Rites Arranged for Private Bowler at Arlington National Cemetery
Military burial rites for Private James H Bowler, who died Januray 23, 1945 while a German prisoner of war, will be held at 2 pm, Wednesday Feburary 2, 1948 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Bowler, who was 24 at the time of his death was the son of Lee Roy Bowler and Lillian Pearl Pitts Bowler of Fredericksburg and a former employee of Pitt's Victoria Theater here.
Before going overseas, he was stationed at Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and Camp Gruber in Oklahoma.
He was taken prisoner several months before his death in a German prisoner of war camp.
Surviving besides his parents are two sisters: Annie Byrdett Bowler Marders of Oak Grove and Mary Madaline Bowler Long of Fredericksburg and three brothers: Emmett Irvin Bowler, Wilbur Harrison Bowler, Sr and Alton LeRoy Bowler of Fredericksburg,
For more than fifty four years the family never knew the first resting place of Hunter's remains in Germany. Finally a request was made of the Department of the Army through the Freedom of Information Act to have the details released.
Hunter was drafted into Active Service on 18 August 1942 at Richmond, Virginia and was assigned army serial number 33 222 633. He was assigned to the infantry.
He married Dorothy Arline Barden, the daughter of Luther Nathaniel and Eva M Barden of Orange County, Virginia on 25 October 1942 in Orange County. A son, Charles Richard Bowler, was born prematurely to this union on 6 March 1943. He died the next day. It is not known if Hunter was home for the birth of his son, He was stationed at Atlanta, Georgia for the period of November 1942 to June 1943.
Since his service records were destroyed in the fire in St. Louis in 1973 the following time line is assumed regarding his duty stations based on data extracted from the Identification Section of the Memorial Division Identification Data Sheet
September 1942 to November 1942 - Camp Pickett, Virginia
November 1942 to May 1943 – Atlanta, Georgia
June 1943 – July 1943 - Camp Gruber, Oklahoma
July 1943 – July 1943 – Ft. Meade, Maryland
Hunter's status was held by the War Department to have been as missing in action from 11 September 1944 until such absence was terminated when the War Department was notified by the German Government that he was held as a prisoner of war. The prisoner of war status was terminated on 2 February 1945 when the Secretary of War received evidence from the German Government through the International Red Cross that established the fact of his death.
Hunter was captured in France after the D-Day Invasion on September 11, 1944 and sent to Stalag VII A at Moosburg, Bavaria, Germany. Here, he completed his Prisoner of War identification records which we now have a copy of. He listed his father's first name as Leroy, his mother's surname as Pitts, his civilian occupation as theater manager.
He was later assigned to work camp 1315 aka Camp Ampfing as prisoner 87595 on 18 October 1944, located at Dorfen, Bavaria, Germany. The work camps, were called Kommandos, and were usual farms where twenty PW's lived in a farmhouse of five rooms, with one room having a stove to cook Red Cross Food. They slept in three of the rooms on bunk beds with straw bedding with eider-downs. Bathing and toilet facilities were crude, but similar to their employer. They sometimes ate with the farmer they worked for and the food was good. They had two uniforms, a dress uniform, and two pair of shoes. Two-thirds were free on Sundays; the others did essential farm work. They were even paid a small amount for their work.
Medical supplies were on hand for minor injuries and a civilian doctor took sick call twice a week.
While he was at Dorfen he contacted Diphtheria and was first treated at the prison hospital and later the civilian hospital. Despite the efforts of the German and French doctors he died at 0230 21 January 1945. He was attended by a French priest in his last days and received the holy sacraments of the Catholic Church as well as a Catholic Burial.
His body was embalmed and a Catholic funeral Mass was celebrated for the peace of his soul by the French Catholic Chaplain of the Prisoner of War Military hospital in Dorfen a.d. Isen (Oberbayern) Germany, Father Henri Jonquent, Cure de St. Jean des Ollieres, Puy de Done, France with ten fellow American PW friends of his and Serb prisoners of war attending the funeral. The good people of Dorfen made a wooden coffin for him; a wooden cross was placed over his grave with the following words carved into it:
"In Memory of Jimmie Bowler, American PW Born 24.10.21 Washington USA Died 23 Jan.1945 in Dorfen."
