The dream to build the nation’s first sober home for women veterans struggling with PTSD and addiction has been around since the original Bravo Zulu House project began, and it’s growing closer to becoming reality..
For many veterans, the hardest battles don’t happen overseas—they begin when they come home. The transition to civilian life can be isolating. For women veterans, those challenges are often even more complex. Access to resources, safe housing, and community support isn’t always easy to find. That’s why this new partnership matters.
Tee It Up for the Troops is proud to partner with Bravo Zulu House at the 15th Annual Tee It Up for the Troops – Mankato Golf Event
This event on August 24th will be to support the construction of a Women Veterans House in Mankato, Minnesota—a place designed specifically to help women veterans heal, rebuild, and move forward.
A Place for Healing and Stability - Coming Spring 2027! This Women Veterans only home will provide more than just a roof. It’s being built to support women veterans navigating PTSD, sobriety, and the transition to stable, independent living. It’s a place where they can take the next step—not alone, but with support behind them. Through this partnership, we’re expanding the ways our community can show up for those who served—meeting needs that too often go unseen.
For more than a decade, the Mankato Tee It Up for the Troops event has brought people together to honor and support veterans. This year, that impact grows even stronger—creating a direct, lasting difference right here in our community. Bravo Zulu House identified a critical gap in veteran care and stepped in to fill it, creating the first sober living recovery homes specifically for veterans. Now, they’ve recognized that women veterans are one of the fastest-growing segments of the veteran population—and that they need a space designed specifically for their recovery and healing. Tee It Up for the Troops is proud to help bring this Women Veterans House to life. Because supporting veterans doesn’t stop at saying thank you. It’s about showing up in the moments that matter most. And together, we’re helping build a place where women veterans can find strength, stability, and a new beginning.
How Can You Support?
Support can be given in many ways. Sponsor and golf on August 24th in Mankato. Donate funds or your time volunteering at Tee It Up for the Troops. Knowledge is power, Learn more about Brave Zulu House and their Spring 2027 Plans for the Women Veteran's House.
Every year, Tee It Up for the Troops is reminded of the incredible ripple effect your generosity creates. Since launching our grant program in 2006, we’ve proudly awarded over $18,000,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations nationwide—ensuring that veterans and their families, whether in small hometowns or large cities, can access the resources they need not just to survive, but to thrive.
For the 2025 grant cycle, we received over 240 applications—each one representing a veteran, a family, or a community seeking hope, healing, and support. Guided by Tee It Up for the Troops’ six core pillars of care, our team carefully reviewed each request, committed to honoring your trust and ensuring every donated dollar fuels programs that make a lasting impact. Whether it’s helping veterans heal from invisible wounds, preventing suicide, supporting employment and housing, or strengthening families and caregivers, your generosity is driving real change where it’s needed most.
We are proud to spotlight a few of the organizations you’ve helped empower to create meaningful change. These stories go beyond grants—they’re about you. They reflect the impact your support has when it reaches those working on the front lines of veteran care. And they serve as a powerful reminder that together, we’re building more than just events. We’re building hope, healing, and a legacy of gratitude.
Guest House is deeply grateful for Tee It Up for the Troops’ support. The grant received supported our Road Home program, which is essential to improving access to mental health treatment for U.S. military veterans.
With your help, Guest House provided 3,090 nights of no-cost lodging and support services for 265 veterans while they received care for military traumas at the Road Home Intensive Outpatient Program at Rush University Medical Center. The Road Home program delivered two weeks of day-long treatment to veterans striving to overcome the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and related mental health conditions, while Guest House provided veteran-focused lodging and supportive care.
Home For Our Troops has had an exciting year. Thanks to your support, in 2025 we delivered 12 homes to severely injured veterans, broke ground on 10 construction projects, including our first in Wyoming, and welcomed 18 new veterans into the HFOT family. All of this fulfills our mission to build homes and rebuild lives.
“This home is a game changer. There is no longer this looming question of what if. The question now becomes, what’s next? This home will provide Ed with full independence and a place to completely decompress. Our lives changed when we heard, ‘Welcome to the family.’”
