Joseph Paul Sowa was born in Suffern, NY, the first of Joseph E. and Stephanie Sowa’s 3 sons. Joe grew up in an Army family graduating from Aberdeen High School in 1961.
He attended Harford Community College in Maryland for two years before enlisting in the Army to become a warrant officer and helicopter pilot.
Completing Basic Training and Airborne School, he was nominated for Officer Candidate School. During a delay en route, he was made aware of the Regular Army Preparatory Program for USMA appointments. He applied, was enrolled in the USMA Prep School, and on 1 Jul 1965, Joe joined the Class of ‘69.
I can almost see the characteristic wry grin on his face as he wrote in his cadet autobiography, “After completing 2.5 years of college education, I decided to try service life awhile, being in financial straits.” He went on to say he desired a military career, had been applying to West Point since 1961, and felt the atmosphere for controlled study and frequent grades would help him academically Like so many of us from rather humble circumstances, Joe set his sights on the highest achievable goal and went after it. He was teased, good- naturedly of being the oldest man in the class. That, and his natural inclination toward sports and competitive shooting, may explain his apparent “laid back” attitude toward academics and the disciplinary side of West Point.
If he didn’t excel academically (as was the case with many of us), he certainly met all requirements with ease. As the writer of his Howitzer bio aptly put it, “The Old Man managed to achieve maximum utility from home study lessons and mid-periods. His belief that All good things come to those who wait’ was further edited by a sleepily murmured, ‘Wait comfortable.’”
His athletic achievements were impressive. Joe’s early years were filled with athletic and outdoor activities, especially golf and shooting sports. He made the cadet soccer team and played all 4 years. His skill at golf was sharpened playing on the Corps Squad golf team his last two years. As a member of the undefeated Army pistol team, he was named to the 1969 All American Team.
Following graduation, Joe went to Ft. Benning for Ranger School (having already completed Airborne School), Infantry Basic, and then Alaska.
Joe was assigned to one of the first mobile snow units in the Army—Co. E, 60th Inf., 172d Infantry Brigade—at Ft. Richardson. Joe’s approach to his duties was vigorous, energetic, and zestful. He reveled in the adventures Alaska had to offer. His enthusiasm was apparently uninterrupted when the duty day ended and “fun time” began.
Joe’s dad wrote of his son’s love and enthusiasm for duck hunting. The Knik Arm area of the Cook Inlet north of Ft. Richardson offered the opportunity for such pursuits. In early October 1970, as our tours in Alaska had just begun, Joe, along with Army buddies James Barrett and Richard Funk, went duck hunting there. They had a boat aisnd taken a retriever along. All that was ever found was the submerged boat and the shivering dog.
What happened can only be speculated. Dennis Hitzeman ‘69 wrote, “Knowing Joe for 5 years as I did, I can only assume that he tried to help one of his buddies who got caught in the most dangerous tidal area on earth, surrounded by freezing water no human can endure for more than a few minutes.”
Joe’s battalion commander, LTC Francis J. Percy wrote, “LT Sowa had proven himself a truly outstanding officer, fully dedicated to his country’s service and accomplished at the difficult task of command. His keen appreciation of the welfare of the organization coupled with his tireless efforts to improve himself and his unit endeared him to his superiors and subordinates alike.” Those words truly capture the spirit of our friend and classmate.
In the opinion of Dennis Hitzeman, “Joe loved life and lived it to the fullest. Nothing ever presented itself, no matter how difficult or challenging, that gave Joe the least bit of concern. He was a rock that we all looked up to and leaned upon when things got tough.”
In a lighter vein, Dennis writes, “His ‘poker buddies,’ John Parobek, Dutch Harmeling, and I, spent hours trying to beat Joe out of a few bucks with little success. Anything he did—cards, the race track, hunting, or a career in the military—Joe pursued with tireless energy and mastered it.”
More than 25 years have gone by since Joe’s passing. Joe’s wife, Lydia Marsten, remarried after several years but remains in contact with Joe’s mother. LTC (Ret.) Joseph E. Sowa, succumbed to cancer in 1992.
Brother Lawrence John Sowa was himself commissioned as an Army officer and was recently selected for 0-6 level command. There is a line in “The Corps”— “Grip hands though it be from the shadows.” From what I have learned of this noble American family, certainly part of John’s success is Joe’s quiet influence from “the shadows.”
All of us who knew Joe benefited from his poise, cheerful zest for life, and positive focus on worthy goals. Perhaps one day as Denny Hitzeman suggested, we’ll see Joe and hear the whole story In the meantime, we are thankful remembering him for all the positive, worthy qualities in his noble but brief life.
—Bill Ward, Dennis Hitzeman, and Dick Jarman, ‘69 classmates; with contributions from the late LTC Joseph E. Sowa, Mrs. Stephanie Soipa, and COL Lawrence John Sowa