PFC John Thomas Owens

PFC John Thomas Owens was born 4 Aug 1907 in Troy, New York. He was the first of 8 children born to James Joseph and Mary J. (Burke) Owens. The family moved to Hamilton, Ohio less than a year later. His father worked as a machinist. John would follow suit and also become a machinist working at Columbia Tool and Machine Company.

John was drafted in March 1943. His father was struck by a driver in a hit and run incident and killed in September 1943. John was sent overseas in May 1944 and reportedly served with 48th Armored Division, one of the "phantom" divisions created to deceive the enemy about troop strength and disposition. PFC Owens was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 13 Aug 1944. PFC Owens died on 16 Oct 1944.

There is some question as to the manner of PFC Owens' death. It was reported at the time and his family was told that he was killed in action but that entry in the unit's morning report indicates that he committed suicide by hanging himself. Sadly, suicide among veterans is not uncommon now and likely was not as uncommon then as we would like to believe. 

PFC Owens was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.