World War II Honoree

Johnnie R. Cowen

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Cleveland, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1945, IN THE CLOSING MONTHS OF HOSTILITIES. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, AND WAS THEN ASSIGNED ABOARD THE HEAVY CRUISER USS FALL RIVER (CA-131). HIS SHIP SAILED FROM NORFOLK NAVY BASE IN VIRGINIA IN EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS UNTIL JANUARY 31, 1946. THEN, SAILED TO SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA, WHERE, FROM FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 6, 1946, THE SHIP PREPARED FOR FLAGSHIP DUTY IN THE PACIFIC. SAILED OVERSEAS AND ARRIVED AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON MARCH 17, 1946, WHERE THE VESSEL EMBARKED THE COMMANDER OF THE TARGET VESSEL'S GROUP FOR THE ATOMIC BOMB TESTS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. HE PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION CROSSROADS, THE ATOMIC WEAPONS TESTS AT BIKINI ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IN JULY, 1946. USS FALL RIVER SERVED AS A FLAGSHIP AND SAILED IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS BETWEEN MAY 21 - AND SEPTEMBER 14, 1946. AWARDED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. SEAMAN FIRST CLASS COWEN CONTINUED IN U.S. NAVY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.