Vestal Ray Cowan
Vestal Ray Cowan
US Army
PFC
9th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division
Born November 20, 1932 to Ronda L & Winnie Ethel Cowan, Buntontown, TN
Died August 27, 1951
Cowan was a Heavy Weapons Infantryman assigned to the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division - known as the Indianhead Division.
It was believed that the ridge of hills just a few miles north of the 38th Parallel provided observation posts that allowed the North Koreans to call in artillery strikes, so the task was to take those ridges. The Battle of Bloody Ridge began on August 18, 1951 with the North Koreans dug in and protected by thick mine fields and strongly built bunkers that resisted destruction by anything less than accurate direct fire. With ample supplies of weapons and hand grenades, they waited in their bunkers until the UN artillery and air support ceased. Then, as the US soldiers trudged up the steep slopes of the ridge, they would move out and send a hail of bullets and grenades.
It was a bloody five days of repeated frontal assaults, and the US forces had to withdraw with high casualties. After the deterioration of the Bloody Ridge assault, a new counteroffensive was planned that finally won out. But the losses were heavy and included PFC Cowan, who was killed in action on August 1951
Cowan received the Purple Heart, Combat Infantrymans Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean, Presidential Unit Citation and Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
PFC Cowan is buried in Bunton Cemetery, Buntontown, TN
US Army
PFC
9th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division
Born November 20, 1932 to Ronda L & Winnie Ethel Cowan, Buntontown, TN
Died August 27, 1951
Cowan was a Heavy Weapons Infantryman assigned to the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division - known as the Indianhead Division.
It was believed that the ridge of hills just a few miles north of the 38th Parallel provided observation posts that allowed the North Koreans to call in artillery strikes, so the task was to take those ridges. The Battle of Bloody Ridge began on August 18, 1951 with the North Koreans dug in and protected by thick mine fields and strongly built bunkers that resisted destruction by anything less than accurate direct fire. With ample supplies of weapons and hand grenades, they waited in their bunkers until the UN artillery and air support ceased. Then, as the US soldiers trudged up the steep slopes of the ridge, they would move out and send a hail of bullets and grenades.
It was a bloody five days of repeated frontal assaults, and the US forces had to withdraw with high casualties. After the deterioration of the Bloody Ridge assault, a new counteroffensive was planned that finally won out. But the losses were heavy and included PFC Cowan, who was killed in action on August 1951
Cowan received the Purple Heart, Combat Infantrymans Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean, Presidential Unit Citation and Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
PFC Cowan is buried in Bunton Cemetery, Buntontown, TN
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The Indianhead insignia of the 2nd Infantry Division
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Bloody Ridge
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