MVAA VSO pins Vietnam War veteran, secures full disability rating

MARQUETTE, Mich. — Decades after returning home from Vietnam, a Marine Corps veteran was finally honored for his service and pinned by the very Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) veteran service officer (VSO) who helped secure full disability benefits for his mental health wounds.

George Bowen Jr. was a Marine from 1971 to 1975 during the Vietnam War. Shortly after his separation from the military, Bowen began suffering from a severe substance use disorder that would consume most of his life. The addiction caused him to become unpleasant to work with and tarnish his reputation within the small town where he lived.

“No one really knew what George did while in the service,” MVAA VSO Eric Martin said. “His family said that it was never talked about.”

Due to his addiction and mental health struggles, Bowen worked with numerous local VSOs since 2012. It became a regular occurrence for him to miss appointments and disappear for days. It was not until he moved to Michigan Veteran Homes (MVH) D.J Jacobetti in Oct. 2024 that his challenge of receiving recognition for his service-connected conditions would be acknowledged.

Following his move, Martin was contacted by a social worker to further assist Bowen. Within a short time, Martin was able to locate key evidence that had previously been overlooked to support Bowen’s claim. As a result, Martin filed an appeal, and the VA granted Bowen a 100% disability rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with back pay totaling more than $14,000.

“George’s story is a prime example of that not all cases are going to be easy,” Martin said. “His rating has helped his family and all of those who were impacted by his severe substance use disorder to have a better understanding on why he suffered for so many years.”

Bowen and his family expressed immense gratitude for Martin’s assistance and plan to start a yearly college scholarship in Bowen’s name with additional ideas including event sponsorships and donations to support groups for others in recovery. The family’s goal is to share Bowen’s story to help decrease the stigma around mental health and addiction.

Bowen’s recognition continued when Martin had the honor of pinning him with a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin. During a visit to MVH D.J Jacobetti, Martin was able to present the pin to Bowen and formally thank him for his service.

 “He was so proud of his pin that he told multiple staff members that he couldn’t wait to show his father,” Martin recalled. “He doesn’t remember that his father passed away many years ago, but this pin had filled him with so much excitement to how his dad.”

As a veteran himself, Martin is passionate about serving others and ensuring fellow veterans get the recognition they deserve.

“George’s story is a prime example that not all cases are going to be easy,” Martin said. “To have the ability to change someone’s life for the better is an amazing feeling.”

To find a VSO in your area, visit Michigan.gov/VSO.

If you are a service member or veteran or the family member and need support, please contact the Michigan Veterans Resource Service Center at 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838) to learn more about veteran benefits and resources.

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency - The MVAA is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care, advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA or by reading our FY24 Annual Report.