Matthew Hannon

USMC Sergeant Matthew Hannon grew up in Philadelphia, PA surrounded by loving parents and grandparents who provided a very blessed life. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 17 and served in the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Matt was part of Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf and served multiple combat deployments to Iraq in the years following September 11, 2001. He loved the brotherhood of the Corps. Toxic exposures while in service lead to cancer inside Matt’s head, loss of a limb due to complications from a brain tumor, PTSD, chronic regional pain syndrome, and hearing loss.

Today, Matt enjoys bible study, church, and many hobbies. He takes every possible opportunity to connect with his Marine Reconnaissance Brothers, fellow veterans, and Gold Star families. He has discovered a renewed sense of freedom on the golf course, thanks to the support of Tunnel to Towers and the VertaCat mechanical cart system which allows him to stand upright with almost no physical strain, freeing him from the constant need to drain his prosthetics and preventing damage to his residual limb. Even on days when a prosthetic isn’t an option, the VertaCat keeps him balanced—no small gift after losing his cochleae and inner ear during brain surgery. With this system, Matt can play full rounds again, stay active, and reconnect with a sport that had shaped him since childhood.

The game of golf carries deep family roots in Matt’s family. His grandfather had taught his father, and his father passed the tradition to him, instilling the etiquette and values that made golf a bond across generations. Being back on the course has allowed Matt to honor that legacy by using his own story to uplift others.

For Matt, golf has become more than recreation; it is a source of camaraderie, purpose, and healing. Being part of the adaptive golf community built by Tunnel to Towers strengthens him physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Matt cherishes the chance to encourage others. Learning to adjust his grip, finding his swing again, and laughing with friends reminds him that golf is as much about fellowship as it is about technique. 

To Matt, golf means sharing stories, carrying one another’s burdens, and staying active in the fresh air—one of the rare sports where all of that can happen at once. Through the gift of adaptive equipment and a supportive community, USMC Sergeant Matthew Hannon shows others that injuries shape a person, but they never have to define them. He is eternally grateful that God never left him and has given him continued purpose.