Rowan, Danny E. (P3, C1, L39)

Private First Class Danny Edwin Rowan of Hartford, Ohio County, , died on 22 July 1977 in a ¼ ton jeep accident during a convoy from Fort Hood, Texas to Home Station for the Combat Support Company (CSC), 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor in Owensboro. Rowan and Staff Sergeant Joseph M. McHenry were traveling eastbound on Interstate 30 near Mt Vernon, in Franklin County, Texas at approximately 1:10 p.m. local time. The left rear tire blew out causing the vehicle swerve out of control. The jeep crossed the left lane entered the median between the east and west bound lanes and rolled  ejecting Rowan and McHenry from the vehicle. Rowan was pronounced dead at the scene and McHenry died a short time later of his injuries at a local hospital.

They had departed Fort Hood at 0600 hours to provide road guard and convoy control. They stopped at noon as planned at Sulphur Springs, Texas with the convoy for lunch and had only recently resumed the afternoon drive.

Rowan served on active duty with the U. S. Navy from July 1963 to July 1967 and in the U. S. Navy Reserve from July of 1967 until July of 1969. Rowan joined the Kentucky National Guard in March 1977 as a Private First Class. Rowan's awards and decorations include the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Rowan worked for Crescent Mines in Central City.

Rowan is buried in Section F of the Sunnyside Cemetery, Beaver Dam, in Ohio County.

Hartford Man Killed Enroute Home in National Guard Convoy

Ohio County News, 28 July 1977.

Danny Edwin Rowan, 32, Route 1, Hartford, was killed Friday, July 22 while returning from duty with the Army National Guard, near Mount Vernon, Texas.

Rowan, who was driving a National Guard jeep in a convoy, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident two miles west of Mt. Vernon on Interstate 30.

A passenger in Rowan's jeep, Joseph McHenry, 29, 722 Plum Street, Owensboro, died at 3:45 p. m. at Franklin County Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety, the men were thrown from their vehicle after the right rear tire blew out and Rowan lost control, causing the jeep to run off the road.

Rowan, a native of Ohio County, was employed at Crescent Mines, Central City. He was a member of Central Grove Baptist Church, Woodmen of the World, CSC, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armored Division, Owensboro National Guard. Military rites were conducted at the graveside in Sunnyside Cemetery, Beaver Dam, by Rowan's Owensboro National Guard unit.