Thank you so much for supporting our mission with a grant for our After-School Chapter Program, which creates a platform for veterans to share their service experiences and connect with their communities. Your support provides the gift of knowledge, appreciation, honor, and legacy.
Although our name has changed from Veterans Heritage Project to Imprints of Honor, our mission remains the same. Our program continues to recognize the importance of veterans’ service while helping students learn about history, citizenship, and leadership. We are now in our 21st year of students interviewing veterans and preserving their legacies by writing and publishing service stories, engaging in civic activities, and planning community events to honor veterans.
Meaningful connections are made between veterans and students. Storytelling from one generation to the next shares experience, imparts lessons, preserves legacy, and inspires youth. Beyond the emotional healing veterans experience, many deepen their conversations with family members and build mentor relationships with their student interviewers, inspiring young people to lead lives of honor through examples of courage and perseverance.
It’s no small feat to grow from a soldier’s selfless request to “Help those back home” in 2005 to now surpassing $18 million in total grants to veteran service organizations. Over the past 20 years, Tee It Up for the Troops has proudly supported critical programs that serve the unique needs of our nation’s veterans — helping them heal, rebuild, and thrive.
“Thanks to the unwavering dedication of hundreds of extraordinary volunteers, Tee It Up for the Troops has now proudly surpassed $18 million in grants to our trusted nonprofit partners. But this milestone is far more than a number—it’s a powerful reflection of our deep and lasting commitment to those who have served and sacrificed to protect our nation’s freedoms. These funds support critical programs that assist our veterans and their families as they transition from the battlefront to the homefront, helping them heal and ‘get back on course’ from the visible and invisible wounds of war.”
— Tim Wegscheid, President & Executive Director
Grant Recipient Spotlight: Leashes of Valor
Helping Post-9/11 Veterans and Rescue Dogs Heal Together
One of our most recent national grant recipients, Leashes of Valor, trains service dogs for post-9/11 veterans with PTSD and other service-connected injuries. Whenever possible, they rescue dogs from shelters — giving a second chance to both the veteran and the dog. Veterans like Xander Hernandez are finding hope and healing through these life-changing partnerships.
“The moment I saw her, and the leash went in my hand, I knew — this is it.”
— Xander Hernandez
Xander was a senior in high school on 9/11. The attack set him on a path to enlist in the Army immediately through the delayed-entry program. He deployed to Iraq as a radio communications specialist, determined to serve. But war left its mark. Xander suffered spinal and leg injuries during two deployments and later received a diagnosis of PTSD. He spent over a decade searching — unsuccessfully — for a service dog. After years of disappointment and even being scammed by a fake nonprofit, Xander nearly gave up. That’s when his wife discovered Leashes of Valor, and everything changed.
“When I got to training and saw Red, it was instant. She’s been the perfect match ever since.”
With his service dog Ruby Red by his side, Xander is now embracing a new life — one with greater freedom, independence, and peace of mind.
Where Your Support Goes
Because of your generosity, we’re able to fund trusted partners like Leashes of Valor, as well as many other organizations (See just a few our beneficiaries here.) that support our mission providing services around our six core pillars:
Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment
Suicide Prevention
Housing & homelessness
Employment
Family & caregiver support
Golf & sports rehabilitation
What’s Next? Onward to $20 Million
We’re not done yet. With your continued support, we look forward to growing our impact and reaching the next milestone — together.
Golfing Under the Midnight Sun – Alaska’s Longest Day of Golf for the Troops
For the first time in Tee It Up for the Troops’ history, a Longest Day of Golf for the Troops Event took place in the state of Alaska! As part of the 2024 Longest Day of Golf for the Troops, one combat Marine veteran in Alaska played through the longest day yet!
