Texas Veteran Golfer

Great day with incredible Veterans of the NTWGA 🇺🇲

A fantastic time being hosted by the Oakmont Country Club in Corinth,TX. The Membership and Club has hosted PGA HOPE for several years and have been so accommodating and kind. A big shout out to the Members and unbelievable staff led by the Head Professional Andrew Barone .

Exciting to start Spring sessions with NTPGA HOPE

PGA HOPE

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A LEADERSHIP GREAT—Celebrating the birthday of Lieutenant General James M. Gavin who was born on this day, March 22, 1907. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Lt. Gen. Gavin graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of ‘29. Soon after he took command of the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II, he became the youngest Major General (shown) commanding a division since the American Civil War.

Lt. Gen. Gavin fast became a Division icon earning a reputation among his men as the general who carried an M1 rifle—along with the weight of the ammunition to go with it—forgoing the lighter weapons traditionally carried by staff officers and other generals.

During Operation "Market Garden" on September 17, 1944, he fractured his spine on the jump. He kept the injury to himself, though, and endured the pain for nearly two months until after the campaign was over.

Lt. Gen. Gavin believed that an army should represent the people it defended. He fought against segregation in the U.S. Army, and ultimately it was his 82nd Airborne Division that embraced integrated units, changing the Army forever.

Lt. Gen. Gavin was a serious man, but he did see the lighter side. As his account of Operation Husky goes, “When we jumped into Sicily, the units became separated, I couldn't find anyone. Eventually, I stumbled across two colonels, a major, three captains, two lieutenants and one rifleman and we secured the bridge. Never in the history of war have so few been led by so many.”

Lt. Gen. Gavin led from the front and with unyielding energy. He served in every major campaign fought by the 82nd during WWII. And his contributions shaped the future and the warrior ethos of the Airborne. As his most famous quote goes, “Show me a man who will jump out of an airplane and I'll show you a man who will fight.”

Here’s to a great leader! All The Way!

Photo, Major General James M. Gavin, Victory Portrait, Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. Design by Gary Daniels

American Hero Vet of WWI WWII and the Korean War:
One of the oldest infantry soldier to have served in combat during the Korean War. He was 52 years old and fighting in combat in Korea in 1950. What is incredible is that he had served in WW1 and also in WW2, prior to serving in Korea. Here's the incredible story of Sgt. First Class Orlando E. Huntoon, a soldier for life.

In July 1950, this brave 52 year old American soldier was fighting alongside young 17 and 18 year old soldiers of the 24th Infantry Division against an overwhelming force of North Korean communists. Task Force Smith was outnumbered 10 to 1 by the North Korean forces.

Many Korean War veterans tell me that they felt safer around WW2 veterans who led them in battles during the Korean War. But SFC Huntoon was not only a WW2 veteran but also WW1 veteran.

Sfc. Orlando Huntoon, pictured here as a 52 year old, was already a seasoned veteran who knew and understood the horrors of war and yet, he left everything behind again, risking his life to serve in his third war.

Sfc. Hunton passed away in 1972. May he rest in eternal peace and honor.

PHOTO CAPTION:
"Sfc. Huntoon of Vermont, 52 years of age, enlisted in the Army in 1918, and has served in both the 1st and 2nd World Wars. He is serving again in Korea. 12 July 1950. "
PHOTO CREDIT "OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE"

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