Brigadier General Thomas E Bowen, M.D.

Brigadier General Thomas E. Bowen (Ret), MD, a dedicated officer of the United States Army passed peacefully on 15 April 2019 in Apollo Beach, FL. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Margaret Bowen, and six children: James, Mark, Matthew, Jonathan, Mary, and Thaddeus. He was born in Lackawanna, NY, on 16 December 1934.

He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1961 from Saint Bonaventure University and his Doctorate of Medicine degree from Marquette University School of Medicine in 1965. He completed a rotating medical internship and trained in General Surgery at Tripler Army General Hospital, Honolulu, HI. He trained in Thoracic Surgery at Walter Reed Army General Hospital, Washington, D.C. General Bowen attended the US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA. His military and professional experiences include: enlisted service (Staff Sergeant USAF Aviation Mechanic); Commercial Pilot; Flight Instructor; Air Frame and Engine Mechanic; ROTC (Field Artillery). He was commissioned in the Field Artillery in 1961 and received his commission as a Captain in the Medical Corps in 1965. General Bowen’s academic accomplishments include Associate Professor, Dept of Surgery, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD; Associate Professor, Dept of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of South Florida.

His command and staff positions were: Chief of Surgery & Chief of Professional Services, 93rd Evac Hospital, Long Binh, Vietnam; Division Surgeon & Commanding Officer, 23rd MED BN, Chu Lai, Americal Division; Asst. Chief, Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery Service Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; Chief, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Service, Letterman Army Medical Center, Presidio of San Francisco, CA; Dep Director, Professional Services Directorate, Office of the Surgeon General, Washington, D.C.; Dep Commander & Chief, Professional Services, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity Panama, Gorgas Army Hospital, Republic of Panama; Cdr., U.S. Army Medical Department Activity Panama; Command Surgeon, U.S. Southern Command; Director, Health Services, 193rd Inf Bde (Panama); Cdr., Gorgas Army Hospital, Republic of Panama; Cdr., 18th Medical Command; Cdr., 121st Evacuation Hospital; Surgeon, U.S. Forces Korea and Eighth U.S. Army, Korea; Cdr., Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, CO; Chief of Staff, James A. Haley VA Medical Center, Tampa, FL.

His awards include the Legion of Merit w/ 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster, Soldiers Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Honor Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Civic Action Medal, Overseas Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Achievement Medal, Order of Military Medical Merit and the Republic of Panama’s Alfredo Lezcano Gomez Medal for service to the Republic of Panama.

Visitation will be 22 April 2019 from 6:00-8:00pm at Blount & Curry Terrace Oaks Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, 23 April 2019 at 10:30am at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 56th St., Temple Terrace, Florida. Burial will follow at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell with Full Military Honors at 2:00pm.