[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16262]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO MR. CHARLES ``BUSTER'' BOWEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2006

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and 
courageous patriotism of Mr. Charles ``Buster'' Bowen. As a navigator 
on a B-25 Bomber, Mr. Bowen proudly served his country in the Army Air 
Corps during the Second World War. The sacrifices he made to ensure the 
liberty and freedom of future generations will never be forgotten.
  In the late autumn of 1941, Buster Bowen was a senior studying 
accounting at the University of Texas. He was undoubtedly eager for 
graduation and full of enthusiasm for the future. However, like many 
young men and women of his generation, Mr. Bowen's world was 
unalterably changed following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
  After graduating from the University of Texas in June 1942, Mr. Bowen 
volunteered for military service. His military career began in the 
spring of 1943 at Kelley Field near San Antonio, Texas. After 
completing his training, Mr. Bowen was assigned to the 345th 
Bombardment Group and sent to the Pacific. In a letter to his concerned 
mother, Mr. Bowen assured her he was assigned an office job--he didn't 
mention that his office was a small table under the turret of a B-25 
Bomber.
  The crews of the 345th frequently flew low-level bombing runs over 
enemy targets. On one such mission over Formosa on June 15, 1945, a 40 
millimeter explosive shell struck the escape hatch of Mr. Bowen's B-25 
Bomber. The shrapnel from the shell pierced the fuselage and badly 
injured Engineer Harold Warnick and Mr. Bowen. Mr. Warnick sustained 
injuries to his foot and Mr. Bowen to his back. Even after being 
injured, Mr. Bowen plotted a course to an auxiliary air base in 
northern Luzon so that Mr. Warnick could receive the medical attention 
he needed.
  For the injuries sustained by Mr. Bowen in June of 1945, he was 
awarded the Purple Heart. His squadron commander even displayed Mr. 
Bowen's bloodied shirt in the squad room to emphasize the importance of 
flight crews wearing the uncomfortable flak jackets.
  Following his injuries, Mr. Bowen was taken off flying status, but 
began flying once again before the end of the war. After hostilities in 
the Pacific ended, Mr. Bowen was stationed on the northern Japanese 
island of Hokkaido as part of the American occupation force.
  Mr. Speaker, like so many other young members of this Greatest 
Generation, Mr. Bowen set aside his ambitions and risked his life to 
ensure the continued freedom of our great nation. I urge my colleagues 
to join me in recognizing the patriotic service of Mr. Charles 
``Buster'' Bowen.

                          ____________________