Tiger Woods may be a billionaire living the most luxurious life one may dream to have. However, his late father, Earl Woods, didn’t stick up to the most comfortable life. Earl Woods was an Army veteran who had served two combat tours during the Vietnam War. During the final stages of his life, he decided to give his 15-time Major winner son a taste of his combat life, which Tiger explored with a smile on his face.

Earl retired from active military service in 1974. By that time, he had earned the high rank of lieutenant colonel. His father’s service inspired Tiger to make many donations to charitable causes that helped veterans and military families.

Tiger Woods always had a special bond with his father. Following the 2004 Masters, the golfer decided to take his father back to Fort Bragg, where Earl was stationed with the Green Berets. During their time at the military installation in North Carolina, Tiger executed some of the military activities, making his father proud. Let’s take a deeper look at the father-son time at Fort Bragg.

Tiger Woods drops out of the sky

Tiger and his father arrived at the military installation with some of Earl’s old military friends. Because of his stature, Tiger Woods got the VIP tour, running with the 82nd Airborne and tandem-jumping with the Golden Knights, the Army’s parachute team.

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“Your dad was doing tactical jumps,” said Billy Van Soelen, the soldier who was assigned to take the 46-year-old golfer out of the plane for the parachute jump. He also explained to Tiger Woods the difference between broad daylight at Fort Bragg and pitch-black combat situations.

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Following a thorough talk, Van Soelen strapped Tiger to himself and then the two flung themselves out into space. Their jump was smooth with no mistakes made. On his way day down, Tiger couldn’t contain the smile on his face. Earl Woods was waiting in the drop zone, watching his son touch his feet back to earth.

Once landed, Earl gave Tiger a big hug. Following the embrace, the former militant said to his son, “Now you understand my world”. Earl Woods traveled that whole trip with an oxygen tank on the side because of his health struggles. Nonetheless, this moment was satisfying enough for Earl to watch Tiger Woods get a taste of his life.

The close bond between Tiger and his father can be expressed through several stories in the past. Unfortunately, Earl Woods passed away 2 years after their trip to Fort Bragg. But, the 15-time Major winner will always reminiscence that hug.

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