The extent of the military involvement at the PGA Tour event far exceeded the artillery salute. The same Soldiers who fired blank rounds from M-109 howitzers at the golf tournament will likely be firing live rounds out of M-119 howitzers in Iraq soon, as they will be deploying to Iraq in 2010. "Every time you fire the guns it's training, even if they're blanks," said Murphy. He concurred that this was the first time his unit had supported this particular event. Murphy has participated in about 300 ceremonial artillery events 10 already this year. 1st Class William Murphy was the gunnery sergeant for the detachment of the 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment that attended the Deutsche Bank Championship. In eight years as the PGA's tournament coordinator this was the first time Toenjes had seen howitzers participate in the festivities. Some tournaments go even further, such as the AT&T National in Washington, D.C., where wounded veterans do some of the television commentary.
BRETT WALKER GOLFER FREE
He noted that most PGA tournaments have at least one day where members of the military are granted free admission. "All PGA tournaments have a military focus now," said Toenjes. "Having the military out here is really a big deal," attested Matt Toenjes, tournament coordinator for the PGA, succinctly summarizing the sentiment of the PGA and the 1,700 volunteers supporting the Deutsche Bank Tournament, the vast majority of who were sporting yellow ribbons on their chests. Three M-109 howitzers firing 12 rounds made sure of that - both announcing the presence of the Guard and serving an integral role in signaling the start of the shotgun style Pro-Am game. The spotlight was certainly on the athletes, but the presence of the Massachusetts Army National Guard was apparent and appreciated.
BRETT WALKER GOLFER PROFESSIONAL
Rice joined 20 other legendary Boston-based athletes, 21 professional golfers, 63 talented amateur duffers and the Massachusetts Army National Guard at the Players Club of Boston for a charitable Pro-Am golf tournament preceding the official Deutsche Bank Championship. "If we didn't have a strong military working for us, we'd be at war all of the time and never have time to play baseball or golf."
"You protect us and provide us that important service, so we try to provide entertainment to you through sports," said Rice, who played 16 seasons with the Boston Red Sox. 1, at the opening of the PGA Tour's Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Mass.
Hall of Fame Red Sox outfielder Jim Rice is notorious for his aversion to reporters, but there was no evidence of that when he was approached by a military journalist, Sept.
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