Originally from Ridgecrest, California, Linda, my wife, and I have called Ronan, Montana our hometown for the past 22 years. Ronan is a small farm/ranch community located in western Montana, halfway between Kalispell and Missoula Montana.
I joined the United States Marine Corps in February of 1970 and was trained and worked as an Avionics (Electronics)Technician on a variety of Military aircraft. I received an all-expenses paid 1 year trip to Vietnam in April of 1972. I separated from the Marine Corps at the end of my 4 years enlistment.
After separations, I went back to school, received a degree in Electrical Engineering and went to work for the Department of Defense at the Naval Air Warfare Center – China Lake in the desert of California. During my 27-year career, I joined the United States Navy as a Reservist for 8 additional years in uniform.
Through the Veteran Service Network of Missoula, Montana, I saw an opportunity for Military Veterans to learn how to play golf through the PGA HOPE program. I signed up for the August 2022 class that was held at the Missoula Country Club and took on the challenge. The program came along at the perfect time for me physically as I was recovering from Covid-induced stroke-like symptoms. Walking our local short 9-hole course stabilized my mobility, allowing me to regain leg strength and balance and there was something about gripping and swinging a golf club that eased the tremors I was experiencing in my hands and arms. Mentally, the focus required in golf became therapy for me, taking my mind off from places it no longer needed to revisit.
I believe in Veteran Self-Help Programs! In September of 2013, I completed a 5-month 26 day (3500+ mile) walk across our Country. “Walking for the Fallen”, was designed to bring attention to suicide prevention among our Military Warriors. A year after “The Walk” I created “Plan Bee” a no-cost program for Military Veterans in “Beekeeping”. In addition to bees being fascinating creatures, they can provide a visual and physical therapy through attention to detail and focus… “Bee Here Now”!
Golf is therapy for the mind and fitness for the body for all Military Veterans with or without disabilities! Sharing the PGA HOPE experience year round with other Veterans falls in line with the other Veteran Self-Help Projects that I believe in.
Semper Fidelis
– Chuck Lewis
Read More: Local military veteran named a PGA HOPE Ambassador