Black Jack Soldiers tee off for charity

Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | Spc. John Triola, a Chicago native and a cavalry scout with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, tries to putt his ball into the hole during the "Black Jack" Golf Scramble on the Courses of Clear Creek on Fort Hood, Texas, Aug. 5.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

08.05.2010

Story by Spc. Justin A. Naylor 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

FORT HOOD, Texas - You don’t always need a reason to play golf, but it’s a little easier to explain to the boss, and the spouse, if you have one.

For soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the “Black Jack” Golf Scramble at the Courses of Clear Creek, here, Aug. 5, presented the perfect opportunity—a chance to get out of the office and play golf, all while supporting the brigade’s family readiness groups and the Central Texas Youth Service, a local charity that supports families and children in the area.

The courses were filled with more than 30 competing teams comprised of soldiers from throughout Fort Hood and local community leaders.

“It’s always fun to get out of the office, spend the day with friends, colleagues, coworkers and soldiers … and enjoy the beautiful central Texas in August,” said 1st Lt. Alex Holladay, a Wichita, Kan., native and an intelligence officer for 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment.

The fun was coupled with the fact that the fees the attendees paid were helping support a worthwhile cause.

“The Sgt. Audie Murphy Club is hosting this event because we wanted to bring some attention to the Central Texas Youth Service,” said Sgt. 1st Class Melinda Thai, a Houston native and the intelligence non-commissioned officer in-charge for 2nd BCT.

The CTYS is a halfway house that provides shelter to battered families and disenfranchised children, explained Thai.

“They get a roof over their head, some food and support so the kids can go to school,” she said.

Nearly all of the money the shelter receives it uses to support the families and children, leaving very little for the facility itself.

“The Sgt. Audie Murphy Club has been providing maintenance support for the facility,” said Thai.

The club is also working to save enough money to buy furniture for the shelter.

In addition to the charity, funds were also raised through ticket sales to support the various FRGs of 2nd BCT.

But aside from the charities, most Soldiers were just looking to have a little fun.

“It’s a great moral builder to get out here and interact with people in a much more casual setting,” said Holladay. “[It] takes some of the stress off all the work and planning and training.”

Soldiers didn’t even have to be good to come out and play.

“I’m not exactly PGA material, but it’s fun to get out here and enjoy golf,” said Holladay.

• Date Taken: 08.05.2010
• Date Posted: 08.10.2010 15:55
• Story ID: 54288
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US