Last month on June 6 marked the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the US-led
Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944, marking a deadly, yet pivotal day in world history. This day marked the “beginning of the end of WWII” and is often referred to asThe Longest Day.” Also a famous book and movie (starring John Wayne), “The Longest Day” honored those who fought for our freedom on D-Day. Thus, on the longest days of the year near the summer solstice, our Longest Day of Golf for the Troops event provides a unique opportunity to honor all those who have served and continue to sacrifice for our freedom.
Combat Marine veteran Brian Schiller swinging his way through the Longest Day of Golf for the Troops in Alaska.
Brian Schiller’s Longest Day Challenge on June 20th, took advantage of Alaska’s 20-plus hours of daylight so he could play as many holes as possible that day to raise awareness and funds to support the ongoing issues that many of our nation’s veterans and military families face. Issues like homelessness, PTSD, employment, suicide prevention, and other invisible wounds of war. Brian played 81 holes of golf during his Longest Day Challenge at Moose Run Golf Course on the Joint Military Base Elmendorf-Richardson, near Anchorage, Alaska. The Marine veteran dedicated the first 80 holes to the 80th Anniversary of “The Longest Day” D-Day Landing. The 81st hole was dedicated to Chesty Puller, the most decorated U.S. Marine in the history of the Corps.
Golfing under the midnight sun is one of the unique things you can only do in Alaska as it is daylight from 4 a.m. to midnight. As you play a round…and another round… and another round, it’s easy to forget it’s midnight as it’s so bright outside. Brian describes the Alaskan golf course as having “stunning landscapes and chances for wildlife spotting.” And sure enough, a bear encounter took place on the 12th hole of his second round. See the picture below.
A black bear showed up to cheer on Brian at Moose Run Golf Course, Alaska during the Longest Day for the Troops.
“I have supported Tee It Up for the Troops for over 10 years due to my exposure to the outstanding work they do to support our nation’s heroes and their families,” said Marine veteran Brian Schiller. “I have been able to witness and take part in many different activities and treatments that are designed to help promote healing and overcoming the physical and mental obstacles that are a result of selfless service to our country. Using golf as a platform is unique and extremely effective, therefore I am proud to support Tee It Up for the Troops. Having 20 hours of daylight provided the perfect opportunity for me to continue to support an organization I am proud of while experiencing the amazing and unique nature that is Alaska.”
“I couldn’t have accomplished this without the support, logistical assistance, and camaraderie of the State Director of Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Bryan Fisher. Director Fisher who is also a Marine. Director Fisher started and ended the day with me, golfing 45 of the 81 holes and was also the BEST caddie a guy could ask for,” added Brian.
Other Longest Day of Golf for the Troops Events Around the Country
This year there were several Longest Day of Golf for the Troops events held across the country. The Tee It Up for the Troops Bunker Hills Longest Day of Golf Event in Coon Rapids, Minnesota was held on June 21 and has been running for 11 consecutive years. Several golfers played more than 100 holes with most of them starting at 4:15 a.m. and finishing around 9:45 p.m. Pat Reis, Event Chair of the Bunker Hills Longest Day of Golf for the Troops said, “Considering the weather forecast, the fact we had 33 golfers who played more than 2,100 holes and some sturdy golfers who played non-stop-from-4:15 a.m. to full darkness at almost 10 p.m., is remarkable.”
Some of the golfers in the Bunker Hills Longest Day of Golf for the Troops.
Earlier this summer the Tee It Up for the Troops – Northern Bay Wisconsin Longest Day of Golf for the Troops event was held on June 10. Northern Bay Resort has been participating in the Longest Day event for five years.
How to Get Involved in the Longest Day of Golf for the Troops
Northern Bay Wisconsin – Longest Day of Golf for the Troops.
To participate in the Longest Day of Golf for the Troops golf fundraiser, each participant collects donations/pledges from friends, family, co-workers, club members, etc., and then plays as many holes of golf as possible on their chosen day to honor all those who serve(d).
Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is a pioneering organization that utilizes its Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to help wounded warriors reconnect with life, their families, their communities, and each other.