He was buried 25 January 1945 at 1030 in Row 6, Plot 5 in the Dorfen community cemetery in the Prisoner of War Section.
An investigation was conducted as to where he was buried by Cpl N.A. Baer, Jr, 33710012 303 QM. G.R. Co M.B.U. #5 on 28 May 28 1946.
Hunter's remains were located, the details of his death were verified, he was disinterred and reinterred at the Military Cemetery at St. Avoid near Metz, France with a Catholic burial at 1130 on 8 June 1946 by Chaplain Z. S.Kish, Capt in Plot DDDD Row 7 Grave 73.
Hunter's remains were prepared for repatriation to the United States beginning 18 June 1948 and completed on 22 June 1948. They were shipped by rail from St. Avoid 23 October 1948 to Antwerp, Belgium.
On 7 December, 1948 at Antwerp the remains were placed on the USAT Barney Kirschaum for the Atlantic crossing.
A telegram was sent to Hunter's wife Dorothy from the USAT Barney Kirschaum. The first sentence reads thus:
"PLEASE BE ADVISED REMAINS OF THE LATE PVT. JAMES H. BOWLER ARE ENROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES. OUR RECORDS INDICATE YOU WISH REMAINS BURIED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, FORT MYER, VIRGINIA"
Dorothy died in a tragic accident on 9 November 1948. She never knew his remains were on the way home.
Distribution Center One was promptly notified of Dorothy's death and the rights referred to Hunter's mother who followed Dorothy's wishes.
The USAT Barney Kirschaum arrived in New York on 3 January 3 1949 and the remains arrived at Distribution Center One on 4 January 1949.
On Monday 31 January 1949 Mortuary car 8907 carrying sixty four World War II dead and accompanied by one officer escort left New York at 1900. The car arrived at Rosslyn, Virginia 1 February 1949 at 0700. J.J. Walsh, Jr, the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery signed for the remains.
The funeral for Hunter and 23 others was held the next day.
Military burial rites for Private James H Bowler, who died Januray 23, 1945 while a German prisoner of war, will be held at 2 pm, Wednesday Feburary 2, 1948 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Bowler, who was 24 at the time of his death was the son of Lee Roy Bowler and Lillian Pearl Pitts Bowler of Fredericksburg and a former employee of Pitt's Victoria Theater here.
Before going overseas, he was stationed at Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and Camp Gruber in Oklahoma.
He was taken prisoner several months before his death in a German prisoner of war camp.
Surviving besides his parents are two sisters: Annie Byrdett Bowler Marders of Oak Grove and Mary Madaline Bowler Long of Fredericksburg and three brothers: Emmett Irvin Bowler, Wilbur Harrison Bowler, Sr and Alton LeRoy Bowler of Fredericksburg,
For more than fifty four years the family never knew the first resting place of Hunter's remains in Germany. Finally a request was made of the Department of the Army through the Freedom of Information Act to have the details released.
Hunter was drafted into Active Service on 18 August 1942 at Richmond, Virginia and was assigned army serial number 33 222 633. He was assigned to the infantry.
He married Dorothy Arline Barden, the daughter of Luther Nathaniel and Eva M Barden of Orange County, Virginia on 25 October 1942 in Orange County. A son, Charles Richard Bowler, was born prematurely to this union on 6 March 1943. He died the next day. It is not known if Hunter was home for the birth of his son, He was stationed at Atlanta, Georgia for the period of November 1942 to June 1943.
Since his service records were destroyed in the fire in St. Louis in 1973 the following time line is assumed regarding his duty stations based on data extracted from the Identification Section of the Memorial Division Identification Data Sheet
September 1942 to November 1942 - Camp Pickett, Virginia
November 1942 to May 1943 – Atlanta, Georgia
June 1943 – July 1943 - Camp Gruber, Oklahoma
July 1943 – July 1943 – Ft. Meade, Maryland
Hunter's status was held by the War Department to have been as missing in action from 11 September 1944 until such absence was terminated when the War Department was notified by the German Government that he was held as a prisoner of war. The prisoner of war status was terminated on 2 February 1945 when the Secretary of War received evidence from the German Government through the International Red Cross that established the fact of his death.
