Sgt. Robert Leonard, Rossville, Texas; Staff Sgt. Ben Goodson, Reedy, West Virginia; guide Brent Work; Staff Sgt. Heath Calhoun of Roanoke, Va.; and 1st Lt. Ed Salau, Newport, North Carolina.
Posted on 12/30/2006 4:10:26 PM PST by girlangler
Reelfoot guides proud to take wounded vets Evan Jones, Banner Editor
Four Iraqi war veterans hunted and fished Reelfoot Lake last week as part of the Wounded Warrior Project.
They were taken duck hunting by Reelfoot Lake State Park ranger and guide Warren Douglas and crappie fishing by guide Brent Work the same afternoon.
They hunted with Douglas near Grooms Pocket and fished out of Cypress Point. Cypress Point owner Tony White also provided a boat and employee, Willie Avery, for a film crew that accompanied them.
Both men guided the veterans free of charge.
“I was proud to guide them,” said Work. “You see the sacrifices they have made and all they have been through.It just made me feel good to take them out there.”
It was cold and windy on Reelfoot on December 19 but Work and his four fishermen caught 15 crappie despite the weather.
“We got four men, four legs and 15 crappie,” joked one of them as they departed Work’s custom-made fishing boat at Cypress Point just after dusk.
“It was tough out there,” said Work. “I didn’t know if we would do any good at all but we caught 15 and they seemed pleased and that is all that counted.”
“I was honored to take them,” said Douglas. “There was no way I would charge them. We killed six ducks and they seemed to really enjoy it. They shot a lot of shells.
“I felt like I was with world heroes. They told me their stories, and they were bad. They started out with 45 persons in the unit they were in and it was reduced to 19 before their mission was over.
“They got around pretty well. The one guy who had lost both legs could get around better with his hands than some people can with their legs, although he could walk with his prosthetic legs.
“I told them I would take them anytime.”
The Wounded Warrior Project is a national organization whose mission is to serve the new generation of wounded heroes and has reached thousands of wounded servicemen and women, providing comfort items, counseling and rehabilitation to aid in the transition from a hospital bed to an independent productive life.
The program is made possible through the support of private donors and corporate sponsors.
The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) begins at the bedside of the most severely injured as they undergo treatment and rehabilitation in Department of Defense Hospitals and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.
Many of the injuries are traumatic amputations, gunshot wounds, burns and blast injuries that will retire them from military service.
Among the programs and services WWP provides are: —Wounded Warrior Backpacks. —Benefits Counseling. —Advocacy. —Family Assistance. —Adaptive Sports.
The WWP Outdoors program, which brought the four vets to Reelfoot Lake, offers adaptive sporting events like hunting, fishing, archery, boating, target shooting and camping in year-round places across America.
“We loved it at Reelfoot,” said Lt. Ed Salau of Newport, North Carolina. “The two things we really loved about it was the warm welcome we received and two, we challenged ourselves with a new set of physical circumstances.
“We were blessed to be with such hunting and fishing experts.”
Salau said wounded vets typically come together in different size groups for different events. “We have had as many as 25 wounded veterans together,” he added.
Heath Calhoun, a double leg amputee among the group, wore shorts with Work on the cold fishing trip on the lake. “I asked him about it and he turned and laughed, ‘Well, my legs sure aren’t going to get cold,’” Work recalled with a grin.
“I hope they come back. I’ll take them anytime.”
Ping
Reelfoot Lake in TN. I remember going there twice a year when I was young to fish with my Dad. My Dad, brother and I would go on a man's trip and great fun was had. Just remembering the old days.
I am sure these veterans had a great time there themselves. These guides are good people to work with our veterans like this and I salute them as well as the veterans.
That's great that Douglas, Work and the others did this for these wounded heroes, bless them all.
Nothing like a little trip to the North Woods to do a Little hunting a Fishing to perk up the spirit.
I was there and want to tell my freeper friends that the people at Reelfoot Lake are the finest I've ever met.
The last night they were there, at a restaurant in Tiptonville, about every table was occupied.
During the meal someone from every single table, and in some cases whole families, including a lady who has a grandson in Iraq, came over to the table and thanked these wounded vets for their service to this country. Someone also picked up the tab for a table of eight.
PLEASE plan a duck hunting or crappie fishing trip to Reelfoot for a vacation if you are able, and patronize the businesses there. This is a small town and its residents depend on tourism.
See post #6.
I forgot to mention that Reelfoot Lake is one of the top three duck hunting destinations in the country, and crappie fishing there is legendary. It is the last lake in the country where commercial fishing for crappie was allowed, because it produces so many.
Also great bass and bluegill fishing. It is a quaint and historical little town, and the lake is the only natural lake in Tennessee, created by the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812.
Thank you for relating that account to all of us, girlangler. It's good to read they were treated so well by all those fine people.
Sgt. Robert Leonard, Rossville, Texas; Staff Sgt. Ben Goodson, Reedy, West Virginia; guide Brent Work; Staff Sgt. Heath Calhoun of Roanoke, Va.; and 1st Lt. Ed Salau, Newport, North Carolina.
Same here - we filled many an ice-chest with bream and crappie in those days! :)
Thanks for posting the photo.
I was going to but haven't figured out how to post photos on FR yet.
And I can't believe I neglected to ping my favorite freeper, who knows a lot about good country people.
I must be tired tonight, I forgot to ping you too, another of my favorite freepers. I need to create a ping list I can copy and paste.
Thak you to the guides. This year, instead of giving meanless gifts to my co-workers, I made a donation to the Wounded Warriors in their names instead. I'm glad to see their good work for our brave men. God bless them.
May God bless and keep every one.
Nice work, GirlAngler....
(nonono, fish fear ME)
Well, they don't fear me as much lately, as I do more talking (;) and writing about them than actually pursuing them.
However, I will watch your career, and when I see a chance to give you a tip on sponsors, I'll be in touch.
I was actually thinking about you in recent days, but have been so busy. I'm on my way to bed, but I do have some info for you.
Freepmail me and I'll share it with you.
we live about 25 minutes from reelfoot lake and it is a great place to visit, to eat the best catfish in the world, and in the winter many eagles make their home there. the lake was formed by an earthquake...do check out the area and a website for the history..
I grew up in New Madrid county - and spent many memorable hours at Reelfoot. Is Boyette's still in business? I can almost taste the catfish and white beans now.
Happy New Year and great job
My God. It's old home week. I grew up in Hickman, Kentucky, a stones throw from Reelfoot. When I hear of the fishing, hunting and Boyettes, all in the space of a couple of minutes it really brings back some great boyhood memories. My memories are pretty old ones too.
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