b. 31/10/1921 Wichita, Texas. d. 03/06/1944 Carano, Italy.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 23/05/1944 Carano, Italy.
Thomas W Fowler MOH
Thomas Fowler was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on October 31, 1921. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in animal husbandry from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (Texas A&M University) in 1943.
He joined the First Armored Division and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in May 1943, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He married his high school sweetheart, Ann Oakes, shortly afterward on May 12, 1943.
On May 23, 1944, near Carano, Italy, Fowler came upon two disorganized infantry platoons halted in their advance by a minefield. Though a tank officer, Fowler reorganized the men and cleared a route through the minefield, removing the mines one by one with his bare hands. After clearing a path, he returned to the squad and led them through the minefield before scouting out a route for them to continue their advance. He crossed the minefield again to lead the tanks through and directed them to positions to support the infantry. Fowler then went ahead of the infantry to scout and captured several German soldiers.
Detecting a gap in the American advance, he directed the infantry and tanks into position to fill it. The enemy counterattacked with tanks, setting one of Fowler’s tanks on fire. Disregarding his own safety, Fowler tended to the wounded tank crew. Fowler and the tank crew were under intense enemy fire for thirty minutes before the German tanks were almost on top of their position. After being forced to withdraw from the tank, he gave first aid to nine soldiers while still under enemy fire.
For his actions on May 23, Fowler was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Fowler was killed near Rome in combat by an enemy sniper only ten days later. His Medal of Honor was presented to his family at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, by Major General Ralph McPennel. Fowler is buried in Crestview Memorial Park, Wichita Falls. A dormitory at Texas A&M University was named after him in 1964.
MOH CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on 23 May 1944, in the vicinity of Carano, Italy. In the midst of a full-scale armored-infantry attack, 2d Lt. Fowler, while on foot, came upon 2 completely disorganized infantry platoons held up in their advance by an enemy minefield. Although a tank officer, he immediately reorganized the infantry. He then made a personal reconnaissance through the minefield, clearing a path as he went, by lifting the antipersonnel mines out of the ground with his hands. After he had gone through the 75-yard belt of deadly explosives, he returned to the infantry and led them through the minefield, a squad at a time. As they deployed, 2d Lt. Fowler, despite small arms fire and the constant danger of antipersonnel mines, made a reconnaissance into enemy territory in search of a route to continue the advance. He then returned through the minefield and, on foot, he led the tanks through the mines into a position from which they could best support the infantry. Acting as scout 300 yards in front of the infantry, he led the 2 platoons forward until he had gained his objective, where he came upon several dug-in enemy infantrymen. Having taken them by surprise, 2d Lt. Fowler dragged them out of their foxholes and sent them to the rear; twice, when they resisted, he threw hand grenades into their dugouts. Realizing that a dangerous gap existed between his company and the unit to his right, 2d Lt. Fowler decided to continue his advance until the gap was filled. He reconnoitered to his front, brought the infantry into position where they dug in and, under heavy mortar and small arms fire, brought his tanks forward. A few minutes later, the enemy began an armored counterattack. Several Mark Vl tanks fired their cannons directly on 2d Lt. Fowler’s position. One of his tanks was set afire. With utter disregard for his own life, with shells bursting near him, he ran directly into the enemy tank fire to reach the burning vehicle. For a half-hour, under intense strafing from the advancing tanks, although all other elements had withdrawn, he remained in his forward position, attempting to save the lives of the wounded tank crew. Only when the enemy tanks had almost overrun him, did he withdraw a short distance where he personally rendered first aid to 9 wounded infantrymen in the midst of the relentless incoming fire.
BURIAL LOCATION: CRESTVIEW MEMORIAL PARK, WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS.
SECTION MAGNOLIA BLOCK D, LOT 15, SPACE 7
LOCATION OF MEDAL: SAM HOUSTON SANDERS CORPS OF CADETS CENTER, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS.
MEMORIAL STUDENT CENTER, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (DUPLICATE MEDAL), COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS.
