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| Staff Sergeant J. H. Fowler served in the 9th Infantry Division. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85708109/j_-h_-fowler |
J.H. Fowler never had the chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
J. H. Fowler was born on 18 July 1920 in Las Animas, Bent County, Colorado. His mother, Etta (Ratliff) (Fowler) Posey (1887-1978) was originally from Alabama. His father was Henry Fowler.
In the 1930 US Federal Census, Etta was listed as the head of household in Blountsville, Blount County, Alabama. Living with her at that time were J. H. and a daughter Hazel, who had been born in New Mexico. According to J. H.’s obituary in The Southern Democrat, published on 7 April 1949, he also had an older sister Juanita (Fowler) Roberts, born in New Mexico, and an older brother Homer Fowler.
The 1940 Census shows that fifty-three-year-old Etta had remarried sometime in the 1930s. There, Etta Posey is recorded again as head of household. Her son J.H. Fowler (now 19 years old), her son Odus Posey (age 8) and a daughter Kathleen Posey (age 6) are the other recorded members of the household. J.H., who had completed four years of high school, was employed as a farm laborer, and reported having earned $300 in 1939.
On 14 February 1942, J.H. registered for the draft. He recorded his residence at this time as Beat 12, Cleveland, Blount County, Alabama, and his employer as John Pass of the same town. He listed his mother Mrs. Etta Posey as his next of kin. J.H. was 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed 190 pounds. He had hazel eyes, brown hair, and a ruddy complexion. It was noted he had a mole on his right cheek and a small scar on his chin.
In May 1943, J.H. enlisted in the Army (Serial Number 34-805-224) at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. He was later stationed at Camp Beauregard, Covington, Louisiana. Along the way, he met twenty-two-year-old Mabel Christine Bankston, from Louisiana, who he married in 1944 before shipping out for Europe.
J.H. was promoted to Staff Sergeant and assigned to the 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division – nicknamed the “Old Reliables.” This division participated in several major campaigns throughout Europe. They were involved in the infamous Battle of the Bulge (1944) and helped in the capture of the bridge at Remagen (1945).
In November 1944, J.H. was wounded in the arm by artillery shell fragments. He recuperated in a military hospital, was discharged, and returned to active duty. But five months later, on 2 April 1945, he was killed in action in Germany.
Back home in Louisiana, Mabel gave birth to a son Claude E. Fowler who would never know the father who had so valiantly made the ultimate sacrifice. Mabel later remarried to Edward L. Gatlin.
A memorial service was held for J.H. at Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland, AL in April 1949. In May 1949, Etta Posey applied for a marble marker for her son’s grave. J.H. Fowler is memorialized at Cleveland Methodist Cemetery, in Blount County, Alabama.
Among the military awards he received was the Purple Heart, the nation’s oldest military award, given to those wounded or killed while in service to the country.
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This profile was written by Joanne Dillon. “I’m a writer, amateur genealogist, and history buff. Writing profiles of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II is a way I can use my skills to help ensure they are not forgotten. It’s truly an honor to participate in this project.”
Last year on this date I profiled Normandy fallen Eldon Abbott, 79th Infantry Division. You can read about Eldon here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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