For the past 11 years, Tee It Up for the Troops has hosted REUNION, a veteran outreach initiative where wounded vets find healing and hope on and off the golf course. REUNION reunites battle buddies who were separated due to battlefield injuries. Through REUNION, combat warriors reconnect with those they trust most, experience healing, and develop new relationships and support networks, helping them with their ongoing transition from the battlefield to the home front.
Hometown, High School, and Warrior Buddies – Dan Thiesfeld, and Nick Kimmel – Reunite at REUNION
“I almost teared up just giving him a hug because I haven’t seen him in forever. It meant so much. Just to be here at this event, to see all these people and hear all their stories is just amazing,” said one warrior attendee.
Click below to watch the emotional video of how our 2023 wounded vets find healing and hope on and off the golf course at REUNION.
Many valued non-profit partners “stepped up to the tee” at REUNION by participating in the Non-Profit Partner Resource Expo. Throughout REUNION, our non-profit partners each bring unique resources that are introduced and available for veterans and their families.
Non-Profit Partners Expo at REUNION.
Most of these partners also send combat veterans to experience the healing and hope that comes from attending REUNION. These wounded vets find healing and hope on and off the golf course
Below is a list of the wonderful non-profit partners who brought support to REUNION and links to their organizations.
The Tee It Up for the Troops Desert Mountain Golf Club Event in Arizona, like all our military charity events, honors both our fallen soldiers and those Gold Star Families left behind. This particular event brought healing and involvement for one Gold Star Mother.
Vicki Dryer’s son, Corey, was only in the Army for a little over a year. During his first deployment to Afghanistan, he was killed in action about two months into his assignment. “Before Corey left for deployment, he had a talk with me to prepare me,” Vicki stated. “He knew he was going to a really bad place. He said ‘Mom, everyone will move on…my wife, my sisters, others …except you Mom.’ He would be so surprised at all the people, including those he served with, that will always carry him and his story forward.”
A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Pfc. John C. Johnson, of Phoenix, Ariz., at Dover Air Force Base, Del., May 28, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)
Vicki started working at the Desert Mountain Golf Club after Corey’s death when she was feeling the early stages of intense grief. “I was really, really struggling,” said Vicki. “My husband encouraged me to get out of the house and off the computer.” She had never been on a golf course before, but a friend drove the beverage cart and encouraged her to apply at the Desert Mountain Golf Club. During the interview, Vicki told the golf course personnel that she was seriously grieving over the loss of her son, but that she was honest, hard-working, and could learn just about anything. She was hired and started out driving the beverage cart, but soon was doing a little bit of everything around the club. When the first Tee It Up for the Troops golf charity event came to Desert Mountain in May of 2022, everyone at the club agreed that Vicki needed to be involved.
Vicki, who finds her way forward by getting involved to honor and support all those who have sacrificed so much to serve our nation, was instrumental in getting the first Desert Mountain event off the ground.
In the military, there’s a saying “no man left behind.” At Tee It Up for the Troops, we want to let Gold Star Families know they won’t be left behind either.
Gold Star Families are the surviving family members of military personnel who died while on active duty. During our golf events’ open ceremonies, we provide an opportunity for Gold Star families to honor their loved ones and fallen warriors.
Gold Star Family Ceremony honoring loved ones.
Vicki, a proud Gold Star Mother, honored her son, Corey, at our Desert Mountain Golf Club Charity Event in Phoenix, AZ last May. PFC John Corey Johnson died on May 27, 2011, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
Vicki organized many aspects of the patriotic event, including the Arizona Patriot Guard Riders arriving at the event with flags waving on their motorcycles, elements of the opening ceremony, including an Honor Guard, and a wreath-laying by Gold Star Families. Vicki will tell you that the most important thing she did in helping to organize the golf charity event for military veterans was “wearing the hat.” “For months leading up to the event, I wore that Tee It Up for the Troops golf hat and talked to everyone I could about the event,” Vicki explained.
Patriot Rider Motorcycles.
“Getting involved in the Tee It Up for the Troops Desert Mountain Golf Club event brought me additional healing and great joy,” Vicki said. “People who find great joy in life, give back. I had taken a break from giving back and after examining my happiness, I figured that I needed to show love and give back.”
