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WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 30, 2011) -- The Army's chief
of staff took time Nov. 29 to thank some civilians who have spent
their own time looking out for Soldiers and their families.
Seven men representing two organizations -- the Troops First
Foundation and the Patriot Foundation -- were recognized for their
work by Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno.
"Those who are here today represent those who spend their own time
and effort in order to help and assist our families, and I just
wanted to have them here today to thank them," Odierno said.
Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno (center) recognizes civilians Nov. 29, 2011, who have dedicated their own time to support Soldiers and their families. The seven recognized are Tom Watson, Chuck Deleot, Mike Girimont, Rick Kell, Butch Harmon, Spike Smith, and William F. "Buck" Kernan. They represent two foundations dedicated to helping service members: the Troops First Foundation and the Patriot Foundation Photo by Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade |
The recognition is something Odierno said he wants to
start doing regularly, every six months, to "recognize
individuals who I think have gone well beyond the call of
duty to help our families and our Soldiers."
OPERATION PROPER EXIT
Rick Kell was among the first
recognized by Odierno. Kell founded the "Troops First
Foundation" in 2008, along with co-founder David Feherty.
Kell serves as executive director now for the organization
which runs several initiatives, including one called
"Operation Proper Exit," which returns wounded warriors to
theater so that they can meet with Soldiers and finally
leave "under their own terms."
"This is a
groundbreaking program, trying to bring those who have been
injured in combat back to where they were injured, to bring
about sometimes closure for them, but also to help them face
some of the challenges that they continue to face since they
were injured," Odierno said of Operation Proper Exit.
The general said he has been on the receiving end of
some of those visits, and said wounded Soldiers who come
back to theater to visit affect the Soldiers now there.
"What it really did was motivate us who were over there,
and made us feel good about watching them come back to where
they were injured," Odierno said. "This time they got to
leave on their own terms, not on somebody else's terms. I
think the young men who have gone through that have really
in some cases been able to start anew."
Kell credited
Odierno for making Proper Exit possible.
"Please note
that Operation Proper Exit exists because of one person. The
fact that it became a reality was General Odierno," Kell
said. "I still keep the email that you sent back to me when
I asked for some help. You said it would be a tremendous
opportunity not only for the warriors returning but for the
Soldiers and Marines on the ground, and I watched that
happen, and it was amazing."
Kell's foundation
sponsors other initiatives as well, including "Operation
Front Door," which helps veterans purchase a home through
fund matching; "Operation Coaches and Warriors," which
provides wounded warriors with a personal message of support
and thanks from his or her favorite college basketball
coach; and "Harmon's Heroes," which provides wounded
warriors the chance to play golf as a form of therapy.
HARMON'S HEROES
Butch Harmon, a Troops First
Foundation board member, serves as host for the "Harmon's
Heroes" initiative. He was also honored by Odierno.
"What a lot of people don't know about Butch Harmon, is that
he's a Vietnam veteran -- two tours in Vietnam," Odierno
said. "And I know how important it is to him to reach out to
our veterans, and to reach out to those who have been
wounded. And it was important for him to understand and help
them as they came back. He started Harmon's Heroes --
working with Rick Kell -- which allows wounded warriors to
experience the best facilities and staff the sport of golf
has to offer."
In the "Harmon's Heroes" initiative,
wounded warriors travel to Las Vegas to meet with PGA and
LPGA tour members.
Harmon has also visited Iraq,
Odierno said, and "really dedicated himself, he's always
available for other tournaments that have been done, and is
always there to give clinics for our wounded warriors. And I
can't thank him enough for opening up his school to our
wounded warriors. The feedback I've gotten has just been
tremendous on that."
TOM WATSON
Odierno also
recognized another participant in the Troops First
Foundation, Tom Watson, winner of 39 professional golf
tournaments. Watson made two trips to Iraq during the
Thanksgiving holiday, one in 2007 and another in 2009.
"He also has participated frequently in the Troops First
Foundation in their annual golf and hunting events that they
do for wounded warriors," Odierno said. "And he has given a
lot of his time. He can find a lot of different ways to give
of his time -- and he has chosen to give back to wounded
warriors."
Watson works with Troops First Foundation
by helping wounded warriors learn golf as a way to deal with
their injuries.
"I've done some work with the wounded
warriors trying to teach them a little about the game of
golf once they lost some limbs -- trying to teach them how
to get some enjoyment out of the game after losing a limb,"
Watson said. "That is sometimes a challenge, but the passion
these people have for the game sometimes is beyond the
pale."
