Richard “Dick” Bowman, a Korean War veteran, was posthumously honored for his heroics that his son never knew about during his father’s life.
“I had no idea what kind of hero he was until he died,” Bowman’s son Charlie said. “A guy that served alongside my daddy many times in the same trench came to me at his funeral. He said … ‘I want to tell you, your daddy was one hell of a hero.’” “He told how he singlehandedly held off over 25,000 North Koreans and Chinese with nothing more than a .30 caliber machine gun, and that was to get 1,600 troops out of that area because they already killed off six of our divisions.”
For that action, Bowman received a Silver Star.
Bowman served as sergeant first-class in the United States Army as part of the “I” Company of the 34th Infantry Regiment in the 24th Infantry Division from July 2, 1650 to July 1, 1951.
His company was tasked with assisting United Nations forces with pushing North Koreans out of South Korea. The company was deep into North Korea fighting when the Chinese forces crossed the Yalu River and entered the fight to assist fleeing Korean soldiers.
While the battle raged, the 1,600 troops managed to retreat, but Bowman remained back to hold off the enemy.
He was ultimately captured and taken to a temporary Chinese prisoner of war (POW) camp.
“He knew just enough Chinese to understand that they were going to kill him. So he managed to escape, but was shot,” Charlie said.
He ultimately made it back to ally lines.
He was awarded the Purple Heart on October 4, 1951.
Bowman died in Hooks, Texas, on January 24, 2011 at the age of 80.
Years later, while Charlie was going through his parent’s belongings in their Hooks home, he came across documents of his father’s service and learned a sad truth, he said.
“He got the certificate, but he never got the medal,” Charlie said.
That prompted Charlie to work on securing his father’s legacy. He contacted Congressman Troy Nehls to begin the process.
In April, Nehls presented Charlie with his father’s Purple Heart seventy-four years later during a ceremony in Rosenberg, Texas.
He was also awarded the Silver Star, five Bronze Stars for valor, three Presidential unit citations, one Army of Occupation medal, one Good Conduct Medal, one United Nations Service Medal, one Korean Service Medal with five Bronze Stars (one Bronze Star for each major battle), one National Defense Medal, a 50th Anniversary Korean Presidential Service Medal (with a Presidential Letter), one American Campaign medal and one Combat Infantry Badge.
“I just wish my daddy had been around to see them,” Charlie said.
Richard Bowman
