N.C. Guardsmen serving in Iraq receive golf clubs from Callaway

Photo By Spc. Jasmine Walthall | Callaway donated more than 700 assorted men and ladies golf clubs and 50 dozen golf balls to North Carolina Guardsmen serving in Iraq with Task Force 449. Two shipments arrived in Iraq before Christmas; the boxes included golf equipment such as putters; golf clubs ranging from drivers to pitching wedges; golf balls and gloves.  

12.31.2008

Story by Capt. Katherine Zyla 

449th Combat Aviation Brigade

By Katherine Zyle
449th Theater Aviation Brigade

Soldiers with Task Force 449 are starting the year off using their new golf clubs, recently donated by Callaway Golf Company.

Callaway donated more than 700 assorted men and ladies golf clubs and 50 dozen golf balls to these North Carolina Guardsmen serving in Iraq. Two shipments arrived in Iraq before Christmas; the boxes included golf equipment such as putters; golf clubs ranging from drivers to pitching wedges; golf balls and gloves.

"I had absolutely no expectation of getting so many golf clubs; 400 putters is unbelievable" said CW3 Terry E. Westbrook, TF 449's Property Book Officer and one responsible for initiating this program for the unit, "The excitement of the Soldiers was unimaginable when they opened the two boxes full of gifts and had an opportunity to select a golf club to remember the deployment."

Spc. Jeremy C. Stancil, an intelligence analyst, has a set of 20-year-old clubs he bought from his uncle and said he is eager to play with his new Callaway putter. The Winder, Ga., native said he is considering buying a complete set of Callaway golf clubs when he returns from the deployment.

"It's got me excited to go out and play more and improve my game," said Stancil, "This donation shows a lot of support from Callaway and helps us bond as a unit here (in Iraq) and will give us another opportunity to socialize together when we return home."

Westbrook said he thought the Callaway program would be a great boost for morale and that Soldiers would be delighted knowing organizations, such as Callaway support them.

The donation all started with Westbrook's phone call during September in hopes of getting a small golf club donation for the unit, located out of Morrisville, N.C., to use while deployed.

"I like helping Soldiers and doing extracurricular things for the unit," said

Westbrook, "Everyone has something he or she can do and this is something I know how to do and can give back to the Soldiers."

The Raleigh, N.C., native diligently corresponded with Callaway and developed a formal request from Col. Paul Barbee, Commander, Task Force 449. Callaway quickly approved and said a donation would be sent once the unit arrived in theater.

Westbrook followed up with Callaway in November, gave the company Task Force 449's address and boxes arrived just in time for Christmas.

Stancil said he had not received a Christmas package from his family yet, and getting a Callaway putter was a nice surprise and made his Christmas overseas memorable.

Callaway's donation has not only touched the Hurricanes but will also have a lasting impact on the Soldiers in Iraq.

The remaining golf clubs and balls will be donated to a driving range for all service members to use. Additional putters will be used to possibly outfit a putt-putt golf course in the near future.

"As long as TF 449 and the Soldiers are happy and have an opportunity to participate in something neat such as golf in Iraq then I have done my job," said Westbrook. "If it's a good start for a bigger project, such as a [Morale Welfare Recreation] club house that the Army is proud of then it's a bonus."

Task Force 449 Soldiers expressed their gratitude to Callaway Golf Company by taking photos with Soldiers and their new gear and will fly an American Flag on one of their UH-60 Black Hawk New Year's Eve missions over Iraq. The unit will present Callaway with a certificate of appreciation and shadow box with the flag.

The Hurricanes conduct full spectrum aviation operations in support of Multi-National-Division - Center operations throughout the operational environment to secure the population, defeat VE networks in order to enable the government of Iraq to provide security and essential services to Iraqi people.

• Date Taken: 12.31.2008
• Date Posted: 12.31.2008 08:35
• Story ID: 28312