“Being a volunteer and getting intrenched with this charity helped me immensely,” Vicki added. “The Tee It Up for the Troops event is truly unique. It honors our military and fallen soldiers in a very patriotic way, but it’s not all somber like some remembrance events. It was great to see everyone having fun on the golf course and how everyone was enjoying themselves.”
PFC John Corey Johnson, 28, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division and was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March of 2011. This was during a very heightened conflict time with the Taliban and al-Qaeda shortly after Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S. Forces. Insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire, killing Corey.
PFC John Corey Johnson.
Six other members of Corey’s battalion were also killed in action during this conflict. Sadly, three additional members of his unit would die by suicide.
On Mother’s Day in 2011, from Afghanistan, Corey sent his mom, Vicki, a dozen roses, a gift box of Shari’s Berries, and a card. Corey joked with his stepfather, “Beat that Dryer…all the way from Afghanistan!” Nineteen days later Corey was killed in action.
Vicki, Corey, and granddaughter McKenna.
When asked for the three things Vicki would want others to know about her son, Corey, she replied:
“He was a defender of his sisters, his mom, and his family. He always took care of all things good.”
“He was funny. He would hide in strange places and jump out and scare me.”
“He was unique. He was a redneck – that was my pet name for him. I told him he could not get a tattoo unless it was a tattoo for his mom. At 18 he got a tattoo that read ‘redneck.’ He called it his ‘mom tattoo.’ He also had his daughter, McKena’s feet from her birth certificate tattooed on his chest. Those baby feet left a lasting impression on the men who cut his uniform off and performed medical attention to try to keep him alive.”
Corey’s awards and decorations include the Army the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
It is the ultimate sacrifice that Corey and others have made on behalf of their country that we remember and honor at Tee It Up for the Troops golf events. “It’s really important as a nation to remember that Afghanistan was the longest war in American history,” said Vicki. The effects of this war are generational. Our work and our gratitude are never done.”
Please take a moment to watch the Desert Mountain event video below. It’s an impactful patriotic video reminding all of us of the blessings and freedoms we have due to the service and sacrifices of our amazing military men and women.
As we enter a New Year we want to celebrate everything that YOU have helped Tee It Up for the Troops achieve. Because of your commitment to HELP VETERANS GET BACK ON COURSE, here are a few highlights of what we accomplished TOGETHER in 2022!
Charitable Donations
Exceeded over $13 million in charitable donations since 2005 to directly assist combat veterans and their families.
Non-Profit Awards
We accomplished together great ratings and impressed the Non-Profit Watchdogs with these awards:
Tee It Up for the Troops has been honored once again with a 2022 Top-Rated Nonprofit by GreatNonprofits! Read inspiring stories about our impact HERE!
Your Commitment to Volunteering
We accomplished together the success of many events and you devoted over 19,015 volunteer hours – helping us continue to be very efficient stewards of all donations received!
REUNION Event
Celebrated the 10th Anniversary of REUNION! Over those years, more than 400 combat veterans were reunited with their battle buddies. This supports the VA’s research that these reunions make a significant impact in helping combat veterans heal and transition to civilian life.
2022 Charity Golf Events We Accomplished Together
Hosted 658 events since inception, helping deliver impactful support for military families and connecting veterans to their communities.
2022 saw 5 NEW events added in Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, Arizona, and other SOLD OUT events across the USA!
We are truly HONORED and THANKFUL that each of you chose TEE IT UP FOR THE TROOPS to partner with to HELP VETERANS HEAL!
Get That Warm Glow with an End-of-Year Gift and Support Veterans
Would you like to bring joy by helping others in need around the holidays? Then please consider a year-end, tax-deductible gift to support courageous military veterans – heroes like US Army Veteran Danielle Green.
US Army Veteran Danielle Green
Atop a police station, she was guarding in Iraq, Danielle lost an arm during a rocket-propelled grenade attack. She suffered many other injuries and had a lengthy rehabilitation to cope with.
US Army Veteran Danielle Green (second from right) and her Army comrades.
“My prosthetic arm gives me the ability to function as an able-bodied person just like most individuals on the golf course. The ability to engage and find comfort with others on the course is what makes me feel alive,” says Danielle.
