A young husband, father, and New York firefighter when he joined the Army in 1944, Bill deployed with the 4th Infantry Division to Utah Beach ten days after D-Day to start six months of fighting the German army on the frontlines in Normandy, through France, across Belgium, and into Germany to the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. The longest single battle the U.S. Army ever fought, Bill recalls Hurtgen Forest as “a terrible place, that when we left was not a forest anymore.” Next up, the Battle of the Bulge, the last major offensive by the Axis Powers on the Western Front, where Bill eventually found himself “inches from a rifle to his head.” A prisoner of war, after a few hours he escaped to successfully rejoin his platoon. Though extremely outmanned, they continued to battle until relieved on Christmas Eve. The six surviving and uncaptured members of his original 40-man platoon then deployed to hold the recently captured Remagen Bridge, crossed the Rhine, and continued through Germany and into Austria encountering only sporadic resistance. The war in Europe was essentially over. Despite fighting three major battles, his company was reassigned to invade Japan, so returned secretly to the U.S. While there, Japan was bombed, WWII ended, Bill was discharged and returned to the NYFD. Bill’s medals and badges include the Bronze Star with Oakleaf Cluster “for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy” in Hurtgen Forest, the Order of Leopold II with Palm Degree of Chevalier from Belgium, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm Leaf from France. Bill resides in Huntington Beach, is a member of American Legion Huntington Beach Post 133, is 101 and a stellar example of The Greatest Generation.

Bill served in the US Army, 70th Division Infantry, 276th Regiment, during World War II. In January 1945, he and 180 platoon mates were captured by German troops during the battle of Wingen-sur-Moder and were held in a church in Wingen, France where Bill was hit with a piece of shrapnel from a shell that came through a stained glass window and exploded near the alter of the church. After four days in captivity, his platoon was liberated by American forces as they re-took the town. His decorations are a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. His army unit received a Presidential Unit Citation for its collective valor. Bill received undergraduate and law degrees from USC and practiced law in Southern California for over thirty years. Bill is 94 and lives on Balboa Island.

Tom joined the Army at age 19 in 1940 and served in the 101st Airborne Division’s “Screaming Eagles.” Shortly after midnight on D-Day, June 6, 1944, Tom parachuted into Normandy from a C-47 that had been hit by anti-aircraft “flak,” as part of the largest military campaign ever undertaken. Tom, armed with a submachine gun, landed near Utah Beach and heavily armed German forces, fought in Normandy for over a month while sheltering in hunting holes, helped capture hundreds of German soldiers, and was wounded by shrapnel and a sniper bullet in his left knee. Tom also parachuted into Holland during Operation Market Garden and fought in the Battle of the Bulge where he was seriously wounded when sniper bullets tore a leg and the radial below an elbow. After one month, he re-joined his regiment in Austria. Tom’s military honors include a Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 2 Invasion Arrows, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star with Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, French Fourragère, Belgium Fourragère and the Parachutist Badge (“Jump Wings”). In 2015, France honored Tom as a Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honor, the highest award granted to foreign nationals for military service on French soil, in recognition of his heroic service during the Invasion of Normandy in the liberation of France. Tom is 98, lives in San Diego with his wife Brenda, and jumped in tandem last year during the 75th anniversary celebrations of D-Day and Market Garden.

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.

Steve was the founding sponsor of Military Appreciation Day in 2015. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967 to 1970 and is a combat decorated, disabled Veteran of the Vietnam War. Steve’s decorations include the Purple Heart Medal with Silver Star, Vietnam Wound Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Marine Corps Combat Action Medal. His combat unit received the Navy Meritorious Unit Citation Medal for Actions Consistent with the Awarding of the Bronze Star. Mr. Wilburn is a senior, internationally recognized energy executive with over thirty-five years of experience in the development and implementation of innovative, industry changing and highly successful, alternative energy projects and wastewater treatment technologies. He was the former VP of Business Development of the Allied Signal Corporation. At this stage in his career he has successfully developed dozens of energy and water projects worldwide totaling over $2 billion.

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.

Specialist E-5 Robert M Casillas enlisted in the Army in May 1967. Following basic training he was sent to Vietnam as a medical specialist. He soon faced the brutal reality of war during the Tet Offensive. Amidst the intense fighting and heavy casualties, he used his medical skills while helping to repel the relentless Viet Cong attacks. Beyond the battlefield, Robert and his team conducted vital MEDCAP missions, venturing into remote villages to provide crucial medical care to civilians cut off by the war. Robert performed similar duties elsewhere in Vietnam before returning to the states in December 1968. He became a medical instructor at Fort Sam Houston where he completed his service. His military tour earned him the Army Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with three Battle Stars, National Defense Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Medic Badge, and promotion to Specialist 5 (E-5).

In 1991, Todd Van Sant enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving honorably as a Munitions Systems Specialist. His expertise in handling, maintaining, and supplying ordnance played a vital role in ensuring combat readiness. During his service, Todd deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Vigilant Warrior. His contributions were essential in enforcing no-fly zones over Iraq and deterring hostile aggression in the region. He retired from the Air Force as a Senior Airman (E-4) in 1999. Todd’s awards include the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), and the Korean Defense Service Medal. Todd continues to support the military, and in particular, military veterans. He serves as the Commander of the local VFW Post in Sheridan, Colorado. He is also the Junior Vice Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Colorado. In both cases, these organizations provide important support to needy veterans and their families.

After graduating from Drew University in 1967, Bob was drafted in 1968 and served two years, including a year in Vietnam as a Reconnaissance Team Leader in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Bob was wounded in the Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord, a 23-day battle between his division and two reinforced divisions of the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) from July 1 to 23 1970, the last major confrontation between U.S. ground forces and the PAVN, where he took command when his platoon leader was killed, had to call artillery fire onto his unit because weather prohibited gunship and evacuation helicopter support, and under heavy enemy fire led his platoon to a secure location. Bob’s medals and awards include two Bronze Stars for heroism and valor in combat, two Purple Hearts for combat wounds, two Air Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. Bob’s post-military career was in the investment management business, primarily with The Dreyfus Corporation as a V.P. and Western Sales Manager. Since 1990, he has volunteered extensively in Orange County, including negotiating the use by the county of Tobacco Litigation Settlement revenue and with the American Cancer Society, the Irvine Senior Foundation, the City of Irvine’s Investment Committee, the Orange County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation, and Newport Harbor Post 291 of the American Legion. Bill’s American Legion leadership positions include National Legislative Council, State Legislative Commissioner, and District Finance Officer. He was California’s “Legionnaire of the Year” in 2018 and a City of Irvine Distinguished Citizen in 2019 for his community service work. Bob resides in Irvine with his wife Betsy.