Memorials › Victor Carroll Gower

Victor Carroll Gower

30 Dec 1917 – 18 Dec 1946

Birth	30 Dec 1917
Death	18 Dec 1946
Cemetery	Mount Herman Cemetery Cedar Township , Pettis County , Missouri , USA
Added by	Sue Moreau on 28 May 2012
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90904089

Bio

Killed in Action Victor Carrol Gower was born December 30, 1917, near Hughesville, Missouri to Volney Elbert Gower and Julia Wasson Gower. Victor was the oldest of five children born to this marriage. A second son, Raymond Bishop Gower, was born July 19, 1919, and died February 6, 1922, at the age of eighteen months. Three daughters were also born. They were Marvalee Lucy, Edith Naomi, and Mary Anna. Mr. Gower was a well driller. Victor attended Smelser School in Hughesville before the family moved from Hughesville to Sedalia in 1928. In Sedalia, they lived at 306 North Park. Victor then attended Mark Twain Elementary School. The family belonged to the First Baptist Church. Victor entered Smith-Cotton Junior-Senior High School on October 8, 1931. His sister, Edith, shared that Victor loved to go to Smith-Cotton and felt badly that he could not participate in school activities because he worked to help his family out financially. One of the ways he earned money was through delivering the Kansas City Star. Due to financial needs of the family, Victor withdrew from school on May 24, 1935, at the close of his sophomore year so he could work full-time. He first joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and then was later employed at the Hamm Sales Company, 111 East Main Street. Volney Gower, Victor's father, died on December 9, 1937, when Victor was almost 20. This created an even greater financial hardship for the family. In 1940, the family moved to 309 North Quincy. Victor entered military service on November 14, 1942, and received his training at Fort Benning, Georgia. His serial number was 37240837. He was sent overseas in April, 1944, with Company B, 2nd Infantry, 5th Division, first to England, then France, and finally Germany. Edith recalled that their mother had a bad feeling that something would happen to Victor when he was sent to Germany. In Germany, Victor served with General Patton's Third Army in the Battle of the Bulge. On December 14, 1944, Victor wrote a letter to his mother in which he reported that he had just been released from a rest camp and that things were "pretty tough." His letter arrived in January just a few days before his mother received a Department of War telegram that read: "The secretary of war desires me to express his deep regret that your son, S/Sgt. Victor C. Gower, was killed in action 18 December in France. Confirming letter follows. Dunlap, Acting Adjutant General." Later, Mrs. Gower received a confirming letter from the headquarters of the Second Infantry that had been written June 2, 1945. It read: "Dear Mrs. Gower: In reply to your letter of 12 January 1945 which has just been directed to my attention. I deeply regret the death of your son, Victor, on 18 December 1944. On that day your son, a platoon guide in Company "B," was with his company engaged in an attack upon the town of Fraulaturn, Germany. During the attack a bullet from an enemy rifle struck your son in the chest causing his death. Your son was buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery in Limey, France in Row D, Plot 8, Grave 178. Please accept my sincerest regrets and those of all the members of the organization on your great loss. Sincerely, John H. Pohlman, 1st Lt., 2nd Infantry, Asst. Personnel Officer." Victor was 25 years, 11 months and 18 days old. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. On August 7, 1948, Victor's body was returned to Sedalia on Missouri Pacific train number 6 for final burial. He was accompanied by a military escort. Ewing Funeral Home handled the arrangements. The services were held August 7, 1948, at 3:30 p.m. Reverend Thomas W. Croxton, pastor of the First Sedalia Baptist Church, officiated. Mrs. Miles Rhodes and Mrs. Charles Farley sang "Near the Heart of God" and "The Old Rugged Cross." Pallbearers were Granville Thomas, Gene McMullin, Ira McMackin, Duane Beucke, Davey Jones and Raymond Kurtz. Burial was in Mount Herman Cemetery, Route 4, Sedalia, Missouri. Post 16 of the American Legion was in charge of the services at the grave. His final resting place is beside his brother who died in infancy and in front of the graves of his parents, Volney who died December 9, 1937, and Julia who died February 23, 1993. At the time of this writing in the spring of 1999, Victor has one living sister, Lucy (Mrs. Wayne) Cook who lives in Smithton, Missouri. Edith died on May 17, 1999; Mary Anna had died several years earlier.

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