Private Bovell was the son of William H., Sr. and Mary Bovell.

He was inducted into the Army in March, 1941.

After undergoing basic training, Private Bovell was assigned to the 803rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, and sent to the Philippines in September. He only wrote home once, the letter reaching his family in December of 1941.

Private Bovell was serving on Bataan when the Japanese attacked the Philippines in December of 1941. Taken prisoner by the Japanese, he was imprisoned at the Bilibid Prison in Manila when the islands fell in May of 1942.

While imprisoned at Bilibid, he suffered an attack of appendicitis in June of 1942. Operated on without anesthetic by Japanese doctors, he was pushed off the operating table and forced to walk immediately after the operation. He died as a direct result of this maltreatment by the Japanese on June 16, 1942.

The circumstances of his death were revealed during the war crimes trial of Japanese
General Homma.

Private Bovell was the son of William H., Sr. and Mary Bovell.

He was inducted into the Army in March, 1941.

After undergoing basic training, Private Bovell was assigned to the 803rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, and sent to the Philippines in September. He only wrote home once, the letter reaching his family in December of 1941.

Private Bovell was serving on Bataan when the Japanese attacked the Philippines in December of 1941. Taken prisoner by the Japanese, he was imprisoned at the Bilibid Prison in Manila when the islands fell in May of 1942.

While imprisoned at Bilibid, he suffered an attack of appendicitis in June of 1942. Operated on without anesthetic by Japanese doctors, he was pushed off the operating table and forced to walk immediately after the operation. He died as a direct result of this maltreatment by the Japanese on June 16, 1942.

The circumstances of his death were revealed during the war crimes trial of Japanese
General Homma.