America's Fallen Hero's

MSG Mark A. McCowan

Master Sergeant Mark A. McCowan was assigned to 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). He died of natural causes Thursday, February 9th, 2017. MSG McCowan was born in Bismarck, North Dakota April 9, 1971. He joined the United States Army October 2nd, 1989, and began his career as a Motor Transport Operator. MSG McCowan served in various positions while stationed in Mannheim, Germany, and Fort Riley, Kansas before he attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and the 18C Special Forces Qualification Course to become a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant in 2002.

MSG McCowan served with 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, NC before being assigned to 3rd SFG (A) in 2009. During his career, MSG McCowan served in six combat deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

MSG McCowan’s military education includes the Air Assault Course, the Basic Leader Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, the Pathfinder Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Advanced Leader Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course, the Senior Leader Course, Basic Instructor Training, and the Special Operations Command Jumpmaster Course.

MSG McCowan’s military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, one Army Commendation Medal with Valor, three Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, nine Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral two, the NATO Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.

He is survived by his wife, Candace McCowan, his children, Talus, Kayla, Cassie, and Aubry, and his parents, Gene and MaryAnn McCowan and Andy and Delores Brunen