Felipe Flores arrived in Vietnam in 1968, right when the Tet
Offensive started.
Morgan Hill – Felipe Flores arrived in Vietnam in 1968, right when the Tet Offensive started.
Before long, he went from “new in country” to wounded veteran – the recipient of Agent Orange. It cost him his eyesight.
Today, the 63-year-old U.S. Army veteran volunteers at the VA hospital in Palo Alto, working at the blind center, where he helps sidelined soldiers make the troublesome adjustment to a world without sight.
“One of the main things to learn is independence,” said Flores, who commutes to the program three or four days a week by train from Morgan Hill.
“When we vets came back from Vietnam,” he continued, “we weren’t given the same care. Remember, Vietnam was not popular. We went through rough times. I am giving my brothers what we didn’t get … I am opening doors to them so they don’t have to go through what we went through.”
Last month, Flores earned recognition from the American Red Cross of Santa Clara County for his 13 years of volunteer service in Palo Alto. At the inaugural Real Heroes Awards Breakfast March 15 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, Flores received the Military Hero Award in front of hundreds of Silicon Valley leaders. Nine prizes total were handed out that morning, going to those who’ve assisted others in emergencies or live their everyday lives as role models.
“He’s done such a wide variety of work,” said Cynthia Shaw, spokeswoman for the Red Cross. “He’s not allowed his sight impairment to hinder his ability to be an advocate for veterans. He’s truly a champion among veterans.”
Flores is known as a veterans’ service officer for the blind. He talks directly to soldiers who’ve lost their vision in the line of duty, helping them learn the benefits they are entitled to. As the patients learn cooking, shaving and handy tips like using a tape recorder, Flores is there every step of the way to provide comfort and wisdom.
“When you come to the blind center, you are kind of scared, you don’t know what to expect,” Flores said. “It makes me feel good … to give something to my brothers, so they can help themselves. It’s a long and bumpy road if they don’t have anyone to give them support.”
When new patients arrive at the VA hospital, Flores gives them a brief presentation on what’s involved in the blind center’s rehab program.
“I see myself as a role model, something they can relate to when they come back from being injured,” he said. “There were a lot of obstacles in my life when I came back … I faced discrimination because of my disability. I began to feel sorry for myself. But later, I decided to make a change in my life, to make a difference in the lives of veterans.”
