Monday Q&A: John Bowker on being a veteran

MOUNT MORRIS – Veterans Day is a time when Americans remind themselves of the sacrifices made by their heroes.

For veterans themselves, sometimes it can mean something different, as explained by former Army sergeant John Bowker, 66, of Mount Morris. In 1967, he was deployed to Vietnam, where he earned a Bronze Star.

Bowker enjoys other things. He talks about building Trident nuclear submarines and can go on and on about golf – which he plays four times a week, if he can.

But during a sit-down Saturday, Bowker said being a veteran is something that always lingers. And while he doesn’t always talk about his experience, it’s important to him that people come to some understanding.

When you as a veteran think about Veterans Day, what comes to mind?

All the young men who died in Vietnam. It wasn’t a declared war. Had we been allowed to fight it as a declared war, I think the outcome would have been a lot different.

I don’t think a lot of people realize that it wasn’t a declared war …

Conflict. That’s what it was characterized as.

Were you drafted or did you enlist?

I was an alternate at the Air Force Academy, and I found out at that time that I had to wear glasses. To be a pilot, you had to have perfect vision. My heart was set on it back then. I found out I couldn’t go and fly jets, and it deflated me. I went to the draft board and told them, “Just draft me.” My dad had preached to me – go in the Navy, have a clean bed. He was in the Navy in Italy right at the end of World War II.

One of the things I really picked up on in this area – people in this area seem very mindful of veterans, and pay a lot of tribute. Do you feel that, as a veteran?

When I first got back, I landed in California, and I was spat on in the airport there. We were not welcome home. That was a very critical time in our country. It was very much protesting against the war. Not like the wars that we’ve had recently, where the people of the country were behind them.

As this generation of war veterans were welcome home – the Iraqi and Afghanistan veterans – it became more warm toward the Vietnam veterans. It took a while for us to really feel that recognition, that we were doing something for our country that we felt was the right thing to do.

I can’t even imagine. We’re talking a long time you guys were waiting for that …

It’s been since the first Iraq War in 1991. It took a while for us to be acknowledged. It was not a very popular war.

And now you feel an appreciation…

Yes, all veterans. All veterans are treated with so much more respect. It’s a nice, warm wonderful feeling today to be a veteran and be recognized for what we are and appreciated for what we did.

You are a veteran. That never goes away. I’m wondering if it’s a year-round thing for you. Is it something you think about constantly?

You know, there are things that happened in Vietnam that I have total memory like it happened yesterday. And there are things yesterday I can’t remember. I would not wish war on anyone.

Almost every veteran I’ve talked to says the same exact thing.

There were over 500,000 in Vietnam. We were all very young men. America lost a lot of wonderful young men in that war.

How did you pick up the pieces and move forward?

I can tell you – I was a very changed person when I came back. One thing I recall, I was indestructible. I lived through Vietnam. So I had that mental approach, which is not a good thing to have. I had a fast car, a fast motorcycle, and I drove them fast thinking I’m indestructible. I had nightmares.

In 48 years since Vietnam, I have not watched one Vietnam War movie. I don’t need to. I lived it.

Is it like that with other things?

As far as watching fireworks, I don’t go out of my way to watch them. But no, nothing like that comes to mind. There are certain things that I don’t do. Some of the guys will ask questions about it. I don’t want to talk about that.

Outside of being a veteran, what do you like to do?

Play golf [laughs], and I take care of my mom.

Were you always a golfer?

I lettered at Mount Morris High School.

If I go out and play nine holes, I might hit two shots that make people go ‘wow.’ The rest are all hooks and slices and duffs.

It makes you keep wanting to come back [laughs]. We all still do that. All of us. Believe me.

What’s you’re favorite course around here?

I don’t really have a favorite one. We play all of them. I like the one in Lena – Wolf Hollow. Right down here in Sterling – Emerald Hills – that’s a really great golf course. Timber Creek in Dixon – another great one.

The weather’s still nice for it. How often do you play?

As often as I can [laughs]. If it’s above 40, I’m wearing shorts. The guys I play with say I make them cold. But I play at least 4 days a week. At least 4. It’s great. The camaraderie. They can say all they want about it not being a physical sport. You’re walking. You’re stretching all parts of your body. It’s physical.