The career Marine Corps non-commissioned officer served in World War II and Korea. The 22-year veteran could have retired with a comfortable pension, but in April 1966 volunteered to go to Vietnam, where he was a weapons technician with the 3rd Service Battalion of the Forward Logistics Command. The gunnery sergeant, 39, was involved in combat operations in Hue, Phu Bai and Khe Sanh. He died in Da Nang, Quang Nam Province on July 25, 1966. Bowman was survived by his wife, a son, a daughter, his parents, three brothers and eight sisters.