Albert Jesse Bowley, Sr.

Who was Albert Jesse Bowley, Sr.?

Albert Jesse Bowley, Sr. was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. He was the son of Freeman S. Bowley, who served in the Civil War as a First Lieutenant with the 30th United States Colored Troops.

Bowley was born on November 24, 1875 in Westminster, California. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1897 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Artillery. He served in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War.

Between the Spanish-American War and World War I Bowley served in a variety of command and staff assignments, including commander of a coast artillery company at Ft. Greble, Rhode Island, aide-de-camp to Major General Frederick Grant and military attaché in China. He also served on the Mexican border during the Villa Expedition of 1915 to 1917.

During World War I Bowley successively commanded the 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, and VI Corps Artillery, attaining the rank of Brigadier General in 1918, and receiving the Distinguished Service Medal.

In 1921 Bowley became commander of Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a Major General, a post he held until 1928. During this assignment he was responsible for Ft. Bragg's expansion into one of the Army's main installations.