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Mike Bowen, U.S. Army veteran, earned his nickname “Flagman” after dedicating the last 43 years running across the country in remembrance of the lives lost during war – all 78,000 miles with the POW/MIA flag in hand. Despite three knee surgeries and a cancer diagnosis, Mike can still be found running with the POW/MIA flag. Bowen’s story is the latest in our ‘I Am a Veteran’ campaign.
After graduating from high school, Mike decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the military. In 1967, he volunteered for the draft and was soon sent to West Germany.
“I was a supply clerk in a huge warehouse complex suppling 12 battalions in the area,” said Bowen. “I proudly did my duty to the best of my ability and returned home with no medals or ribbons to a much different country that we soldiers called ‘The World.’”
Before returning home, Mike would often read about the riots and anti-war protests happening back in the states, and how soldiers were being treated at airports. While in the process of separating from the Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey, the last thing Mike’s sergeant told him was to get out of uniform before arriving at the airport. Mike politely declined.
“I served with pride, and I will not travel out of uniform,” Bowen recalled. “I’m proud to be a veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Vietnam War, even though I was not in war.”
After returning home, life went on for Mike with starting a career at General Motors, enrolling in college, getting married and buying their first home. However, he started to realize that something wasn’t right. Mike was experiencing significant survivor’s guilt, having lost eight of his closest high school friends in the Vietnam War. He often wondered why he survived while they did not.
While visiting the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. in 1982, he met a woman that was searching the wall for her son’s name. Her son was classified as a Prisoner of War, but thought he was still alive.
“I was awestruck by the fact that so many Americans never returned, no body to mourn over and no closure,” said Bowen. “I decided right then and there to run one mile for every man classified as POW/MIA in the Vietnam War.”
Soon after, his goal shifted to running a mile for every name on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. 31 years and 58,292 miles later, Mike finished that mission where it all began, in Washington, D.C.
Despite finishing his initial goal, Mike’s running journey didn’t stop there. He continued to run a mile for every American life lost in the September 11 attacks, Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, his total is around 78,000 miles ran with the POW/MIA flag.
Mike didn’t embark on this journey alone; his wife Patty supported him every step of the way. Mike participated in more than 50 marathons, including Chicago, Boston and New York, and his wife was always there to support him.
“I have the best coach,” said Bowen. “She’s been my rock through the bad times and good times.”
Patty also spreads awareness about the meaning behind the POW/MIA flag. When asked about their running mission, Patty proudly said, “He runs every single day no matter the weather and I’m always there to cheer him on and keep him going.”
When he’s not running, you can find Mike connecting with veterans and their families in other ways. He is active in his community and ensures that every veteran is heard when he is around. Mike is a part of the Patriot Guard Riders, shows up to all veteran-focused events in his area and attends funerals at the Great Lakes National Cemetery.
For his commitment to veterans, on Nov. 2, 2024, Mike received the Veteran of the Year award at the Michigan Military & Veterans Gala.
Though Mike is a proud veteran, he hadn’t consider getting connected to his VA benefits until a cancer diagnosis in 2006. While deployed overseas and working in the warehouse complex in West Germany, he was ordered to handle barrels of chemicals and paint over the orange striped containers. Mike believes he was working with Agent Orange Dioxin and met with a Veteran Service Officer to file a claim. His claim was denied due to no evidence of Agent Orange in that area. He eventually beat cancer and later received 10% disability for tinnitus.
Despite the challenges he’s faced, the people he was running for stuck with him. Even at age 76 and having gone through hundreds of pairs of running shoes, Mike’s dedication to his mission never falters.
“I still get out jogging almost every day and hope to until my heart stops beating,” said Bowen. “We, as Americans, must never forget the many military personnel who did not return home from war.”
