Warrior Transition Unit Lake Mindin May 6

Huge Thanks to

FrankFishing
RacinRob
Bigfoot
Raydon
Iroelikethat
Sahara 

You guys and a Dog, just gave 24 wounded warriors a Great Time!!!   

Amazing job, with little time and resources, we got most if not all, or who wanted to go, out on kayaks or on the shore fishing...

 Wish I had more pics but I was kinda busy and hope you guys got more...

as it was, looks like someone took pics with mine...   

 Can't wait to hear some of the stories,

I know there were some good ones at the base camp.... 

 Really a Honor to spend time with these men and women,

and I can truly say, I would not want to be on the business end of what they do...

  I think were in good hands....

 Thanks Again to all who helped and another Special Thanks to our Troops!!!   

The guys I fished with, Josh and Oscar had a blast. Oscar had never been fishing or kayaking. He boated his first fish yesterday. need to leave now, but here are a couple pics.

It was a very humbling day.  All the vets were assigned to the Wounded Warrior Transition Unit.  Meaning they were wounded in  Iraq, Afganistan, or another county in the Middle East.  They were waiting final
assignment which could be physical therapy, more operations, redeployment , or discharge.  I met and talked with several vets, but I will share two stories with you.

In the first picture the vet is on the left.  When I talked to him he said he had never been in a kayack before and was a non-swimmer.  He added that he was afraid of water.  After Frank did his simulation of getting aboard a swamped kayak,  he said to me, we'll if he can do that,  I should be able to do that also.  (just kidding Frank)  When I was in the Marine Corps, I drowned-proofed Marines, and knew what I was facing.  I spend some time with him showing him how to balance in the kayack  to avoid rolling, and told him that the lake was only three to four feet deep.  I got him in and he started peddling in the swim only area.

While he was peddling around  I asked a female African American if she wanted to try.  She told me no, that she was a non-swimmer.  Within 15 minutes she was in the kayak, peddling around also. 

Soon after they said they felt comfortable and wanted to head out into the lake.  It was a great sight to see them both peddling.     When they came back in about 3o minutes later, they were all smiles.

A vet from San Luis Obispo  was riding in a humvee  and submarined another humvee it was following.  As as result of the crash, he had two crack vertebra and the subsequent operation  place two rods in his back.  He was apprehensive about getting in the kayak, but wanted to try.   Don and I adjusted the seat and the peddles and after a few spins he felt confident enough to go out.  I watched him go out into the middle and then he stopped.  After about ten minutes I went out to check on him.  He said he was fine, and was just reflecting.  He also said this was the most he had used his legs since his operation.

I don't want to sound pollyanish, but I think we did some good.   This a  wonderful way to engage those soldiers that are sacrificing alot for us.
 

Excellent job guys...you make us all proud.

Thank you Don and everybody else for doing this for out vets.

I really appreciate it.
 
Sincerely,

Jim

Danglin, you are the man!! That is so awesome!!!

Do you have a schedule of future events? I would love to donate my 2 yaks for the day.

Anthony.

Danglin, you are the man!! That is so awesome!!!

Thanks,

       But it's All the Good Folks of NCKA that make this happen....

  Strong Work Ya All!!!     

 There will be more events soon....

Sry i missed out on this i would have liked to have gone and i think i was free on Friday. My fault for not looking on this sit more.

Thanks to all of you. I couldn't make it for this one but would love to be part of the next one. Hopfully we can get a more advanced notice so all can chime in. I think it's  just wonderful what you have done for these proud service people.

John

Looks like a good time on the water with a great cause.

Way to go, you guys.  Don - these events are great.  Way to give back to the community and honor our service people.  We're lucky to have people who sacrifice so much for all of us, and that includes Don and his crew.  Bravo.   

Great works guys!  Sorry I can't make it due to work schedule.  Hat off to everyone for a job well done.