Gary to honour fellow county man at tournament

There will be a poignancy to Gary Hurley’s participation in the prestigious Patriot All America Tournament for leading collegiate golfers this week, as the Dungarvan native honours a man from his hometown who served with distinction in the American armed forces.

As part of the Arizona tournament’s tradition, each golfer represents a fallen or disabled military hero, and Hurley will be honouring the late John F Mansfield, a World War Two veteran who attended the same school the 20-year-old did and went on to serve in the US Third Army’s 51st Infantry Armoured Battalion.

Mansfield, who was born in 1906 in Dungarvan, emigrated to New York in 1924 and having enlisted in the US army won a Bronze Star for bravery and a Purple Heart for servicemen injured in battle, just two of 27 honourable medals earned during his service.

Mansfield died in New York in 1965 and Hurley’s golf bag this week will bear the soldier’s name in tribute.

“We did some research and my mam and dad found this man who had gone to the same school I went to,” Hurley explained.

“He emigrated from my home town, Dungarvan, to New York, joined the US army and served in Normandy and on to the end of the war.

“This could be the first time he’s been recognised in Dungarvan. It was nice to get someone to honour from Ireland that served in the US military, but that he’s actually from my hometown is pretty cool.

“His name will be on my golf bag, which has been custom made by PING for the tournament and has the Irish flag on it as well.

“It’s going to be auctioned off at the end of the tournament, which is great.”