Mike “Flagman” Bowen, U.S. Army
Mike “Flagman” Bowen served in the U.S. Army as a supply clerk during the Vietnam War era from 1968 to 1970, with a subsequent period in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1974. He was stationed in West Germany, where his duties included working in a large warehouse complex supplying 12 battalions. He proudly served his duty and returned home with a sense of pride, despite facing a challenging environment for returning soldiers at the time.
Following his military service, Mike Bowen embarked on a remarkable mission dedicated to honoring fallen service members and raising awareness for the POW/MIA issue. His dedication is best exemplified by his running journey, which began in 1982 after a visit to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. Motivated by a conversation with a woman searching for her son’s name, Bowen initially set out to run one mile for every American classified as a POW/MIA in the Vietnam War.
His mission expanded to include a mile for every name on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall, a goal he completed 31 years and 58,292 miles later. He has since continued his running to honor those lost in the September 11 attacks, as well as in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, accumulating a total of over 78,000 miles while carrying the POW/MIA flag. For this dedication, he has earned the nickname “Flagman.”
Beyond his running, Bowen is a pillar of his community, actively participating in events to support veterans and their families. He is a member of the Patriot Guard Riders and regularly attends veteran-focused events and funerals at the Great Lakes National Cemetery.
For his unwavering commitment, Bowen was named Genesee County Veteran of the Year and, on November 2, 2024, received the prestigious Veteran of the Year award at the Michigan Military & Veterans Gala.
Mike “Flagman” Bowen was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veteran Hall of Honor in October 2025.