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Those Who Died That Others Might Be Free

 

Charles Bowers

 

Date and Place of Birth: 1923 Marion, Ohio
Date and Place of Death: April 15, 1945 Germany
Baseball Experience: Minor League
Position: Shortstop
Rank: Technician Fifth Class
Military Unit: 138^th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion, 20^th Armored Division US Army
Area Served: European Theater of Operations

 

Charles W Bowers was born in Marion, Ohio in 1923. He began his professional baseball career with the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League in 1942 where he batted .246 with 29 RBIs in 67 games.

 

It was to be his only season in professional baseball as Bowers entered military service on February 6, 1943. He trained with the Army at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin and then Camp Campbell, Kentucky. Bowers later trained at the Rossford Ordnance Depot in Toledo before departing for service in Europe.

 

With the 138^th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion, T/5 Bowers helped keep the tanks and other vehicles of the 20^th Armored Division in good repair as they advanced through Germany.

 

On April 13, 1945, Bowers was badly wounded and died on April 15. He was just 22 years old.

 

Charles Bowers is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Holland.

 

Added August 23, 2007. Updated June 19, 2008.

Copyright © 2008 Gary Bedingfield (Baseball in Wartime). All Rights Reserved.