Albert Jesse Bowley, Sr

Early career

Bowley was born on November 24, 1875 in Westminster, California. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1897 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Artillery. He served in the Philippines during the Spanish–American War.

Between the Spanish–American War and World War I, Bowley served in a variety of command and staff assignments, including commander of a coast artillery company at Fort Greble, Rhode Island, aide-de-camp to Major General Frederick Dent Grant and military attaché in China. He also served on the Mexican border during the Punitive Expedition in pursuit of Pancho Villa of 1916 to 1917.

During World War I, Bowley successively commanded the 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, and VI Corps Artillery, attaining the rank of brigadier general in 1918, and receiving the Distinguished Service Medal.

Post World War I

In 1921, Bowley became commander of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a post he held until 1928. During this assignment, he was responsible for Fort Bragg's expansion into one of the Army's largest installations.

Bowley was assigned as temporary commander of VIII Corps 1928, and he commanded the 2nd Infantry Division from 1928 to 1929. From 1929 to 1931 he was the Army's Assistant Army Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1. In 1931, he was promoted to major general and was assigned to command the US Army's Hawaiian Division, where he remained until 1934. Bowley commanded the Fifth Corps from 1934 to 1935, and the III Corps from 1935 to 1938. He was then commander of 4th Army and IX Corps. He was promoted to lieutenant general on August 5, 1939 and served until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 64 on November 24 of the same year.

Death and legacy

General Bowley died at his summer home in Northumberland County, Virginia on May 22, 1945 and was interred in Section 3 Grave Site 1997-A of Arlington National Cemetery.

He was a hereditary companion of the California Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States by right of inheritance from his father was a veteran companion of the Order.

Family

He was brother to Lt. Colonel Freeman W. Bowley, uncle to Freeman's son, Major General Albert J. Bowley, USAF, Retired (born at Fort Bragg, 1921), and great uncle to Colonel Albert John Bowley, Jr., USAF, Retired, all of whom had distinguished military careers.

Awards

The Ribbon bar of Lieutenant General Bowley:

Citation for Distinguished Service Medal:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Albert J. Bowley, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. General Bowley commanded the 17th Field Artillery, and later the 2d Field Artillery Brigade, in the active operations from July to November 1918. The artillery support under his direction in the engagements near Chateau-Thierry, near Soissons, those in the St. Mihiel salient, Blanc Mont Ridge, and in the Meuse-Argonne region were important factors in the great successes gained.

Service: Army; Rank: Brigadier General; War Department, General Orders No. 59 (1919)