During World War II, Bowman served as a colonel of engineers in England, North Africa and Italy.[3] He was promoted to brigadier general in February 1944.[2] After the war, he served in Japan and Okinawa from September 1945 to June 1946.[3]
Bowman was promoted to major general in January 1951.[4] In early 1953 before the end of the Korean War, he became Engineer, Headquarters Army Forces Far East.[5] Bowman retired from active duty on June 30, 1956.[6]
Bowman moved to Carmel, California after his military retirement. He frequently traveled to South Korea as a civilian engineer until June 1959. Bowman later served two years as chief advisor to the Korean Joint Construction Agency until his permanent retirement in October 1963.[5] He died at Fort Ord, California on March 13, 1978, and was buried at West Point Cemetery.[1]