CAMP CARROLL, South Korea – There are 10 lanes, 10 pins, leather retro-styled shoes, and plenty of balls to go around for anyone looking to enjoy a full contact sport without the physical pains of professional football. But this isn’t the same pastime your grandparents partook in after their nine-to-five shifts during the work week. To Sgt. Mark A. Morgan, an automated logistics specialist with the 501st Sustainment Brigade, bowling is a way of life.
It’s a passion that was formed at a young age when he would watch his father, an avid league bowler, compete in countless tournaments in his hometown of Lumbertown, N.C. Throughout the years, Morgan would work hard to perfect his skill in bowling while attending the local lanes almost daily.
“It was so cool to watch my dad compete,” said Morgan. “There was nothing more I wanted to do. I was determined to be like him.”
That determination is still alive in Morgan today and has earned him a spot on the All Army Bowling Team. Since then, opportunities have opened up for him to travel around the United States to compete in various tournaments. He has won multiple awards for his skills to include bowling 15 perfect games, seven of which were sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
Within the last year, Morgan received a silver medal for overall singles and a gold medal for best overall team in the Armed Services Bowling Championships in San Diego, Calif. He carries a 200 average minimum every game and was voted the Killeen-Fort Hood Bowler of the Year.
It’s no surprise that a person who bowls at least six games every day has received such recognition for his dedication to the sport. He’s committed to the things he believes to be most important in his life, especially the country he grew up in. Morgan enlisted into the Army National Guard in 1995 and served for four years before making the decision to enter active duty service.
“I’m asked by a lot of people as to why I remain in the Army when I have the potential to go pro,” he said.
Morgan says that he tells them all the same thing: that he loves his job in the Army and will serve the United States of America to the best of his abilities.
“Bowling will always be there,” said Morgan. “Once my 20-year career goal has been fulfilled, then I will pursue any opportunities to bowl just a little more.”
The love of the game has taken Morgan to new places and allows him to work on a solid team of professionals, much like what is seen in the ranks of today’s Army. When he competed in Camp Carroll’s most recent bowling tournament, he was joined by a fellow soldier, avid bowler, teammate and friend, Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Heron, a paralegal specialist with the 501st SBDE.
“Bowling with Sgt. Morgan is always fun,” said Heron, a Maryland resident. “He is a bowler of a higher caliber, I always try to watch and emulate him.”
Heron added that bowling with Morgan helps to elevate his game to another level.
“He is someone who is as good, if not better than most, and when you bowl with him it makes you strive to be better,” said Heron about Morgan.
While he bowls with him as a friend and competes against Morgan, Heron said that Morgan still teaches him minor things that make big impacts on his game.
“He has showed me a few things with my form that have made great improvements in my game and that allow me to compete at his level,” said Heron.
The one thing that both Heron and Morgan have in common, besides the obvious love for bowling and serving their country, is the pride and joy that comes with working on a team, both on and off duty.
“Like the Army, we are there for our buddies on the bowling team,” said Morgan. “The most rewarding thing about the game is helping each other out and keeping each other motivated. There’s still a competitive level, but we rely on each other and no matter what the outcome is, we always have a good time.”
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.24.2011 04:18 |
| Story ID: | 78895 |
| Location: | WAEGWAN, DAEGU GWANG'YEOGSI [TAEGU-KWANGYOKSHI], KR |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Campions bowling champion, by SGT David Alvarado, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
