By Declan Murphy
On Saturday, July 16, former Marine Eddie Cruz was installed as the new Post Commander for the American Legion Post 162 in Deerfield Beach. Cruz served with the Marine Corps from 1969-1973, including “one year in the Republic of South Vietnam.” Cruz also said that he served in “the Air Force Reserve during the first Gulf War.” Upon being installed as new Commander for Post 162, Cruz was presented with a flag by Master Sgt. Robert San Filippo, who just recently returned from serving in Iraq with a U.S. Air Force airlift squadron. The flag he presented Cruz flew on combat missions during Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain and other countries. Filippo said, “I served proudly and am glad to come back home to my adopted father, (fellow Legionnaire) Jack Murphy.”