John W. Bowen

John W. Bowen (July 3, 1910 – August 18, 1977) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he served in the Organized Reserve Corps from 1927 to 1928, and in the army from 1932 to 1968, and he attained the rank of lieutenant general. His commands included the 26th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division (1956–1957), Third United States Army (1964), and XVIII Airborne Corps (1964–1965). Among his awards and decorations were four awards of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star (2), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Croix de Guerre (France), Order of Military Merit (South Korea), Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Senior Parachutist Badge.

Early life

John William Bowen was born at Pettit Barracks in Zamboanga City, Philippines on July 3, 1910, the son of Colonel Burton E. Bowen and Edith (Moore) Bowen. He was educated at various military posts as his family traveled for his father's career, including Oak Park, Illinois, and he graduated from Georgia Military Academy (later known as Woodward Academy) as valedictorian in 1928. Bowen joined the Organized Reserve Corps as a private in 1927, and served until beginning attendance at the United States Military Academy (West Point).

Bowen's status as a military preparatory school honor graduate enabled him to obtain a 1928 at-large appointment to West Point, and he graduated in 1932 ranked 253 of 262. He received his commission as a second lieutenant and was assigned to the Infantry Branch.

From September to November 1937, Bowen served on temporary duty at Fort Sam Houston, Texas as commander of a truck company in the motorized quartermaster battalion of the experimental 2nd Infantry Division as it developed doctrine for mechanized units configured as triangular divisions.

Continued career

Bowen was in command of his company when the United States entered World War II, and he was promoted to major on February 1, 1942. In August 1948, he began attendance at the National War College, from which he graduated in June 1949. In October 1957, Bowen was assigned to the army staff as assistant chief of staff for Reserve Components. They were the parents of two daughters, Elizabeth and Evelyn. John Bowen remarried in 1961, which places his divorce from his first wife in the 1958 to 1960 timeframe. and in 1961, he married Renée Victoria de Marguenat, who survived him.