Ray Bows

Ray Bows joined the US Army at the age of seventeen, in January 1963, completing basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and US Army Transportation School at Fort Eustis, Virginia. In 1963 he volunteered for Korea where he was stationed at the US Army Chemical Depot, Camp Mercer. He then volunteered for an inter-theater transfer to Europe, where he was assigned to the Rail Transportation Office (RTO) in downtown Paris, France. After three years in Paris, and a brief stateside assignment, he volunteered for Vietnam where he was assigned from June 1968 to June 1969. Among other transportation assignments, he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi where he coordinated convoy movement within the Iron Triangle and III Corps. After Vietnam, he was assigned to Germany, Belgium, and again to Korea for a total of almost sixteen years overseas service. He retired from active duty in February 1983, at which time he began researching and writing about the Vietnam War. Master Sergeant Bows is the recipient of the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and the 1st Infantry Division's Professional Brotherhood Award. In the 1970's he penned a column for the European Edition of the Stars and Stripes. In 2020, Ray proudly received the first place David Schenkman Literary Award for his article on "The Life and Times of ​E. T. Riley, the Slot Machine King of Shanghai" published in the TAMS Journal.