Biography for James Dowling

American Sacrifices

When the declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, it marked the beginning of a country based upon the ideals of freedom and equality. For over two centuries, these core principles have remained completely intact. This would not be possible without the sacrifice of thousands of courageous men throughout America’s history both on the battlefield and at home. One person who perfectly embodies the idea of sacrifice in both military and civilian life is James Dowling.

For most of his youth, James Dowling lived in poverty. Born in Smithtown, New York His mother died when he was only six months old and his foster parents struggled to make ends meet after the Great Depression (Brokaw 430-31). As a teenager, Dowling met and fell deeply in love with a young girl named Dorothy Owen. When he was drafted into the army in 1943, Dowling promised Dorothy that he would marry her as soon as he returned home (Brokaw 431). During his time in service, Dowling participated in various air raids over Germany. After a failed attack on Kassel, Germany, Dowling was captured and placed in a Prisoner of War camp and declared missing in action (Brokaw 432). While in The POW camp, Dowling never lost hope. He sent a telegram to Dorothy from the camp reassuring her that he was fine and reiterating his intent to marry her as soon as possible. In the telegram, Dowling sweetly writes “… I am alive and well, can’t wait to get home and get married (Brokaw 433).” A few short months later, Dowling was liberated from prison and married to his beloved Dorothy.

Even after his military career ended, Dowling continued to devote himself to service and sacrifice. He helped the youth in his community by organizing little league baseball...

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... people to let nothing keep them from contributing to the war effort as much as they can. Had Dowling been British rather than American, Churchill’s speech would more than likely stir him to take arms for his country.

In short, both the life of James Dowling and the message of “Be Ye men of Valor” are strong arguments in favor of Schweitzer’s assertion that people are able to derive an indescribable pleasure from service. Both Dowling and Churchill were driven by service in their life and both of them became the men they were because of their service. The sense of accomplishment one feels from serving for a cause is throughout the ages and around the world.

Works Cited

Brokaw, Tom. The Greatest Generation. New York: Columbia UP, 1998.

Churchill, Winston. “ Be Ye Men of Valor.” Glencoe Literature: The Readers Choice. Columbus: Mcgraw-Hill, 2002.