Full Name:

Dale Bowlin

Date of Birth:

6 Sept '24

Entered:

17 Mar '43

Drafted:

Yes

Volunteer:

No

Where:

Ft Leavenworth, KS

Unit:

C/883FA

Medals

Purple Heart, POW

Bio

DALE F. BOWLIN, born in Lebo, KS on September 6, 1924, Dale entered the Army at Leavenworth, KS and received basic training in CA. He spent nine months studying engineering as a Cadet at BYU in Provo, UT, before joining the 70th Infantry Division at Camp Adair in OR. His unit shipped to France in late '44 and participated in Phase II of the Battle of the Bulge. Serving as a radio operator for a 105 mm Forward Observer party, he was captured and wounded in February '45 near Saarbrucken, Germany. He spent two months in German military hospitals before being liberated by the French Army in Donaueschingen, the source of the Danube River. His left leg was amputated shortly after capture due to a severed artery.

Following treatment and rehabilitation at McCloskey General Hospital in Temple, TX, Dale was married to Phyllis Perry of Lebo, KS in November '45 and completed his education at Kansas State. He served in engineering and management positions for FMC Corporation for 32 years before retiring in '84 when the hydrogen peroxide plant in Vancouver was closed. He and Phyllis have three children and four grandkids, all of whom now live in Green River, WY. He enjoys travel, motor homing, participating in the 70th Division Association reunions, involvement with the local Methodist Church, working on the computer and a daily swim.