OCR Text |
Show SflpfllEIEQ From pre-war painter to postwar post-war court reporter! That's how World War II affected af-fected the career of John Victor Erower of Las Vegas, Nevada, foreman of a paint crew prior to enlistment in the Infantry in 1944, and today, minus one leg, court reporter for the Eighth Judicial District Dis-trict Court. Phys i cal fitness is a pre-requisito a land mine which blew off one of his legs below the knee. It was three hours before medical aid arrived. They shipped him from one hospital to another during convalescence con-valescence and he finally woundup wound-up at Bushnell General Hospital in Brigham City, Utah, from where he was discharged January Jan-uary 24, 1946. In Las Vegas he met such notables not-ables as Judge Frank McNamee and Judge A. S. Henderson of the district court, who became interested in-terested in Brower's economic and rehabilitation problem. As Brower states it in his own words: "Without the help of these men, and other good friends, including Jack Walsh, manager of Hotel Flamingo, I would not . have had the intestinal fortitude to go into such a subject as shorthand short-hand and typing and all the hard work and study which was necessary neces-sary to assure that I could do a proficient job." He enrolled in the College of Commerce at Long Beach, Cal., to learn his new profession and then returned to Las Vegas for on-the-job training under Margaret Marga-ret Hinson, head of the Court reporter re-porter staff. Today he is considered thor-1 thor-1 oughly proficient in his work. He has a new artificial limb too which he manipulates so -well that his gait is just as natural as it ever was. Brower is married and has a family of three children with two boys age 14 and 10 and a girl age 4. In addition to his new job, the war also brought him decorations decora-tions including the Combat Infantry In-fantry Badge, a bronze campaign star, the Victoiy Ribbon, Purple Heart, European-African and American Theater ribbons. He is a member of DAV Chapter No. 11 in Las Vegas. for a painter Brower who climbs around on high scaffolds and other hazardous spots. So John Brower, with the aid of friends and his own courage, began a new career for which he acquired new skills. This ability to overcome a serious ser-ious handicap caused by wartime service and to become a self-sustaining citizen has earned for Brower selection by the Disabled American Veterans as "Hero of the Month." His selection is part of a national na-tional program to honor each month a seriously disabled veteran vet-eran who has successfully rehabilitated re-habilitated himself. The experience of Brower and thousands of other disabled veterans, vet-erans, according to Boniface R. Maile, national DAV commander, emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the rehabilitation program for disabled veterans and not letting false economy moves wreck the program. Brower enlisted April 27, 1944, and after basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, was assigned to Company G. 8th Infantry Regiment, Regi-ment, 4th Infantry Division. During action in the Hurtgen Forest, Germany, he stepped on |