Wounded Warrior Project Veteran Wins Bobcat Loader – Plans to Give Back

Published on December 16, 2020

Wounded Warrior Project® and Doosan Bobcat created a partnership where they pledged to reward a deserving veteran with a Bobcat compact track loader. Andrew was randomly selected. 

In partnership with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), Doosan Bobcat has announced U.S. Army veteran Andrew Long as the winner of a new Bobcat R-Series T76 compact track loader. Read Andrew’s story below or watch the video to learn how he plans to use the machine to give back to his community.

When Andrew Long heard he was in the running to win a Bobcat T76 compact track loader, he made sure to keep himself humble and not get his hopes up.  

“I wasn’t expecting to win it,” Andrew says. “I kept telling myself, ‘You haven’t won anything your entire life!’” 

So when Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America, told him the good news, it was quite the surprise. 

“I couldn’t believe it. It was between excitement and shock,” Andrew says. “I was like ‘There’s no way this is real.’ But, it’s real.” 

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and Doosan Bobcat created a partnership during CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020. They pledged to reward a deserving veteran with a brand-new T76 Bobcat compact track loader. Several veterans were nominated by WWP field staff, and Andrew was randomly selected. 

Andrew and Doosan Bobcat North America President Mike Ballweber. Ballweber traveled to Piedmont Bobcat to present Andrew with the loader and a photo of the Bobcat employees who built it. 

The invisible wounds of war 

Born and raised in Branchburg, New Jersey, Andrew is an avid history buff and outdoorsman. These combined interests prompted his decision to join the U.S. Army after high school, serving from 2010 to 2014 with a deployment to Afghanistan. 

“I went to my unit down in North Polk, and I think it was a month, maybe, that I was there before I was already on my cop in Afghanistan,” Andrew says. “Where we were it was really poor. It was weird, the mountains were over here and then there’s an area that looks like the desert and then there’s lush, green farmland. Meanwhile, you’re getting shot at from every direction. It’s definitely an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything – the good and the bad.” 

After returning home, Andrew faced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) because of his service. To manage these invisible wounds, he decided to go to college to pursue his passion for music. After graduating, his career in music production intensified some of the health issues he sustained while serving, so he chose to trade in his desk job for farm work and found ways to connect with other veterans. 

“I found out about the Wounded Warrior Project through other veterans. Some of them had similar issues, and they had a really hard time, but some of them managed to turn things around,” Andrew says. “And if you meet even one other guy who did that, it’s inspirational. Having other veterans to talk to is so important.” 

Andrew and Caroline, his fiancée, at Piedmont Bobcat with their new T76 loader. 

A well-deserved delivery 

Andrew’s experience with WWP and the support he received from other veterans has inspired him to find a way to pay it forward. Earlier this summer, he and Caroline, his fiancée, purchased a nearly 23-acre farm located in Elon, North Carolina. He has plans to reclaim the farm and use it to give back. 

“I hope to support local veterans, either by hiring and teaching them or working with veteran-owned businesses,” Andrew says. “I want my farm to be a relaxing place for veterans to come where they are understood and respected. The T76 will be able to help bring my vision to life and transform my property into a place where they feel at home.” To celebrate Andrew, Bobcat teamed up with both WWP and Piedmont Bobcat, the local Bobcat dealer, to co-host a giveaway event followed by delivery of the T76 to Andrew’s farm. 

“It is a privilege to honor Andrew by giving him a new Bobcat T76 track loader,” said Mike Ballweber, President of Doosan Bobcat North America. “As a company, we have a tremendous amount of respect for those who have bravely put their lives on the line for this country. Doosan Bobcat is proud to have a sizable number of veterans among our team members and dealers across the country – and today’s giveaway is just one way we can celebrate those selfless heroes.” 

Doosan Bobcat partnered with Wounded Warrior Project® to reward a deserving veteran with a brand-new T76 Bobcat compact track loader. 

Putting the T76 to use on the farm 

Andrew and Caroline plan to use their land to grow vegetables, maintain an orchard and start a chicken egg operation. But before that can happen, there is a lot of farm rehab that must be done, including many construction projects – all of which Andrew can now use his Bobcat T76 to tackle in a fraction of the time he’d originally planned. 

“It’s a beautiful machine, and I have so many projects I want to get started on right away,” Andrew says. “There is a lot of history here, and I have a vision for this farm. Before this, I planned on fulfilling it in 10 years or so. Now that I have the Bobcat loader, my vision for this property will come together exponentially faster.” 

