Steve Underwood, Sergeant USA Sergeant Steve Underwood is the first recipient of the Captain Jack Callahan, Hoag Classic Volunteer Veteran Award, beginning in 2020. Steve served in Vietnam in 1967-68 in the 25th Infantry Division, the 199th Light Infantry Division, the 5th Infantry Division, the 44th Medical Brigade, and the 5th Special Forces. Trained as a Rifleman and Radio Transmitter Operator, Steve’s primary duty was as a Combat Medic treating traumatic wounds in combat situations and assisting with medevac operations of wounded soldiers including as lead medic for the Reactionary Force providing the first line of defense if base camp was attacked, as a squad leader, and received a combat promotion to sergeant from his commanding general. He served at Bien Hoa, Cu Chi, Phu Loi, Xuan Loc, Di An, and Bear Cat during the Tet Offensive, in Operation Uniontown and in Operation Manchester. Steve’s military honors include the Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 3 Battle Stars, Army Good Conduct Medal, Tet Offensive Commemorative Medal and 2 Presidential Unit Citations. Steve has been a Hoag Classic volunteer since 2008 and currently serves as a committee chairman. He has also volunteered at the U.S. Open, Senior U.S. Open, the LPGA’s Kia Classic and for 41 years at the PGA Tour stop in Los Angeles now known as the Genesis Invitational. Steve resides in Chino Hills with his wife Denise.

T.R. joined the U. S. Army in 1965 and served in combat in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 in the 173rd Airborne Brigade as an infantryman and the 197th Armed Helicopter Company as a door gunner where he participated in 624 combat missions T.R.’s military honors include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal for Valor, and Air Medal with 16 Oak Leaf Clusters. T.R.’s Distinguished Flying Cross citation: “For heroism, while participating in aerial flight … Pierce distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on the night of 11 December 1966 while serving as door gunner of a helicopter on a “Firefly” team near Can Giouc. Alerted to enemy river traffic …, the team set out to put a stop to it. They quickly discovered and attacked a group of Viet Cong sampans, but were met with intense antiaircraft fire. Undaunted by the … danger, Pierce leaned out of his aircraft, pouring machine gun fire into the enemy emplacements, and nullifying their threat. He then turned his attention to the river, destroying boat after boat with incredible accuracy. His courageous and skillful actions resulted in the destruction of 69 supply laden sampans, a great loss to the enemy transportation network. Pierce’s personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.” T.R’s Air Medal (Sixteenth Oak Leaf Cluster) with “V” Devise citation: “For heroism while engaged in aerial flight … against a hostile force Pierce distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 December 1966 … as a door gunner on a firefly mission at Duc Hoa. Duc Hoa was subjected to a heavy mortar attack, with the division airfield as the primary target. Pierce, without regard for his own personal safety, immediately secured his ship for takeoff. Seconds after his ship had become airborne the airfield was hit. His ship was the first in the air and the first to spot the mortar flashes. With all of the aircraft’s armament inoperative, he marked the area with tracers from his M-14 rifle enabling … two aircraft to locate and neutralize the enemy positions. Through his actions, he insured a quick takeoff, thus avoiding certain destruction from the incoming rounds, as well as placing fire on the enemy positions enabling the other aircraft to silence them. Because of his professionalism and quick action with his M-14, a devasting attack was averted and the enemy was routed. Pierce’s ability and performance were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.” After Vietnam, T. R. completed the Special Forces Qualification Course, earned the Special Forces Tab and Green Beret, and served with the Third Special Forces Group until honorably discharged in 1968. He has served as the Vice-Commander of Wyoming American Legion Post 43, Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4274, and is a member of Special Forces Association Chapter 28. T.R. resides in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He is a Past-President of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, Past Vice-Chairman of the Community Entry Service, Past Executive Chairman of Boy Scout Troop 268 and was honored with the Order of the Arrow by the Boy Scouts. T.R. has been a Hoag Classic volunteer on the driving range since 2018 and lives part time in Corona del Mar.

Upon graduation from Elmhurst College in Illinois, Ed enlisted in the Navy in 1965, reported to Officers Candidate School, received his commission as an Ensign, began flight training in 1966, and received his Wings of Gold in 1967. Over the next 20 years he accumulated 3,400 flight hours, 450 carrier landings, 220 combat missions over Vietnam, and one ejection over the Gulf of Tonkin. He also served as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Kingsville, TX, and went through the Navy Fighter Weapons School known as TOPGUN twice, once as a fleet pilot and once as an adversary instructor pilot, where the Navy trained fleet fighter crews at the graduate level in aerial dogfight and airstrike tactics, techniques, procedures, and doctrine and all aspects of fighter weapons systems at the former Naval Air Station Miramar, nicknamed “Fightertown USA.” Ed’s duty stations included the USS Constellation and the USS Juneau as a Surface Warfare Officer. Ed was awarded 11 Air Medals “for extraordinary achievement and meritorious acts in aerial flight against the enemy,” the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V – 2, Naval and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, National Defense and Vietnam Service Medals, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Upon retiring from the Navy in 1987, Ed earned an MBA in Computer Management at National University in San Diego as his class of 1987 Valedictorian and ever since has worked at Hendrickson Appraisal Company in San Diego as a real estate appraiser. Ed has volunteered at PGA and PGA Champions Tour Golf Tournaments since 1995, including 23 years at the Hoag Classic as a walking scorer through 2020. Ed resides in San Diego with his wife of 50 years, Julie.

Tom Tracy enlisted in the United State Marine Corp as a private in September 1976. Following recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he embarked on a distinguished career that took him to several corners of the world and seemed to include promotions at every stop. He served at Camp Pendleton, CA., was then promoted and served guard duty in London, England. Subsequent stops were Camp Lejeune, NC, then back to Parris Island and in 1982, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, where he was assigned to the Staff Secretary’s office serving the Chief of Staff. In 1989, Gunnery Sergeant Tracy was selected for and promoted to Warrant Officer and was assigned to 29 Palms, CA. He is one of very few individuals to rise from the enlisted ranks to become an officer. Tom received medals and awards too numerous to list. He retired in 1996 after 20 years of service. In 2017, Tom joined the volunteer ranks of the Hoag Classic, and in 2022 was selected as the tournament’s Volunteer of the year.

Colonel Melvin K. F. Lee was born and raised in Hawaii and attended the University of Hawaii earning a degree in mathematics. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1968 and embarked on a 26-year career filled with challenging assignments, furthering education, and promotions in rank. A highlight of his impressive career was being selected as one of thirty officers to the prestigious Air Force Research Fellow Program, a Washington D.C. “think tank” where Colonel Lee studied and researched Space Ballistic Missile Defense. He retired as a full Colonel and his awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), and the Air Force Commendation Medal (2 awards). He also held the Air Force Master Space Badge and Master Missileer Badge. Colonel Lee has been a Hoag Classic volunteer since 1999, serving as a marshal, Standard Bearer, Uniforms Co-Chairman and is currently the Chairman of the Standard Bearer committee. Please welcome the 2024 Captain Jack Callahan Hoag Classic Veteran Volunteer, Colonel Melvin K.F. Lee.