The United States military is made up of many different branches. Each branch has its own “Special Forces.” The U.S. Army Special Forces are Green Berets. Founded in 1952, they’re among the elite of all military groups, and conduct missions abroad to combat guerrilla insurgencies. In April 1962, President John F. Kennedy penned an official White House Memorandum stating, “The Green Beret is a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom.”
The Green Beret Foundation, headquartered in San Antonio, TX, was formed to educate the public and raise money for medical, financial, and career assistance that is not covered by military or VA benefits.
My husband, Lee, and I have been passionate volunteers with the Cincinnati Chapter of the Green Beret Foundation since its formation in 2014. I got involved with GBF because I saw first-hand how the Foundation helped my colleague’s son, Major Darren Baldwin, who was injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. Within nine days, he sustained two blast impacts from roadside IEDs.
At that time, very little was known about diagnosing brain injury and trauma. If a soldier’s injury did not involve visible bleeding, loss of limb, or other severe wounds, the soldier was often returned to combat. During his third deployment in Afghanistan, Major Baldwin exhibited symptoms of traumatic brain injury severe enough to return him stateside. He received treatment at various military hospitals including Walter Reed Medical Center, but a definitive diagnosis was never reached. They told Major Baldwin that it could be brain cancer, Hodgkin’s Disease, or possibly MS. He was sent home, however, the physical and neurological deterioration continued. Eventually, a civilian neurologist confirmed the diagnosis of traumatic brain injury. When it became obvious that Major Baldwin’s condition would never improve, his parents decided to turn the tragedy into something beneficial.
The family sought and received support from the GBF and now, along with a large team of volunteers, supports the Foundation with a two day event held each September. About 400 people attended the 10th annual Major Darren Baldwin Cincinnati Green Beret Classic on September 8, which included a reception, dinner, and both a live and silent auction. The following day, 240 golfers participated in either a morning or afternoon shotgun at the O’Bannon Creek Golf Club in Loveland, OH. My husband, Lee and I both serve on the event’s steering committee.
We had so many sponsors who wanted to host a team that we had to break the event into morning and afternoon flights to accommodate all those who wished to participate. Even with 60 teams, we still had a waiting list. Our fundraiser is GBF’s second most successful event in the country. In the past ten years, over $1.3 million has been raised by the Cincinnati Chapter, and this year’s event alone raised over $300,000.
$0.84 of every dollar raised is for programs and services directly benefitting Green Berets and their families. Called “The 5 Pillars of Support,” funds are used for: health and wellness such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and all-terrain wheelchairs; casualty and family support when a Green Beret is wounded or injured in the line of duty; support for gold star families which is financial assistance in the wake of the death of a Green Beret; and transition support to help Green Berets returning from combat to seamlessly pass from military life to civilian life.
After 16 years, the traumatic brain injury Darren suffered caused irreversible neurotrauma which then deteriorated until eventually he was unable to walk, talk, or care for himself. Retired Major Darren Baldwin passed away on December 23, 2021, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery a year ago. In honor of his life and legacy, the Foundation and his parents established the Silver Star Family Support Fund which supports US Army Special Forces Silver Star Families battling long-term physical and mental health challenges, as well as supporting the spouse or caregiver.
My husband and I are vocal supporters of the work of the Green Beret Foundation. We are proud of the foundation’s work, and what has been done for so many of the Special Forces and their families.
