William R. Bowers
NAME: William R. Bowers
ASN: 12013810
PLACE OF BIRTH: ???, MD
DATE OF BIRTH: 04 Feb 1924
DATES OF SERVICE: 06 Feb 1942 -
UNIT ASSIGNED:
HHC 2nd BN 509th PIR
E Co. 2nd Bn 509th PIR
B CO 509th PIB
Replacement Plt. G Co (Prov) 2nd Bn 509th PIR
CAMPAIGNS: Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace
AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with combat jump star , Purple Heart Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and four bronze star devices, World War II Victory Medal
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
06 Feb 1942 - Enlisted at Dover, DE, NARA Enlistment Record
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 12013810 | 12013810 |
| NAME | BOWERS#WILLIAM#R######## | BOWERS#WILLIAM#R######## |
| RESIDENCE: STATE | 21 | DELAWARE |
| RESIDENCE: COUNTY | 001 | KENT |
| PLACE OF ENLISTMENT | 2120 | DOVER DELAWARE |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY | 06 | 06 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH | 02 | 02 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR | 42 | 42 |
| GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION | PVT# | Private |
| GRADE: CODE | 8 | Private |
| BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION | BI# | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| BRANCH: CODE | 00 | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| FIELD USE AS DESIRED | # | # |
| TERM OF ENLISTMENT | 5 | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| LONGEVITY | ### | ### |
| SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL | 0 | Civil Life |
| NATIVITY | 31 | MARYLAND |
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 24 | 24 |
| RACE AND CITIZENSHIP | 1 | White, citizen |
| EDUCATION | 2 | 2 years of high school |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION | 760 | Attendants, filling stations and parking lots |
| MARITAL STATUS | 6 | Single, without dependents |
| COMPONENT OF THE ARMY | 6 | Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of the United States under Army Regulations 605-10 |
| CARD NUMBER | # | # |
| BOX NUMBER | 0077 | 0077 |
| FILM REEL NUMBER | 1.70# | 1.70# |
05 Mar 1943 - Assigned as a replacement to HQ Company 2nd Bn 509th PIR in North Africa
24 Mar 1943 - Reported Sick
25 Mar 1943 - Pvt. William R. Bowers, 12013810, HHC 2nd BN 509th PIR, SO 27 trsfr to E Co. 2nd Bn 509th PIR
27 Mar 1943 - Returned to Duty
29 Mar 1943 - Reports to E Company
02 Jul 1943 - Private First Class Bowers, William R. (12013810), Detached Service (advanced base) to duty
16 Jul 1943 - Private Bowers, William R; (12013810), duty to to absent sick, 55th Station Hospital
14 Sep 1943 - Participated in Operation GIANT III the Airborne Invasion of Avellino, Italy. He was injured on the jump
10 Nov 1943 - Moved out with 509th PIB to take up postions on the line at Venafro, Italy
07 Dec 1943 - Wounded in Action in vicinity Venafro, Italy
01 Jan 1944 - Pfc. William R. Bowers, 509th PIB, GO # 1 no. 37 page 3. Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, as amended, a Purple Heart is awarded to WILLIAM R. BOWERS, Private First Class, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, United States Army; for wounds received in action against an armed enemy, during the Fifth Army campaign in Italy, 7 December 1943.
11 Jan 1944 - Pfc. William R. Bowers, 12103810, B CO 509th PIB, SO 4 Assigned to Replacement Plt. G Co (Prov) 2nd Bn 509th PIR
22 Jan 1944 - Participated in Operation SHINGLE the amphibious invasion of Anzio, Italy. The 509th PIB was attached to the 6615th Ranger Force
15 Aug 1944 - (UNCONFIRMED - NOT LISTED ON MANIFEST OR ON REAR DET) Participated in Operation DRAGOON (RUGBY FORCE) the airborne invasion of Southern France
22 Dec 1944 - Moved to Erezee, Belgium to stop the German Offensive in the Ardennes
Possibly was awarded the Silver Star Medal (UNCONFIRMED) for action at Sadzot, Belgium. Needs further research. Sons comment "I asked him and he said he was the only one with a Tommy gun and they were called to regroup and he had to stay until they were all out because the Germans were all around them. No big deal but he said he was the only one with a Tommy and he got the silver star for that. They lost most of their unit there and he was put in the hospital and when he got out they were no more."
Honorably Discharged
Married Ruth
04 Aug 2013 Passed away
Buried at the Delaware National Cemetery
Family honored Pfc Bowers for his service in the 509th PIB by placing this plaque and flowers at the base of the monument in Sadzot, Belgium
The monument in Sadzot, Belgium that commemorates the battle that took place there.
