ENTERPRISE, Ala. — An obituary that originally appeared in the Enterprise Ledger 71 years ago has resurfaced online and is making the rounds on social media.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Leon Bowden, whose family lived in Enterprise, Alabama, was a decorated war hero before he was even old enough to legally buy alcohol. He tragically drowned in France in 1945 at the age of 22, but a current resident of Bowden’s hometown believes the story of his short life should serve as inspiration for a new generation of young people.
“In November 1942, at age 19 or 20, he fought in the invasion of North Africa,” Enterprise resident Pam McQueen wrote on Facebook, along with an image of Bowden’s obituary. “He was wounded March 21, 1943 in Africa. After 4 months in a hospital, he REJOINED his company and fought in Tunisia and Sicily. He was wounded AGAIN on June 10th in France in action on the Normandy Beach invasion. He was in a hospital for two months and AGAIN rejoined his company when they went through Belgium, Holland, and into Germany where he was AGAIN wounded in October of 1944. He died at age 22 during a training exercise. By age 22, he had been awarded the Purple Heart, two Oakleaf Clusters, the Presidential Citation, and Expert Infantryman’s Badge.
“Fast forward to 2016. Colleges are now creating ‘safe zones’ on college campuses because students are TRAUMATIZED by sidewalk chalk that says ‘vote for Trump,’” she continued. “We have… professional athletes… who throw tantrums and we are told not to criticize them because they are too young to expect them to deal with adversity. I think we would all agree that the things that God used to grow us the most were the last things we would have chosen for ourselves. If it’s true that adversity builds character, how will our young people ever learn to deal with the inevitable troubles of life that we know they will face if we shelter them from anything that makes them uncomfortable?”
McQueen’s Facebook post was met with overwhelming approval.
“Thank you for posting, Pam… I have a couple of young men who need to read these words,” wrote one commenter.
“We as parents and grandparents should require this article to be read,” added another.
The full obituary can be read below.
Coffee County Boy Is Drowned in France
Staff Sgt. Andrew Leon Bowden, age 22, son of Andrew and Minnie Bowden, Enterprise Route 1, was drowned at Oise, France, on February 13, 1945, according to information received by his parents.
He was sent across to Europe in July, 1942, landing in England, where he was stationed later in Scotland, and in November, 1942, was in the invasion of North Africa.
A member of the Fightin’ First Division, who was with the outfit when it captured Oran, and later was wounded in March 21, 1943, in Africa. After four months in a hospital he rejoined his company and fought in Tunisia and Sicily and in later action in France was wounded on June 10 in action on the Normandy Beach invasion. He was in a hospital again until August and rejoined his company again when they went through Belgium, Holland and into Germany where he was again wounded on October 19, 1944.
Each time he was hospitalized in England and while convalescing he visited his brother, Staff Sgt. Henry Bowden, who is stationed in London.
He was awarded the Purple heart, two Oakleaf Clusters, the Presidential Citation and Expert Infantryman’s Badge.
He had been assigned to non-combat duty and was taking officers’ training when he lost his life through drowning.
He wrote often of the country’s he had been in and told how the people were nice to them and met them as they passed with milk, eggs, fruit and other items.
He wrote of how he enjoyed The Ledger, and said if the boys at home would come over he would carry them on a raiding party they would remember the rest of their lives.
Said the German civilians treated them much better than they expected, and guessed they, too, would like to be free.
He like the Army and made no complaint at any time. Said the First Army had made a lot of history, and in a letter dated November, 1944, he wrote: “Mom, from time to time I’ve written you what countries I was in, but am sending a list here: Porto Rico, Scotland, England, Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. If you were to ask which I liked the best, I would say: Not Germany.”
