b. 30/11/1947 LaGrange, Georgia. d. 27/06/1969 Binh Duong, Vietnam.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 27/06/1969 Binh Duong, Vietnam.
Hammett L Bowen MOH
Bowen joined the Army from Jacksonville, Florida in 1965, and received basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. By June 27, 1969 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company C, 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On that day, in Bình Dng Province, Republic of Vietnam, Bowen smothered the blast of an enemy-thrown hand grenade with his body, sacrificing himself to protect those around him. His posthumous Medal of Honor was presented to his family on 17 July 1974 at Blair House by the Vice-President Gerald R. Ford. His family donated his Medal of Honor to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala, Florida.
MOH CITATION:
S/Sgt. Bowen distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant during combat operations in Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam. S/Sgt. 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. S/Sgt. 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 S/Sgt. Bowen and 3 of his men. Sensing the danger to his comrades, S/Sgt. 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. S/Sgt. 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.
BURIAL LOCATION: RESTLAWN MEMORY GARDENS, LAGRANGE, GEORGIA.
LOT 512B, SPACE 4
LOCATION OF MEDAL: MARION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, OCALA, FLORIDA.
