Twenty recovering, wounded Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Ft. Campbell, KY, rolled into Florence, AL Friday evening, November 1. Their arrival was marked by the roar from the motorcycle engines of the Alabama Patriot Guard Riders and the flashing blue lights of the Florence Police Department. The Patriot Guard Riders, some veterans themselves, had escorted the Soldiers all the way from the Alabama-Tennessee state line into town with municipalities along the way providing additional police escort. Witnesses to the convoy had no doubt someone of import had arrived.
The Solders had made the three hour plus trip in response to an invitation from Southern Fishing News to participate in the second Operation HOOAH. While “HOOAH” is a word heard around many military bases and means a myriad of things, including I understand or I agree, the “HOOAH” used in this event is an acronym for “Healing Outside Of an Army Hospital”.
Ronnie McDonald, Publisher and Editor of southernfishingnews.com, explained the purpose for the event was to give the Soldiers an opportunity to use fishing as a tool for some physical and mental healing. McDonald said, “getting these wounded Soldiers out of the hospital environment and on the water fishing brings them back into the community and the reality of real life.”
Twenty area volunteer bass fishermen made their time, knowledge, boats and fishing gear available to their assigned Soldier. Each “boat guide” was assigned a different Soldier to fish with each day of the two day event. That is with the exception of the one female warrior in the contingent who fished with a female guide both days.
The fishing activity began at 8 a.m. Saturday morning on Pickwick Lake from McFarland Park. The temperatures were a little on the chilly side in the morning but not too uncomfortable and warmed into the 60s as the day passed. A great day for fishing had the wind dropped. Still, by the 3 p.m. check-in time many of the boats had found some fish, of some description. Regardless of whether they caught a fish or not, the Soldiers had a great time with their guides.
Wounded Soldiers and Boat Guides of the 2013 SFN Operation HOOAH
The Sunday venue for the outing was Wilson Lake. The 101st Airborne Troopers only had a short, five minute drive to the Fleet Harbor ramp since their lodging for the weekend was being provided by Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa on the north side of Wilson Dam. Sunday carried an earlier 7 a.m. launch since boat return was noon. The temperature enroute across Wilson Dam was 39 degrees F. After pairings with their new guides everyone scrambled to get in the water and on their way. The wind was a stiff breeze out of the east.
Several boats made a run straight for the east end of the lake to fish the rocks and current below Wheeler Dam. Others shot out to various creeks in search of schools of minnows. By noon several boats had registered catches of largemouth, smallmouth, catfish and drum. Again, the hunt was what was important to the Soldiers. Catching a fish was a bonus for most.
Volunteer crews from as far away as Decatur backed trailers down the ramp for the boat guides as had been done in the morning launch. Awaiting all the fishermen was a grand lunch in the parking lot prepared again this year by Cathy Scott and her family. The Scott family volunteered to provide this lunch for the Soldiers and the guides each year. Desserts were also prepared and donated so all left the tables with a justifiable feeling that they had eaten too much.
As is customary, Certificates of Participation were awarded to the Soldiers and Certificates of Appreciation
presented to the volunteer boat guides by McDonald. Certificates of Appreciation were also presented to Southern Fishing News for distribution to sponsors of Operation HOOAH by the 101st Airborne Transition Program at Ft. Campbell. Without the cash and product sponsors there would be no Operation HOOAH.
SSG Katina Dugger has a nice smallmouth bass caught fishing with guide Belinda Towry.
Their support cannot be minimized. Supporters of this event are encouraged to support these sponsors as appropriate since they are individuals, organizations, municipalities, county government, businesses, and manufacturers. They include: Steve & Dorla Evans, Gowen Consulting, TTI-Blakemore, R&M Heating and Cooling, Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, Steve & Loretta Vass, Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, Slider Lures, Neese Realty, Doc Irv’s Custom Baits, Scott Family, Harold’s Marine Service, Richard Laxson, Flanagan Refrigeration, University of North Alabama ROTC, Edwards Oil Co. Shell, Shoals Outdoor Sports, Tracker Boats-Florence, AL, Bass Pro Shops, Texas Roadhouse, Lew’s, Gray’s Tackle, Long-Lewis Foundation, City of Florence, AL, Lauderdale County AL Commission, Perkins Outdoors, Bass Assassin, Burch’s Tackle, Bentley Chevrolet-Cadillac, Alabama Patriot Guard Riders, DHCA Fishing Eagles, Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation, Grand Rental Station, Git Bit Baits, Shoals Youth Bassmasters, Bassmasters of North Alabama, Shoals
SPC Thomas Collins boated several nice bass in the Operation HOOAH event.
Fishers of Men.
McDonald had special thanks as planning for the 2014 event begins. The organizer pointed out important, detailed contributions from Richard Laxson, Ernie Darracott, Randy Corsbie and Brady Flanagan for help with the event.
The smiles on the faces of the wounded Soldiers, even if they were tired smiles, indicated the 2013 Operation HOOAH had attained the goal of enriching the lives of these heroes even if just for a couple of days. If the 2013 event is any indication, many of these Soldiers made lifelong friends with those they shared the boat with. Some will come back on their own to fish with their new friend. Others will just keep in touch via email and/or phone for years to come.
Photos from the event may be viewed and downloaded by clicking here.
