Staff Sergeant Hammett Lee Bowen Jr. was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on June 27, 1969 in Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Bowen was 21 years old.
Bowen was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on July 17, 1974, 5 years after the action. Blair House (Courtyard), presented by Vice Pres. Gerald R. Ford to his family.
Bowen was born on November 30, 1947 in LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. He is buried at Restlawn Memory Garden Cemetery in La Grange, Georgia.
Bowen is one of 274 Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War and one of 24 credited to Florida.
Official Medal of Honor citation
SSgt. Bowen distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant during combat operations in Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam. SSgt. Bowen's platoon was advancing on a reconnaissance mission into enemy-controlled terrain when it came under the withering crossfire of small arms and grenades from an enemy ambush force. SSgt. Bowen placed heavy suppressive fire on the enemy positions and ordered his men to fall back. As the platoon was moving back, an enemy grenade was thrown amid SSgt. Bowen and three of his men. Sensing the danger to his comrades, SSgt. Bowen shouted a warning to his men and hurled himself on the grenade, absorbing the explosion with his body while saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. SSgt. Bowen's extraordinary courage and concern for his men at the cost of his life served as an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the military service and the U.S. Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (June 27, 1969).
- Age at death: 21
- Resting place: Restlawn Memory Garden Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Vietnam War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Florida →
Timeline
- November 30, 1947Born in LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia
- June 27, 1969Act of valor — Binh Duong Province, Republic of VietnamAge 21. Company C, 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- July 17, 1974Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyBlair House (Courtyard), presented by Vice Pres. Gerald R. Ford to his family
- Resting placeRestlawn Memory Garden CemeteryLa Grange, Georgia
Biography
Hammett Lee Bowen Jr. (November 30, 1947 – June 27, 1969) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.
From the Wikipedia article “Hammett L. Bowen Jr.”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
