The following was printed in the Sun Herald of Biloxi-Gulfport and the Mississippi Gulf Coast on June 1, 2014. Readfull article
Tommy Snell
As the Alabama golf team made their way across fairways and greens to their second consecutive national championship, “Roll Tide” sifted through every blade of native grass at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, Kan. {{more}}However, as the Crimson Tide cruised to the team title, memories of fallen soldiers captured our hearts as brave men and women were honored on Memorial Day.
As a rules official in the event and starter on a memorable Monday, I had the privilege of announcing players and the Folds of Honor soldier for whom they were playing.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the tee from Stanford, Viraat Badhwar. Viraat is playing in honor of Army First Lt. Dimitri Del Castillo from Tampa, Fla., who was killed in Afghanistan.”
The script called for rousing applause as the collegiate golfer teed up his golf ball, followed by a moment of silence after the soldier’s name and information was read. In addition each hole was dedicated to a soldier killed in battle, their stories chronicled on markers near the tee. Spectators couldn’t help but pause and reflect.
I announced 45 players from 15 schools Memorial Day afternoon, and I choked up on every single one of them. Alabama’s Trey Mullinax was playing for Michael Deutsch from Dubuque, Iowa, and Oklahoma State’s Ian Davis honored Corry Edwards of Kennedale, Texas. The list that encouraged a tear or two embroidered a lasting logo of perspective on the players and fans that day.
The following information about Corry was obtained from the Military Times. Read
more
Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Corry A. Edwards
Died September 17, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom
38, of Kennedale, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, Task Force 34, Texas Army National Guard, Grand Prairie, Texas; died Sept. 17 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was in went down in the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq. Also killed were Sgt. Daniel M. Eshbaugh, Sgt. Anthony L. Mason, 1st Sgt. Julio C. Ordonez, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brady J. Rudolf, Cpl. Michael E. Thompson and 1st Lt. Robert Vallejo II.
CWO recalled as ?every officer?s wish come true?
The Associated Press
Maj. Allen Richards will miss Chief Warrant Officer Corry A. Edwards? humor and laughter.
?As a leader in the Army, you are every officer?s wish come true and I could not think of anyone better as my crew chief,? Richards wrote on an online bulletin board. ?I will miss your friendship.?
Edwards, 38, of Kennedale, Texas, was killed Sept. 18 when his helicopter went down near Tallil. He was a 1988 high school graduate and was assigned to Grand Prairie, Texas.
?Corry valued integrity and lead his life in such a way so as to impress on his sons to be honorable men. His loving charm captured the hearts of everyone,? his family wrote in tribute.
He earned his paramedic certification in 1994 and had been employed since 1997 at the Dallas Army Aviation Support Facility.
He served in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2003-04. He is survived by his wife, Nannette, and his two sons, Killian and Logan.
While his wife preferred to keep her remembrances of her husband private, she did want to thank her community. ?I would like to thank each and every person who has poured out their hearts and resources to myself and our family,? she wrote.
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