Hunter was captured in France after the D-Day Invasion on September 11, 1944 and sent to Stalag VII A at Moosburg, Bavaria, Germany. Here, he completed his Prisoner of War identification records which we now have a copy of. He listed his father's first name as Leroy, his mother's surname as Pitts, his civilian occupation as theater manager.
He was later assigned to work camp 1315 aka Camp Ampfing as prisoner 87595 on 18 October 1944, located at Dorfen, Bavaria, Germany. The work camps, were called Kommandos, and were usual farms where twenty PW's lived in a farmhouse of five rooms, with one room having a stove to cook Red Cross Food. They slept in three of the rooms on bunk beds with straw bedding with eider-downs. Bathing and toilet facilities were crude, but similar to their employer. They sometimes ate with the farmer they worked for and the food was good. They had two uniforms, a dress uniform, and two pair of shoes. Two-thirds were free on Sundays; the others did essential farm work. They were even paid a small amount for their work.
Medical supplies were on hand for minor injuries and a civilian doctor took sick call twice a week.
While he was at Dorfen he contacted Diphtheria and was first treated at the prison hospital and later the civilian hospital. Despite the efforts of the German and French doctors he died at 0230 21 January 1945. He was attended by a French priest in his last days and received the holy sacraments of the Catholic Church as well as a Catholic Burial.
His body was embalmed and a Catholic funeral Mass was celebrated for the peace of his soul by the French Catholic Chaplain of the Prisoner of War Military hospital in Dorfen a.d. Isen (Oberbayern) Germany, Father Henri Jonquent, Cure de St. Jean des Ollieres, Puy de Done, France with ten fellow American PW friends of his and Serb prisoners of war attending the funeral. The good people of Dorfen made a wooden coffin for him; a wooden cross was placed over his grave with the following words carved into it:
"In Memory of Jimmie Bowler, American PW Born 24.10.21 Washington USA Died 23 Jan.1945 in Dorfen."
He was buried 25 January 1945 at 1030 in Row 6, Plot 5 in the Dorfen community cemetery in the Prisoner of War Section.
An investigation was conducted as to where he was buried by Cpl N.A. Baer, Jr, 33710012 303 QM. G.R. Co M.B.U. #5 on 28 May 28 1946.
Hunter's remains were located, the details of his death were verified, he was disinterred and reinterred at the Military Cemetery at St. Avoid near Metz, France with a Catholic burial at 1130 on 8 June 1946 by Chaplain Z. S.Kish, Capt in Plot DDDD Row 7 Grave 73.
Hunter's remains were prepared for repatriation to the United States beginning 18 June 1948 and completed on 22 June 1948. They were shipped by rail from St. Avoid 23 October 1948 to Antwerp, Belgium.
On 7 December, 1948 at Antwerp the remains were placed on the USAT Barney Kirschaum for the Atlantic crossing.
A telegram was sent to Hunter's wife Dorothy from the USAT Barney Kirschaum. The first sentence reads thus:
"PLEASE BE ADVISED REMAINS OF THE LATE PVT. JAMES H. BOWLER ARE ENROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES. OUR RECORDS INDICATE YOU WISH REMAINS BURIED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, FORT MYER, VIRGINIA"
Dorothy died in a tragic accident on 9 November 1948. She never knew his remains were on the way home.
Distribution Center One was promptly notified of Dorothy's death and the rights referred to Hunter's mother who followed Dorothy's wishes.
The USAT Barney Kirschaum arrived in New York on 3 January 3 1949 and the remains arrived at Distribution Center One on 4 January 1949.
On Monday 31 January 1949 Mortuary car 8907 carrying sixty four World War II dead and accompanied by one officer escort left New York at 1900. The car arrived at Rosslyn, Virginia 1 February 1949 at 0700. J.J. Walsh, Jr, the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery signed for the remains.
The funeral for Hunter and 23 others was held the next day.
