RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):
Middleton, Georgia
FULL NAME:
Reed O. Bowman
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):
34577506
- DATE OF BIRTH: Sept 29, 1922
- DATE OF DEATH: Mar 22, 1945
DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
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DATE OF ENLISTMENT:Dec 10, 1942
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PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia
ORGANIZATION:
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MAIN UNIT:38th Infantry Regiment
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SUBUNIT:Company B, 1st Battalion
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
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RANK:Private First Class (Pfc.)
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POSITION IN UNIT:Rifleman
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:
✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945), ✭ Rhineland Campaign (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945), ✭ Central Europe Campaign (22 March – 11 May 1945)
DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):
🎖European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, 🎖Combat Infantry Badge, 🎖Purple Heart Medal With Two Oak Leaf Clusters
SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:
Boot camp was at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Reed broke his left arm (he was left handed) resulting in a hospital stay. His cousin, Sgt. Warren Bowman, also served in the 38th IR. Reed sailed for Northern Ireland with the 2nd ID on the Susan B. Anthony in Fall 1943. They continued training in Northern Ireland. His unit sailed for Wales on April 16, 1943, for staging for the D-Day invasion. Reed landed on Omaha Beach on June 7, 1944 and was wounded in the Normandy Campaign but quickly returned to his unit. Reed participated in the Brest campaign where his cousin Sgt. Warren Bowman was seriously wounded in the stomach resulting in a lengthy hospital stay and eventually returned to the US. Reed's outfit was later moved by train to St. Vith, Belgium. Reed particapated in the Battle of the Bulge where he was again wounded. Following the Battle of the Bulge he continued with the 38th IR where they crossed the Rhine. He was first reported as MIA on March 22, 1945, near Gut Weierhof, Germany. It was later determined that he had been KIA along with other members of the 38th on March 22, 1945. Members of the local German Lutheran Church as well as the Burgermeister (mayor) of Altwied buried Reed in a box and marked the grave with a cross.. Other members of the 38th who were KIA were buried at the same time. Three German soldiers who were KIA at the same time were buried side by side with members of the 38th IR. The other members of the 38th were disinterred at the same time as Reed and moved to the Netherlands-American Cemetery in Margratten. The German soldiers remains are still buried in the same location in Altwied. Reed's grave in the Netherlands-American Cemetery was adopted by the Heiligers family who live near Margratten, Netherlands.
Reed grew up on a farm on Old Welcome Church Road in Middleton, GA, which is near Elberton, GA. He graduated from Nancy Hart Memorial School. Reed had five brothers (one was stillborn) and six sisters. Reed's Father died while he was in training. Reed was given emergency leave to attend his father's funeral in his hometown. Following the funeral he returned to his unit. Following the funeral he left Middleton for the last time.
