Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Set. John W. Bowen (July 3, 1910 – August 18, 1977) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he served in the Organized Reserve Corps from 1927 to 1928, and in the army from 1932 to 1968, and he attained the rank of lieutenant general. His commands included the 26th Infantry Regiment (1943), 82nd Airborne Division (1956–1957), Third United States Army (1964), and XVIII Airborne Corps (1964–1965). Among his awards and decorations were four awards of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star (2), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Croix de Guerre (France), Order of Military Merit (South Korea), Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Senior Parachutist Badge.

This is an outstanding uniform jacket & visor cap named and identified to General John William Bowen. The jacket is outstanding with a high-quality custom-made ribbon bar, with his name embroidered on the lining of the jacket.

The jacket bears Lieutenant General stars on each shoulder board, with green leadership tabs underneath, and an XVIII Airborne Corps patch on the left shoulder. He wears a white and blue braided cord on the right shoulder. There is a Combat Infantryman badge over the left breast pocket, above a 14-place ribbon bar featuring the Distinguished Service Medal with one silver OLC and one bronze OLC, the Silver Star Medal with one OLC, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the American Defense Medal with one star, the WWII European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three stars and an invasion arrowhead, the American Campaign medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Campaign Medal with one star, a red likely French Legion of Honor medal with rosette, the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 with palm, the South Korean War Service Medal, and the UN Korea Medal. Under this on the pocket is a Senior Parachutist badge on a white and blue oval for the XVIII Airborne Corps. Over the right breast pocket is a Korean Presidential Unit Citation with gold frame. On the pocket is a US Army Chief of Staff Badge. The interior shows JOHN W. BOWEN embroidered below the chest pocket.

Also included is his General’s officer visor in green with bullion oak leaves and acorns on the felt visor. The gold tape chinstrap is in great shape retained by two gilt federal eagle buttons. The interior shows manufacture by Flight Ace of San Antonio, Texas. It is size 6 ⅞.

A great identified uniform set to a highly decorated general, ready to display.

After receiving his commission, Bowen was assigned to the 20th Infantry Regiment at Fort Francis E. Warren, Wyoming. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1935, and served at Fort Warren until 1936. From August 1936 to June 1937, he attended the Infantry Officers Course, after which he was assigned to command Company I, 25th Infantry Regiment at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

From September to November 1937, Bowen served on temporary duty at Fort Sam Houston, Texas as commander of a truck company in the motorized quartermaster battalion of the experimental 2nd Infantry Division as it developed doctrine for mechanized units configured as triangular divisions. In January 1939, Bowen departed for Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he commanded Company A, 27th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to captain in September 1940.

Bowen was in command of his company when the United States entered World War II, and he was promoted to major on February 1, 1942. He served as executive officer of 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment until September, when he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to command the battalion. He was in command during Operation Torch in late 1942, when his battalion was part of the U.S. force that attacked Oran, Algeria, then occupied by Vichy France and Germany. In March 1943, he assumed command of the 26th Infantry Regiment, and in April he was promoted to colonel. Bowen led the regiment during the Tunisian campaign and Allied invasion of Sicily, then moved to England, where the regiment reorganized and retrained in anticipation of taking part in the June 1944 Normandy landings.

Bowen became ill while in England, which required a sustained period of convalescence, so in December 1943 he returned to the United States, where he was hospitalized until May 1944. After recovering, he joined the Operations section of the general staff at the War Department, where he served until May 1945, when he was assigned to the Office of the Military Aide to the President. In November 1945, Bowen was assigned as Secretary of the Army General Staff. In July 1948, he reverted to his permanent rank of lieutenant colonel.

As a result of his wartime service, Bowen received equivalent credit for completion of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and Armed Forces Staff College. In August 1948, he began attendance at the National War College, from which he graduated in June 1949. Bowen was then assigned as Plans and Operations staff officer for United States Caribbean Command, where he served from 1948 to 1951. He was promoted to permanent colonel in September 1950. From 1951 to 1953, Bowen was an instructor at the National War College.

In 1953, Bowen was assigned to Korean War duty as deputy chief of staff for administration (G-1) for Eighth United States Army in South Korea, and he was promoted to brigadier general in October 1953. From 1955 to 1956 he served as assistant chief of staff (J-3) for the U.S. Far East Command. In 1956, he served as assistant division commander of the 101st Airborne Division.

In September 1956, Bowen was assigned as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and he was promoted to major general in December. In October 1957, Bowen was assigned to the army staff as assistant chief of staff for Reserve Components. In 1961, he was appointed director of the Military Assistance Division at United States European Command in Paris.

In 1963, Bowen was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed deputy commander of Continental Army Command. He acted as commander of Third United States Army in 1964, and from 1964 to 1965 he commanded XVIII Airborne Corps. From 1965 until his 1968 retirement, Bowen was chief of staff for U.S. European Command.