Rites Arranged for Private Bowler at Arlington National Cemetery
Military burial rites for Private James H Bowler, who died Januray 23, 1945 while a German prisoner of war, will be held at 2 pm, Wednesday Feburary 2, 1948 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Bowler, who was 24 at the time of his death was the son of Lee Roy Bowler and Lillian Pearl Pitts Bowler of Fredericksburg and a former employee of Pitt's Victoria Theater here.
Before going overseas, he was stationed at Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and Camp Gruber in Oklahoma.
He was taken prisoner several months before his death in a German prisoner of war camp.
Surviving besides his parents are two sisters: Annie Byrdett Bowler Marders of Oak Grove and Mary Madaline Bowler Long of Fredericksburg and three brothers: Emmett Irvin Bowler, Wilbur Harrison Bowler, Sr and Alton LeRoy Bowler of Fredericksburg,
For more than fifty four years the family never knew the first resting place of Hunter's remains in Germany. Finally a request was made of the Department of the Army through the Freedom of Information Act to have the details released.
Hunter was drafted into Active Service on 18 August 1942 at Richmond, Virginia and was assigned army serial number 33 222 633. He was assigned to the infantry.
He married Dorothy Arline Barden, the daughter of Luther Nathaniel and Eva M Barden of Orange County, Virginia on 25 October 1942 in Orange County. A son, Charles Richard Bowler, was born prematurely to this union on 6 March 1943. He died the next day. It is not known if Hunter was home for the birth of his son, He was stationed at Atlanta, Georgia for the period of November 1942 to June 1943.
Since his service records were destroyed in the fire in St. Louis in 1973 the following time line is assumed regarding his duty stations based on data extracted from the Identification Section of the Memorial Division Identification Data Sheet
September 1942 to November 1942 - Camp Pickett, Virginia
November 1942 to May 1943 – Atlanta, Georgia
June 1943 – July 1943 - Camp Gruber, Oklahoma
July 1943 – July 1943 – Ft. Meade, Maryland
Hunter's status was held by the War Department to have been as missing in action from 11 September 1944 until such absence was terminated when the War Department was notified by the German Government that he was held as a prisoner of war. The prisoner of war status was terminated on 2 February 1945 when the Secretary of War received evidence from the German Government through the International Red Cross that established the fact of his death.
Hunter was captured in France after the D-Day Invasion on September 11, 1944 and sent to Stalag VII A at Moosburg, Bavaria, Germany. Here, he completed his Prisoner of War identification records which we now have a copy of. He listed his father's first name as Leroy, his mother's surname as Pitts, his civilian occupation as theater manager.
He was later assigned to work camp 1315 aka Camp Ampfing as prisoner 87595 on 18 October 1944, located at Dorfen, Bavaria, Germany. The work camps, were called Kommandos, and were usual farms where twenty PW's lived in a farmhouse of five rooms, with one room having a stove to cook Red Cross Food. They slept in three of the rooms on bunk beds with straw bedding with eider-downs. Bathing and toilet facilities were crude, but similar to their employer. They sometimes ate with the farmer they worked for and the food was good. They had two uniforms, a dress uniform, and two pair of shoes. Two-thirds were free on Sundays; the others did essential farm work. They were even paid a small amount for their work.
Medical supplies were on hand for minor injuries and a civilian doctor took sick call twice a week.
While he was at Dorfen he contacted Diphtheria and was first treated at the prison hospital and later the civilian hospital. Despite the efforts of the German and French doctors he died at 0230 21 January 1945. He was attended by a French priest in his last days and received the holy sacraments of the Catholic Church as well as a Catholic Burial.
His body was embalmed and a Catholic funeral Mass was celebrated for the peace of his soul by the French Catholic Chaplain of the Prisoner of War Military hospital in Dorfen a.d. Isen (Oberbayern) Germany, Father Henri Jonquent, Cure de St. Jean des Ollieres, Puy de Done, France with ten fellow American PW friends of his and Serb prisoners of war attending the funeral. The good people of Dorfen made a wooden coffin for him; a wooden cross was placed over his grave with the following words carved into it:
"In Memory of Jimmie Bowler, American PW Born 24.10.21 Washington USA Died 23 Jan.1945 in Dorfen."
