Need help with ID of the General this uniform belonged to

[kyhistorian01]

I have had this uniform for some time and have recently pulled it out of storage. It is missing one star which I think I have but the uniform has no name in it. It does have a 4 digit number and the letter B. Another clue may be that it has engineer buttons on it and a nice custom ribbon bar that may help ID the General. Would love to put a face and story back with this uniform if I can. Any help appreciated.

 

Robert

[kyhistorian01]

ribbons

[kyhistorian01]

number and letter

[kyhistorian01]

tailor label

[patches]

Going on the number with the B after it, I checked the O Registers from 1953 and 1954 for Major Generals with last name B, no matches, they are all Combat Branch commissioned, I checked these years because of a lack of a ribbon for the National Defense Service Medal.

 

One possibility will be this General is a National Guard or Reserve Officer called up because the Korean War, thus not being on these particular lists as these only list Regular Army, unfortunately these sources while extremely valuable does not offer Reserve Component Officer lists till the 1967 volumes.

[CNY Militaria]

Your uniform belonged to Major General Frank O. Bowman.

 

Frank was born on 27 July 1896 in Mesilla Park in the then Territory of New Mexico where his family had moved in 1877. This small community he grew up and described his elementary education as "spotty"—but it must have been thorough as attested by his later accomplishments. Also he learned to ride and shoot as amply proven by his polo playing and his Distinguished Rifle and Pistol Awards from the National Matches. He attended the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and one term at what is now New Mexico State University, then took a prep course at Doud's in Washington, DC, prior to entering the Academy.

 

Although Frank could not be properly called an “Army Brat” it is of interest that his great-great-uncle, Alexander Hamilton Bowman, was a member of the Class of 1825 and was Superintendent of West Point from 1861 to 1864. Also his cousin, Edwin Bowman Lyon, was a member of the Class of 1915.

 

As might be expected Frank did extremely well at the Academy holding cadet ranks of corporal, sergeant and lieutenant. He graduated Number 55 in his class which numbered 227. Upon graduation he was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers in which branch he served throughout his career in grades from second lieutenant to major general.

 

Frank's class and the class that followed were graduated early—on 1 November 1918—to help meet the World War I need for junior officers. Ten days later, however, the Armistice was signed. Frank, along with the other 61 members of his Class assigned to the Corps of Engineers, was detailed as a student officer to The Engineer School at Camp A.A. Humphreys, Virginia (now Fort Belvoir), for a course in Civil Engineering. In June 1919 the students and faculty at the School were sent to Europe for a tour of the battlefields and the Service of Supply installations, returning to Camp Humphreys in September to continue their engineering studies. Having completed the Engineering course in June 1920, Frank was assigned to the 2d Engineers at Camp Travis, Texas, where he commanded the Map Reproduction Train and Company ‘‘A’’ until February 1921, when he returned to Camp Humphreys for a four-month Military Engineering course. In June 1921 he was ordered to the 3d Engineers in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he served as a company commander and other miscellaneous regimental duties.

 

In the spring of 1924 Frank made the Regimental Rifle Team; was sent to the mainland where he competed for and won a place on the Engineer Team which won the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, that year—edging out the Marines. It should be mentioned here that he made the Engineer Team on three later occasions—1925, 1929 and 1931.

 

Most of Frank's career was in connection with the military functions of the Corps of Engineers. His only tour on Civil Works was from 1934 to 1938 when he was on duty with the Washington, D.C., District, where he served as a member and recorder for the Beach Erosion Board; a most interesting and responsible duty as he visited practically every beach in the United States—from Maine to Texas and from Mexico to California.

Frank’s other assignments prior to World War II were with the 29th Engineer Topographs' Battalion at Camp Humphreys from 1924 to 1929; on ROTC duty at Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auhum from 1929 to 1934, and with the Fourth Engineers at Fort Benning, Georgia, from 1938 to 1941. An interesting note is that on three separate occasions with the 3d, 4th and 2d Engineers, Frank commanded Company “A."

