One year later, Freeborn County remembers Corey Goodnature

Staff

Published Wednesday, June 28, 2006

By Jeff Budlong, sports editor

CLARKS GROVE - One year later the pain of losing a loved one is still there for Don and Deb Goodnature, but they don't want their son's sacrifice and the sacrifice of so many others to be forgotten.

Corey Goodnature of Clarks Grove was killed June 28, 2005, when his MH-47E Chinook helicopter was shot down in eastern Afghanistan while he and 15 other soldiers were on a rescue mission. Corey, 35, was a member of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which is a small unit of four battalions with 2,000 soldiers. It is a special operation force that is part of the Army but goes to the aid of all branches of the military.

“It has been pretty tough because you go through Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas for the first time without him, and it just doesn't seem possible,” said Don. “He was deployed so much that it still seems like he is still deployed waiting to come home.

“It seems like it just happened yesterday. It takes time and I don't think you ever get over it, but

you handle it over time.”

The ultimate sacrifice that Corey and many others made is something that the Goodnature family and many in the community want to make sure is honored. For that reason, a group of family and friends got together and helped organize the first Corey Goodnature Memorial Scholarship Golf Classic, which will take place at Green Lea Golf Course on Saturday.

“When they came to us with the idea we thought it was a great way to honor his legacy and a way to remember all those who have been killed in action,” said Don.

The end result of the day, which includes nine holes of golf, dinner and an auction, are

scholarships that will be used to help both Albert Lea High School graduates as well as children of members of Corey's 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment.

The idea for a golf tournament in Corey's name was first brought up by Gary Pestorious, a family friend, who wanted to find a way to honor him and help others at the same time.

A planning group was formed and its members - Cal and Barb Johnson, Rick Mummert, Randy and Larry Goodnature, Todd Kriewall, Bob Rowe and Mick Hansen - went about raising support and getting donations for the event.

The group worked under the mission statement “Never forget our soldiers who were killed in action defending our country.”

The response from the community was impressive. The 72 spots available for the 4-person best shot filled up almost immediately.

“The response was so great we are going to open it up to 36 teams and 144 golfers next year,” said Corey's uncle Larry Goodnature.

Registration begins at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start at 3 p.m. but a special ceremony will be conducted at 2:30 p.m., to honor the fallen soldiers memory.

“The American Legion Post 56 will be at the course with the color guard for a flag raising, the national anthem will be sung by Todd Opdahl and a 21-gun salute will also take place,” said Larry, who encourages those who are not golfing to attend the ceremony.

There will be American flags on the golf carts, flags on the tee boxes and the Night Stalkers' emblem will be on each of the pin flags. There will also be a killed-in-action banner with names of the KIAs from Freeborn County.

Those who could not golf are still asked to attend the dinner and auction to help raise money for the scholarships. The dinner, which includes Iowa chops prepared by the Freeborn County Pork Producers, gets under way at 6 p.m.

It is not know how many scholarships will be awarded after the first of what is hoped to become an annual event held every Saturday before the Fourth of July. The more support it receives, the more scholarships will be given out.

At least one scholarship in Corey's name will be given to an Albert Lea High School graduate and at least one other one will go to a senior going on to college from Corey's 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment who is a son or daughter of a KIA parent.

“Corey was a quite person but a proud American and he would be glad to be part of something like this which will benefit young kids,” said Larry.

Following dinner there will be both a silent auction and a live auction led by Opdahl and Beau Jensen, who will serve as auctioneers. Many area businesses have donated items including Viking and Timberwolves tickets.

“This all shows how patriotic people in this town are and how they are willing to support a local kid who gave his life for our freedom,” said Don. “We still receive a lot of support a year later from people just in the street who come up to us and ask how we are doing.”

If you would like to donate to this event call Randy Goodnature at (507) 373-4948.

“Lots of people have heroes whether it is in movies, politics or sports but for myself and the Goodnature family Corey is our hero,” Larry said.

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