One of the unique ways Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) honors veterans is through its namesake program. All future service dogs are named after service members and veterans who have made significant contributions to our nation. It is with tremendous pride that Tee It Up for the Troops, along with WCC, name Moondog in honor of United States Marine Corps Colonel Derek Donovan (Ret). Derek was a great friend and supporter of both non-profit organizations.
USMC Colonel Derek Donovan (Ret) embodied inspirational leadership that spanned 27 years of military service. Trained as a UH-1N (Huey) helicopter pilot, USMC COL Derek Donovan’s (Ret) distinguished career included over 3500 flight hours, visits to over 70 countries, and living aboard U.S. Naval vessels for more than four years of his life. His extensive operational background included deployments with the Gunrunners, Golden Eagles, Blue Knights, Warriors, Ugly Angels, and Black Knights. His callsign, “Moondog” was awarded in recognition of an irreverent sense of humor and a great appreciation for a well-conceived practical joke.
United States Marine Corps Colonel Derek Donovan
COL Donovan holds the distinction of being the first Marine selected as the aide-de-camp to the Secretary of the Navy. As the Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps Air Facility in Quantico, Virginia, he provided critical Presidential helicopter mission support, showcasing his leadership in high-stakes situations. His last assignment on active duty was with the Presidential Commission for the Care of America’s Returning Wounded Warriors co-chaired by Bob Dole and Donna Shalala. Following military retirement, Derek continued to serve military members and their families while working for the Fisher House Foundation.
Rooted in a family tradition of service, with his father’s 30-year career in the United States Air Force and his mother’s service in the Army Nurse Corps, his commitment to duty runs deep. His exceptional career and post-military contributions stand as a testament to the values of the United States Marine Corps.
The namesake program has a profound impact on those being honored as well as their family and friends. COL Donovan was nominated by Tee It Up for the Troops with the blessing of Derek’s wife, Kathryn. Colonel Derek “Moondog” Donovan, USMC (Retired) completed his last flight and passed away on February 11, 2024, after an aggressive dogfight with esophageal cancer. Recently, Kathryn had the opportunity to see some pictures of Moondog and virtually meet the service dog named in honor of Derek.
Derek and Kathryn Donovan
“Our Service dogs have an important mission—to carry on the legacies of heroes like Col. Derek Donovan while helping recovering Veterans who have sacrificed so much for our nation,” said Rick Yount, Founder and Executive Director, of Warrior Canine Connection. “We feel it’s important that those Veterans have their stories told and their lives honored through our namesake program. We believe when a Veteran’s name is spoken, they are always remembered.”
Another distinctive aspect of WCC’s program is that it enlists service members and veterans to help train the service dogs for others. This No-Fail Mission aligns with the warrior ethos of caring for your brother and sister-in-arms. The veterans and service members doing the training know their hard work will contribute to helping a fellow veteran or service member in need, while also receiving therapeutic benefits themselves.
WCC’s volunteer-based, animal-assisted therapy involves service members and veterans in training future service dogs. Besides knowing the dog will one day go on to help a fellow veteran, many warriors involved cite their own benefits, including enhanced communication, confidence, accountability, emotional regulation, and patience. Photo Credit: WCC
It is with tremendous pride that we name WCC’s Moondog in honor of United States Marine Corps Colonel Derek Donovan (Ret).
Check out the link to their website for more information about this wonderful organization- Warrior Canine Connection.
Tee It Up for the Troops and The Warrior’s Journeyare excited about a new Continuum of Care Program. This new collaboration will provide continuing services and programs to Tee It Up for the Troops’ REUNION warriors and their families.
REUNION is a multi-day event where combat veterans and their comrades discuss their days of service, injuries, and post-military struggles in a supportive environment surrounded by support networks and partner resource organizations. The physical and psychological injuries sustained during combat can affect multiple aspects of a veteran’s transition from the military to civilian life. The invisible wounds often lead to isolation, addiction, and suicide. REUNION connects and reunites combat veterans who use their common bonds to work through post-military challenges.
