James Bowdren

Philadelphia Memorial Panel: Panel 3

National Memorial Panel / Row: West 6 / 75

Date of Birth: 28-Jul-1951

Neighborhood: Olney

High School: Olney High School

Street: N. Marshall Street

Branch of Service: Army

Rank: CPL

Date of Casualty: 21-Nov-1970

Province of Casualty: Quang Ngai

Bowdren enlisted in the Army a month after turning 17. The former Olney High School student served in Germany for a year and was shipped to Vietnam in August 1970, joining Company A of the 3rd Battalion, 8th infantry, 4th Infantry Division. A mortar gunner and rifleman, he avoided telling his parents he was in combat until a week before his death on Nov. 21, 1970 when he told them of being awarded a medal. He was 19 years old. Besides his parents, Bowdren was survived by two brothers and a sister.