John W. Bowen (U.S. Army general)
John W. Bowen (July 3, 1910 – August 18, 1977) was a career U.S. Army officer who rose to lieutenant general and commanded several major units during his service. Born in the Philippines to a military family, he excelled at Georgia Military Academy and entered West Point, graduating in 1932. He served as an infantry officer in the United States and overseas, commanding units in World War II, including the 3rd Battalion and then the 26th Infantry Regiment, with action in North Africa, Tunisia, and Sicily; he fell ill in England in 1943 and later worked at the War Department and as Military Aide to the President.
After World War II, Bowen held various staff and training roles, attended the National War College, and served in the Caribbean and Korea. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1953 and went on to command the 82nd Airborne Division (1956–57). In the 1960s he held high-level posts, including deputy commander of the Continental Army Command, acting commander of the Third Army in 1964, and commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps (1964–65); he finished his career as chief of staff for the U.S. European Command, retiring in 1968.
Bowen died in San Francisco in 1977 and was buried at San Francisco National Cemetery. His decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Medal (four times), the Silver Star (twice), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and foreign awards from France and South Korea. He was married twice, first to Elizabeth Whitthorne Judd (with whom he had two daughters) and later to Renée Victoria de Marguenat.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:01 (CET).