One of our vital partner resource organizations that has been active in providing group learning and discussion sessions and other support at REUNION is The Warrior’s Journey. The Warrior’s Journey provides warrior-to-warrior intervention and preventative resources to care for the invisible wounds of war and helps equip veterans with the tools they need to tackle the problems life throws at them.
Oftentimes, the REUNION event opens emotional doors that have not been opened for quite some time – some good and some bad – and further processing and support are needed when veterans return home. The REUNION experience has now come full circle with opportunities for customized after-care provided to warriors and their families by The Warrior’s Journey. That’s why Tee It Up for the Troops and The Warrior’s Journey are excited about a new continuum of care program.
Kevin Weaver, President/CEO and Co-Founder of The Warrior’s Journey speaks to a group of REUNION warriors.
“Serving in the military comes with unique challenges that most people do not fully understand,” said Kevin Weaver, President/CEO and Co-Founder of The Warrior’s Journey. “The invisible wounds that veterans carry are a testament to the sacrifices they made. The Warrior’s Journey, along with Tee It Up for the Troops, wanted to make sure there is support that follows the veteran and family after they attend the REUNION event.” Kevin is a US Air Force veteran. He served in the USAF Security Forces and the Office of Special Investigations from 1983-1987.
Tee It Up for the Troops and The Warrior’s Journey are excited to continue ongoing services and programs to assist our warriors on their journey. Some of the challenges faced include PTS, financial difficulty, family brokenness, addiction, suicide, loss, isolation, and more. Staff from The Warriors Journey coordinate reach-out messaging, intake, connection to resources, case management, and follow-up. The Warrior’s Journey has built a team of veterans, called “warrior connectors,” to provide real-time crisis intervention. They respond within 24 hours (always warrior-to-warrior and 100% confidential) to provide community support, resources, and referrals. The individualized approach to intervention is focused on navigating the available help and resources provided by over 70 partner organizations.
Through this new continuum of care program, veterans now have a new “Battle Buddy,” and a personal advocate through The Warrior’s Journey organization, who can help them navigate many post-military issues and offer support whenever they need it. No warrior should have to navigate alone. Together we are helping veterans heal and strengthening families.
On behalf of our Tee It Up for the Troops warriors and families, we want to thank The Warrior’s Journey for all they are doing for the men and women who served our country! We are so thankful for this expanded partnership that is helping warriors and families live in wholeness and navigate the unique issues of military life!
During the Vietnam War, a special group of all-American women stepped forward to serve their country in extraordinary ways. Known as “Angels from Heaven,” these dedicated individuals were not drafted; they volunteered.
They were the nurses of the Vietnam War, and their bravery, skill, and compassion saved countless lives on and off the battlefield.
Tee It Up for the Troops paid tribute to a group of Vietnam War nurses at the 2023 Tee It Up for the Troops Event at Mendakota Country Club.
In attendance, honored and pictured left to right were: Mary Lu Ostergern- Brunner, Army Nurse Corps, 71st Evacuation Hospital, Pleiku, 1968-1969; Pam Barrows, Army Nurse Corps, 71st Evacuation Hospital, Pleiku, 1966-1967; Mary Breed, Army Nurse Corps, 95th Evacuation Hospital, Da Nang, 18th Surgical Hospital, Quang Tri, 1970-1971; Kay Bauer, Navy Nurse Corps, Vietnamese Provincial Hospital, Rach Gia, 1966-1967; Jeanne Mahaffey, Navy Nurse Corps, USS Sanctuary, Vietnam, 1971 – 1974; Lynn Bower, Army Nurse Corps, 24th Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh, Vietnam 1971.
Army Nurses in Vietnam: Stories of Courage and Commitment
Pam Barrows – Army Nurse Corps
“My best friend from nursing school and I entered the service together and we were supposed to be assigned to the same unit after basic but we weren’t,” said Army nurse Pam Barrows.
“We talked to those in charge and said ‘you promised’ we would be assigned together, and then they reassigned us both to Ft. Polk, which had the reputation for being the armpit of the Army. Hearing that we said we might as well go to Vietnam but had no clue what we were asking for!”
