It was for this action that he received the Medal of Honor, which was presented to his family by President Harry Truman at a White House ceremony.

On December 17, 1944, the second day of the Battle of the Bulge, the last great German effort to split the Allied front and reach the English Channel, he was a heavy machine gunner attached to I Company near Krinkelter Wald, Belgium.

Cowan and his comrades repulsed the first six waves of attacking German infantry, but a seventh drive with tanks killed or wounded all but three of his section, leaving Dick to man his gun supported by only 15 or 20 riflemen.

A King Tiger tank approached, but he held his fire until 80 or so supporting German infantry broke cover.

President Harry S. Truman gave Cowan's Medal of Honor to his parents in a ceremony on the White House lawn, marking their son's heroic exploits in the Ardennes campaign.

The first 6 waves of hostile infantrymen were repulsed with heavy casualties, but a seventh drive with tanks killed or wounded all but 3 of his section, leaving Pvt.

He maintained his position, holding off the Germans until the rest of the shattered force had set up a new line along a firebreak.

Fire from three machineguns and innumerable small arms struck all about him; an enemy rocket shook him badly, but did not drive him from his gun.

His heroic actions were entirely responsible for allowing the remaining men to retire successfully from the scene of their last-ditch stand.