Sean Gore, a Chicago firefighter, played 14 holes with his buddies Dave Shobe and Tim Simmons, both pipefitters, at The Meadows Golf Club in Blue Island before the skies opened and dumped heavy rain on the course.
“This is all for a great cause,” said Gore, a former Marine. “We weren’t going to stop playing. We finished the course.”
The men were among 160 golfers who teed off after an 8 a.m. rendition of the national anthem, there to raise money for Chicago Soldiers, an organization that helps veterans.
Many were there in particular to support Matthew West, a former Army infantry sergeant injured by an improvised explosive device while serving in Iraq.
The event, combined with donations from area businesses such as Fibre Drum Sales and the Thomas E. Hartung American Legion Post in New Lenox, yielded more than $35,000 for West.
The check presentation came just after Sgt. Mitch Krebel, who had served in Iraq under West’s command, shared a story of West admonishing him for nearly heading into a deadly trap. Dressed in uniform, Krebel formally thanked West, saying, “I stand here today because of you.”
At one point, Krebel’s voice wavered. West let go of crutches to give Krebel a big hug, then steadied himself.
After receiving the checks, West said, “We fight for people who can’t fight for themselves, and we bleed and sweat together, that’s where the brotherhood bond comes from. … Thank you, guys. Thank you, all. This is awesome.”
The money will help West pay for a motorized wheelchair and other medical needs. Besides multiple neck and back injuries from the IED blast, West also endured extreme wear and tear on other parts of his body during his two tours of duty.
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“We were light infantry, which meant we carried everything on our backs, anything in support of our mission,” West said. “I was 6’2?, 215 pounds. They weighed us before getting on a helicopter and I weighed well over 300 pounds. After the service, I lost an inch (of height).”
West, 41, worked as a building engineer at Cook County Jail. He now receives disability benefits and lives in Beverly with his wife, Cara, a schoolteacher, and their two children.
“We lost friends in combat, but we’re losing more to depression and suicide,” West said. “I could name a dozen guys who deserve to be recognized that won’t have the opportunity.”
West is just one of several veterans helped by Chicago Soldiers, a nonprofit established by Dan Drew, of Orland Park.
Drew’s grandfather served in World War II. His uncle served in Vietnam. Though he never served in the military, he believes it’s important to recognize the sacrifice of veterans.
“I’m really proud to be an American, and I still believe this is the greatest country in the world,” he said. “I think we must recognize people who serve in the military and veterans who keep our country free.”
In 2011, Drew, owner of Natural Technologies Group, a supplier of LED lighting and lighting controls, found out about a former Navy corporal left paralyzed by complications related to surgery.
Wanting to help the veteran, Drew called upon friends.
“I know a lot of patriotic people, so there’s a lot of support,” he said.
The resulting annual golf outings at Meadows Golf Club “usually sell out within 24 hours every year,” Drew said.
Chicago Soldiers has also honored Toni Simone, a U.S. Air Force helicopter pilot, shot down in 2010 in Afghanistan. He requires the use of a special wheelchair and received a $25,000 check from Chicago Soldiers in 2016 to help pay for a truck.
James Poggi, a former Marine injured several times while serving in Afghanistan, began suffering seizures and additional neurological issues after losing the use of his left leg. He too received a generous check in 2017.
Poggi and Simone stuck together for much of the event, never far from Poggi’s wife, Stefanie, daughter, Riley and son, Logan, who also came to honor West.
“The benefits have been way more than financial,” Poggi said. “Before being honored, I didn’t do very much socially. Then this happened, and I developed a sense of family.”
Past Chicago Soldiers honoree Army Specialist Sergio Lopez also attended.
Family members accounted for a good portion of the crowd, especially in the afternoon. Drew’s wife, Janelle Drew, recruited girlfriends and female relatives to help set up and sell raffle tickets.
“The day of the event just gives you so much joy,” Dan Drew said. “You can just feel the vibe. I figure it’s the least we can do for those who gave so much.”
Susan DeGrane is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.