John C. Bowers helped to rescue Bernard R. Eafrati and assisted in an attempt to rescue others following an explosion, Weirton, West Virginia, December 15, 1972. When a violent explosion occurred at a coke plant, Eafrati, 54, and other workman were severely injured and unable to get out of the basement as fire spread amid the debris. Bowers, 32, ambulance attendant, ignored warnings about a possible second explosion and, with another ambulance attendant, entered the basement. With flashlights for the only illumination, they located Eafrati near the basement section where the explosion had occurred. After carrying Eafrati to the basement stairs, from where others took him outside, Bowers and the other attendant went back to get other injured workmen, but another explosion prevented them from doing so. Eafrati recovered.
53581 – 6045
53581-6045Obituary
John C. Bowers, 69, of Wintersville, Ohio, formerly of Lisbon, Ohio, died on April 29, 2010, at his home.
He was born Sept. 17, 1940, in Steubenville, Ohio, a son of Joseph F. and Lois (Mears) Bowers. Bowers was an emergency medical technician for Ambulance Services, Inc., and was the chief for Jefferson Security. He was also past chief at Pleasant Hill Fire Department.
Bowers was awarded the Carnegie Medal for a heroic act performed on Dec. 15, 1972.
(Edited from an obituary in The Herald-Star, April 30, 2010.)