It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral James Raymond Fowler, Medical Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve, on 26 June 2024 at age 87. Rear Admiral Fowler was appointed an ensign in March 1959 and served in the Medical Corps until his retirement in October 1997 as Surgeon General of the Medical Corps for U.S. Naval Reserve in Washington, DC. His commands included Medical Crew 820, Surgical Crew 220, Medical Component of MAG 42, and Fleet Hospital NINE. During the Vietnam War, as flight surgeon for U.S. Marine Corps Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (HMM-163), Lieutenant Fowler flew on more than 120 medical evacuation missions, earning six Air Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals with Combat “V,” and the Combat Action Ribbon. HMM-163 was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation.
James Fowler graduated from Emory University in 1959 with a pre-med bachelor of science degree. He was commissioned an ensign on 23 March 1959. He then attended the Emory University School of Medicine. He was promoted to lieutenant (j.g.) in December 1961 and lieutenant in June 1964. He received his medical doctor (MD) degree from Emory in 1964. In 1965, he commenced his internship at King County Hospital, Seattle. He was then selected for flight surgeon training at Naval Air Training Command, Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida. In July 1965, he reported to the Naval Aviation Medical Center at NAS Pensacola for duty under instruction in aviation medicine.
In January 1966, Lieutenant Fowler reported to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, El Toro, California, as medical officer. In June 1966, he was assigned to Marine Air Group 16 (MAG-16), 1st Marine Air Wing (1 MAW), Republic of Vietnam, as group medical officer. He flew with HMM-163 “Ridgerunners” in H-34 helicopters, flying from Marble Mountain Air Facility near DaNang. The squadron briefly redeployed to Okinawa and aboard ship before returning to Vietnam in October 1966, operating from Phu Bai. HMM-163 earned a Presidential Unit Citation for numerous combat and combat medical evacuation missions in some of the most intense ground fighting of the war.
In June 1967, Lieutenant Fowler was reassigned to Marine Training Squadron 103 (VMT-103), Yuma, Arizona, as flight surgeon. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in September 1968 before transferring to the Naval Reserve and completing his residency in general surgery at Emory and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. After this, he completed two fellowships in hand surgery at University of Louisville, Kentucky, and then in Denver. He then settled in Salt Lake City and became a resident in plastic surgery at the University of Utah.
In the Naval Reserve, Lieutenant Commander Fowler first served in the 4th Marine Motor Transport Battalion, and after relocating to Utah, served as commanding officer of Medical Crew 820 and Surgical Team 220. He was promoted to commander in September 1976. In 1977, he deployed to augment the medical staff on USS
Saratoga (CV-60), deploying to the Mediterranean. Commander Fowler then served as executive officer and commanding officer of the Medical Component of Marine Air Group 42 (MAG-42). He was promoted to captain in July 1983 and served as director of health services for Readiness Command 20, overseeing all Naval Reserve medical assets in northern California, Utah, Nevada, and southern Idaho. In 1990, Captain Fowler attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) program. He then commanded Fleet Hospital NINE in Seattle, with a staff of 1,000, one third of whom deployed during Operation Desert Storm.
On 1 July 1992, he was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) and in September 1992 reported to Naval Reserve Force Flag Support Unit, New Orleans, as assistant for fleet support. However, a month later, Rear Admiral Fowler was reassigned to Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, as deputy fleet surgeon. In November 1992, he served an active duty for training assignment as a member of a selection board in Washington, DC. In February 1993, Rear Admiral Fowler was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon as deputy director for Medical Plans and Policy (N093C). In September 1993, he became deputy director for reserve medical. He was promoted to rear admiral (two-star) on 1 August 1995 and then served as assistant chief of reserve integration at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Rear Admiral Fowler’s final assignment was as Surgeon General of the Medical Corps for U.S. Naval Reserve in Washington, DC, the senior medical officer in the Navy’s reserve component.
Rear Admiral Fowler’s awards include the Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal (six awards); Navy Commendation Medal (two awards with Combat “V”); Combat Action Ribbon; Presidential Unit Citation; Navy Unit Commendation; Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; National Defense Service Medal (two awards); Vietnam Service Medal (one campaign star and U.S. Marine Corps symbol); Armed Forces Reserve Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation; Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and the Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.
Rear Admiral Fowler’s affiliations include the American Medical Association; American College of Surgeons; American Society for Surgery of the Hand; Utah State Medical Association (surgical representative to the board of trustees); Utah State Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons; and as president of the Naval Reserve Association. At the time of his retirement, Rear Admiral Fowler was in private practice (plastic and reconstructive surgery) at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
Whenever Rear Admiral Fowler would talk about his experiences in Vietnam, which wasn’t often, he would take the opportunity to show his respect and laud the heroism of Navy corpsmen, deflecting attention from himself. His great humility was well known, his considerable courage less so, but in 120 medevac missions during some of the most intense ground combat of the Vietnam War, he would have seen enough casualties to last a lifetime, despite having saved the lives of many wounded. Nevertheless, from this crucible he continued to serve our nation, putting his combat experience to great use. Later, as commanding officer of Fleet Hospital NINE, his command was ready to answer the call of another war when one third of them were mobilized to deploy to Desert Storm (Navy medicine was one of the great success stories of Desert Shield/Storm, setting a very high bar for the rest of the “joint force” medical operation). Throughout his career, Rear Admiral Fowler was described as a great leader and mentor, passing his experience to others. He was also described as “humble, friendly, and congenial,” with an “aw shucks” demeanor that belied other descriptors such as “astute, sophisticated, and persuasive.” As with any flag officer in the Naval (now Navy) Reserve, his career path required far more time and fiscal sacrifice, especially time away from family, than many in the active component realize. Nevertheless, he performed with great dedication and distinction, for which the U.S. Navy is grateful.
Rest in Peace, Admiral Fowler.