Albert Jesse Bowley Sr. (November 24, 1875 – May 23, 1945) was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. He was the son of First Lieutenant Freeman S. Bowley, who served in the Civil War with the 30th United States Colored Infantry.
Early career
Bowley was born on November 24, 1875, in Westminster, California, the son of Freeman Sparks Bowley and Flora Ella Pepper Bowley. His sister was actress Flora Juliet Bowley. 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.Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, by George Washington Cullum, Volume V, 1910, page 576
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, additionally attaining the temporary rank of brigadier general in June 1918, and receiving the Army Distinguished Service Medal, The citation for which reads:
Post World War I In August 1919, Bowley reverted to his permanent rank of colonel. In 1920, he graduated from the United States Army War College. Bowley accepted a permanent promotion to brigadier general in May 1921. In 1921, he became commander of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a post he held until 1928. During this assignment, Bowley was responsible for Fort Bragg's expansion into one of the Army's largest installations. While there, he also served as acting commander of the Fourth Corps Area four times between January 1925 and October 1927.
Bowley commanded the 2nd Infantry Division from March 1928 to April 1929, and was assigned as temporary commander of the Eighth Corps Area from April to December 1928. 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 Area from 1934 to 1935, and the Third Corps Area from 1935 to 1938. He was then commander of Fourth Army and Ninth Corps Area. He was promoted to lieutenant general on August 5, 1939, when the four Army commanders were temporarily promoted to the reestablished grade and title of lieutenant general, 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.
Awards Below is Lieutenant General Bowley's ribbon bar:
1st RowArmy Distinguished Service Medal2nd RowSpanish Campaign MedalArmy of Cuban Occupation MedalPhilippine Campaign MedalMexican Border Service Medal3rd RowWorld War I Victory Medal with five battle claspsArmy of Occupation of Germany MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalOfficier de la Légion d'honneur4th RowFrench Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm and Gilt StarCommander of the Order of St. OlavOrder of the White Elephant, 4th ClassMedalla de la Solidaridad
Dates of rank No insigniaCadet, United States Military Academy: June 15, 1893No insignia in 1897Second Lieutenant, Regular Army: June 11, 1897First Lieutenant, Regular Army: March 2, 1899Captain, Regular Army: August 1, 1901Major, Regular Army: February 9, 1912Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army: July 1, 1916Colonel, Regular Army: May 15, 1917Brigadier General, National Army: June 26, 1918Colonel, Regular Army: August 15, 1919Brigadier General, Regular Army: April 19, 1921Major General, Regular Army: February 20, 1931Lieutenant General, Regular Army: August 5, 1939Lieutenant General, Retired List: November 24, 1939
References
Bibliography
Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, by George Washington Cullum, Volume V, 1910 The Chicago Blue Book of Selected Names of Chicago and Suburban Towns, published by The Chicago Directory Company, 1909, page 103
Commendations of Second Division, American Expeditionary Forces, published by Second Division Association, 1919 U.S. Army Recruiting News, U.S. Army Adjutant General's Office, 1931 The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book for 1937, published by Chicago Daily News, 1937, page 214 U.S. Army Directory, U.S. Army Adjutant General's Office, 1939 "Gen. A.J. Bowley Dead In Virginia," New York Times, May 24, 1945, http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E15FD3E5F1B7B93C6AB178ED85F418485F9 U.S. Air Force General Officer Biographies, Albert J. Bowley Jr., https://web.archive.org/web/20090910215827/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio_print.asp?bioID=4752&page=1