Frank S. Bowen

Frank Sayles Bowen Jr. (March 4, 1905 – September 24, 1976) was a United States Army major general who served as commander of the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment during the Korean War.

Early life and education Frank Sayles Bowen was born at Fort McKinley, Philippine Islands, 4 March 1905. His father, Colonel Frank S. Bowen, was a graduate of United States Military Academy for the Class of 1900. His mother, Mildred Alford Bowen, was born in Tennessee and was a resident of Columbia, South Carolina. Military career

Bowen attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1926. in 1940, he served as aide-de‐camp to Eichelberger while the latter was superintendent of West Point. In August 1944, Eichelberger was given command of the newly formed Eighth United States Army and Bowen joined him as G-3. Bowen was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general late in the war. After the war, he reverted to his permanent rank.

Bowen served as commander of the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment and led the unit in the Battle of Yongju, Operation Tomahawk and Operation Courageous during the Korean War. He served as commander of the 101st Airborne Division in 1955 and, that August, he became commander of Fort Jackson and remained in command of the base until August 1956.

Bowen retired from the army in 1964 and moved to Newberry, South Carolina. After retiring from the Army in 1964, he served as executive director of the South Carolina Traffic Safety Council and also headed the South Carolina chapter of the American Cancer Society.

He died at Moncrief Army Hospital, Columbia, South Carolina on 24 September 1976.

He was married to Elizabeth Kelly Bowen and their son, US Army Colonel Frank S. Bowen III also graduated from West Point.