Richard W. Bowman

Biography:  Richard Bowman was born on Nov. 14, 1921 in Kings County, New York.  He graduuated from High School and went on to college, completing three years.

Service Time: Richard entered the service on Nov. 10, 1942 in New York city. He became a Combat Medic and was assigned to the Medical Attachment to the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion.  While in France, a sniper shot the helmet right off his head.  Richard was only slightly wounded but it did earn him a Purple Heart.  In addition, Richard recieved the Silver Star, a Bronze Star, the American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Combat Medic's Badge and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  Richard reached the rank of Technician 5th Grade.

Richard returned from the service and  married Lillian Elizabeth and together they had two sons, Glenn Walker and Wayne Richard.  In his spare time, Richard enjoyed collecting vintage cars and he also was a member of the 704th Tank Destroyer Association where he was editor of their 5 Star Review newsletter.

Richard passed away on May 19, 2005 and was buried at the Hauppauge Rural Cemetery in Suffolk County, NY.

The following pictures show (L to R) Larry Bennet, Richard Bowman and his wife Lillian at what we believe was a reunion in Columbus, OH on September 30, 1994. Both Larry and Richard were Medics with the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. The second photo shows Richard Bowman center with his wife Lillian on left and Erwin Verholen's mother on the right. The Bowmans visited the Verholens' home in Belgium on March 21, 1993. They stayed overnight while the couple was touring in Europe. Erwin remembered how honored he felt at the visit and how much the Bowman's enjoyed the Belgian cookies they were served. Both photos courtesy of Erwin Verholen.