|
Millard Fillmore Bowen (Fill) was born July 29, 1922 in Los Angeles, California the son of Millard Fillmore Bowen and Ruth Alfreda Natalie Nelson Bowen. He had two brothers Jack and Raymond and in Rye his family lived on Brevoort Lane.
Millard served as an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was with Co. I, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, and awarded the Europe-Africa-Middle East theater ribbon with three bronze battle participation stars, Bronze Star medal. Combat Infantryman's Badge and Good Conduct medal.
Pvt. Millard Bowen in Platoon that Rescued Forty Doughboys in Italy Knocking out a strong and stubborn enemy, Private Millard F. Bowen, Brevoort Lane, Rye, and the 88th Infantry Division platoon, of which he is a member, recently rescued forty doughboys trapped in a house near San Miniato on the Fifth Army front in Italy, killing ten Germans and capturing twenty-four during the conflict. The bottled-up doughboys slugged it out against the Nazis for nearly twelve hours before help arrived. They were surrounded by the enemy of near battalion strength. German machineguns blazed from nearby buildings attempting to break the Yank attack. German Tiger tanks fired point blank into the riflemen's position. After three hours of bitter fighting, Bowen and his buddies drove the Nazis away from the house where the doughboys were trapped. In one house, they captured fourteen Germans attempting to put up the last rear guard action before withdrawing over the Arno River. The other Nazis prisoners were dug from their holes during the battle. Friday, October 20, 1944 THE RYE CHRONICLE PAGE THREE
Staff Sergt. Millard F. Bowen Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant
Staff Sergeant Millard F. Bowen, Jr. , received his commission as an infantry second lieutenant in the Leadership and Battle School, Italy, as a member of the* last class of ninety-eight Officer Training Course candidates in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Lieutenant Bowen is the twenty-two year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Millard F. Bowen, of Brevoort Lane. He has been overseas fifteen months with Co. I, 349th Infantry, 88th Division, and wears the Europe-Africa-Middle East theater ribbon with three bronze battle participation stars, Bronze Star medal. Combat Infantryman's Badge and Good Conduct medal.
Friday, August 3, 1145 THE RYE CHRONICLE PAGE SEVEN
After the war, Fill married Jean Jarvis September 28,1947 and they had four children together. He received a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Kentucky.
Fill then married Alpha Jean Christ in December 1975. He retired from OTASCO where he was a marketing and advertising director.
Millard Fillmore Bowen, Jr. died on June 9, 2006, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 83, and was buried in Hopewell, New Jersey.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Elizabeth Bowen. He was survived by his wife, Juanita M. Melton; his Sons: M. FIllmore Bowen, III of Cary, North Carolina, Dr. Bill Bowen of Sherman, Texas and Andrew Bowen of Catoosa, Oklahoma.
|
|
|