World War II Honoree

Norton J. Bowman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON 28 SEPTEMBER, 1943 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. TRAINED AS A FIELD LINEMAN AND DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON 23 MARCH 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ENTERED COMBAT WITH BATTERY B, 29TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 4TH INFANTRY ‘IVY’ DIVISION AT UTAH BEACH ON D-DAY OF THE ALLIED INVASION/OPERATION OVERLORD. FOUGHT THROUGH THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE AND RHINELAND CAMPAIGNS UNTIL SEVERELY WOUNDED IN ACTION ON 16 SEPTEMBER 1944 IN VICINITY OF ZWEIFALL, GERMANY. REMOVED FROM THE BATTLEFIELD AND HOSPITALIZED IN EUROPE TILL RETURN TO THE STATES ON 17 MARCH 1945. EARNED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, THE PURPLE HEARD MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH A DISABILITY CERTIFICATE AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON 1 OCTOBER 1945 AT HARMON GENERAL HOSPITAL AT LONGVIEW, TEXAS. DIED OF MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS AND BURIED WITH MILITARY HONORS AT ELMWOOD CEMETERY IN FLORA ILLINOIS. ALSO HONORED AT THE WW II MEMORIAL IN THAT CITY.