Double amputee to speak at Red Rock Fundraiser in Lawton

A midair collision while skydiving changed Dana Bowman’s life forever.

Retired Sgt. 1st Class Bowman was a Special Forces soldier and member of the U.S. Army’s elite parachute team, the Golden Knights. On Feb. 6, 1994, Bowman and his late teammate and best friend, Sgt. Jose Aguillon, collided in midair during their annual skydiving training, according to Bowman’s biography.

Bowman and Aguillon were practicing a maneuver known as the Diamond Track. The jumpers would streak away from each other for about a mile, turn 180 degrees and fly back toward each other, crisscrossing in the sky. Bowman and Aguillon practiced this move more than 50 times, but this time was different.

At a combined speed of 300 mph, the two skydivers slammed into each other, killing Aguillon instantly and severing Bowman’s legs.

Nine months later, Bowman turned the tragedy into a triumph when he became the first double amputee to re-enlist in the U.S. Army, according to his biography. He enlisted in the Army airborne style, skydiving with his commander into the ceremony, making his dream a reality.

Bowman will bring his inspirational message to Lawton when he speaks at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic’s Red Rock Fundraiser at the Hilton Garden Inn on Friday. The clinic helps veterans, military families and service members receive confidential, high quality behavioral health services and resource connections, according to its website.

After re-enlisting, Bowman became the U.S. Parachute Team’s lead speaker and recruiting commander, according to his biography. Bowman’s speeches strive to show physically challenged people can still work and excel in today’s society and military. 

Bowman retired from the U.S. Army in 1996, the biography said. He graduated from the University of North Dakota in May 2000 with a Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Aviation. 

Other than being a motivational speaker and skydiver, Bowman also is a pilot and engineer. He’s spent 20 years in the military as a weapons sergeant.

“I’ve been in different conflicts from the Grenada Invasion in 1983 to the Panama invasion in 1989 and Counter Narcotics in Central and South America,” Bowman said.

Bowman said his uncle inspired and guided him to join the Army.

“I had an uncle that was in WWII, Korea and Vietnam,” Bowman said.

Bowman said he has done 5,000 skydiving jobs since his accident.

“I wear prosthetic limbs when I jump in and it inspires people,” Bowman said. “They see a guy that doesn’t give up. Just imagine how much hope it brings to the despondent. That’s what it’s about. What’s your legacy? How do you want to be known once you leave? We’re only here for a short amount of time, so you have to make a difference. That’s what I do each and every day.”

“No matter what happens to you, you can still continue on and inspire others not to give up,” Bowman said. “This goes right along with this foundation, this organization that I’ll be speaking to. I’ll give them some testimonies, some motivation and also be telling them a few stories about examples [to] never quit, never give up.”

Brenda Spencer-Ragland, committee chair for the Red Rock Fundraiser, said the fundraiser is an annual event meant to  make sure the community is vibrant with support.

“We are encouraging folks to buy tickets, you can buy tables,” Spencer-Ragland said. “We’ve got sponsorship opportunities available. We want everyone to attend. We are really wanting to get the message out that we not only have this clinic here, but we’re in support of the clinic. We want to see it continue to grow and do good things for our community.”