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Show WANTS HIS MARKER PAINTED BLOOD RED Requesting that World war veterans veter-ans annually repaint his monument in blood red "to act as a reminder of the blood shed by Minnesota men," John Bowe, Legionnaire and soldier of fortune for-tune of Canby, Minn., has made his last will and testament. Bowe, whose service under colors of several nations has brought him one of the most unique fighting records rec-ords in World war history, now past fifty-five, is awaiting that last call for service beyond. In the meantime lie has not forgotten the sacrifices of his comrades, and by continuation of service serv-ice in the American Legion has earned the admiration of the fellows for his fighting spirit. His early life was one of hardship. In 18SS he went to l'ierre, S. D., to be in at the opening of Indian lands (which did not open) and had to trek back to Deadwood on foot to secure employment. The next year he rode 500 miles through the Dakotas to Montana, Mon-tana, on to Spokane. California, Utah, Old Mexico, saw him in what were nearly pioneer days. Service in the war with Spain followed this adventurous adven-turous career. Then abroad. Bowe visited Fortu-gal, Fortu-gal, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Algiers, Egypt, Turkey, Palestine and Greece. He saw Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, Martinique and other Central American Ameri-can countries with odd and most daring dar-ing of experiences practically everywhere every-where he visited. He is believes to be the first Min-nesotan Min-nesotan to get into the World war; In January of 1915 he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. There he served for one cent a day until October Octo-ber of that year when he was wounded wound-ed in the Champaigne attack near Ferme Navarin. He won the Serbian medal for bravery, the French Croix De Guerre, tile fourragere of the Legion of Honor, a Congressional is V s y tf-1 v )j y I , , , ,lh " ' v ' i -I 7 " ' ! 1 i 7 v W i I-'", .vt'r if -i .John Bowe. Medal of Honor from President Mc-Kinley, Mc-Kinley, and service medals for his service in the Spanish-American waf and the Philippine insurrection. Invalided home from his French service in 1016, Bowe found he had been "sold out" for nonpayment of a mortgage on his home and was forced to start all over again. But this did not daunt him, so lie set about making mak-ing a new home for his wife and family, fam-ily, and "carrying on" for them. Bowe was an American in the category cate-gory of one who served with allied forces, and for whom special provision provi-sion was made that they might enter the American Legion. He was present at the first department convention of Minnesota Legionnaires, and was chairman of the congressional district committee. Following this service Bowe went about the state organizing posts, about forty coming under his jurisdiction. When the national convention was held in Minneapolis Bowe was named to the eligibility committee and was a member of the sub-committee which prepared the present clause setting qualifications for membership. He was a delegate to the second national convention in Cleveland, O. One year he was candidate for the post of department de-partment commander, but was defeated. defeat-ed. At the lust department convention, conven-tion, held in Faribault, he served on the resolutions committee. |