Today I would like to remember Dennis P. Dowd Jr.
Dennis was born on April 22nd, 1887 in New York City. He graduated from Georgetown University (class of 1908) and Columbia Law School (class of 1911). At the outbreak of WWI, Dennis sailed for France, where he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion in Paris in August 1914.
In Sept. 1915 Dennis participated in the second battle of Champagne. After the battle, he seized the opportunity to transfer from the Foreign Legion into a French line regiment. Shortly after changing to the 170th Dennis received a terrible shrapnel wound to his right hand. While in convalescence he fell in love, and became engaged to a nurse, who encouraged him to leave the infantry for the aviation.
In 1916 Dennis joined the legendary Lafayette Flying Corps. Dennis Dowd died on August 11, 1916 when he crashed during his aviation training. Rest in peace Dennis, you are not forgotten.
Georgetown Prep School Crew, Dennis is 4th from the left.
Dennis Dowd c. 1916
Dennis Dowd's French Army death record. DMPA SGA, Memoire des Hommes
Dennis Dowd (middle), in the trenches, 1914.
Resources:
Wikipedia
Ancestry.com
American Fighters in the Foreign Legion, Paul Rockwell
Georgetown University Archives
Columbia University
I promise to remember.