Danielle on the links.
Our non-profit organization provides support for Golf and Sports Rehabilitation, as well as other critical areas of need, including Suicide Prevention,PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries, Employment, Housing/ Homelessness, and Family/Caregiver Support.
Give online and check to see if your employer will match your gift below.
Be a Part of Something Life-Changing with Your Support
What could be better than playing signature golf courses in Florida in January? How about an even better feeling of interacting with some of America’s combat veterans, while helping them to heal and get back on course?
Tee It Up for the Troops is seeking additional corporate sponsors for our REUNION event to assist in reuniting combat veterans who were separated due to battlefield situations. We are also seeking individual donations to support warriors and caregivers who want to attend this event.
REUNION helps combat veterans reunite, heal and get back on course.
REUNION Supports Combat Veterans and Their Caregivers
Our signature REUNION event offers sponsors an opportunity to gain positive exposure while helping warriors with the hidden wounds of war like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Please click below to learn how to support these American heroes.
November is National Veterans and Military Families Month – a perfect month to honor and thank those who served our nation in uniform. November 11 is Veterans Day, a day when we honor and give thanks to those who have served our country in war or peace. Military Family Appreciation Month is an opportunity to recognize the sacrifices and contributions military families make that many times goes unnoticed.
Honoring Veterans – A Message from our President
As we commemorate our veterans and their families, we honor the individuals who have served our country for generations — those who served out of honor, duty, and love for their country, and some who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Our organization will always honor, remember, respect and support these America’s heroes. And we thank you, our supporters, for doing the same!
Hurricane Ian Relief Fund for Veterans
Veterans Day is a time to honor, remember, and give back. Tee It Up for the Troops has established a Hurricane Ian Relief Fund to give back to veterans, military members, and their families in regions of Florida that were significantly impacted by Hurricane Ian.
We are currently working with vetted veteran service organizations that are getting critically needed supplies (water, food, clothing, generators, fuel, temporary housing, lost wages, etc.) directly into the hands of these American heroes who need our help.
We feel so strongly about this urgent need that Tee It Up for the Troops will match every dollar donated to this fund up to $25,000.
If you are looking for an impactful way to thank a veteran and help a military family during National Veterans and Military Families Month, please consider making a donation by clicking on this link: Help Heroes Devastated By Hurricane Ian – Tee It Up for the Troops
For your tomorrow, they gave their today. Thank You for Stepping Up to the Tee for America’s Veterans!
Tee It Up for the Troops, a national non-profit supporting all those who serve(d) in the United States Armed Forces, announced the establishment of a Hurricane Ian Relief Fund to specifically support veterans and military members impacted by the devastation Hurricane Ian left in its path.
Hurricane Ian Relief Fund for veterans can help those former and current military members who need our help,
Every dollar donated to the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund will be matched by Tee It Up for the Troops up to $25,000.
Your gift to the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund will go to military members and their families in regions of Florida that were significantly affected by Hurricane Ian. We are currently working with vetted organizations that are getting the most critically needed supplies (water, food, generators, fuel, temporary housing, clothing, etc.) directly into the hands of these American heroes who need our help.
Over 1.5 million veterans make Florida their home and the state has the 5th highest population of active-duty personnel and reserve members in the military’s five armed services. Now thousands are displaced, homeless and unsure where they’ll live or get their next meal. Our veterans and military members fought for this country and served us all so we can have a better life. Now many have lost everything and it’s our turn to help them.
Hurricane Ian Relief Fund for veterans can help those displaced from their homes.
Tee It Up for the Troops is currently accepting tax-deductible donations through its secure website. Many corporations also have matching gift programs that will match your individual donation. To donate or learn more about this Hurricane Ian Relief Fund, visit: https://teeitupforthetroops.org/hurricane-ian/
Patriot Day and National Day of Service & Remembrance – September 11th
As a part of Tee It Up for the Troops mission, we honor, remember, respect, and support the service and sacrifice of our military veterans and their families. That’s why on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, we encourage all Americans to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served and those who were called to serve due to the events on September 11, 2001.
