Live Oak High School alumnus Eddie Bowers, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, was one of eight servicemen named as a recipient of the Veteran of the Year Award.
Assemblymember Luis Alejo (D-Salinas) announced the honorees list today. Recipients are chosen based on their exemplary military service, community service and support for veterans in the community, according to the Nov. 10 press release.
Each Veteran of the Year will be recognized during various Veterans Day celebrations throughout the 30th Assembly district on Nov. 11.
“Our veterans risk their lives to protect American values and our freedoms,” said Alejo, whose father served during the Vietnam War. “It is a privilege to honor and pay tribute to him and our veterans for their service to our great nation.”
Bowers joined the U.S. Army in October 1967 soon after he graduated from Live Oak High School. Following his completion of basic training, he was assigned to the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion, 118th Attack Helicopter Company, and was stationed in Bin Hoa, where he served as a door gunner on Huey gunships.
During three tours of duty, Bowers was awarded two Army commendation medals and 44 Air Medals, each Air Medal representing 25 hours of combat in the air. He achieved the rank of E-4 soldier and was honorably discharged in 1970.
Bowers then returned to his home of Morgan Hill and married his wife, Elvira, and began a career as a barber, from which he is now retired. In 1998, Bowers felt the need to return to Vietnam, to the scene of many traumatic events that affected U.S. military personnel and the Vietnamese people. He has since returned to Vietnam on several trips, often accompanied by fellow veterans.
Bowers’ commitment to his fellow veterans in the Morgan Hill community is evidenced by his active involvement with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and his participation in the city’s annual Veterans Day memorial ceremony, according to the announcement. Bowers organized the ceremony in 1990 to honor and remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country and to honor and recognize local residents who have served and those currently involved in overseas conflicts.
Bowers will lead this year’s Veterans Day ceremony at 9 a.m. Nov. 11, at the veterans memorial at First Street and Monterey Road.
Other 2016 Veterans of the Year are: Menko Rose III of Santa Cruz County, U.S. Army; Bernardo “Bernie” Ramirez of San Benito County, U.S. Army; Richardo Cerros Sr. of Monterey County, U.S. Army; Robert “Bobby” Armendariz of Santa Clara County, U.S. Army; Phil Orozco of Monterey County, U.S. Marine Corps; Tony Virrueta of Monterey County, U.S. Army Rangers; and William Neighbors of Santa Cruz County, U.S. Army.
Alejo is chairman of the California Latino Legislative Caucus and represents the 30th District in the California State Assembly, which consists of the Salinas Valley, parts of Monterey and San Benito counties, South Santa Clara County and the city of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County.
