Wounded Warriors take part in special hunt
Only two ducks were harvested by the hunters during their morning hunt last Friday in Union County, but that didn't seem to matter.
"If I don't get anything, we're still having a good time," said disabled veteran Adam Peacock. "I'm having a ball."
The hunters had better success in the afternoon, with an additional 52 more ducks and three geese harvested.
A noon meal was provided at the club the day of the hunt, with the meat cooked by Raymond Crane.
"It's the first time I've been here and it won't be the last," said LeRoy White of Savannah, Tenn., one of the participants who had bagged one of the ducks in the morning hunt. "There's nothing better than being out here. I love it, it's good rehabilitation."
Peacock and White, along with other injured and disabled soldiers from Fort Campbell, Kentucky's, Warrior in Transition Battalion, were hunting at the Grassy Lake Hunting Club near Ware Wednesday, Dec. 22. The club provided guides in each hunting pit for the disabled veterans as part of the Wounded Warrior experience.
"We can't do enough for these guys," said Collin Cain, the owner of Grassy Lake Hunting Club. "Their attitude is unbelievable. We can't comprehend what they've been through. It's such an honor to have them here."
Tom Goetz of Jonesboro and Gary Adams of Clarksville, Tenn., have organized the hunt for the last two years at the Grassy Lake Club.
"It's a major job, but it's worth it," Goetz said. "It's just super. We can't do enough for them."
Adams and Goetz organized the activities, which included a Christmas meal at the Vienna VFW, meal and lodging at the Trail of Tears Lodge near Jonesboro, contributions from Anna and Carbondale businesses and recognition of the veterans at a Southern Illinois University Carbondale men's basketball game against Northern Illinois which was played Wednesday, Dec. 22. Gift packages from SIUC, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and local buisnesses were presented to the veterans.
The men were introduced during halftime of the Saluki basketball game and escorted to the floor by SIUC cheerleaders. They were given a standing ovation by the crowd.
SIUC chancellor Rita Cheng and SIUC athletic director Mario Moccia each praised and thanked the wounded soldiers following the meal for their dedication. The director of IDNR was also in attendance.
"All of us at DNR are very proud to be able to assist these men," said IDNR director Marc Miller. "These men protect our right to hunt and fish. We owe them a depth of gratitude."
"We can't say thank you enough," said State Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, who was in attendance at the luncheon. "They have given so much." Bost noted that he was an avid waterfowl hunter, but hasn't had the time to enjoy the sport this year.
"I'm very proud of it," said Ronnie Gullion a sergeant first class, who is a founder of the Healing Outside a Hospital program. "Hopefully, this will be my legacy."
Gullion noted that doing activities like hosting duck hunts, providing meals and lodging as a show of appreciation motivates disabled soldiers to get better.
"This type of thing encourages us to get out of bed in the morning," he said. "It teaches us life skills and boosts self-esteem."
Gullion will be retiring from the military in March of next year.
"I'll be leaving to be working every day on this," Gullion said.
After the luncheon, a flag-raising ceremony was held around the club's flagpole. Collin Cain and his father, Gerald, were presented by the veterans with a military flag that flew in Iraq.