Combat Marine Outdoors Fishing Trip in Seadrift
While POC celebrated Warriors Weekend 2016, a celebration of another kind was happening at the Welder Cliburn Ranch just southwest of Seadrift. About 20 combat wounded veterans from Army, Navy and the Marines were fishing, fellowshipping and recovering together.
Combat Marine Outdoors (CMO) serves veterans who would find the larger event difficult or even impossible. These vets are still in the process of recovery, just making the transition from hospital or rehab and need extra help and smaller venues. The 20 vets who participated this year flew in on Thursday, received a welcome procession and made a visit to the Seadrift School to speak with small groups of students about their experiences. They fished out of Seadrift with designated guides who donated their time and expertise and spent preparation time to be prepared for their unique outing on both Friday and Saturday.
Combat Veterans stayed at the beautiful quarters of the Cliburn Ranch and were treated to great food, campfire therapy, fishing outings and a gala banquet on Saturday evening complete with gourmet food, a ceremony honoring a highly decorated senior veteran and live music provided by a western band.
It is a very intimate setting and they are protected from crowds, media and pressure. This is a time for them to feel secure and connected away from hospital settings, and to enjoy the outdoors. Camaraderie, friendship and fellowship associated with the retreat have healing properties well beyond the event or the hospital settings and many have experienced a turning point in their recovery afterwards.
The fishing and seasonal hunting trips offered to combat wounded veterans by CMO are once in a lifetime chances at some world-class locations and destinations, and the companionship provides these heroes with a demonstration of just a portion of Americans’ support and appreciation for their sacrifice and service. Many leave with a new hope and sense of belonging as they face reintegration into family, community and society.
Combat Marines Outdoors was founded in 2005 after the founding veterans and their friend Rusty Hicks visited Marines and sailors at Brooke Army Medical Center for several months. Retired Marine Colonel Orr, Rusty Hicks, who is an honorary marine as declared by Colonel Dunford in 2015, and retired Marine MGySgt A. Garcia were the big dreamers who came up with the idea of helping traumatically wounded vets by getting them outdoors together, and in just months made it happen. These ‘founding fathers’ of the project remain vitally involved and interact with each vet served by the program. But, wow, has the dream grown.
They have served veterans from every branch, almost 2,000 traumatically wounded combat veterans to date at around 50 different locations. Their website, Combatmarineoutdoors.org, tells of their impressive fundraising, their specially scheduled television broadcasts of expressly selected outings on outdoor channels and networks including TNT, their numerous recognitions and awards and shares heartfelt testimonials from the veterans they have gotten ‘back outdoors.’
Most impressive by far is their commitment to helping the veterans they serve achieve a sense of accomplishment, a hope for healing and experience the adventure of a lifetime hunting or fishing their way to a tomorrow many only hoped and dreamed about before their contact with Combat Marines Outdoors.