Nurses in Vietnam did whatever was asked of them. They often worked round the clock in massive casualty situations, directing triage, assisting with emergency tracheotomies and amputations, inserting tubes to assist surgeons, and removing damaged tissue and shrapnel from wounds.
Pam said they were called “Pluckers” because they plucked out shrapnel from wounded soldiers.
“Our shifts were 12 hours, 6 days a week and our incoming came by helicopter,” said Pam who worked in the Surgical ICU at the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku, Vietnam.
“It would be called a ‘PUSH’ and the wounded were triaged in the ER. Often when working day shifts, we might have to crawl to safety if under a rocket attack.”
Pam said there was a high mental stress side of military nursing. “We never knew what was happening outside of our compound.”
“We would hear groundfire close by when working nights and during blackouts. I worried about my fiancé who was a Company Commander of a Mechanized Infantry Unit with the 4th Division on the other side of Pleiku. I worried about rats coming into our ‘hootch’ or living quarters and rocket attacks.”
Mary Breed – Army Nurse Corps
“My brother was wounded in Vietnam and my friend from church, as well as my girlfriend’s brother, were both killed in Vietnam,” said Mary Breed.
“That is why I volunteered as a nurse to serve in the Army. I graduated from nursing school at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis in 1969 and arrived in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, on September 5, 1970.”
She worked as an OR nurse at the 95th Evac Hospital in DaNang and the 18th Surgical Hospital in Quang Tri.
“You can never prepare for war. You do not understand a war until you are there and in it,” Mary described.
“I still cry when I think of Vietnam and certain instances. Everybody that goes to war goes through PTSD because war is just not normal.”
Mary vividly remembers her 24th birthday in Vietnam: “I was cutting a birthday cake the cook had made when we heard a radio call that Hill 950, west of Quang Tri Provence, was getting run over with mortars.”
“Our hospital sent two ‘Dust Offs’ or Medevac helicopters. The fighting was intense and they could only get in with one helicopter that only evacuated one of three Americans. One soldier was later deemed missing in action and the other a POW,” Mary recalled.
“Back at the hospital, we awaited the chopper to return, which was tenuous because the chopper was being shot at and had to make an emergency landing at Khe Sahn. It turned out to be a good birthday because our two crews made it home safe.”
Support the mission to honor and assist veterans like Mary by considering a donation.
Kay Bauer – Navy Nurse Corps
Kay Bauer grew up in St. Paul with 13 brothers and sisters. Kay was a U.S. Navy Nurse for 35 years. She was one of two women in a forward surgical team of 7 people who worked in a provincial hospital in South Vietnam in 1966.
“The hospital had no running water, no electricity, and we had a generator in the operating room,” said Bauer in an interview.
Even the walk to work from her quarters became dangerous. At one point, she witnessed a U.S. helicopter getting shot down with bullets coming perilously close.
“The bullets went past, whoosh, whoosh. I will move a little bit faster here,” Kay said.
Despite the danger, Kay likes to remember the good times, like christening a boat in a nearby harbor or immunizing local children. “The other things are just too hard,” she said.
Shortly after returning home, Kay received an invitation to lunch at the White House where she was honored by President Johnson. He signed legislation allowing women to achieve higher military ranks, such as General or Admiral.
Kay retired as a Captain in the Navy Nurse Corps and still keeps in touch with the awesome women who served.
Watch an interview with Kay Bauuer that was part of Veteran Day news coverage from North Metro TV in Blaine, MN. Kay’s story begins at the .48-second mark in the segment.
This group of American nurses in the Vietnam War played a significant role in the war zone, providing high levels of care under extremely difficult conditions.
Despite their vital contributions, many nurses during the Vietnam War returned home only to encounter the same unfriendly reception as male veterans, compounded by the psychological trauma of their experiences.
Today, the nurses of the Vietnam War are still among the least recognized of American military veterans. Popular films and media often overlook their stories, but their legacy lives on through the gratitude of those they healed and the memories they helped preserve.
