On Friday, the 17th of May, approximately 600 combat wounded heroes will arrive in POC for a weekend they will not soon forget. In 2018, we added some pre-911 heroes to the mix and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves as well as the post 9/11 heroes enjoyed being with them. On Saturday morning, the 18th, 2 buses from Ft. Sam Houston, SAAMC (formerly known as BAMC) will arrive and all will head down to Froggies to board which we hope are 350 or so boats for a great day on the water.

When we began to accept applications for this year, online, we received over 1,000 in about 6 weeks. The applicants must scan in and send their DD214, which is a record of their military service, and we look at everyone. We are about up to 1,300+ as this is being written.

Applicants must be combat wounded and Purple Heart recipients are given priority. Then, the first timers, second timers and so on. There are fewer buses coming from San Antonio because there are fewer wounded than previous years. That is a good thing.

If one is interested in riding your bike with the troops, there will be a procession from Houston on Friday as well as Ft. Hood-that is if you get this in time. The Houston procession will stop at Prasek’s around 11am and the Ft. Hood procession will stop at Bucees in Luling around 9:30am. All buses on Friday are scheduled to arrive at the Warrior’s Weekend Field of Honor on May 17th around 1:30-2pm.

So, come on down to the big tent or Froggie’s to cheer the heroes on around 7:30-8am Saturday morning. If you park at the big tent at the Community Center, we’ll give you a ride down to Froggies. All boats must be in by 3:30pm so come down and cheer for the heroes and their catch. We weigh and clean every fish in our categories. If you’d like to attend the BarBQue awards dinner on Saturday night in the big tent, there will be limited tickets available for $15 each @ the Warrior’s Weekend stores. So, come shake a hand, give a hug and thank a combat wounded hero for providing the life you have today. This remains the biggest event of it’s kind anywhere in the world, right here in Calhoun County–Port O’Connor, Texas. The heroes will tell you they don’t get this much love and respect for their service and sacrifice anywhere else. As we like to say, “No Place But Texas”.

Ron Kocian, President Warrior’s Weekend