Slain Soldier Coming Home Sunday

Staff Sgt. Joshua (Josh) Bowden who was killed in action Aug. 31
Douglas County Sunday, Sept. 8. Josh will be received by his family at Fulton County/Charlie Brown Airport at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning, and 
a processional will bring him to Douglas County. The processional will follow Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Mableton Parkway, Bankhead Highway, Church Street, and Rose Avenue to Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home in 
Douglasville. The family and Josh will be accompanied by members of the Patriot Guard.

The Bowden family will receive friends and family at the funeral home Sunday afternoon from 5 to 8 p.m. Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven is located at 8630 Rose Avenue in Douglasville.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, Sept. 9 at Central Baptist Church, 5811 Central Church Road.  A processional will take the family from the funeral home to the Church along Rose Avenue, Georgia Highway 5, Kings Highway, and Central Church Road.

Persons wishing to salute the brave service of Staff Sgt. Bowden are invited to line the processional routes on Sunday and/or Monday.

Staff Sgt. Bowden died of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire while on dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 242nd
Ordnance Battalion, 71st Ordnance Group, of Fort Carson, Colorado. He was an explosive ordnance disposal specialist.

He was a 2003 graduate of Alexander High School in Douglas County. He joined the Army in 2005 and was on his second deployment to Afghanistan. His awards include the Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service 
Commendation Medal with Valor Device, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachute Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge.
Burial will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Here is the obituary.