My brother, Alfred Urdiales would have graduated with the class of 1968.  He never made it.  He left Bowen in the spring of 1967 to join the Army. He took basic training at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri.  He took Advanced Infantry Training in Fort Gordon Georgia and Paratrooper - airborne Ranger Training at Fort Campbell Kentucky.  He became a member of the 101st Screaming Eagles.  He was sent to Vietnam just about eight days before Christmas - 1967.  The letters that I received from him spoke of the horrors of combat.  Not knowing who was friendly and who wasn't.  It was heartwrenching to think that he was going thru hell on earth.

One day in February, while I was at school, an Army lieutenant came to my parent's door.  Alfred was listed as MIA.  For a week, everyone prayed.  Then again, while I was at school, that same lieutenant came back.  Alfred had been found.  KIA.  He came home that cold February.  We waked him at Brown's  Funeral Home on 95th street.  It seemed like all of Bowen came to the wake. For two solid days, that place was packed.  The funeral procession stretched easily a mile long.  So many classmates.  We buried Alfred in Chicago. It was February 16th, 1968.  It was my father's 42nd birthday.