WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Harold D. Bowman

 

Private First Class 

Harold D. Bowman

Insignia of the 8th Army
Motto: Patriae Fidelitas
Loyalty to Country

Born on October 18, 1925, in Richland County, Ohio, to Howard Dewey and Vera Ethel (Miller) Bowman, Harold went to school through his freshman year. He had older siblings, Ruth and Ralph, who were radio musicians in the 1930s, Ralph on guitar and Ruth on violin. Eventually Ralph enlisted and served in the WW II Army.

Harold filled out his draft registration in Richland County on October 19, 1943. At the time, he was employed at Mansfield Tire. A couple months later, on December 10, 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Ground Forces, Co G,

121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Army Infantry Division in Columbus, Ohio.

 In November 1944, his regiment participated in a heavy battle in Huertgen Forest, Germany. They were assisted by tanks, and despite a wicked German counterattack, they secured the forest by November 28.

Members of the 8th Army

PFC Bowman and his regiment continued marching into northern Germany, crossing the Roer River on February 23, 1945. The 121st regiment captured Binsfeld and then continued to cross the Erft Canal on March 1.  It took over for the 1st Division there, maintaining positions along the Rhine River at Rodenkirchen on March 7, 1945. They continued movement across the river and cleared its portion of the Sieg River line with the capture of Siegen. It was during this movement that PFC Bowman was killed on April 5, 1945, at Netphen, Kreis Seigen-Wittgenstein, Nordrhine, Westfalen, Germany.

He was first reported as missing in action on April 21, 1945, but later that was corrected.

He was buried temporarily in Germany but returned home in 1948. The Mansfield-News-Journal reported on November 17, 1948:

"Bodies of 10 War Dead On Way Home to Mansfield Area

Reported Killed in Action was Pfc Harold D. Bowman, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bowman, RFD 1, Mansfield.

Formerly reported Missing in Action in Germany on April 5, Bowman's death was confirmed in the official dispatch received at his home. Overseas since November,1944, Bowman was serving with the 121st Infantry Division of the Ninth Army (8th). He entered service in December 1943, trained at Fort McClelland, Arizona and Camp Shelby, Michigan. He also attended Madison H.S.  One brother, Pfc Ralph Bowman, is now stationed at Camp Howzetl with the infantry."

PFC Bowman's body, along with others, were returned
from Europe on the transport, the Carroll Victory.

The Mansfield News-Journal, Wednesday, December 15, 1948:

"BOWMAN

PFC. Harold D., 20, of RFD Lucas, O., was killed in action in Germany, April 5, 1945. Funeral services will be held at the Wappner Funeral Home Friday at 3:00 p.m. in charge of Rev. B. F. Hagelbarger. Military services will be held at the grave in the I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) cemetery in Lucas, Ohio, in charge of the McVey Post American Legion.

The body will arrive Thursday evening at the Wappner Funeral Home where friends may call"

In December 1948, Harold's father ordered this bronze marker for him.

No photo could be found of Private Bowman. If you have a photo and can email it to us, it will be added to this blog post.

Secondly, his connection to Defiance is somewhat of a mystery. He appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on the casualty list for the county. The online record of his Purple Heart award is also labeled Defiance County. Perhaps he lived and worked here before enlisting? If someone knows the answer to this, please let us know.

Dianne Kline, Researcher