Fishing With Heroes

[John Berry]

I spent the week guiding wounded warriors from Project Healing Waters. I have been involved with several of the fly fishing programs such as Hooked on a Cure and Casting for Recovery. This by far touched me like the others never did. As a Viet Nam veteran, I know a thing or two about being a soldier from an un popular war trying to return to society.

They guys were a great bunch and were a pretty tough lot. I saw no whiners, just a bunch of guys that wanted to over come some injuries and go fishing. We spent a couple of days fishing the White but the high point was taking these guys to Dry Run Creek. That is what this place was all about. The smiles on their faces said it all. We had news papers, local television stations and ESPN covering it.

Kudos to my fellow guides Davy Wotton, Denis Dunderdale, and Kevin Brantonies. Rim Shoals Trout Dock was a major player as well as Anglers Coffee Cafe, the VFW, Knights of Colombus and the Cotter Chamber of Commerce.

If you are not involved, give it a try. I got more out of it than the wounded warriors did.

[laker67]

John,

Bravo to everyone involved, and a big "thank you" to our men and women of our armed forces.

[Snow Fly]

John:

I would like to Thank You and all the others who took the time to teach this great sport and help these vets deal with and over come any issues I'm sure they have from serving their country.

I also served my country in Viet-Nam and I say to you my friend........WELCOME HOME!

[John Berry]

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

[Bob A]

And just one more Thank You from another Nam Vet army retiree. It had to be a wonderful experience for our wounded warriors.

Bob A, Springfield

[John Berry]

Bob,

It was an emotional roller coaster. At one point a song writer from Nashville, Sam Tate, wrote and sang a song about seeing a wounded warrior in his favorite fishing hole. At first, he was disappointed but when he realized the healing going on it inspired him. When he sang the song for the guys there was not a dry eye in the place including mine.

[Thom]

John:

Great. Regardless of where anyone stands on politics these guys deserve all of the support we can give them. It is great to hear of efforts such as these for any of our brave soldiers that make our freedom ring and defend our American freedom. It is still the greatest country in the world and all of our veterans have made that possible.

Thom

[John Berry]

Citizen soldiers that have made sacrifices like these guys deserve to be treated like the heroes they are.