World War II Honoree

James M. Dowling

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oakland, New Jersey

Honored By

A Grateful American

HE WAS A CAREER SEAMAN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY FOR TWENTY YEARS BEFORE RETIRING FROM MILITARY SERVICE. HE ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST RANK POSSIBLE AS A CHIEF BOATSWAIN'S MATE AT THE AGE OF TWENTY-FOUR. HE WAS PART OF THE CAPTURE OF IWO JIMA, THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA, THE STORMING OF THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY, THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL, OPERATIONS IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS AND THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE WITNESSED THE FLIGHT OF THE ENOLA GAY ON ITS WAY TO DROP THE ATOMIC BOMB ON JAPAN. HE RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR AND SAVED A FELLOW SAILOR’S LIFE BY DIVING INTO THE SEA AND ASSISTING HIM TO BOARD THE SHIP.