← History
1965
487th Field Artillery Established
The modern battalion takes shape under the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade.
In 1965, the unit converted to the 487th Artillery under the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade, marking the formal establishment of the modern battalion. This reorganization aligned the unit with the Army's evolving force structure while preserving the deep artillery heritage stretching back to the Hawaiian Kingdom.
First Commander
COL Francis A.I. "Miki" Bowers, Jr. became the battalion's first commander — a leader whose legacy lives on in the naming of the Wahiawa Armory in his honor.
Wahiawa Armory
The Wahiawa Armory, home to the 1-487th FA, was later named after COL Bowers — a permanent tribute to the officer who shaped the battalion's modern identity.