Even though hunting season ended two months ago, the HUNTS FOR HEROES team has been organizing and planning for events this spring and summer. Last year, HFH hosted wounded soldiers and Marines on 127 hunts. We are well on our way of blowing past that figure before hunting season even starts in September.
Last week, Larry Livanec (a guy on the HFH team and in the Fire Dept with me) and I had the privilege of hosting seven Army soldiers and Marines on a fishing trip, javelina and turkey hunt 300-miles apart at the same time. Larry hosted four wounded on the turkey hunt in Dryden, TX. Dryeen it about 100-miles up river from Del Rio. I had three hunting javelina and fishing on the Mexican border near Laredo. To say our heroes had the time of their lives would be an understatement. Both ranch owners pulled out all the stops for these two events. I think I can speak for Larry in saying we got a glimpse at how "the other half" lives....No kidding, Mr. Bass and Mr. Forrest saw to it that our heroes were well taken care of. I was overwhelmed at the effort that went into these events for these American heroes.
The guys I took caught bass up to six-pounds until they couldn’t reel anymore. We caught 3-lb. crappy and catfish up to 25-lbs on rod and reel. One of my Marines caught a bass that weighed 11-lb. 9-oz (oh yes, I have the pictures to prove it). We also shot three javelina, one pig and a coyote while driving back and forth to the lake. I can’t remember all the adult beverages that were killed after the hunts but I can assure you, all involved went to bed singing marching songs.
Larry tells me the turkey hunting was a little more difficult. They were a little call shy to say the least. Although our heroes didn’t go back to BAMC with gobbler beards on to show off, they returned to BAMC with stories and memories that will last them a lifetime.
Next week, we are running a fishing trip in Rockport for five Navy Seals from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Maryland. They will be flying in on the 1st. On the 4th of May we are off to Kerrville for a Black Buck and Axis Deer hunt on the Faulkner Ranch. I will post pictures of the hunts as I have time.
Our big fishing event has been set in July at Serendipity in Palacios for 20 wounded from BAMC. If you are not part of the HFH team I encourage you to join us. It will be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done.........Billy WE SUPPORT THE TROOPS........MORE THAN A SLOGAN FOR HUNTS FOR HEROES.
This is a picture of Joey Martinez. Joey lost his of his eyes in a fire fight Christmas day 2006.....The Marine can still fish!
The next picture is Jeff Skhuro.....IED...Jeff will walk again.
The next picture is of Joey in our back yard.
We had 150-pounds of crawfish for 10 people. I am still shiting like a coonass.