Decade of Wounded Warrior Hunts at Depot Provide Tangible Benefits and Lasting Memories
– Special to WEKY AM 1340 –
Throughout the past 75 years of our nation’s history, Blue Grass Army Depot has never failed to support our nation’s warfighters by ensuring they receive the right munitions at the right place and right time to help them win our military battles. During the past decade, the Depot has been supplying an additional type of support; support geared toward helping our warfighters win more personal battles; support for the Wounded Warriors.
Each year since 2007, the Depot has welcomed our nation’s Wounded Warriors to participate in Wounded-Warrior-only deer, waterfowl and turkey hunts as part of the its broader annual hunting pro-gram. These Soldiers are members of Wounded Warrior Transition Units designed to help heal the Sol-diers and assist in their transition back to either the Army or to Civilian life.
“The Depot hunting program does a great job in helping control our wildlife populations as well as foster community relations,” notes Depot Commander Col. Norbert Fochs, “but, the Wounded Warrior hunts are something more. There are a large number of active, retired and disabled veterans who work on the Depot. The Wounded Warrior Hunts allow both these veterans and all Depot employees to give back to the Wounded Warriors who have sacrificed so much for the Freedoms we enjoy. Our Wounded Warrior hunts transform the words ‘thank-you-for-your-service’ into real action and results.”
Wounded Warrior hunts have evolved into multiple annual events that leave everyone from partici-pants and guides to volunteers and Depot personnel feeling better for the experience. Since the Depot began hosting Wounded Warrior events, well over 100 Wounded Warriors have participated.
According to Depot Land Manager Nathan White, “Hosting the Wounded Warrior hunts requires in-volvement from many different parties, including personnel from Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Many volunteers also donate their time to show their appreciation for the sacrifices these Soldiers have made. It really is extraordinary to see the effort made by everyone involved to make these hunts happen. We always have a great time.”
-The Wounded Warriors who arrive at BGAD typically come from Kentucky’s two large Army installa-tions, Ft. Campbell and Ft. Knox. The most recent to participate in the April turkey hunt included three Soldiers from the 101st Airborne out of Ft. Campbell: Spc. Anthony Halpin, Spc. Jonathan Pearson and Staff Sgt. Matthew Schwertfeger. Besides a successful turkey hunt, the Soldiers enjoyed a weekend that included sharpening their shooting skills and land scouting, as well as a catered dinner. Wounded Warri-or fall deer and winter waterfowl hunts also are part of the Depot’s annual schedule.
The Army Wounded Warrior Program was established in 2004 following the start of the Iraq War to address the special needs of Soldiers — now better protected with enhanced body armor and vehicles — coming home alive, but with uncertain futures. Hunting, as therapy, soon became a regular and success-ful part of the Wounded Warrior transition process.
For more about the Depot’s annual hunting program go to http://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Blue-Grass-Army-Depot-Hunt-Fact-Sheet.aspx.
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