In honor of Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance 2022, please join us to support U.S. military service members who have been wounded and injured in defense of our nation’s freedoms. Since our inception in 2005, Tee It Up for the Troops has hosted more than 600 charity golf events in over 40 states. So there are always plenty of opportunities to express your appreciation for those heroes who serve our nation.
Your support helps wounded and injured veterans.
Serve and Remember Any Day of the Year
You do not need to plan your National Day of Service or get involved exactly on 9/11 of this year. Instead, commit today and show respect for our nation’s heroes on Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, next year on 9/11, or any day of the year. Let our courageous service members, veterans, and their families know that someone does care. To honor our nation’s heroes, you could sponsor, volunteer, or donate.
There are many ways to get involved and help our wounded warriors through Tee It Up for the Troops!
How to Serve
Honor our heroes by participating in a Tee It Up for the Troops event. Find an Event
Remember the lives of those impacted by 9/11 by volunteering to start an event in your community or at your club. Start an Event
You could also volunteer to help at an existing event. Volunteer Here
Honor military heroes by donating to Tee It Up for the Troops. Click Here to Donate
Veterans Benefit from Your Kindness
Tee It Up for the Troops provides support for six critical areas of need for veterans and their families: Golf and Sports Rehabilitation, Suicide Prevention, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries, Employment, Housing/Homelessness, and Family/Caregiver Support.
Tee It Up for the Troops Pillars of Support
Honoring military heroes who were impacted due to the events on and following September 11, 2001, is a way you can spread kindness and comfort to veterans and their families.
Positively Impacting Veterans and Military Families
Tee It Up for the Troops believes that by working together with other partners, we can meet more of the needs of veterans and families. By collaborating with other organizations who share our mission of community service partnerships for veterans, we multiply our efforts!
All Golf Services
We are so grateful for the continued support of All Golf Services (AGS), one of our core national sponsors and partners, for their steadfast support of our military veterans! AGS is a golf course marketing and promotion company with a strong passion for helping our service members, veterans, and the military through community service partnerships. All Golf Services places its fundraising programs at courses across the country, raising awareness and funds for military veterans and their families.
AGS fundraising programs are featured on over 45 courses nationwide. For Tee It Up for the Troops, AGS uses a couple of different par-3 challenges to raise money. A golfer pays a set dollar amount to be part of the challenge. The different challenges include hitting to the green, hitting within certain feet of the flag, or making a hole in one. Golfers can with pro shop vouchers, Visa gift cards, or other prizes.
All Golf Services – a proud sponsor of Tee It Up for the Troops.
Giving Back to the Community
“AGS was built on the three pillars of serving the golf course operator, the customer, and the community,” says Co-Founder Jonathan Mostyn. One of our favorite non-profit organizations we like to serve is Tee It Up for the Troops. We are passionate about helping our military community and being able to ‘make an impact every day’ along with our golf course partners is how we serve our communities.”
“Giving back to the military community is a gift that can be life-changing, not just for the veteran and his family, but for you and your organization as well,” added Mostyn. “I encourage you to check out the benefits of partnering with Tee It Up for the Troops.”
All Golf Services fundraising promotion on a par-3 hole.
“We are extremely humbled and thankful to receive such incredible financial support from All Golf Services to support our mission and America’s veterans through the great game of golf, says Tim Wegscheid, President and Executive Director of Tee It Up for the Troops. “Thanks to All Golf Services for “stepping up to the tee” to greatly enhance our mission.”
Tim Wegscheid, Tee It Up for the Troops President, and Jonathan Mostyn, All Golf Services CEO.
AGS has raised $347,500 for Tee It Up for the Troops and our veterans since 2016! In just the last 12-month golf season, they have donated $107,316 to Tee It Up for the Troops! We look forward to your continued support and partnership!
Co-founders of All Golf Services are Jonathan Mostyn and Steve Phillips. In addition to his extensive business experience in golf, Steve also serves as a commissioned officer in the US Navy Reserve. We at Tee it Up for the Troops thank him for his service! Jonathan is an experienced golf industry and business professional with nearly 15 years of sales and marketing experience. We thank both Jonathan, Steve, and AGS for their extremely generous support!
How Can Your Company Benefit from A Community Service Partnership That Supports Veterans?