Learn more about how Tee It Up for the Troops honors veterans like these nurses: Tee It Up for the Troops.
How Many Women Served in Vietnam?
Nearly 10,000 American women served in Vietnam during the war. Of those, approximately 7,000 were nurses, many of whom were barely out of nursing school when they were sent overseas.
How Many Nurses Died in Vietnam?
Tragically, 9 American army nurses in Vietnam and 1 Air Force nurse lost their lives while serving, according to the Army Nurse Corps Association:
Captain Eleanor Alexander
Second Lieutenant Carol Drazba
First Lieutenant Pamela Donovan
Lieutenant Colonel Annie Graham
Second Lieutenant Elizabeth Jones
First Lieutenant Sharon Lane
First Lieutenant Jerome Olmsted
Second Lieutenant Hedwig Orlowski
First Lieutenant Kenneth Shoemaker
Captain Mary Klinker, USAF
Honoring the Hospital Vietnam War Nurses
The group of hospital Vietnam War nurses honored by Tee It Up for the Troops originally met through a support group at the VA in Minnesota. Today, they continue to support one another through annual potluck lunches and support.
Two of these remarkable women, Pam Barrows and Mary Lu Ostergern-Brunner, both served at the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku, Vietnam, an area known for heavy combat.
Although they worked at the same facility—Pam in the ICU and Mary Lu in the OR—they never connected while in Vietnam.
Once back in Minnesota, they met through the Veteran Home where Mary Lu was a board member and Pam was an Administrator at the Veteran Home in Luverne, MN.
A Lasting Legacy of Compassion and Courage
The nurses of the Vietnam War remain a symbol of unwavering dedication and courage. Tee It Up for the Troops is deeply honored to have recognized their invaluable service and sacrifice. Their stories remind us of the profound contributions made by women in times of war, often under the most challenging circumstances imaginable.
After serving in the military, many veterans find it difficult to transition back to civilian life. They may feel isolated and disconnected from the civilian population, as they may have experienced traumatic events or formed close bonds with fellow servicemen and women while on active duty. Thus, veteran reunions or small group interactions are a critical part of healing.
The Bonds of Combat
The bonds of combat and brotherhood are forever. As many combat veterans will tell you, you may not have a blood brother or sister, but you can call on a military friend in any situation and they will be there to help. That’s what five Marine veterans, with shared hardships, found out recently when they were brought together through a reunion held at Operation Patriot Forward Operating Base (OPFOB).
Jeffrey Monssen served 30 years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps and retired as a Sergeant Major. His deployments include the Western Pacific, 2 deployments in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope, Kuwait, 2 deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Afghanistan. A highly decorated Marine, Jeff also conducted multiple anti-drug Joint Task Force operations across the US and South America.
After 30 years of service, Jeff retired from the Marine Corps in 2018. He continues to serve veterans and their families as a member of the National Board of Directors for Tee It Up for the Troops. While attending the 2022 Tee It Up for the Troops REUNION, veteran reunions that reunite combat veterans with their battle buddies with golf as the backdrop, Jeff had an idea. “Golf is awesome, but some people don’t golf,” Jeff said. “Perhaps we could bring a smaller group of combat veterans together by connecting them through other outdoor activities and the shared sense of military struggles they have in common,” added Jeff. So, he set out on a mission to do so and investigate the concept.
Connecting Through The Great Outdoors
That’s when Jeff learned about Operation Patriots FOB (Forward Operating Base.) Operation Patriots FOB (OPFOB) is a non-profit, operating on 268 acres in Ridgeland, South Carolina, with a mission to create and foster positive experiences for veterans by connecting through outdoor and recreational activities. A place where peers can engage in a comfortable and relaxed environment.
OPFOB- a place for veterans come together, relax and have a good time with their brothers and sisters.
The Tee It Up for the Troops signature REUNION program is held annually at Reunion Resort & Golf Club in Kissimmee, Florida, bringing together about 60 combat veterans and their spouses or caregivers collectively who break up into small group discussions throughout their days together. Small group interaction is highly effective in getting veterans to open up with each other. The event at OPFOB, with just five in attendance, was the first small group reunion organized by Tee It Up for the Troops to further analyze small group interaction of combat veterans.
