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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

CareSource, Dragons Team up to Honor Local Veteran

July 2, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


DAYTON, Ohio - CareSource and the Dayton Dragons will host United States Marine Corp veteran Gene Camp during the CareSource Veteran Salute Program on Wednesday, July 3, at 7:00 p.m. when the Dayton Dragons take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Fifth Third Field. Wednesday will be the fourth CareSource Veteran Salute date of the 2019 season.

The CareSource Veteran Salute Program provides veterans in the Dayton region with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate their service to their country. Each honoree has their story shared in front of the crowd at Fifth Third Field, followed by a standing ovation in appreciation of the veteran's hard work and dedication both in military and civilian accomplishments.

Gene's Story

"The sun will come out tomorrow" is a phrase Gene Camp lives by. Camp was born in Springfield, Ohio, and was raised in a children's home for 11 years. By the time he was 16 years old, he had been in nine foster homes. He could feel himself going down the wrong path and decided to join the U.S. Marines in 1968 to make sure he stayed out of trouble. After going to Boot Camp in Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California, Camp was deployed to Vietnam.

On March 26, 1970, Camp had 13 days left before he was scheduled to return to the United States. On his last patrol, it was quiet all day. In the middle of the Vietnamese rice paddies around dusk, everything changed. Out of nowhere, explosions erupted all around Camp and his company. Camp instinctively dropped to the ground but moved when he realized something was blocking him from gaining a field of fire. As soon as he started moving, something exploded right behind him. Camp saw a bright flash and heard an explosion that deadened his hearing. A medivac was called, and Camp was transported to a naval air station to recover from his physical injuries. It was only after the fact that Camp learned that it was a North Vietnamese Army battalion who had ambushed Camp's company.

Following a lengthy recovery, Camp was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1973. After a few years, Camp went into the U.S. Navy from 1976-1987 where he was a Mess Specialist. Camp has over 25 years with the Federal Government between his time with the Marines, the Navy and a career with the United States Postal Service before retiring in 2006 on disability.

Today, Gene is active with the VFW and AMVETS. Gene is enjoying retirement and spends his free time golfing, fishing and enjoying life with his son, Tyler, and wife of 22 years.

CareSource's Veteran Salute program highlights five veterans' stories during the course of each season. Veterans who are chosen are honored at a Dragons game with an in-game ceremony and provided with VIP treatment during their special night. The program is an extension of CareSource's continued commitment to serving special populations and its new efforts to support veterans through innovative health and life services programs. For more information about the Veteran Salute program, visit www.daytondragons.com/veteransalute.

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