Because the needs of our American heroes continue to far exceed our nation’s ability to meet them, Tee It Up for the Troops benefits from generous business sponsors that help veterans and their families gain access to the critical services and support they need and deserve.
We have many national business sponsors that know the power of giving back to our military veterans, being part of a community service partnership, and are truly dedicated to helping those in need. Explore our national military charity sponsors here: National Sponsors. We also have Event Sponsors and many local sponsors not listed here that are critical partners and support American veterans.
We are so grateful for the support of all our partners who are committed to our veteran and military communities. Together, we are helping to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of so many!
We could not do what we do without those who support us!
Partner With Us!
If you are looking to promote your product, service, or non-profit organization to military veterans, their families, and the many men and women who “step up to the tee” across the country every year in support of our mission, please join us HERE.
Motion is the Lotion! Why is Golf Great for Veterans?
We all know that golf is a gentleman’s game. It’s a sport of integrity, honor, and respect which aligns perfectly with military service values. But did you know that golf can also be great physically and mentally for veterans?
Veterans Need Sense of Accomplishment
Many veterans of the Armed Forces find it difficult to adjust to civilian life after their military service. This can be due to many reasons, including the loss of a sense of purpose and community that they had while in the military, injury, depression, or isolation.
“One of the biggest impacts Tee It Up for the Troops makes on our veterans is that sense of community,” said Retired U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Acosta. “A lot of us when we come back from our military service feel like we’re alone a bit. Tee It Up for the Troops raises awareness in our communities and allows people to embrace our veterans and engage with us and let us become part of the community that we love so much.”
One way to help veterans transition back into civilian life is to give them a sense of accomplishment through the game of golf.
How Golfing Can Help?
Golfing provides many benefits for those who participate. For veterans, golfing can help provide a sense of accomplishment. Whether it be learning the game, working to improve their game through practice, enjoying a sense of normalcy in their lives, visiting new places and golf courses, or knowing that they can play a physical game even with physical limitations, golf brings a sense of accomplishment.
Golfing can also help improve mental and physical health, as well as social skills. In addition, golfing can be a way to connect with other veterans and build a support network.
Veterans connect with other veterans at our golf events.
By providing these benefits, golfing can help veterans make a successful transition back into civilian life.
Golfing and PTSD
For veterans dealing with PTSD, golf can be a particularly helpful activity. The relaxed pace and social nature of the game can help ease anxiety and provide a distraction from intrusive thoughts. Veterans with PTSD often suffer from depression, anxiety, and isolation, and being outdoors in nature and good company can also be calming and therapeutic.
Many veterans who are looking for a way to stay active and connected, often consider taking up golf. It’s a great way to get some exercise and social interaction. There is much joy that comes from being out on a golf course instead of laying in a bed feeling disabled.
Warriors at our events have a great time!
“I have experienced incredible healing from my involvement with Tee It Up for the Troops,” said US Army Veteran, SPC Colby “CJ” Geeker.“As a combat veteran, I sustained multiple traumatic brain injuries in Afghanistan. This organization is helping me and other soldiers heal and find peace. Tee It Up for the Troops has inspired me to pursue golf as a profession so I can help other veterans experience the same healing through golf that I have.”
Golf Helps Wounded Veterans
Getting out and staying active is not only great for veterans struggling with mental illness, it also has rehabilitative benefits. Tee It Up for the Troops supports programs that provide adaptive sports and recreation opportunities for veterans with injuries and have rehabilitative benefits.
We have six pillars we support, including golf and sports rehabilitation.
Disabled veterans use golf as therapy and motivation. Golf allows veterans to feel whole again. Aside from the camaraderie and sense of purpose that golf can offer, the sport is also helpful for wounded veterans and amputees as physical therapy to improve balance. The benefit of sports like golf proves invaluable to those with limb injuries. Golf is a great equalizer. Golf is not off-limits to amputees.
Golf has many rehabilitative benefits for wounded warriors.
