SSUSA Player, Rick Bower, On the Front Lines of COVID-19 Pandemic

April 1, 2020

Rick Bower, of Potomac Sports 50s, at the medical supply warehouse

By Tim McElroy
SSUSA National Director

Not long ago Rick Bower was busy getting ready for the 2020 softball season.  His routine included time at the gym, time in the batting cage, and time with his teammates deciding which tournaments the Potomac Sports 50s team would attend.

COVID-19 altered plans for many of us, but for Rick, our national emergency is something that he’s spent decades training for.

Just seven days after graduating high school, Rick joined the U.S. Army.  The early years of his career were spent as an M1A1, where he worked as an armored tank crewman.  From there, Rick transitioned to a role of Medical Supply NCO and was deployed to places like Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.  After 14 years in that role and more than 20 years of active duty, Sergeant First Class, Rick Bower retired from the U.S. Army.

He didn’t stay retired long though.  The motto “Once a soldier, always a soldier” is one that he takes seriously.  Rick took on a similar role as a Department of the Army Civilian (DAC) and is based out of Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD.

As a regional manager for the DAC, Rick is primarily tasked with supplying Army units with the most current medical equipment and tools available.  These items are used to ensure that deployed units have the items necessary for saving lives of U.S. soldiers, civilians and in some cases, enemy combatants. 

Although normally focused on the eastern United States, Caribbean islands and South America, his team was recently deployed to the western United States to help combat and contain the spread of COVD-19.  They have been deployed there for a few weeks already and will remain there for an undetermined amount of time.  While most of the country shelters in place, they are setting up and stocking medical facilities with the tools needed to win this battle.  Whenever this mission is complete, Rick’s unit will return home and be quarantined for an additional two weeks.

After clearing the quarantine process Rick will most certainly be welcomed home by his three daughters and eight grandchildren.  Thanks in advance for all that you’re doing, Rick.  We can’t wait to see you back on the diamond.

Additional Stories

Do you have information on newsworthy stories that have taken place during the current COVID-19 pandemic?

Please email Anthony Ramos at Anthony@seniorsoftball.com