Sowell had been in Vietnam only three weeks when he wrote home in August 1969 that he had been awarded a Bronze Star for his action under fire, as well as being nominated for another Army combat decoration about which he knew nothing. The 20-year-old sergeant, a medical corpsman with Company A of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 2Stb Infantry Division, never had an opportunity to learn about the other medal. Sowell died on Oct. 24, 1969, after carrying three wounded comrades to safety from near an enemy bunker and administering first aid to two of them. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Sowell, a 1968 graduate of Lincoln Preparatory School, had worked at Smith, Kline & French as a pharmaceutical laboratory helper before entering the service in February 1969. He had been trained as a medic because of his background in pharmaceuticals. Survivors included his mother, stepfather, brother and two sisters.