Electrician's Mate (Fireman E3) Dowell served aboard the minesweeper, USS Magpie (AMS-25) in Korean waters. On 1 October 1950, it struck a floating mine and sunk. Twenty-one men were lost. He was listed as Missing in Action while engaged with the enemy. He was presumed dead on 2 October 1951. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Dowell was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.