William E. Bowen
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army

In January 1942, then-Technical Sergeant William E. Bowen was serving with Company C, 121st Philippine Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts in the Philippines.

On 12 and 13 January, TSGT Bowen's unit was in action against Japanese forces. TSGT Bowen's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism on those days earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

TSGT Bowen received a battlefield commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He was later captured and taken prisoner in the Philippine Islands, 2LT Bowen died on the Japanese Prison Ship Arisan Maru on 24 October 1944.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Technical Sergeant William E. Bowen (ASN: 0-890518), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 121st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, in action against enemy forces on 12 and 13 January 1942. Technical Sergeant Bowen's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 213 (1946)

Memorialization

Second Lieutenant William E. Bowen's remains were lost at sea. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

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