Jack Leonard Bowers was born on 29 January 1925, son of James Bowers and Ella Cleo Daugherty Massengill. He was married but his wife died when she gave birth to their son, Jack Wilfred Bowers. Pfc. Bowers served in the European Theater of Operations under General Patton. He was killed in action at the Battle of the Bulge on 3 January 1945
Buried at Highland Memorial Cemetery, Knoxville, TN.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, January 24, 1945:
Mrs. W.H. Massengill, 2606 Division Street, received a letter from her son, Pfc. Jack L. Bowers, the same day that she received a telegram from the War Department notifying her that the boy had been killed in action Jan. 3 in Belgium. The letter from Pfc. Bowers was dated Dec. 21 and stated that he guessed he would “have Christmas dinner in a foxhole, but I hope to be home soon.” He had been in the Army two years. He has been overseas six months. He had written that he participated in the German invasion.
Surviving besides his mother, are two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Anderson and Mrs. Alice Spencer, Knoxville; a brother, Pvt. Carl O. Bowers, Camp Roberts, Cal., and his step-father, W.H. Massengill; a step-sister, Miss Ida Massengill and a step-brother, James Massengill, all of Knoxville.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, 7 January 1948
Jack Bowers, only 4 years old, today wears the Purple Heart medal of his father, Pvt. Jack Leonard Bowers, who was killed in Belgium in January of 1944. Jack lives with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Cabbage, 341 Western Heights. His mother died at his birth. The medal was sent to Jack by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and was pinned on him last night in ceremonies at the local chapter. Mrs. Cabbage is putting aside Jack’s allotment from the Government for his future education, and already has $1000 toward his entrance into college. She hopes he will become a doctor.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 29 January 1925
- Date of death: 3 January 1945
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: Company B, 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Battle of the Bulge
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Highland Memorial Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIV, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Jack L. Bowers
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