According to the men who served with him Doc Nowlin had a great sense of humor. One former platoon leader in Charlie Company says that Nowlin inspired men through his courage and dedication. Nowlin is said to have traveled light, carrying a .45 caliber automatic, a medical bag tied to his ruck and C rations stuffed into his socks. When one fellow soldier asked Nowlin if he would use that .45 automatic Nowlin replied, "Only to protect someone who was wounded."

Doc Nowlin died of wounds sustained on 21 May 1969 during Operation Lamar Plain when he went with the second and third platoons as they crossed an open rice paddy and charged a small heavily fortified hill. A number of men were wounded before they made it across the paddy as were many others on the hill. Another medic was killed in the fighting that day along with 11 grunts and 46 were wounded.