James L. Fowler

James L. Fowler (c. 1930 – January 20, 2015) was a Korean and Vietnam War veteran who was the founder of the Marine Corps Marathon, an annual race since 1976 in Washington, D.C. that draws tens of thousands of athletes. The race was to serve as a United States Marine Corps recruiting tool, raise money for injured Marines, and give Marines a chance to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

During his service in the Korean War and Vietnam War, Colonel Fowler was the recipient of two Bronze Stars, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, and two Purple Hearts.

Colonel Fowler earned one of the Purple Hearts in 1968, while serving as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marines as battalion commander of the Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, in action near the Bến Hải River on the border between North and South Vietnam.

This Purple Heart medal served as the model for the United States Postal Service's Purple Heart stamp, which was issued in 2003. He died on January 20, 2015 in Alexandria, Virginia, at the age of 84.