CHUALAR — Monterey County has honored the last surviving Bracero of the 1963 Chualar train tragedy, recognizing his life story and the enduring legacy of Bracero workers during Bracero Worker History Recognition Week.
During a special ceremony Sept. 16 at the Monterey County Board of Supervisors chambers, officials presented an official resolution honoring Isidro Hernandez Tovar, 81, of Los Angeles. Hernandez Tovar was only 19 years old when he survived the horrific crash that claimed the lives of 32 Bracero workers on Sept. 17, 1963, in Chualar.
Packed with 57 workers inside a makeshift bus, Hernandez Tovar was among 25 survivors after a Southern Pacific train hit them. He suffered severe injuries and spent more than a month hospitalized.
Supervisor Luis Alejo, who led the recognition, reflected on the significance of honoring Hernandez Tovar as the last living witness of the tragedy.
“He endured severe injuries, spent a month in the hospital, and has carried the living memory of that painful chapter in California history, where 32 workers tragically lost their lives,” wrote Alejo on social media. “Now 81, it was a tremendous honor to present Isidro with an official recognition from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors as the last surviving Bracero of the Chualar Tragedy alongside his wife of 50 years and several of his children.”
The recognition coincided with the 62nd anniversary of the crash, considered the deadliest labor-related transportation disaster in U.S. history at the time. The tragedy spurred greater awareness of the conditions faced by Bracero workers, who were recruited from Mexico between 1942 and 1964 to support U.S. agriculture and railroads.
“These courageous Braceros contributed enormously to California and our nation’s agriculture and laid the foundation for thousands of families in Monterey County and beyond,” Alejo added. “Monterey County is proud to salute Isidro and we are grateful for all you have done for California.”
At the board ceremony, Hernandez Tovar briefly spoke in Spanish (translated to English below) while accepting the honor.
“I want to thank you all for this recognition, even though I don’t deserve it, but thank you for everything,” he said. “Thank you all for everything you do for us. Thank you, thank you. That’s all I can say. Thank you.”
In addition to last Tuesday’s ceremony, Hernandez Tovar returned to Chualar, where he revisited the crash site, the roadside memorial and the new Bracero Legacy Mural. He reflected on the loss of his best friend Sixto and others who died that day, before sharing a meal in Chualar with family and historian Dr. Ignacio Ornelas.
The county resolution honoring Hernandez Tovar highlighted his life journey — from growing up in Zapotlanejo, Jalisco, México, to his Bracero work in the Salinas Valley fields, his recovery after the crash and eventually settling in Los Angeles, where he worked more than 30 years with the Molding Corporation of America.
Hernandez Tovar and his wife, Carmelita, have raised six children during more than five decades of marriage. His story, county leaders said, embodies the resilience, dignity and lasting contributions of Bracero workers.
“The life story of Isidro Hernandez Tovar reflects courage, endurance, and quiet heroism, serving as a living testament to the contributions and sacrifices of Bracero workers and immigrant laborers who helped shape the history and prosperity of the United States,” stated the resolution.
The Board of Supervisors first declared Bracero Worker History Recognition Week in 2023, and this year chose to honor and celebrate Hernandez Tovar as the only remaining Bracero of the Chualar disaster 62 years ago.
“(The Board) commends his resilience, perseverance, and devotion to family, and expresses its deepest gratitude for his lasting contributions as a Bracero worker and immigrant laborer whose story embodies the strength and spirit of the Latino community,” the resolution concluded. “We also honor and celebrate (him) as the last surviving Bracero of the Chualar Bracero Tragedy.”
