COL Mifflin Belsterling Clowe Jr.

receiving Bronze Star from COL Thrasher, 1944

COL Mifflin Belsterling Clowe Jr. was born 16 Jan 1917 in Winchester, Virginia. He was the first of the 3 children born to Mifflinn Belsterling and Eugenia Laura (Snapp) Clowe. His father had worked as a jeweler and engraver in Winchester in the family store and owned their large home at 106 North Washington Street in Winchester. Young Mifflin attended Handley High School in Winchester where he played basketball and baseball on the school teams and was in the drama club as well as student body president for 2 years. Mifflin graduated from Handley in 1937 and went to work in the family business as a clerk.

Mifflin enlisted in the local Virginia National Guard unit on 19 Jun 1935.  He was commissioned 2LT 3 Feb 1941, the same day as the units of the 116th Infantry were federalized and called to active duty. He married Mary Elizabeth Beckwith on 30 Jun 1941. At that time the 116th was still at Fort George Meade, Maryland. He was promoted to 1LT 21 May 1942. He departed with the unit for England in September 1942 and was again promoted, this time to CPT, on 15 Dec 1942 and given command of a company.

CPT Clowe commanded I Company 116th Infantry on D-Day. His actions in the amphibious assault resulted in the award of the Bronze Star Medal. CPT Clowe was wounded shortly after the landing and sent to a hospital in England where he found himself in a bed next to his friend, PVT Beverly Byrd, son of U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd. He was promoted to MAJ 16 May 1945. After the war he returned to Winchester and he and Mary had a son in March 1947. Mifflin was a MAJ serving again in the Virginia Army National Guard when elected Mayor of Winchester, Virginia in June 1948 and he would hold that office until 1956. He was promoted to LTC on 10 Jan 1952. LTC Clowe assumed command of 2nd Brigade 29th Infantry Division in 1959 and was promoted to COL 10 May 1960. COL Clowe's command ended in 1964. He then served as chief of the office of military support at National Guard Bureau. He was considered as a possible State Adjutant General by Governor Linwood Holton. COL Clowe was also Civil Defense Coordinator for Winchester.

Mifflin was a member of several civic and fraternal organizations. He was a master mason, president of the Winchester American Legion post, member of VFW and Elks, and president Retail Merchants Association.

Mrs. Clowe died in 1997 and COL Clowe died in 2001. They rest forever in the Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia. 

Great, great-grandfather Charles Bell Clowe, had served in the War of 1812. His great-grandfather, COL Henry Wyatt Clowe, served as Superintendent of the arsenal at Harper's Ferry and was there when it was attacked by John Brown in 1859.