Later on, the 442d Nisei regiment and the 473d Regiment, a white regiment, joined
the division. The three 92d regiments were joined into one regiment, and these three
made up the division. This newly reorganized division continued to drive up to the west
coast of Italy until the end of the war. When the division was reorganized, Rowny became
the division G-3W. During his service in Italy, Rowny earned two Silver Stars, a Bronze
Star, a Combat Infantryman Badge, and a Commendation Ribbon.
The day after the war ended in Europe, Rowny left for the states and was assigned
to the War Department General Staff where he worked for General Marshall as an Army
planner. He initially worked on plans for the invasion of Japan. At the end of his tour
in the Pentagon, he went to Yale University where he earned a master of arts degree in
international relations and a master of science in civil engineering.
In September 1949, Lieutenant Colonel Rowny was assigned to the Far East
Command as a plans officer. He helped draw up plans for the Inchon Invasion and
participated in the invasion as the Engineer, X Corps, working again for General Ned
Almond, the corps commander.
After Seoul was captured, X Corps landed on the east coast at Hamhung. When
the Chinese attacked X Corps in November 1950, Rowny was personally involved in the
evacuation of troops, first at Hagaru-ri with the building of an airfield to evacuate
wounded troops, and at Koto-ri with the construction of a bridge, parachuted into the area
by the Air Force. Rowny was in charge of the final evacuation, but his boat blew up in
the harbor and he was temporarily stranded until rescued by the Air Force.
Lieutenant Colonel Rowny transferred to the Infantry in July 1951. He was
executive officer, 38th Infantry Regiment, then chief of staff, 2d Division for two months
before taking command of the 38th Infantry Regiment. He earned a Silver Star, two
Legions of Merit, and an Air Medal while in Korea.
In September 1952, Rowny reported to the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia,
as an instructor, and attended the Airborne Course. The Army now began to integrate the
helicopter into the Army for reconnaissance, attack, logistics, and evacuation of casualties.
Rowny also taught off-duty voluntary courses called PROFIT (professional improvement
time). One of his ideas was to assist infantry ground attacks with nuclear weapons,
followed by troops attacking behind enemy lines by helicopter. But he was ahead of his
times. A student in the class, Congressman Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson, called the chief
of staff of the Army concerning the Army's reluctance to move into the nuclear and
helicopter age. The Pentagon called Rowny in to tell him the Army had no interest in
nuclear weapons and helicopters on the battlefield, and to stop teaching the course.
From Benning, Rowny went to the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia,
in February 1955, and from there was assigned as deputy secretary of the general staff at
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