| It
was his extraordinary ability to motivate and train others that propelled
Bill Dower to Chief Instructor of the Drill Instructor's School of
the Marine Corps Depot of San Diego, California. Of which only two
men ever holds this position at any one time in the entire Marine
Corps. At 17, Dower left his home state of Kentucky, joined the Marines,
and was among the first wave to go to Viet Nam. On his second tour
of duty there, while in enemy territory, a jeep toppled over, crushing
Dower's body and leaving him paralyzed. The doctors told him he would
never walk again. Within a year he was walking unaided and had volunteered
to go back to Viet Nam. In all, he had completed 3 tours of duty before
returning to the States to become 'Top D.I.', training all D.I.'s.
When the actor Lou Gossett Jr. needed to prepare for his Oscar-winning role in "An Officer and A Gentleman", it was Dower who served as the model and inspiration. Dower is also seen on television as the guintessential D.I. on a popular series of commercials. Readers of The Washington Post, Chicago Sun--Times, L.A Times, and viewers of shows like "Good Morning, America," will remember interviews with Dower in connection with "The Armed Forces Workout," which integrated Dower techniques. |