Golf Balls for the Troops III: A Vietnam vet gets things done in Florida

In previous blogs, we’ve looked at the City of Evansville, Ind., and Kyle Taylor, owner of USA Golf in Lawrence, Kansas, and their remarkable efforts at getting golf equipment sent to U.S. troops throughout the Middle East. The golf gear is sent to troops, and is used as both a way to alleviate boredom for them, as well as helping them feel closer to home and remember that there are those in the U.S. thinking of them.

Bill Levine, a Vietnam veteran living in Clermont, Fla., decided it sounded like a good idea. Levine told the Rockford Register Star that he got the idea after seeing a show on The Golf Channel featuring soldiers hitting golf balls at a makeshift driving range at Camp Victory in Baghdad.

Levine, who plays golf at Kings Ridge three times a week, said his golf community neighbors quickly joined in when he started his plan of sending golf equipment to the troops.

“The people here went crazy over the whole program,” Levine told the Rockford Register Star. “There are a lot of Vietnam vets, and some World War II vets, in this complex. They embraced the idea and went out of their way to track me down and give me stuff.”

Levine had hoped to get 1,000 golf balls and 100 clubs, quickly found his inventory reaching heights he didn’t imagine, and an article about his efforts in the Orlando Sentinel pushed more golfers to donate to his cause.

Levine has had to put a halt to accepting donations for now, as he awaits the Army to come pick up his inventory and ship it off to the troops.

“People keep stopping me and saying, ‘You are doing a great thing. This is wonderful. Gold bless you.’” said Levine. “They are absolutely amazed with the whole program.”

Read more about Levine’s efforts by clicking here.

–WKW