Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour caddies have, traditionally, been tagged with real silly names. “Fluff”. “Bones”. “Tip”. While great at their job, they’re often recognized as sideshows, dudes with sharp golf acumen but with a generous heaping of schtick ladled on top.

So when retired United States Marine Chris Nowak, who lost his lower right leg fighting for our country in the Middle East, grabbed the TaylorMade bag of pro Jim Herman at New Jersey’s Baltusrol Golf Club last week, it gave every onlooker pause.

Respect.

Didn’t hurt that Nowak is also an ambassador for PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) — a program that assists vets in transitioning back into civilian life — and that Herman’s regular caddie, Matt Achatz, was en route to the course.

“It was a great thrill to be inside the ropes and witness the talent of Jim Herman and other players up close as they prepare for the PGA Championship,” Nowak told Golf Digest. “I was also very humbled by the cheers and acknowledgement I received from the galleries all around the course. What a great feeling.”

In case you’re not a golf fan or only follow the sport casually, it was hot in Springfield, New Jersey over the weekend. Like REALLY hot. And humid. Combine that with the fact that Herman (whose grandfather was a decorated tank commander in the Second World War) plays with the one of the heaviest bags on tour, and you have one elephantine task.

So it’s no surprise that Nowak didn’t even wince while lugging around all those clubs in muggy weather. In fact, he ate it up.

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Well done, Mr. Nowak. Semper Fi.