Ocala in Marion County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Medal of Honor Florida Recipients

Ocala - Marion County Veterans Memorial Park

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 14, 2022

1. Medal of Honor Florida Recipients Marker

Inscription.

Medal of Honor Florida Recipients. Ocala - Marion County Veterans Memorial Park. [front] Criteria for Award . The Medal of Honor, established by Joint Resolution of Congress 12 July 1862 (amended by Act of 9 July 1918 and Act of 25 July 1963) is awarded in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Armed Forces, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguished the individual above his comrades and have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of service is exacted and each recommendation for award of this decoration is considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. Eligibility is limited to members of the Armed Forces of the United States in active Federal military service. The President of the United States of America authorized by Act of Congress March 3, 1863 has posthumously awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Hammett L. Bowen Jr. United States Army . For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Staff Sergeant Hammett L. Bowen Jr. distinguished himself on 27 June 1969 while serving as a platoon sergeant in Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division during combat operations in Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Bowen’s platoon was advancing on a reconnaissance mission into enemy controlled terrain when it came under the withering cross fire of small arms and grenades from an enemy ambush force. Sergeant Bowen placed heavy suppressive fire on the enemy positions and ordered his men to fall back. As the platoon was moving back an enemy grenade was thrown amid Sergeant Bowen and three of his men. Sensing the danger to his comrades Sergeant Bowen shouted a warning to his men and hurled himself on the grenade absorbing the explosion with his body while saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. Sergeant Bowen’s extraordinary courage and concern for his men at the cost of his own life served as an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the military service and the United States Army. [right side] U.S. Army . PFC Emory L. Bennett, Korea . Sp4C Nicholas J. Cutinha, Vietnam . PVT James H. Mills, world war two . 2nd Lt. Alexander R. Nininger, Jr. world war two . S/SGT. Clifford C. Sims, Vietnam . Capt. Charles A. Varnum, Indian War . SFC Paul Ray Smith, Iraq . SSG. Robert J. Miller, Afghanistan [left side] U.S. Navy . Lt. Comer. William M. Corey, Jr., October 2, 1920 . Lt. Clyde E. Lassen, Vietnam . Comdr. David McCambell, world war two . CMM. Francis E. Ormsbee, Jr., world war one . H.M.-3 “Doc” Robert R. Ingram, Vietnam U.S. Marine Corps . PFC Bruce W. Carter, Vietnam . PFC Robert H. Jenkins, Jr. Vietnam . 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez, Korea . Pvt. Robert M. McTureous. Jr., world war two Cpl. Larry E. Smedley, Vietnam [rear] U.S. Air Force . 2nd Lt. Robert E. Femoyer, U.S. Army Air Corps, world war two . Maj. Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. U.S. Army Air Corps, world war two

[front]
Criteria for Award
The Medal of Honor, established by Joint Resolution of Congress 12 July 1862 (amended by Act of 9 July 1918 and Act of 25 July 1963) is awarded in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Armed Forces, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguished the individual above his comrades and have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of service is exacted and each recommendation for award of this decoration is considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. Eligibility is limited to members of the Armed Forces of the United States in active Federal military service.

The President of the United States of America authorized by Act of Congress March 3, 1863 has posthumously awarded in the name of the Congress

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the Medal of Honor to

Staff Sergeant
Hammett L. Bowen Jr.
United States Army
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Staff Sergeant Hammett L. Bowen Jr. distinguished himself on 27 June 1969 while serving as a platoon sergeant in Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division during combat operations in Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Bowen’s platoon was advancing on a reconnaissance mission into enemy controlled terrain when it came under the withering cross fire of small arms and grenades from an enemy ambush force. Sergeant Bowen placed heavy suppressive fire on the enemy positions and ordered his men to fall back. As the platoon was moving back an enemy grenade was thrown amid Sergeant Bowen and three of his men. Sensing the danger to his comrades Sergeant Bowen shouted a warning to his men and hurled himself on the grenade absorbing the explosion with his body while saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. Sergeant Bowen’s extraordinary courage and concern for his men at the cost of his own life served as an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the military service and the United States Army.

[right side]

U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Florida Recipients Marker(right side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 14, 2022

2. Medal of Honor Florida Recipients Marker(right side)

PFC Emory L. Bennett, Korea • Sp4C Nicholas J. Cutinha, Vietnam • PVT James H. Mills, WWII • 2nd Lt. Alexander R. Nininger, Jr. WWII • S/SGT. Clifford C. Sims, Vietnam • Capt. Charles A. Varnum, Indian War • SFC Paul Ray Smith, Iraq • SSG. Robert J. Miller, Afghanistan

[left side]
U.S. Navy
Lt. Comer. William M. Corey, Jr., October 2, 1920 • Lt. Clyde E. Lassen, Vietnam • Comdr. David McCambell, WWII • CMM. Francis E. Ormsbee, Jr., WWI • H.M.-3 “Doc” Robert R. Ingram, Vietnam

U.S. Marine Corps
PFC Bruce W. Carter, Vietnam • PFC Robert H. Jenkins, Jr. Vietnam • 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez, Korea • Pvt. Robert M. McTureous. Jr., WWII
Cpl. Larry E. Smedley, Vietnam

[rear]
U.S. Air Force
2nd Lt. Robert E. Femoyer, U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII • Maj. Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • Patriots & Patriotism. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list.

Location. 29° 11.164′ N, 82° 6.078′ W. Marker is in Ocala, Florida, in Marion County. Memorial can be reached from East

Medal of Honor Florida Recipients Marker(left side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 14, 2022

3. Medal of Honor Florida Recipients Marker(left side)

Fort King Street, 0.1 miles south of E Silver Springs Blvd.. Marker located within the Ocala - Marion County Veterans Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2601 E Fort King St, Ocala FL 34470, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. In Memory of Marion County’s Fallen (a few steps from this marker); Pearl Harbor (a few steps from this marker); Purple Heart Medal (a few steps from this marker); 57th Army Air Forces Flying Training Detachment (a few steps from this marker); Fourth Marine Division Assoc. WWII (a few steps from this marker); Korean War (a few steps from this marker); Declaration of Independence (a few steps from this marker); Battle of Okinawa (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ocala.

Also see . . . Florida Medal of Honor Recipients. (Submitted on June 2, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Medal of Honor Florida Recipients Marker (rear) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 14, 2022

4. Medal of Honor Florida Recipients Marker (rear)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 2, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.