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S/Sgt David I. Bowen was employed at the J A Jones Construction Company before he enlisted at Camp Blanding, Florida on 16 October 1943.

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously. The citation cited: For heroic service in connection with military operation against an enemy of the United States in the vicinity of Habkirchen, Germany on 13 and 14 December, 1944. Sgt Bowen, an acting squad leader, directed his machine gun crew in defense of a building in Habkirchen against strong and repeated enemy attacks on 13 December. About 0230 on 14 December, the enemy launched a sharp counter attack with rocket launchers and grenades. Despite the fact that each member of his crew was wounded, Sgt Bowen kept the machine gun in operation and personally manned the gun when his first gunner fainted from loss of blood. When an enemy rocket disabled the machine gun, the Germans called for the crew to surrender. This demand was answered by rifle fire. At daybreak, this crew secured another machine gun and placed it in operations in the same building. Using the machinegun, carbines, and captured German weapons, the crew under Sgt Bowen's skilfull direction, stopped all enemy attempts to infiltrate into buildings in that vicinity, and held their position until reinforcements arrived at dusk. Sgt Bowen's coureageous and resourceful actions contributed to the success of his unit in maintaining its Bridgehead across the Blies river in Habkirchen.

He was killed by small arms fire to the head.