He was buried 25 January 1945 at 1030 in Row 6, Plot 5 in the Dorfen community cemetery in the Prisoner of War Section.
An investigation was conducted as to where he was buried by Cpl N.A. Baer, Jr, 33710012 303 QM. G.R. Co M.B.U. #5 on 28 May 28 1946.
Hunter's remains were located, the details of his death were verified, he was disinterred and reinterred at the Military Cemetery at St. Avoid near Metz, France with a Catholic burial at 1130 on 8 June 1946 by Chaplain Z. S.Kish, Capt in Plot DDDD Row 7 Grave 73.
Hunter's remains were prepared for repatriation to the United States beginning 18 June 1948 and completed on 22 June 1948. They were shipped by rail from St. Avoid 23 October 1948 to Antwerp, Belgium.
On 7 December, 1948 at Antwerp the remains were placed on the USAT Barney Kirschaum for the Atlantic crossing.
A telegram was sent to Hunter's wife Dorothy from the USAT Barney Kirschaum. The first sentence reads thus:
"PLEASE BE ADVISED REMAINS OF THE LATE PVT. JAMES H. BOWLER ARE ENROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES. OUR RECORDS INDICATE YOU WISH REMAINS BURIED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, FORT MYER, VIRGINIA"
Dorothy died in a tragic accident on 9 November 1948. She never knew his remains were on the way home.
Distribution Center One was promptly notified of Dorothy's death and the rights referred to Hunter's mother who followed Dorothy's wishes.
The USAT Barney Kirschaum arrived in New York on 3 January 3 1949 and the remains arrived at Distribution Center One on 4 January 1949.
On Monday 31 January 1949 Mortuary car 8907 carrying sixty four World War II dead and accompanied by one officer escort left New York at 1900. The car arrived at Rosslyn, Virginia 1 February 1949 at 0700. J.J. Walsh, Jr, the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery signed for the remains.
The funeral for Hunter and 23 others was held the next day.
Military burial rites for Private James H Bowler, who died Januray 23, 1945 while a German prisoner of war, will be held at 2 pm, Wednesday Feburary 2, 1948 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Bowler, who was 24 at the time of his death was the son of Lee Roy Bowler and Lillian Pearl Pitts Bowler of Fredericksburg and a former employee of Pitt's Victoria Theater here.
Before going overseas, he was stationed at Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and Camp Gruber in Oklahoma.
He was taken prisoner several months before his death in a German prisoner of war camp.
Surviving besides his parents are two sisters: Annie Byrdett Bowler Marders of Oak Grove and Mary Madaline Bowler Long of Fredericksburg and three brothers: Emmett Irvin Bowler, Wilbur Harrison Bowler, Sr and Alton LeRoy Bowler of Fredericksburg,
For more than fifty four years the family never knew the first resting place of Hunter's remains in Germany. Finally a request was made of the Department of the Army through the Freedom of Information Act to have the details released.
Hunter was drafted into Active Service on 18 August 1942 at Richmond, Virginia and was assigned army serial number 33 222 633. He was assigned to the infantry.
He married Dorothy Arline Barden, the daughter of Luther Nathaniel and Eva M Barden of Orange County, Virginia on 25 October 1942 in Orange County. A son, Charles Richard Bowler, was born prematurely to this union on 6 March 1943. He died the next day. It is not known if Hunter was home for the birth of his son, He was stationed at Atlanta, Georgia for the period of November 1942 to June 1943.
Since his service records were destroyed in the fire in St. Louis in 1973 the following time line is assumed regarding his duty stations based on data extracted from the Identification Section of the Memorial Division Identification Data Sheet
September 1942 to November 1942 - Camp Pickett, Virginia
November 1942 to May 1943 – Atlanta, Georgia
June 1943 – July 1943 - Camp Gruber, Oklahoma
July 1943 – July 1943 – Ft. Meade, Maryland
Hunter's status was held by the War Department to have been as missing in action from 11 September 1944 until such absence was terminated when the War Department was notified by the German Government that he was held as a prisoner of war. The prisoner of war status was terminated on 2 February 1945 when the Secretary of War received evidence from the German Government through the International Red Cross that established the fact of his death.
