VIP Biography - Major General (Retired)
Kenneth R. Bowra

Correction: Major General Bowra notified us of an error printed earlier indicating that he had served in Afghanistan when in fact, he did not. This was an error in our part, and we apologize for the inconvenience cause. Subsequent details indicating this have been removed.

"One-Zero" Team Leader, MACV-SOG, Vietnam 1970-74
5th Special Forces Group Commander, 1992-93
Commander, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) 1996-98
Deputy Commander of NATO Headquarters, Kosovo 2000-2001

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Recon Team (RT) Idaho. MACV-SOG, 1971. Pho Bai Launch Site, After returning from mission. "One Zero" (Team Leader ILT Ken Bowra) Other U.S.: SGT Frank Polley, Standing Left, SFC "Paddy Jones" - 3rd Standing, ILT Ken Bowra 5th Standing (click to view larger photo) Commander, 5th Special Force Group (Airborne) (1991-1993) Kuwait Commander, 5th Special Force Group (Airborne) (1991-1993) In Bahrain with their SF Colonel Kenneth R. Bowra. Commander, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 16th August 1991 - 16 August 1993

Major General Bowra retired from the U.S. Army with over 33 years of service on 1 October 2003. His awards and decorations include:

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
• Bronze Star (3) with Valor Device (1)
• Purple Heart
• Legion of Merit (2)
• Meritorious Service Medal (3)
• Air Medal
• Joint Service Commendation Medal (3)
• Army Commendation Medal (3)
• Joint Service Achievement Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3)
• Vietnam Service Medal (3)
• Kosovo Campaign Medal
• Southwest Asia Service Medal
• Humanitarian Service Medal (3)
• National Defense Service Medal (3)
• Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
• Khmer Republic National Defense Medal with bronze and silver stars
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal for Kosovo
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Presidential Unit Citation
• Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3)
• Valorous Unit Award
• Meritorious Unit Citation (2)
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Expert Infantryman Badge
• Master Parachutist Badge
• Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge
• Ranger Tab
• Special Forces Tab
• Pathfinder Badge
• Army Service Ribbon
• Army Overseas Ribbon (3)
• Foreign Parachutist Awards from:
  • Royal Australian Army
  • Canada
  • Colombia
  • United Kingdom
  • Imperial Iran
  • Kenya
  • Republic of Vietnam
  • Cambodia (Parachutist and Monitor/Instructor)
  • Thailand
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Poland
  • Kuwait
  • United Arab Emirates

Major General Bowra has graduated from:

• U.S. Army Infantry School (Basic & Advanced Courses)
• Airborne School
• Ranger School
• Pathfinder School
• Jumpmaster Course
• Special Forces Course
• Military Free Fall Parachutist Course
• Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Course
• Special Atomic Demolitions Munitions Course
• USMC Scout Swimmer Course
• Command and General Staff College
• Army War College
• General Officers Capstone Course
• Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course
• Master of Military Art and Science degree, 1983

* The royalty payment from Dragon Models is being generously donated by Mr. Ken Bowra to the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University for their scholarship fund for Cambodian students. The donation will provide for a full four year scholarship for five Cambodian students in Cambodia.

Related Links

Kenneth R. Bowra Exclusive Action Figure

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