Bowen, William E.
- Date of birth:
- October 19th, 1905 (Tawas City/Michigan, United States)
- Date of death:
- October 24th, 1944
- Buried on:
- American Cemetery and Memorial Manila
- Service number:
- 0-890518
- Nationality:
- American (1776 - present, Republic)
Biography
William Bowen enlisted on 1st February 1930. He was later, as Technical Sergeant, stationed to the 228 Signals Corps on the Philippines.
When the Japanese invaded the Phlippines, William Bowen was the Communications Chief in Camp John Hay when Troop C, 26th Cavalry Regiment retreated through the Camp and Bowen joined them. He and the Troop started a Guerilla on the Philippines. He was taken prisoner in April 1943.
William E. Bowen was missing in action with the sinking of the Arisan Maru. The Arisan Maru was torpedoed by "U.S.S. Shark" on 24th October 1944 about 225 miles east of Hong Kong. It was carrying 1,800 POWs at the time. Only nine POWs survived and one of those died within the next two weeks. William Bowen is being comemmorated at the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
Besides his personal decorations he was posthumously entitled to the Presidential Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
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Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Second Lieutenant
- Unit:
- Troop C, 26th Cavalry Regiment, PS
- Awarded on:
- 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Second Lieutenant
- Unit:
- 121st Philippine Infantry Regiment
- Awarded on:
- 1944
Awarded posthumously.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Second Lieutenant
- Unit:
- Troop C, 26th Cavalry Regiment, PS
- Awarded on:
- November 19th, 1997
With "V" device award reviewed and corrected by the Board for Correction of Military Records, 19th November 1997, Docket No. AC95-11941. The awarding was according to citation already written in 1941.
Awarded posthumously.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- 2nd Lieutenant
- Unit:
- Troop C, 26th Cavalry Regiment, PS
- Awarded on:
- November 19th, 1997
With "V" device award reviewed and corrected by the Board for Correction of Military Records, 19th November 1997, Docket No. AC95-11941. The awarding was on base of a citation already written in 1942.
BS received as an oak leaf cluster on the ribbon of the first BS.
Awarded posthumously.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- 2nd Lieutenant
- Unit:
- Troop C, 26th Cavalry Regiment, PS
- Awarded on:
- November 19th, 1997
Reviewed and corrected by the Board for Correction of Military Records, 19th November 1997, Docket No. AC95-11941.
Third BS received as an oak leaf cluster for on the ribbon of the first BS.
Awarded posthumously.
Sources
- Photo 1: Bill Bowen
- - American Battle Monuments Commission
- Family records
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