Frederic E. Fowler

May 16th, 2025

Lt. Colonel Frederic Edward Fowler

Graduated from the University of Notre Dame! spring of 1941 with a degree in Journalism.

Enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 9, 1941. Began active service on June 23, 1941. He graduated with the 6th ROC. Reserve Officers Class. My guess is that the Marines were expecting heavy casualties during the war and wanted already trained officers to fill in the ranks. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor in January of 1942 following the surprise attack. He was reassigned to Midway Island from August of '42 until January of '43, when he suffered a collapsed lung. He was evacuated to Pearl Harbor for recuperation. Married his wife Marvis R. on April 20th, 1944, and later had four sons, Patrick being their oldest, followed by David, Brian, and Sean. Relieved from active duty as a Captain on October 31st, 1945. He served in the Reserves and worked in the newspaper business for most of his career. Having left a blizzard at home for reserve training at Camp Pendleton in August, where it was in the seventies, he quickly decided to move the family to San Diego in 1955. He retired from the United States Marine Corps on January 26th, 1977, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Over the years, he and mom attended many reunions with the 6th ROC. He was much more than just a good Marine Officer. He was a husband, a father, an uncle, a granddad dad and a good friend to many.

Dad was blessed with a wonderful marriage. He and mom never argued in public if at

all. I never saw them quarrel. They shared mutual love and respect for each other always. They had a very deep Catholic faith. They passed on to all their sons the virtue of working hard. He loved all the major sports, but Fighting Irish football was his passion, followed by beating USC. Thank you, Dad, for teaching us not just how to show respect towards women but also how to be a man, and more importantly, an honorable man.

After retiring from the newspaper business, he became very active as an Eucharistic Minister with the Catholic Church. He served his God, Family, Country, and Corps faithfully.

Both my mom's sister, Aunt Mary, and Uncle Rod were Navy veterans. Mary was a Navy nurse during WWII and Korea. Rod was a career sailor serving in Korea and later in Vietnam as a River Patrol Boat squadron commander. The sisters were incredibly close, having been orphaned at a young age and raised by relatives. Not so long after we moved to San Diego, the Jones clan moved to San Diego too. We were blessed to spend major holidays together with our cousins as the matriarchs taught us the value of family.