Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Edwin Turner Bowden, Sr. Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: VI Corps; 24th Infantry; 4th Infantry; 15th Infantry
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/20694
Commissioned as an Army officer in 1917, Colonel Edwin Turner Bowden, Sr., was already a seasoned soldier by the time of his service in North Africa and the European Theater during World War II. Though no stranger to long periods of separation from his wife, Alli, his letters convey his longing for her, particularly as the war drags on. He offers little commentary on his war experiences beyond poetic descriptions of his accommodations, the French people he meets, and the landscape surrounding him, his explorations of which seem to provide solace: "I love to wander through the streets in the dusk and watch the panorama of ancient life and customs" (letter to Alli, 5/23/1943). The uncertainty of war is never far off; he tells Alli that his nightly dreams of her are good omens, and signs that he will return home safely.
More Resources
Show more resources (408)
About this Item
Title
- Edwin Turner Bowden, Sr. Collection
Names
- Bowden, Edwin T.
- Bowden Sr., Edwin Turner
Headings
- - Bowden Sr., Edwin Turner
- - World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1914-1918
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 24th Infantry; 4th Infantry; 15th Infantry
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Dates of Service: 1917-1948
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran was stationed along the Mexican border and was with the 24th Infantry when it battled Pancho Villa's forces in Juarez, Mexico.
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: VI Corps
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Dates of Service: 1917-1948
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of document (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [26 items] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Civilian papers (certificates, forms, wills, etc) [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [250 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1919-1946)
- Manuscript: Biographical information [2 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [4 items] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Diaries and journals [3 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1943)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945-03)
- Photograph: Mixed (Multiple types of photographs) [15 items] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Duplicate [1 item] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/20694
Cite as
- Edwin Turner Bowden, Sr. Collection (AFC/2001/001/20694), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Algeria
- Belgium
- China
- Columbus, New Mexico
- Deming, New Mexico
- Douglas, Arizona
- El Paso, Texas
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Juarez, Mexico
- Leon Springs, Texas
- Luxemburg
- Manila (Philippines)
- North Africa