American Legion Post 42 of Ocean Springs, Miss., wants to thank all sponsors and participants in the inaugural Non-Golfers-Golfers Tournament held at the Gulf Hills Golf Course on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Open to veterans and the public for a 3, 5, or 9 flight competition based on golf ability, trophies were awarded to the two team low ball flight winners.
This may be the first golf tournament on the coast when a patriotic opening was conducted to include a POW/MIA ceremony honoring a veteran who sacrificed his life for our freedom and could not be in attendance. Nearly three-score veterans and the general public present honored PFC James P. Alvin Shaw's sacrifice. A native of Mississippi and a Korean War POW/MIA, PFC Shaw was a member of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, he was taken as a prisoner of war while fighting the enemy in North Korea on Dec. 3, 1950, and died while a prisoner on June 23, 1951. Presenting the ceremonial POW/MIA flag on the empty chair at the morning golf tournament was Post 42 member Andrew Jackson, along with other members of Post 42 and scores of veterans and golf participants. Shaw’s final resting place was at Biloxi National Cemetery. Post 42 wants to continue the event and open it to all American Legion posts on “Coastal Mississippi” as well as to the public, as an annual event to honor the sacrifice of veterans who are not present so that we can live in freedom.