clark Air Force Base working with a F-100 and F-102 aircraft. He then moved to George Air Force Base in Victorville, Calif. From 1966 to 1967 where he worked with a F-4 aircraft. He further worked with F-4 aircraft from 1967 to 1968 in Thailand at Ubon RT Air Force Base; from 1968 to 1969 at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, N.C.; from 1969 to 1970 for four months at Cam Rahn AFB in Vietnam; for eight months in Vietnam at Phu Cat Air Base; from 1970 to 1972 at George AFB in Victorville, Calif. He worked with B-52 aircraft from 1972 to 1973 at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand. He returned to the U.S. to Mountain Home AFB from 1973 to 1974 to work with an F-111 aircraft. He went back to Thailand in 1974 to 1975 to Korat RTAFB to work on an AC=130 Gunship. From 1975 to 1981 he was located at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nev. working with F-111 and A-10 aircraft.
Brower spent a total of five years in southeast Asia in support of the Vietnam Conflict where he had seven Vietnam Campaigns – Tan Son Nhut AB, VN (six months); Udorn AB (three months); Bangkok AirPort, Thailand (three months); Ubon AB, Thailand (12 months); Cam Rahn Bay AB, VN (four months); Phu-Cat AB, VN (eight months); U-Tapao AB, Thailand (12 months) and Korat AB, Thailand (12 months).
His primary duties in the Air Force were in loading of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons on bomber, fighter, interceptor and attack aircraft. He tested and troubleshooted aircraft armament systems. He was also responsible for the management of personnel and equipment to meet combat and peacetime operations.
He decided to stay in the Air Force for long term after spending his first four years of service. He married when he first went in. His career was life changing where he learned discipline, honor and respect. While in Vietnam, he said it was hot and humid but the people were always kind.
Brower said he’s fortunate to be in pretty good health but is being evaluated to see if he was exposed to Agent Orange. “I’ve lived a good life as far as medical,” he said. “If I were to give advice it would be to pursue your own personal goals.”
After retirement, he returned back to Fort Hall in 1987 to help care for his late mother Phyllis. He worked for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in the positions of Tribal Tax Commission, Tribal Gaming Commission, Gaming manager and Transportation Director. He retired from tribal service in 2009.
Now he takes care of things at home in Gibson with his closest neighbor his brother Merlin Brower. His brother served in the U.S. Marines.