“After being injured, I looked for purpose. You have a life ahead of you, you have a new purpose that you have to fulfill. You have a family that still loves you. You need to keep moving. Tee It Up for the Troops has facilitated a fantastic environment.” -Tee It up for the Troops Warrior
Golf for Veterans with Health Conditions
Agent Orange was an herbicide that the U.S. Military used during the Vietnam War. Exposure to Agent Orange is associated with several medical conditions. Golf can help veterans stay active and improve their balance and coordination when they face adverse health problems. The game of golf can help veterans manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Vietnam Veteran and Ret. Colonel Terry Branham has witnessed these medical conditions in himself and his battle buddies. That is why he stays active with golf and other activities to keep his legs strong. “Motion is the lotion! Strong legs from moving remain a vet’s best investment,” said Branham.
Ret. Colonel Terry Branham with other golf mates. A Vietnam Veteran, Branham keeps active by golfing and leading an active lifestyle.
Golf and movement can help issues such as arthritis and back pain, as well as, overcoming major hurdles such as the loss of a limb or the loss of motor functions from a stroke. Golf can help cope with these symptoms by providing a sense of accomplishment, social interaction, and fresh air.
Golf Keeps Veterans Fit
The walking and swinging of a club helps veterans to move all the right muscles and improve balance and coordination. As veterans play golf, they are sure to improve physical fitness just like a person who hits the gym daily or plays other sports. You don’t have to run or jump to play golf, and there is very little twisting or turning involved. This makes it an excellent choice for veterans with joint pain or other mobility issues. Being active can also help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other chronic conditions.
Keep Moving With Tee It Up for the Troops
Motion has always been and will always be, the lotion for a healthy, active life. And golf is a perfect way for veterans to get some exercise while enjoying the great outdoors. The quietness of the course calms the mind and being with other veterans is all part of the value and benefit of golf as a complementary therapy for physically or emotionally affected veterans.
Join One of Our Events Today!
Tee It Up for the Troops hosts golf events across the country and we invite you to help support us so warriors can play in our events. Funds raised from our events also provide comprehensive assistance for veterans in all areas of their life.
This story is dedicated to Retired Colonel Terry Branham who served on the Tee It Up for the Troops Board of Directors admirably for 5 1/2 years. “Motion is the Lotion” are not only the words of Col. Branham but a lifestyle he chooses to live daily by staying active. He golfs in our events, exercises daily in his workout room in the winter and when the weather is nice, he takes his dog, Annie, on morning and evening walks. He has been actively involved in numerous organizations, including a team that builds disability ramps for disabled veterans and their families across the Twin Cities area.
Extraordinary Woman, Notre Dame Alumnus, and Tee It Up for the Troops Combat Veteran
What’s important to note about Danielle Green is that she knew exactly what she wanted early on. Her childhood dreams included basketball, Notre Dame, and the military.
Born in 1977 and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Danielle grew up in a poor environment. Her mother was a single mother who struggled with substance abuse, her father was absent, and she relied on her grandmother, coaches, and school personnel for guidance. Playing basketball at different gyms and outdoor locations as an 8-year-old young girl was a way out.
Determination and Childhood Dreams
Green’s journey is a true testament to what can happen when you decide to train, commit, sacrifice, and really work at something so you know how to respond when under pressure. Whether it be basketball, the military, recovering from injury, or now golf, Green says “you have to keep working at it, practice because you don’t always know what’s going to come your way, so you have to be ready.”
That determination and training ethic earned her a scholarship to play basketball at Notre Dame. Standout Danielle Green was a left-handed guard for Notre Dame from 1995 to 2000 and during that time was the 17th all-time high scorer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Danielle was coached and mentored by Notre Dame’s Hall of Fame Muffet McGraw.
Basketball player, Danielle Green, during her Notre Dame Senior Night in 2000.
After graduation, Green moved back to Chicago and began a teaching and coaching career where she met her husband, Willie Byrd, a high school basketball coach. In 2003, Danielle felt the need to serve her country, despite war looming, and fulfilling that last childhood dream. So she joined the United States Army in 2003. She enlisted as an E-4 with the Military Police. In 2004, she was deployed to Iraq.
A New Chapter in her Story
Atop a police station she had been helping to guard in Iraq, Green remembers something whizzing by her and landing two stories below her almost hitting the parked Humvees. The next rocket hit Green; severely wounding her. “When the rocket hit me, I became angry because I was not ready to die. I thought I had so much more to give and I wanted a child, said Green. “I said a prayer, I felt reassurance and hope, and a burst of energy. Then my comrades came and performed their duties amicably. While in the Green Zone, Danielle was awarded the Purple Heart and she was also told that her hand with her wedding rings was found on several inches of sand.
