Murray Malone Bowen

Murray looks like my kind of guy. He’s a twenty-year-old young man leaving the cotton fields of Plainview, Texas for the rolling seas of the United States Navy. The clothing left hanging out of the suitcase and the thumb-out looking for a ride leaves me to believe he’s in a hurry to start his adventure.

Not too long after this photo was taken in 1950, Murray found himself as a Hospital Corpsman with Company F, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division serving in Korea. I have a feeling Murray made friends easily and had a way of putting his buddies at ease while caring for their wounds. That trait would be put to the test on September 21, 1950.

Company F came under intense fire from enemy small arms, machine guns, and mortars at Yong Dong Po-Ri, Korea. Marines were falling all around him; yet Murray was doing everything he could for each one he went to aid while dodging bullets himself. Other Marines in the battle know that he treated nine wounded men before seeing another one fall seriously wounded in an alley. According to eyewitnesses, Hospitalman Bowen fearlessly and courageously moved forward into the alley, while enemy machinegun fire was sweeping the area. Murray was killed instantly just before reaching the side of the wounded Marine.

President Harry Truman posthumously awarded the Navy Cross to Hospital Corpsman Murray Malone Brown in recognition of his extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States.

All we know about Murray Bowen is what I’ve written here. I’m sure the Marines that watched Murray doing his job at Yong Dong Po-Ri never forgot him, especially those whose lives he may have saved. But chances are they are all gone now. It’s up to us to make sure Murray and his gallant service for his country is never forgotten.

I hope you’ll join me in remembering not only Murray but all our Veterans. We owe it to them. To never forget.