FORT RUCKER, Ala. (November 3, 2011) -- The Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation wrapped up its Wounded Warrior Hunt Oct. 29 at Lake Tholocco to rave reviews from the eight heroes Fort Rucker hosted during the event.
The event brings in wounded warriors from around the area and takes them on guided hunts for an entire week, with accommodations provided at the cabins at Lake Tholocco, said Sgt. 1st Class Gary Everett, who ran the past three events and assisted outdoor recreation this year.
"We basically just let them cut loose for a week," Everett said. "We don't put restrictions on them. We bring in caregivers for them from the different services, take them out hunting -- whatever they want to do, we make sure they do it."
And no experience required, Everett added.
"We train them up," he said. "We actually take them out and show them how to use the weapons. If they haven't shot a bow, we teach them how. We let them use our bows, our guns, whatever it takes -- get them whatever they need for what is in season here according to the game wardens."
While the hunters didn't bag any turkeys this year, the hunt was anything but unsuccessful, said Everett, adding that hunters did get hogs, coyotes and even deer.
Although he didn't bag any prey, one hunter agreed that the event was a success.
"Mainly I sat and watched and didn't see anything because it all went around us," said Marine Lance Cpl. Stephen Ayhens, a wounded warrior on the hunt who is from Ozark. "Like Thursday night, we were out hunting coyotes and one went to the right and one went to the left. I didn't see them -- couldn't get a shot. It was fun, though -- very fun. They should do it all the time. I've been here all my life and I never knew they did anything like this."
Ayhens added that events such as this help wounded warriors a lot.
"It gives me stuff to do -- gets me out of the hospital," he said. "I'd been in the hospital for just over four months and I was about to blow a fuse. I don't like it there. Events like this are great for us -- some guys I know have been in the hospital for three years getting treatment. Programs like this get us out and doing things."
The Marine said he plans to be back later this month to go duck hunting, adding that his dream hunting trophy is a big moose.
But there's one little problem with that. "I'm not going that far north -- I hate the cold," he said.
Master Sgt. Alan Goetzinger, a wounded warrior from Fort Benning, Ga., agreed the event was a success as far as the hunters were concerned.
"It's been awesome -- peaceful," he said. "We haven't had a lot of luck hunting deer, but I'll tell you what, the best day working is not as good as the worst day hunting, so we've all been having a very good time.
"They put us up in first class facilities -- the cabins here are awesome," he added. "The meals, the fellowship, we've been downtown to the civic center, to some local restaurants, met new people -- a first class experience, totally relaxing and there is no stress. We basically got to hang out together, and talk about stuff, and go out and hunt."
Everett got much the same feedback from the other six hunters.
"They've cried, and I don't know how many times they've shaken my hand and hugged me -- they can't thank you enough. It's incredible. It gets to you on the inside. You go home at night and it makes you realize it's a good thing we're doing here -- a really good thing. And it's not just what we're doing, it's what everyone involved is doing -- a big effort from people who cook at night to people who cook during day. All these people are doing this as a donation -- no one is paid here."
Happy hunters certainly was the goal of the weeklong hunt, but the event was also deemed a success as a fundraiser for making Fort Rucker one of the prime locations for wounded warriors to hunt, Everett said, adding that this is the first of the previous four events over the past three years where the money that is donated goes directly to improving facilities locally.
The amount raised this year was unavailable at press time, but last year's event raised about $165,000, according to Everett.
"What we're doing is using this money specifically to enhance our wounded warrior facilities here -- from handicap blinds to handicap-accessible units in the field to fishing units to making ramps to make things handicap accessible," he said. "We have one cabin and a pier that are handicap accessible already, and a blind that is handicap accessible, so improvements are already being made.
"That's the kind of things we can do with this money -- empower wounded warriors to come out and not need the assistance of anyone. They can get in the unit and hunt on their own. That's why we do this -- that is what it is all about."
Other improvements include specific areas for wounded warriors to hunt, complete with paved areas where game can't see the hunters but that they can reach with their vehicles and make their way to the blinds, Everett added.
Fort Rucker's previous track record in raising money for the cause has been great, and Everett credits the Fort Rucker community, the people of the Wiregrass and local businesses for that success.
"I think it's the Wiregrass -- that's a big part of it. And I think it's because such a diverse group of people come to Fort Rucker. There is a good part of the community here that is military connected somehow, whether a government employee, a former servicemember or a retiree. And a lot of people in this area are Gold Star moms and dads -- there have been a lot of people lost from this area since 2001. It's a good area with good people and they do their part. It's a great community."
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