Bernie Salgado

Son, brother, husband, father, cousin, uncle, Viet Nam War Army veteran, California Army National Guard member, teacher, principal. All these and so much more. In the words of his friends, Bernie was, "one of the finest people I've ever known." His brother, Sam, says, "Bernie fought a hard fight, but he ran out of ammunition. He was a warrior, yet the only in the family that could talk sense into me. A college graduate he went on to guide young lives. He was the gem in our family." To his son he was "Pop". Bernie worked the lettuce fields of the Salinas Valley while attending North Salinas High School, where he played football and wrestled. He rose to the rank of First Sargent in the military, retiring after 22 years. He asked Anna to marry him three days after he met her, they married on his 42nd birthday and remained together for 36 years until his death. Sadly, Bernie was, like so many other Viet Nam vets was a victim of Agent Orange. He suffered from stage five kidney disease, diabetes, and many other health issues. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.