 

Just prior to World War II Frank organized and commanded the 4th Engineer Battalion at Fort Benning. This was the Engineer unit of the 4th Division which participated in maneuvers and demonstrations in 1941. In early 1942 the Division moved to Camp Gordon, Georgia, but shortly thereafter, Frank was assigned as Corps Engineer of II Corps at Jacksonville, Florida. The Corps Headquarters went to England in July 1942 but in a few months Frank was ordered to London to become Engineer, American Forces Headquarters. In November 1942 the Headquarters sailed to North Africa and in January 1943 Frank was assigned as the Engineer of the Fifth United States Army. The mission of Fifth Army Headquarters was to prepare for and execute the invasion of Italy. After a short tour as Engineer of Service of Supply in Oran, Frank returned as Engineer of the Fifth Army and served in this capacity throughout the campaign in Italy until the Germans surrendered in 1945. The war in Europe having ended, Frank was ordered to the Pacific Theater and arrived in the Philippines in September 1945. From there he went on to Japan and became the Engineer of the Base Section for all Japan. He held this position until March 1946 when he was transferred to Okinawa as commander of the Ground Forces in the Ryukyus.

 

In June 1946 he returned to the United States. Following a brief assignment as G4 of the Army Ground Forces in Fort Monroe, Virginia, he was placed in command of the Columbus General Depot at Columbus, Ohio, where he served from September 1946 until October 1949. From that date until January 1953 he was stationed at Fort Belvoir where he was Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff.

 

Because of his highly successful World War II military engineering experience, Frank was then selected to become the Engineer, Headquarters Army Forces Far East with station at Zama, Japan. This tour required extensive travel, particularly to Korea. Frank’s last assignment was Commanding General, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, from April 1955 until his retirement in June 1956.

 

During his yearling year at West Point Frank met Lucy Reed Curtis from Staten Island, New York, and they were married on 17 June 1920. Both of their children, Frank O. Jr. and Henry D., were born in Hawaii. Both served as officers in World War II and both in the Corps of Engineers.

 

Following retirement Frank and Lucy made their home in Carmel, California. However, Frank was not ready to fully retire and accepted a civilian engineering job in Korea which lasted until June 1959. Two years later he again went to Korea, as Chief Advisor to the Korean Joint Construction Agency until October, 1963. Frank then retired for good and devoted his time to golf, reading and civic duties.

 

For his outstanding services in his many varied assignments Frank was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Also he received the Purple Heart and five battle stars on his European Theater Ribbon.

 

His foreign decorations were: Honorable Commander, Order of the British Empire; Croix de Guerre avee Etoile de Vermeil (France); Silver Medal for Valor (Italy); Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy; Medalha de Guerra (Brazil); Order of the Military Ulchi with Gold Star (Korea).

 

 

 

 

[CNY Militaria]

..

[patches]

Ah Ha, thanks CNY, he must of been promoted some time in 1954, as of 1 January 1954 he's listed as a Brigadier and appears as a Major General 1 January 1955

[patches]

 

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/101585

 

His Dress Blues Items seem to have been around, and sold a while back.

 

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb/item/68387919_wwii-us-army-major-general-frank-bowman-uniform

[kyhistorian01]

Thanks, CNY Now I can display it with his history. Would love to see a shot of the uniform you have as it appears to be his dress blues. nice to know it is in good hands.

 

Regards,

 

Robert

[patches]

[kyhistorian01]

tiuy.png

Thanks patches for all your help, the information will allow me to keep the general remembered in the public displays I set up. I love this forum you guys are the best.

[patches]

Thanks patches for all your help, the information will allow me to keep the general remembered in the public displays I set up. I love this forum you guys are the best.

My pleasure, kinda crazy with his grades, that Temporary and Permanent Grade thing the Army does going on there right.

 

I was trying to figure why no ribbon for the National Defense Service Medal is present on both his White and Dress Blue coats, a good guess is since they are custom made, he got the racks done juuust before the NDSM came out, and would not bother getting these racks upgraded for that one ribbon, especially the one on the White coat as it's a big one piece sewn on panel, the one on the Blue coat appears to be sewn on in rows, still a pain to have removed and shifted for that one ribbon.