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Santa Clara County Pensions
William A. Bowens (note: We've listed him in this county since he was examined by San Jose physicians)
S. 5464. William A. Bowens enlisted August 1, 1898, as a private in Company E. Third Georgia Volunteer Infantry,
in the War with Spain, and was discharged April 22, 1899. He again enlisted October 6, 1899, as a private in Company
K, Forty-second United States Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged May 1, 1901.
He filed claim for pension August 26, 1901 (No. 1274209), alleging in his declaration that while en route to Manila,
P. I., December 1, 1899, he incurred injury to right foot, partially disabling same; also while at Pasig, P. I.,
in April, 1901, he contracted stomach and bowel trouble, diarrhea and dysentery, nervous trouble, rheumatism, and
pains in chest. In affidavit filed May 7, 1915, he stated that diarrhea and dysentery have ceased to exist, but
have been followed by chronic constipation; that the pains in chest have developed into tuberculosis, or chronic
bronchitis. The claim was abandoned and so marked until early in 1915, and was finally rejected July 15, 1915,
as to disease of stomach and bowels, diarrhea, dysentery, nervous trouble, rheumatism, and pains in chest, on the
ground of no record of said disabilities in the War Department; no medical or other evidence of origin or treatment
in the service or of their existence at and since claimant's discharge, and his inability to furnish the evidence
to establish claim therefore; and on the further ground that a ratable degree of disability from the complaints
alleged had not been shown from date of filing application. The claim for injury of right foot was rejected on
the ground that a ratable degree of disability therefrom had not been shown from date of filing application.
The medical records on file in the War Department show that soldier was treated during his first service from
September 1, to October 18, 1898, for typhoid fever; April 2 to 9, 1898 for typhoid fever; April 2 to 9, 1899,
malarial fever. The records show that he was treated during his second enlistment as follows:
January 26 to February 22, 1900, malarial fever; February 23 to May 2, 1900, lipomatode fibroma plantar surface
of right foot, in line of duty; February 25, 1900, operation removed, returned to duty.
On his examination preliminary to his first discharge soldier stated that he was suffering from no disability
and the Army surgeon reported that he found none after physical examination. Upon his examination prior to his
second and final discharge soldier stated that he had no disability and the Army surgeon certified that he found
none.
Soldier, now 37 years of age, was examined January 8, 1902, by the San Jose, Cal., board of surgeons, who rated
him $4 on malarial poisoning and $6 on rheumatism. He was again examined by the same board May 20, 1903, and rated
$10 on injury of right foot and $3 on rheumatism, and the examining surgeons also reported in part as follows:
Nervous trouble: Evidently mentally dull, but not idiotic; hands tremulous; is listless. Left side somewhat
deformed; evidently a degenerate, either inherited from drunken father or a result of vicious habits, of which
there is no proof. No scars nor enlargement of glands to indicate syphilis.
Accompanying the bill is the affidavit of soldier, in which he states that he was sick in service had received
treatment at Manila, P. I., for malarial fever and partial paralysis and for injury to right foot received at drill,
for which an operation was performed by Dr. Robinson shortly before discharge; that he has had epilepsy ever since
he was in hospital, but not before.
Also medical and other evidence to the effect that soldier is in weak mental and physical condition, had epilepsy,
asthma, and rheumatism, and is crippled up so that he is almost helpless; that he has grown worse during the last
three years and never will recover sufficiently to support himself; that he has no means whatever and is dependent
upon others for his support. The committee report the bill favorably and recommend that his pension be increased
to $17 per month.
[Pensions and increase of pensions for certain soldiers and sailors of the
regular Army and Navy, etc.
February 22, 1917.
Serial Set Vol. No. 7113, Session Vol. No.B
64th Congress, 2nd Session
H.Rpt. 1532
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by Terry Wages]
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