PATRIOT FOUNDATION
The Patriot
Foundation, founded in 2003 by Spike Smith, began by
supporting families of Soldiers in the Fort Bragg, N.C.,
community.
"He's been a strong supporter of our
Soldiers and their families in the Fort Bragg area," said
Odierno of Smith. "He's also an avid golfer. He started the
Patriot Foundation initially as a charity golf tournament
for the troops in the Fort Bragg area."
The scope of
that foundation has grown now, Odierno said, and now
includes a scholarship for children of fallen Soldiers, and
a childcare benefit to help spouses of personnel killed in
action get additional education.
"We concentrate on
ways to help the families at Fort Bragg, since we live in
the Fort Bragg area -- and they are the tip of the spear in
this fight," Smith said. "There is so much need over there.
And as the years have progressed, starting in 2003, we found
one organization after another to give this money to, to
help alleviate some of their anxiety and some of their
pain."
The Patriot Foundation has helped more than
600 children of Soldiers with scholarship support and more
than $1.5 million has been raised since the Patriot
Foundation's founding. In 2010, the Patriot Foundation
provided $325,000 in scholarships for about 134 children. In
2011, that amount was $500,000 in scholarships for
approximately 200 children.
"Thank you for everything
you have done for the great Soldiers of Fort Bragg," Odierno
said.
HELPING MORE PATRIOTS
Odierno also
thanked the current president of the Patriot Foundation,
Chuck Deleot. Deleot is a retired Navy captain, and Odierno
said what he cares about is "taking care of our men and
women who have sacrificed and raised their hand to support
our country."
Odierno said Deleot led the Patriot
Foundation in developing corporate partnerships in the Fort
Bragg area to provide additional support to Soldiers and
families. One such partnership, with Hardee's restaurants,
for instance, has raised nearly $95,000.
"Chuck, I
want to thank you for everything you continue to do to move
the Patriot Foundation forward," Odierno said.
Deleot
said the Patriot Foundation has expanded its mission.
Recently, he said, the organization gave $125,000 to 25
children of Navy SEALs killed in a helicopter crash in
Afghanistan. Those SEALs were part of SEAL Team Six, the
same group that captured Osama Bin Laden.
"We are
starting a relationship with the Navy SEAL foundation,"
Deleot said. "And we are also working with Fort Campbell,
with the judge advocate general there, to identify children
of KIAs, because I have money I can give to them for
scholarships now."
Deleot also said an important part
of the Patriot Foundation mission is helping military widows
with childcare for their children, so they can get their own
education.
"That's the hurdle," he said. "Most of
these people can get assistance to go to school, but the
childcare is so expensive, they can't go."
UNWAVERING
SUPPORT
Odierno also thanked Patriot Foundation board
member Mike Girimont for his work helping Soldiers.
"Mike has committed his own personal time, talent, and
treasure to ensure the Patriot Foundation is able to support
our Soldiers and families," Odierno said. "Mike's passion
for caring for our Soldiers truly sets the example for
others."
Girimont has gone as far as arranging for
the donation of 30 cases of water a month to the Fort Bragg
Warrior Transition Battalion, putting the water in his
pickup and delivering it to the WTB personally, Odierno
said.
His involvement in the Patriot Foundation has
"directly helped hundreds of our families," Odierno said.
"His unwavering support demonstrates that our nation's
citizens care deeply for the welfare of our troops and their
families."
SPIRIT OF UNITY
Finally, Odierno
extended thanks to retired Gen. William F. "Buck" Kernan,
who serves as an advisor to the Patriot Foundation. Odierno
said Kernan "has dedicated his life to the Army and service
to our nation."
Kernan began as a rifle platoon
leader and ended as commander of Joint Forces Command,
Odierno said, and "continues his service through the Patriot
Foundation and helps ensure that those that sacrifice so
much in defense of our nation are not forgotten."
Odierno said Kernan is involved in the National Golf 9/12
effort, which is a simultaneously played multi-course golf
tournament "aimed at uniting our nation through the
opportunity to reflect on the shared spirit of unity that
was felt on Sept. 12, 2001."
"I know that you do this
because of your care and longstanding relationship with
Solders, but I just want to thank you for your continued
support and commitment," Odierno said.
Each man
recognized walked away with a plaque from the Army that
commemorated their service to Soldiers. Each one was also
presented the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal.
Rick Kell, founder of the Troops First Foundation, along
with Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Olson, who was injured in Iraq in
2003 and participated in Proper Exit 2, also presented
Odierno with a flag for his support of Proper Exit and his
advocacy of Soldiers.
By C. Todd Lopez
Army News Service
Copyright 2011
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