Hunter was captured in France after the D-Day Invasion on September 11, 1944 and sent to Stalag VII A at Moosburg, Bavaria, Germany. Here, he completed his Prisoner of War identification records which we now have a copy of. He listed his father's first name as Leroy, his mother's surname as Pitts, his civilian occupation as theater manager.
He was later assigned to work camp 1315 aka Camp Ampfing as prisoner 87595 on 18 October 1944, located at Dorfen, Bavaria, Germany. The work camps, were called Kommandos, and were usual farms where twenty PW's lived in a farmhouse of five rooms, with one room having a stove to cook Red Cross Food. They slept in three of the rooms on bunk beds with straw bedding with eider-downs. Bathing and toilet facilities were crude, but similar to their employer. They sometimes ate with the farmer they worked for and the food was good. They had two uniforms, a dress uniform, and two pair of shoes. Two-thirds were free on Sundays; the others did essential farm work. They were even paid a small amount for their work.
Medical supplies were on hand for minor injuries and a civilian doctor took sick call twice a week.
While he was at Dorfen he contacted Diphtheria and was first treated at the prison hospital and later the civilian hospital. Despite the efforts of the German and French doctors he died at 0230 21 January 1945. He was attended by a French priest in his last days and received the holy sacraments of the Catholic Church as well as a Catholic Burial.
His body was embalmed and a Catholic funeral Mass was celebrated for the peace of his soul by the French Catholic Chaplain of the Prisoner of War Military hospital in Dorfen a.d. Isen (Oberbayern) Germany, Father Henri Jonquent, Cure de St. Jean des Ollieres, Puy de Done, France with ten fellow American PW friends of his and Serb prisoners of war attending the funeral. The good people of Dorfen made a wooden coffin for him; a wooden cross was placed over his grave with the following words carved into it:
"In Memory of Jimmie Bowler, American PW Born 24.10.21 Washington USA Died 23 Jan.1945 in Dorfen."
He was buried 25 January 1945 at 1030 in Row 6, Plot 5 in the Dorfen community cemetery in the Prisoner of War Section.
An investigation was conducted as to where he was buried by Cpl N.A. Baer, Jr, 33710012 303 QM. G.R. Co M.B.U. #5 on 28 May 28 1946.
Hunter's remains were located, the details of his death were verified, he was disinterred and reinterred at the Military Cemetery at St. Avoid near Metz, France with a Catholic burial at 1130 on 8 June 1946 by Chaplain Z. S.Kish, Capt in Plot DDDD Row 7 Grave 73.
Hunter's remains were prepared for repatriation to the United States beginning 18 June 1948 and completed on 22 June 1948. They were shipped by rail from St. Avoid 23 October 1948 to Antwerp, Belgium.
On 7 December, 1948 at Antwerp the remains were placed on the USAT Barney Kirschaum for the Atlantic crossing.
A telegram was sent to Hunter's wife Dorothy from the USAT Barney Kirschaum. The first sentence reads thus:
"PLEASE BE ADVISED REMAINS OF THE LATE PVT. JAMES H. BOWLER ARE ENROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES. OUR RECORDS INDICATE YOU WISH REMAINS BURIED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, FORT MYER, VIRGINIA"
Dorothy died in a tragic accident on 9 November 1948. She never knew his remains were on the way home.
Distribution Center One was promptly notified of Dorothy's death and the rights referred to Hunter's mother who followed Dorothy's wishes.
The USAT Barney Kirschaum arrived in New York on 3 January 3 1949 and the remains arrived at Distribution Center One on 4 January 1949.
On Monday 31 January 1949 Mortuary car 8907 carrying sixty four World War II dead and accompanied by one officer escort left New York at 1900. The car arrived at Rosslyn, Virginia 1 February 1949 at 0700. J.J. Walsh, Jr, the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery signed for the remains.
The funeral for Hunter and 23 others was held the next day.
Inscription
James H Bowler
Virgina
PVT
134 INF REGT
World War II
Oct 21, 1921
Jan 23, 1945
Family Members
Other Records
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