POSTAL TELEGRAPHS sent to William E. Bowers at 514 7th Avenue from Washington D.C. in 1943 Two Postal Telegraphs dated 25 May 1943 and 30 September 1943 were sent regarding wounds received on May 5 and September 30, 1943 state the following: REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON STAFF SARGEANT WILLIAM R. BOWERS WAS SLIGHTLY WOUNDED IN ACTION ON MAY FIVE/TWELVE SEPTEMBER IN THE NORTH AFRICAN AREA. REPORTS OF CONDITION EXPECTED EVERY FIFTEEN DAYS. YOU WILL BE ADVISED AS REPORTS ARE RECEIVED. ADJUTANT GENERAL. (Wounded twice, on May 5th and again on September 12, 1943) Certificate-14 January 1944 The undersigned certifies that the medical records of Staff Sergeant William R. Bowers, ASN 34289151, 340th Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group, Army Air Force, show that the above enlisted man received a combat injury while on a bombing mission over Rome, Italy on 12 September 1943. Signed: Frederick P. Maibauer, Captain, M.C. Flight Surgeon Consultant. (A mission record, #169, shows a bomb run on Aerodrome in Frosinone , Italy, 12 Sept. 1943. Flak moderate, very accurate. 11 air craft suffered flak damage. Another landed at friendly field. Four men wounded: Lt Connors, Bombardier ; Lt. Fountain, Navigator; Lt. Hanson, Bombardier, SSgt Bower (Bowers) Tail Gunner) 2nd Timothy: 2-3. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. A word to let you know that we have not forgotten you. Written 17 December 1943 by Rev. J.K. Smith, pastor of Gillespie Avenue Baptist Church. Robert Bowers is at home now. He was wounded in North Africa, again in Sicily, and a third time in Italy. He was in the hospital in the U.S. several weeks, but is now at home for 30 days. Then he is to return to the hospital in Palm Beach, Florida. He hopes to get strong enough to return to his post in Europe. He has the distinction of being the first Knoxville boy to shoot down an enemy plane in North Africa. He has shot down three in all.