Paulie Bowers (1921-1954) was a US Marine Corps officer who served in World War II and in the occupation of Japan. He was murdered by his former squadmate Nick Lowell while visiting Osaka, as Bowers had threatened to reveal that Lowell - who had been declared missing in action (MIA) during the war - was alive and a yakuza member.
Biography[]
Bowers' death
Paulie Bowers served in Captain Nick Lowell's US Marine Corps unit during the war, and he was stationed in Okinawa after the war's end and rose in the ranks, while Lowell was declared missing in action after deserting the unit before a court-martial. In 1954, Bowers ran into Lowell on the street while visiting Osaka while on leave, and he convinced Lowell to have drinks with him. Lowell's reunion with Bowers was awkward, as Bowers believed that Lowell had died during the war, and Bowers showed himself to be arrogant and racist against the Japanese, expressing his longing for the days when he had an enemy to fight, and expressing his amazement that the "rats" had already rebuilt Hiroshima since the nuclear bombing of the city in August 1945.
Bowers then asked Lowell if he could see his apartment, but Lowell declined Bowers' offer and told him that his five minutes of drinking with him was up. Bowers was stunned and angered, and he insulted Lowell before floating the idea of telling his squadmates about whom he ran into during his visit to Osaka. Lowell then decided to show Bowers to his apartment and have some drinks, and Bowers' mood changed to a friendly one. The two went to Lowell's apartment, where Lowell had Bowers sit at his kitchen table as he brought him a bottle of whiskey from the refrigerator. However, Lowell drew a knife and proceeded to cut Bowers' throat, killing him. He later disposed of Bowers' body with the help of his sworn brother, Kiyoshi Yanagisawa.