John Dowdy served in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in the1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division in World War II. He was a major and the 2nd Battalion executive officer when he landed on Utah Beach during the second wave on D-Day. Two days later, when its commanding officer was wounded, John was put in command of the 1st Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 16, 1944 when the 1st Battalion took a critical hill and experienced a violent German artillery and mortar attack. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and two Silver Stars.