Monssen pulled together five Marines that had fought with him during some of the deadliest periods of combat in Kuwait, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan to share their incredible experience and unbreakable brotherly love. The friends have known each other for 30 years, but the last time they had been together as a group was 10 years ago at a wedding. OPFOB was an opportunity for the comrades to get together for several days by themselves to talk, relax, take deep breaths, and feel comfortable with trusted buddies.
On April 19, 2023, the brothers in arms, now scattered in different parts of the country, reunited to reconnect, regroup, and refocus. They arrived to spend four days together at the OPFOB sanctuary and playground. They were now face to face, could wrap arms around one another, and share hardships and happy times too.
Combat Marines reunited. Pictured left to right are: Patrick Holland, Ron Rowe, Paul Malley, Jeff Hoffman, and Jeff Monssen.
“Bringing veterans to a place they know, like this wonderful outdoor recreational setting, makes us feel confident and comfortable,” said Jeff. “To hunt, fish, shoot, sit by a fire with those who understand you the most…nothing can compare.”
The property is a beautifully rustic and peaceful space. There is a barn, a bunkhouse, a rifle and pistol range, skeet shoot, and stocked ponds. On the property and throughout the local community are opportunities for veterans and first responders to access both fresh and saltwater fishing. Attendees can participate in various hunting sports including pheasant, dove, quail, deer, turkey, and hog.
Jeff’s group spent time on the gun range, drove ATV vehicles, and went hog hunting. Their fishing trip was canceled due to weather, but they made the most out of that day by going to a nearby air show and touring Parris Island, the famous Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina.
The band of brothers visited a nearby air show.
Yet, it was the fireside chats each evening that brought them the closest and brought about the unvarnished truth. The straightforward truth about how they were shot at and lost battle buddies to combat. And how they have come back, and some parts of their lives are very tough due to all the trauma they experienced and they’re still losing friends to suicide. And how they deal with it in the privacy of their own lives.
The fire pit talks helped this group of Marines to let down their guard and open up.
Sitting around the campfire provided a sense of security, warmth, and comfort for this group of Marines to let their guard down. Being around the fire and staring into the dancing flames put them into a relaxed trance where they just started talking, remembering, and healing. It was also a time to remember those they had lost and a chance to raise a glass and toast to them.
Reuniting Veterans with Small Group Interactions is Healing
Many veterans returning from recent conflicts and prior service eras continue to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other invisible wounds of war. Studies have shown that veterans benefit from small group interaction and support, including social support, purpose and meaning, normalization of symptoms and hope, and therapeutic benefits. Reuniting veterans together in small group interactions is highly effective and offers the opportunity to normalize PTSD symptoms by engaging with other individuals who have experienced similar trauma symptoms.
Conversely, the unvarnished truth is not all doom and gloom. This band of brothers also talked about the happy times in their lives. The days always ended on a high note, and everyone gets recharged.
Veterans need each other to heal. They also need a safe, comfortable place for the unvarnished truth to be told to help that healing. “Reunions and small group interactions for combat veterans positively impact the rest of their lives,” Monssen concluded.
There are many opportunities for small group interactions and healing at veteran reunions.
Please Help a Veteran Refocus at a REUNION
There are zero out-of-pocket costs to our participants who attend our reunions thanks to our generous donors. Tee It Up for the Troops is inspired to see how businesses are recognizing the importance of supporting our nation’s veterans. If you would like to open the door to a fresh new mindset and outlook on life for our country’s veterans, PLEASE Donate Today Here.
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.
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.
It’s no small feat to grow from a soldier’s selfless request to “Help those back home” in 2005 to now surpassing $18 million in total grants to veteran service organizations. Over the past 20 years, Tee It Up for the Troops has proudly supported critical programs that serve the unique needs of our nation’s veterans — helping them heal, rebuild, and thrive.