Doosan Bobcat technician carefully applying the WWP and Bobcat logo sticker onto the side of the compact tractor that now belongs to Andrew Long. 

A powerful partnership 

WWP and Doosan Bobcat joined forces starting in March 2020, when they debuted the partnership at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020 – North America’s largest construction trade show – to display its commitment to veterans in need. The Doosan Bobcat booth had a dedicated shop, with dual branded merchandise for sale as well as limited-edition scale models of a T76 camouflage-wrapped loader. After the show’s conclusion, the combined proceeds from the merchandise and scale model sales became an $81,000 donation to WWP. With this donation, WWP is able to continue supporting veterans and their families.    

Bobcat Company’s partnership with WWP is part of our commitment to serve as a community partner by building strong relationships and providing financial and in-kind support to organizations that make a positive impact in communities. Read more about our community giving and volunteerism. 

More Recent Stories

View All Stories
Industry’s Best Electric Equipment A Bobcat all-electric compact track loader and electric compact excavator parked on a dirt work area in front of wall that is illuminated in blue.
Industry’s Best Electric Equipment
Bobcat recognizes performance comes first with the all-electric loaders and electric excavators that can match or outperform diesel machines for a new tomorrow.
Inventing Bobcat RogueX: Behind The Scenes The all-electric Bobcat RogueX is a one-of-a-kind conceptual machine with autonomous operation functionality and both vertical-path and radial-path lift capabilities.
Inventing Bobcat RogueX: Behind The Scenes
Go behind the scenes with the Bobcat innovation team on creating the RogueX Compact Track Loader, an autonomous cabless no operator station controlled via remote operation.
Bobcat Machines Pay Big Dividends for Leblanc Rental LeBlanc Rentals fleet of Bobcat machines
Bobcat Machines Pay Big Dividends for Leblanc Rental
Learn how Bobcat machines helped Rino Johnson, owner of Leblanc Rentals, build the area’s leading construction equipment rental company in Campbellton, NB, CA.
Bobcat Equipment Brings Dirt-Digging Dreams into Reality Joe Fanning operating his Bobcat E32 compact excavator.
Bobcat Equipment Brings Dirt-Digging Dreams into Reality
As a kid, Joe Fanning always loved playing in the dirt. Learn how he brought his dream to life and building his construction business with Bobcat equipment.
Bill Hattan Finds Purpose with Bobcat Equipment Bill Hattan has experienced freedom with his Bobcat Equipment that has given his life a new purpose after an accident of losing both legs.
Bill Hattan Finds Purpose with Bobcat Equipment
When Bill Hattan lost both his legs in an accident, he had a decision to make. Now he experiences freedom in his Bobcat equipment and has a new sense of purpose.
Bobcat CT4045 & CT2040 Save Day at Crab Orchard Museum A Bobcat CT4045 compact tractor pulling a wagon full of patrons at the Historic Crab Orchard Museum.
Bobcat CT4045 & CT2040 Save Day at Crab Orchard Museum
Learn about how the Bobcat CT4045 & CT2040 Compact Tractors saved the Annual Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser at the Historic Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell, Virginia.
Whitfield’s LGS Family Business Grows with Compact Equipment The Whitfield’s LGS crew poses on the jobsite next to an E20 bobcat excavator.
Whitfield’s LGS Family Business Grows with Compact Equipment
Founder Randy Whitfield had his dream become a family operation, with his son and successor, growing the business with Bobcat compact equipment.
Wilson Fence Innovating Fencing Industry with Bobcat Equipment The Wilson Fence crew standing around bundled fence posts
Wilson Fence Innovating Fencing Industry with Bobcat Equipment
Wilson Fence has revolutionized a typically painstaking and laborious process, with an innovative approach to fencepost-setting because of Bobcat equipment.
Sixth Generation Farmer Remains Humble Chelsea Erdmann 6th Generation Farmer Holding Son At Jobsite
Sixth Generation Farmer Remains Humble
Located in New Rockford, North Dakota, the 128-year-old family farm relies on their Bobcat® equipment no matter what challenges arise. Find out how.
Small But Mighty Team Protects Oklahoma Communities The OCC uses a small fleet of Bobcat T770 compact track loaders to maintain its watershed dams.
Small But Mighty Team Protects Oklahoma Communities
The six-person watershed maintenance team with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) cut costs and works more efficiently using Bobcat Compact Track Loaders.

What’s Your Bobcat Story?

Taking on big, ambitious challenges is what being One Tough Animal® is all about. Tell us how Bobcat empowers or inspires you to accomplish more. Whether it’s at work, at play or in life, share your story with us.

Share Your Story