Ralph Thomas “Cork” BOWERS 1913 – 1992
Ralph Thomas “Cork” Bowers was born on September 24, 1913 in Stockertown, Pennsylvania to Warren and Sarah Bowers.
His family emigrated from Germany in the 1700s and numerous members of the family fought to establish the United States of America during the Revolutionary War.
As was common in his era, he left school after 7th grade and helped support his family.
He worked in the silk mills and then as a painter and paper hanger with his family’s painting business.
On June 20, 1936, Cork married Catherine Elmira Marsch and in 1939, they welcomed their child in April 1939, Warren James “Corky” Bowers (and in 1947 a daughter Kay Ann).
Despite having a wife and 4-year old son, he was drafted for service in 1943 and was inducted into the US. Army two days after Christmas, December 27, 1943.
He trained in Camp Blanding, Florida as an Infantry Scout and shipped out for the European Theater of Operations on July 1, 1944 to arrive in Italy.
He served with the 7th Infantry Regiment(7th I.R.) of the 3rd Infantry Division.
The 7th IR. is known as “The Cottonbalers” regiment, so named from its use of cotton bales as defensive works during the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.
Their regiment motto, “Volens et Potens” means Willing and Able.
From Italy, his unit participated in the invasion and campaign of southern France, through the Vosges Mountains where Ralph and company E distinguished themselves from October 30 to November 4, 1944, during the “Haute Jacques” battles…
…and fought through the brutal winter in “the forgotten battle” of the Colmar Pocket campaign.
It was just outside of Ostheim, on the 23rd of January 1945 where he earned the Silver Star medal for Gallantry in Action.
His Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Ralph T. Bowers (33835800), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 23 January 1945, near Ostheim, France, Private First Class Bowers single-handedly attacked an enemy machine gun which had killed 1 soldier, wounded 10 more, and forced the other members of his platoon to seek cover in a ditch. Although bullets skimmed over his head, he crawled to a point 35 yards from the enemy, and loaded his bazooka. Then, rising to his knee, he fired one round into the hostile gun emplacement, killing the gunner and wounding his assistant. With the enemy weapon silenced, his platoon was able to resume its advance. Headquarters, 3d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 223 (June 23,1945) Home Town: Easton, Pennsylvania.
He was wounded during fierce fighting on February 4, 1945 (we assume near Biesheim – his records were part of the records lost in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center) and was hospitalized for several weeks ending up in a hospital in Paris.
By mid-March, he was back with his unit and crossing into Germany, breaking through the Siegfried line and fighting onward to be with the first Allied troops into Berchtesgaden on May 4, 1945.
Photo most likely taken after May 8, 1945, during the German occupation, in Bebra near Kassel.
Ralph Thomas “Cork” BOWERS’ unfailing commitment to the Second World War is reflected in the 3 medals he earned for his bravery in combat : 1 Silver Star, 1 Bronze Star, 1 Purple Heart.
He returned to Pennsylvania in December of 1945 having completed his military service.
He rejoined the family painting and paper hanging business and in 1947, his wife gave birth to their daughter Kay Ann.
He never wanted to talk about his time in the service and when anyone would suggest that he was a hero, he would disagree and said that he just did what had to be done. As his granddaughter, I still think he was pretty heroic!
Despite having frequent nightmares and persisting pain from his wounds for the rest of his life he worked hard every day to support his family the best way that he could.
He also served as the volunteer Fire Chief in his home town.
He passed away April 21, 1992 at the age of 78, having outlived his wife, Catherine by 19 years.
He was buried with military honors with shrapnel still in his body.
When times feel like they are getting difficult, I remind myself of the actions that my grandfather took in the service of his country, and for the sake of freedom across the globe and I realize that the situation isn’t that bleak and that I should just try to BE LIKE RALPH! I have a framed reminder that I keep on my desk to Be Ralph.
Written by Jill Bowers, granddaughter of Ralph T. “Cork” Bowers
We sincerely thank Jill Bowers for sharing her family archives and her story so that we can pay tribute to Ralph Thomas “Cork” BOWERS for his engagement and participation in the liberation of our region from the Nazi yoke.
We won’t forget Ralph and his comrades!