SSG Justin Lynn, USA

On March 11, 2007 my life was changed forever. I was hit by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq which resulted in the amputation of my right leg below the knee. I have spent the past 8 months learning how how to walk and the complete the day to day activities which I face. Prior to my injury golf was a big part of my life. I would golf once or twice a week depending on my training schedule. After I was injured I wondered if I would ever get to play again or if I could ever enjoy the sport again. Recently I was able to get back onto the golf course and play a few holes. I was reassured that golf was something that I could continue to enjoy. The nature of my injury has effected the way I was able to play with my old clubs. I talked with a local pro and he suggested that I get custom made clubs. I am 6'4" tall, so regular length clubs are about an inch too short for me. I have always wanted to get customized clubs but could never justify spending that kind of money. And it seems now that I have no choice if I want to continue to enjoy the sport of golf.

But why golf? Golf is a sport where a physical disability won't handicap me. Unlike basketball, baseball, and football, there is no running or physical contact involved with golf. I feel like I regain what I have lost when I am on the golf course. Golf is a sport that I would love to enjoy for the rest of my life. And with your help I could, for those brief 18 holes, regain what was lost and enjoy a sport that I definitely love. Granting this wish will have a lifetime effect on me and my family. I am positive that my three brothers and my wife would love to be out on the course with me again too. Thank you for considering this wish for me. I hope that this paragraph has allowed you to see what effect this would have on me.

Justin Lynn was granted his Wish in January 2008. He is now back on the golf course with clubs that are well-suited for his stature and his injury. Below is a letter from his wife...

My name is Gabrielle Lynn. I am SSG Justin Lynn's wife. Your committee granted him a wish of golf clubs and a golf "setup". I wanted to take a few moments to tell you what your gift has done for my husband. When we were stationed at Ft. Lewis in Washington, Justin would go every Saturday to golf. This meant that he was out there come rain or shine, and in Washington that meant a whole more rain then shine. I always teased him for going out when it rained and he would laugh and say it's peaceful for him to be out on the course. Playing golf was a way for him to catch some down time from the stressful job of preparing for another year long deployment to Iraq. It was also a way to stay connected to his three brothers which also played golf. Justin went as far as setting up a tarp in our back yard that would catch the balls when he hit them with his driver. He'd go out there every night to hit golf balls and try to unwind.

When he got injured last March we weren't sure what his quality of life would be. Our son was 3 years old at the time with plans for another baby on our minds! Our life was active and adventurous. We spent every weekend out in the mountains or on the beach. He was a hands on Dad, and we feared he would never have the opportunity to play and wrestle with our son again.

On the night that he came home with the news of your organization, his eyes had hope again. It seemed as if his soul was coming back to life. Before this, I'm not sure that he allowed himself to believe that he'd be able to golf again "normally". However, that seemed to all change when he came home with the huge gift that you guys provided him. It's been almost a week now and the smile still hasn't left his face! He has spent every day out on the golf course. The best part though, has been that our son has spent that time with him as well. Your gift has given our son his father back again! From a wife and mothers heart, I will personally be forever grateful to your generosity! Thank you for granting him this wish. It goes deeper than just golf clubs!

With a thankful and grateful heart,
Gabrielle Lynn