Born: September 5, 1922
Died: December 10, 1971
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations: Purple Heart
Murray Bower was an original member of Baker Company, 24th Marines. Originally ranked a private and rated as a rifleman, he received a promotion to Private First Class on January 11, 1944. He shipped out for combat two days later, and fought through the battle of Namur with his fire team.
After arriving at Camp Maui, Bower was reassigned to the machine gun platoon as an ammunition carrier. He landed on Saipan with his new platoon, and fought through the first portion of the battle with them.*
PFC Bower made the landing on Tinian, and participated in the entire campaign. He returned to Maui with his company, and spent the fall and winter resting and training for the next objective.
Bower landed on Iwo Jima with his machine gun team, and fought there until seriously wounded on February 21, 1945. He was permanently evacuated from combat.
Murray Bower returned to Connecticut after his discharge; he died in Hartford at age forty-nine.
*[Bower was one of a number of Baker Company men who was listed as Missing In Action from July 1 - July 13, 1944. Each was reported as Returned to Duty on July 14. Whether evacuated for illness, assigned to some other duty, or commandeered by another officer for some unknown task is for now a mystery. The others were PFC George Claar - Mortars, PFC Arthur Kirkpatrick - BAR, PFC James Smith - Mortars, PFC Carroll Stoutt - Rifleman, PFC Harvey Armstrong, and PFC George Louvris - Barber. Please contact me if you have any information on these men.]