Two wounded veterans honored at 9/11 event in Arrowhead with a new car and new house
8th annual Heroes Golf Tournament raises money to teach financial literacy
Tricia Swenson/Vail Daily
On Patriots Day, Sept. 11, current military, veterans and community members gathered to honor the fallen of the 9/11 attacks at Country Club of the Rockies in Arrowhead for the eighth annual Heroes Golf Tournament. In addition to hitting the links, those in attendance got to meet two veterans who have benefitted from the generosity of the public: one who has received a car and the other who has received a house.
Each year, Country Club of the Rockies partners up for a fall golf outing with the local nonprofit, Vail Veterans Program, which provides military injured and their families innovative programs that build confidence and lifelong relationships. Country Club of the Rockies also teams up with Military Warriors Support Foundation, whose programs focus on housing and home ownership, recreational activities, transportation assistance and leadership development.
Victor Gomez, retired U.S. Marine Corps Corporal, was presented the ceremonial key to his payment-free vehicle and retired U.S. Army Private First Class, Jacob Williams, was presented the ceremonial key to a mortgage-free home.
The vehicle was donated by another partner to Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Transportation4Heroes program. The home was donated by Wells Fargo to Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Homes4WoundedHeroes program. The car and house are not simply a “hand-out” but a “hand-up” and come with financial mentorship, made possible with the sponsorship by Country Club of the Rockies. Gomez will receive one year of financial mentorship and Williams will receive three years of family and financial mentorship.
Gomez and Williams were 18 when they joined the military and both are Purple Heart recipients, a medal presented to service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action while serving in the U.S. military. Gomez was in boot camp when 9/11 happened.
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“Our platoon commander had us circle up and told us that two planes were flown into the World Trade Center and he asked if anybody had any family there,” Gomez said. “A few of them had family and they were allowed to leave to check on them, and then after that, he tells us, ‘half of you are going to die, and half of you are going to live to remember them,’ and to this day, I’ll never forget that.”
Gomez went on to serve in Iraq in 2004 and was first injured on Dec. 31 of that same year while conducting security operations of the Main Supply Route when the vehicle he was in struck an Improvised Explosive Device during night patrol.
“The brunt of that explosion was received by the front left side of the vehicle. And that’s where my driver was. His name was Jason E. Smith out of Arizona. Great kid, wonderful kid. We lost four guys out there,” Gomez’ voice trails off a bit as he pauses to remember. “It’s easier to talk about after all these years, but you still get that knot in your throat, and my eyes are getting a little watery. To earn that Purple Heart, unfortunately, someone’s life had to be given up, and I would give that Purple Heart back any day of the week to have those friends back.”
Williams enlisted in 2006 with an airborne ranger contract. When 9/11 happened, he was just a young teen.
“I remember being at a Christian summer camp and in the food hall there were TVs that were never on, but they were on that day and our counselors shared the news, but I didn’t understand the gravity of it, I remember where I was and how I felt, but I was also confused by it,” Williams said. Williams’ military service started in October of 2006 and on his birthday, Aug. 13, 2007, the vehicle he was riding in was hit by an IED.
“I remember yucking it up, talking about what we’d do later for my birthday and just all of a sudden experiencing this incredible pressure and heat,” Williams said. Williams sustained injuries to his neck and face and the loss of his right hand. “But I was kept alive and preserved. Someone’s not done with me yet,” Williams said.
Gomez and his wife received a 2024 Honda CRV last year and have been doing the financial mentoring classes and loves what he is learning.
“We’ve really delved into what it means to have this knowledge and how to use it so that I can be better prepared every day of my life to make decisions more responsibly. I never knew much about credit scores before and now. My score is 849, which is really good, and now I can go anywhere and ask for a loan and due to that credit score, I have a higher percentage of getting it,” Gomez said.
Williams and his wife obtained a mortgage-free home last year as well in Fortuna, California.
“The home is immaculate. I mean, when me and my wife walked up and we saw it, we just were speechless because this doesn’t just happen. So, we’re very, very, very grateful and blessed,” Williams said.
The Williamses are doing a deep dive into their finances, especially when it’s related to their home, home insurance, upkeep and also personal finances.
“It’s a really cool way of looking at life and being able to have discipline to say, ‘Do we need $25 worth of Starbucks right now, or can we put that towards something better?’ And it means more because we have this responsibility, we have to work for it and we’ll have this knowledge and these habits forever,” Williams said.
“Jacob and I are the beneficiaries of all these services that they provide through the folks that we’re meeting here today at Country Club of the Rockies who are sponsors of these programs. And hopefully, in the future, and I’ve made this a promise here, I can in one way, shape or form, also give back to this program. It’s been amazing for us,” Gomez said.
