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Alex Happer (left) practices his putting, on the green at TCP
Wakefield Plantation, with his recrutier Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell
Hawkinson. (Photo By Ron Toland)
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By Ron Toland and Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell Hawkinson
Raleigh Recruiting Battalion
Raleigh Recruiting Battalion
Alex Happer, a high school senior from Raleigh, N.C., gave up a college golfing scholarship to join the Army. Seventeen days after his 17th birthday, Happer was sworn into the Army as an Airborne Ranger.
“I knew exactly what I wanted and after my birthday, I was sworn into the Army as an Infantry Recruit Airborne Ranger,” said Happer.
Born on Long Island, N.Y., his family moved to Raleigh in 2003 where his father, Adam Happer, landed a job at the Wake Forest Country Club. It was there Alex was welcome to practice and play golf, at no cost, honing his skills and being quickly recognized for them.
This resulted in potential golfing scholarships from a few local colleges. However, Happer opted to join the service instead.
“I decided to give up college golf to join the Army because I saw a lot of things going on in this world that I simply don’t like and felt that I can do more about it by joining the Army instead of playing a game,” said Harper. His father supports his decision.
“I decided to give up college golf to join the Army because I saw a lot of things going on in this world that I simply don’t like and felt that I can do more about it by joining the Army instead of playing a game,” said Harper. His father supports his decision.
“I am extremely proud of Alex' career decision,” said his father retired public servant and NYPD detective, Adam Happer. “Although [he is] a gifted golfer with a promising future, he decided to forego that path and commit to serving his country. I guess the apple didn't fall too far from the tree,” he said. Although he was pressured by his peers to play college golf and was even hesitant about looking at colleges, Happer knew he wanted to join the Army--one of the easiest decisions he has ever made in his life.
“I have wanted to be in the service since I was a little kid,” said Happer. “Being a resident of New York, having a father on the New York Police Department and simply being an American on September 11th 2001, I came to the realization that there are people out there that hate every ounce of what my country and I stand for,” said Happer. He said that some people are okay with that, but not him.
After being in the local golf spotlight and touring multiple prospective college opportunities, people were shocked to hear that he had enlisted into the Army only a month into his senior year.
“Yes golf is a fun game and it would be an amazing opportunity to play at the college level, but I wanted something on a whole different level of prestige and honor,” said Happer. "There are more important things in this world than being rich and famous.”
After watching the events of September 11 unfold, knowing his father was a NYC police officer and volunteer firefighter at the time, it really lit a fire in him at a young age.
"I wanted a job that encompassed immediate and direct action. Being an Airborne Ranger is the epitome of what I believe to be direct action,” he said. “The moment I read the Ranger Creed for the first time, I knew that was how I want to live my life,” he said.
Happer said that joining the Army is significant because there is value and pride in serving.
“Joining the Army was more important to me because I have a sense of duty to this country and its people that have done everything for me that I could possibly ask for,” he said. And his mother agrees. “Alex's decision to join the Army doesn't come as a surprise,” said his mother Kelly Happer. “He is very proud to be able to serve and protect his country and the Army is fortunate to have a person like Alex,” she said.
“The honor of serving my country as a United States Army Ranger would exceed any level of prestige I would ever receive as an accomplished golfer," said Happer.
Lastly, Happer recognized how helpful his recruiting office has been during the whole process. “Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell Hawkinson has been helpful and cooperative from the minute I walked in the door of the recruiting station,” said Happer. “He never attempted to persuade me to another job, never sugar-coated anything and he never gave up on getting my ranger option in my contract.”
Although it took many hours to get the ranger option in his contract, his recruiter hung in there and finally got it for him.
“This was the last link to my dream contract in the Army. So 100 percent hats off to him for being an outstanding recruiter,” he said.
Harper ships out to Fort Benning July 23.
