Reuben Fowler, known to his friends and comrades as “Bob”, was born on the 4th of July, 1891, at St. Louis, Missouri. There he spent his early life, attending Clay School and the Fourth Christian Church. In September, 1910, he moved to San Diego, California, where he remained until 1913 as a Post office employee. Then, after working in the Barstow and Los Angeles Railroad shops, he was given a position as fireman on the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, with Las Vegas as his headquarters. The service he gave must have been one the best for the Master Mechanic at Las Vegas has said: “We considered Bob Fowler one of our best firemen, giving first class satisfaction at all times.”
On September 19th, 1917, he left Las Vegas with a contingent of Clark County men for Camp Lewis, Washington.

His first assignment was to Company “D”, 346th Machine Gun Battalion, of the 91st Division, but at a later date, having been sent overseas by the 24th of December, he was transferred to the Machine Gun Company of the 18th Infantry, 1st Division. Thereafter he served with the Famous First Division through trench warfare and stubborn fighting until July 18th, 1918, when he was mortally wounded by shell fire on the first day of the offensive against Berzy-le-Sec. He died in Field Hospital Number 12, attached to the First Division at Crepy, July 21, 1918. To his mother, Mrs. Sadie Fowler of Lemon Grove, San Diego County, California, Lieutenant Elden Betts, 18th Infantry, who afterward fell at St. Mihiel, wrote: “Your son lived and died a good clean soldier.” Nor are these the only words of praise written of this brave American boy. In an extract from General Orders appear the words: The Brigade Commander cites . . . . for gallant conduct, the following officers and men of the First Brigade who courageously met their death while in combat with the enemy during the Soissons offensive. . . . Private Reuben Fowler, Machine Gun Company, 18th Infantry . . .”

A publication of his unit speaks of Reuben Fowler “The hero” as one “Who gave himself nobly to death in one of the fiercest battles of the war. With his company, the machine gunners, he helped to put his regiment, the 18th Infantry, at the head of regimental citations for distinguished conduct in advancing rapidly and capturing and holding promptly and surely all objectives assigned to it, while sustaining heavy losses during the advance from July 18th to 22nd, inclusive. This regiment, when relieved, left its line further advanced into hostile territory than any other on its right or left.” Besides his mother, Mrs. Sadie Fowler, 4087—3rd Street, San Diego, California, two sisters survive the young patriot; Mrs. Ethel Ingle and Mrs. Harriet Hutton, both of San Diego, California