Soon after the attack, she was transferred to a hospital in Germany for stabilization. Danielle’s left arm was blown off during the rocket attack. A natural left-hander, she now had only her right hand to use. She had suffered other injuries as well, and a lengthy rehab to face. It was a challenging time. “I had to try and figure out how to redo everything I had done left-handed. But you have to learn to adapt, learn to adjust to your environment. Finding purpose and passion in life was important to Green. You have to keep working by putting one foot in front of the other,” said Green.
Green was an E-4 with the Military Police.
Green with fellow Army Soldiers.
Building Confidence Through Sports
Sports are so much more than just a game. Sports played a significant role in Danielle’s rehabilitation. Really pushing yourself to compete means finding confidence. And being confident brings a feeling of being fully alive. “I first played golf in college with two of my basketball coaches and a teammate,” said Green. “However, I really started to take a liking to golf while I was at Walter Reed recovering from my wounds. Once I returned home in 2005, my husband and I started taking lessons and attending events to meet other warriors and individuals.”
Danielle received golf instruction at a Tee It Up for the Troops REUNION Event.
The transition to learning golf was seamless for Green. “The two sports that I played right-handed when being naturally left-handed, were golf and softball. I really enjoy these two sports now along with tennis with my 7-year-old son Daniel.” Daniel is the blessing that she prayed for in Iraq 10 years earlier. The biggest adjustment was finding the right adaptive equipment to allow her to play comfortably.
The Benefits of REUNION
Danielle has attended Tee It Up for the Troops REUNION (a program that reunites combat veterans and uses golf as a basis for rehabilitation) for several years. “The very first REUNION that I attended followed the passing of my husband, Willie, in 2011,” Green said. “The event took my mind off my recent loss and allowed me to connect with warriors who I had not seen since 2005 at Walter Reed Hospital. The next REUNION events I attended were in 2014 and 2018, in hopes of staying connected with other veterans, meeting old and new friends, meeting other female veterans, networking, and improving my game. REUNION is one of the few opportunities that I have to be with a community of veterans with common experiences.”
Golfing and Feeling “Alive”
“My prosthetic arm gives me the ability to function as an able-bodied person just like most individuals on the course,” Green said. “I do not think about what I lost; I think about competing to the best of my ability. The ability to engage and find comfort with others on the course is what makes me feel alive.”
Tee It Up for the Troops Combat Veteran, Danielle Green, ready to play some golf!
The sport of golf means a lot to Green. “The game of golf gives me hope. The game of golf reminds me of how precious life can be. The game of golf allows me to cultivate new relationships and develop a deeper appreciation for life as I reflect on my near-death experience in 2004,” Green explained.
“When individuals experience catastrophic injuries like myself, it is easy to hide from society. The game of golf allows me to showcase my talent despite the loss of a limb. In addition, I can engage with other warriors and meet different people from all walks of life,” added Green. “It is delightful to hear where people are from and why they are giving.”
Why Get Involved with Tee It Up for the Troops?
Danielle feels it’s important for people to get involved to fill in the gaps where there are immediate financial needs. “You want to be a part of an organization that is transparent and that has a core group of solid individuals running the program,” Green said. “All of us are meant to serve others in some capacity… this is what makes the world go around. All of us cannot serve in the military so getting involved with Tee It Up for the Troops can help people fill that void in their life of service or give back to a worthy cause. It shows veterans and their family members that people truly care about their service and sacrifice.”
If you would like to serve others or give back and change the lives of veterans like Danielle and their families, donate here or get involved in one of our events here.
A True American Hero
Veteran Danielle Green is a Purple Heart recipient. She also received the 2015 Pat Tillman Award for Service, an ESPY Award (Excellence in Sports Performance). Danielle now lives in Florida with her son, Daniel, and partner Robert Thomma.
We at Tee It Up for the Troops have much admiration for Veteran Danielle Green and her awe-inspiring journey that we can all learn from.
