Rion-Bowman Post No. 632, Harrisonburg, was issued a charter by the National Headquarters, V.F.W, on March 30, 1921. The post was named in honor of Private Herbert W. Rion, who was killed in action in Meuse Argonne on September 30, 1918, and is buried in France, and Sgt. William H. Bowman, who was killed in action in Russia on March 1, 1919, from wounds received while passing down the firing line in a heroic effort to keep up the spirits of his men, for which he received, posthumously, a Distinguished Service Cross. (Sources: John Wayland's Historic Harrisonburg, Daily News-Record, and markers at Woodbine and St. Jacobs "Spaders" Church)
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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant William H. Bowman, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company B, 399th Infantry, 85th Division (Detachment in North Russia), in action near Tulgas, Russia, 12 November 1918, and on 1 March 1919. During the engagement at Tulgas, rather than order any of his men to take the risk, Sergeant Bowman personally delivered a message over a road torn and swept by machine-gun and shell fire. On 1 March 1919, when knee-deep in snow, and after he had been exposed for almost three hours to a temperature below zero and to enemy fire, he was mortally wounded while passing down the firing line in an heroic effort to keep up the spirits of his men.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant William H. Bowman, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company B, 399th Infantry, 85th Division (Detachment in North Russia), in action near Tulgas, Russia, 12 November 1918, and on 1 March 1919. During the engagement at Tulgas, rather than order any of his men to take the risk, Sergeant Bowman personally delivered a message over a road torn and swept by machine-gun and shell fire. On 1 March 1919, when knee-deep in snow, and after he had been exposed for almost three hours to a temperature below zero and to enemy fire, he was mortally wounded while passing down the firing line in an heroic effort to keep up the spirits of his men.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Rion-Bowman Post No. 632, Harrisonburg, was issued a charter by the National Headquarters, V.F.W, on March 30, 1921. The post was named in honor of Private Herbert W. Rion, who was killed in action in Meuse Argonne on September 30, 1918, and is buried in France, and Sgt. William H. Bowman, who was killed in action in Russia on March 1, 1919, from wounds received while passing down the firing line in a heroic effort to keep up the spirits of his men, for which he received, posthumously, a Distinguished Service Cross. (Sources: John Wayland's Historic Harrisonburg, Daily News-Record, and markers at Woodbine and St. Jacobs "Spaders" Church)
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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant William H. Bowman, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company B, 399th Infantry, 85th Division (Detachment in North Russia), in action near Tulgas, Russia, 12 November 1918, and on 1 March 1919. During the engagement at Tulgas, rather than order any of his men to take the risk, Sergeant Bowman personally delivered a message over a road torn and swept by machine-gun and shell fire. On 1 March 1919, when knee-deep in snow, and after he had been exposed for almost three hours to a temperature below zero and to enemy fire, he was mortally wounded while passing down the firing line in an heroic effort to keep up the spirits of his men.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
********
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant William H. Bowman, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company B, 399th Infantry, 85th Division (Detachment in North Russia), in action near Tulgas, Russia, 12 November 1918, and on 1 March 1919. During the engagement at Tulgas, rather than order any of his men to take the risk, Sergeant Bowman personally delivered a message over a road torn and swept by machine-gun and shell fire. On 1 March 1919, when knee-deep in snow, and after he had been exposed for almost three hours to a temperature below zero and to enemy fire, he was mortally wounded while passing down the firing line in an heroic effort to keep up the spirits of his men.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Inscription
Cited for extraordinary heroism in action... Died Mar 1, 1919 at Tulgas, Russia from wounds received while passing down the firing line in a heroic effort to keep up the spirits of his men.
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