JAMES J. LOWDEN, Corporal, Troop B 32nd Calvary Reconnaisance Squadron (Mechanized), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism against armed enemy forces on 7 December 1944 in Germany. Corporal Lowden, a member of a combat patrol was assigned the mission of determining whether or not the enemy occupied houses and haystacks in the nearby vicinity. Corporal Lowden crawled from one vantage point to another observing enemy activity noting their location, composition, and numbers. He also observed enemy soldiers removing warning signs from a mine area. Noting their location he retraced his route and reported his findings. Units of the 82nd Airborne Division had arrived, to achieve their objective with minimum delay – that of linking up with other units of the 82nd. It was necessary to go through the area because of the surrounding rugged terrain and the time element involved. Knowing the layout of the area and concerned for his fellow soldiers’ safety, Corporal Lowden disregarding his own personal safety volunteered to serve as guide through the immediate area. Advancing toward their objective with Corporal Lowden taking the point, they encountered increasingly strong enemy rifle, machine gun, and mortar fire. When they had cleared the mined area, Corporal Lowden moving from haystack to haystack surprised two enemy soldiers manning a machine gun. During hand to hand fighting at which time he was wounded, Corporal Lowden killed them both. Though severly wounded, he joined in the fire fight from the captured machine gun emplacement and began firing at about 30 nearby enemy soldiers, killing 8, wounding several others, helping to end enemy resistance. Corporal Lowden’s heroism enabled the patrol to accomplish its mission which resulted in helping the troops to quickly reach their objective and which greatly aided in reducing the number of troop casualties. Corporal Lowden’s heroism reflects much credit upon himself and his unit.

Mr. Lowden is a life member and resides in California.