- May 4, 2024
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Veteran Wallace Bowden served on a B-27 in World War II.
BY WAYNE GRANT | STAFF WRITER
Wallace Bowden, of Ormond-by-the-Sea, has been presented a plaque for his 60-year membership in the American Legion. A World War II veteran, Bowden served in the U.S. Army Air Force, working as a radio operator on a B-17 Flying Fortress.
He was presented with the plaque by the state commander of the American Legion, Art Schwabe, of Ormond Beach, and Brian Preston, commander of local Post 120.
“I salute you,” Schwabe said, as he presented the plaque. “Thank you for your service.”
After the war, Bowden, now 90 years old, worked as a maintenance supervisor at a hospital in Plainfield, N.J. He and his wife, Dee, retired to Ormond-by-the-Sea in 1985.
Bowden is recovering from two strokes and remains optimistic.
“I wish I could do more than I do,” he said. “One of these days, I’m going to shock myself and start doing a lot better.”
Schwabe said many veterans belong to the organization even though they can’t attend meetings, because they want to support it. Bowden was previously active with the legion, running the youth baseball league. He now enjoys getting the newsletter and keeping up on the group's activities.
