If you have been following our story for a while you probably know that our owner Pete von Jess, along with his fellow A Team Army buddies Ron Baldwin and Doug Frank, started a foundation to help fellow Green Berets reconnect through nature and the outdoors on regenerative trips to the Nushagak and elsewhere. These Veterans share a similar love for fishing, hunting, and the outdoors, as well as the desire to provide Warriors and their families restorative opportunities among like-minded volunteers. Warrior Sportsmen Inc. was born as a way for people to give back to the men of the US Army Special Forces, and their families, who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice every day to protect the freedom of our country.
Warrior Week on the Nushagak has been a major annual event sponsored through the lodge and Warrior Sportsmen Inc. For folks who have been injured in the field or suffered stress from long term overseas deployment, this retreat is often badly needed and always highly deserved. This past spring they merged their foundation with the widely known Green Beret Foundation under their umbrella as the Warrior Sportsmen Program to bring more opportunity to these Warriors.
This summer marked the first Warrior Week at Nushagak River Adventures Lodge in conjunction with the Green Beret Foundation and what better time to recap Veterans helping Veterans than this Veteran’s Day. To kick off the inaugural event, Travis Wilson, Director of Mission and Program Delivery for the Green Beret Foundation, lead the trip. To make it even more special, he brought his two sons.
The week was filled with camaraderie, friendship, respect, honor, appreciation and limits of fish. Coho and chum salmon were caught in plenty. As usual it was a benefit to all who could be there for the bonding and celebration of our nation’s finest. It’s our week to really show our appreciation for these extremely noble people. Our own lodge staff is nearly comprised of 45% Veterans. We wish them and all of you a Happy Veteran’s Day. It is our honor to serve you.
This summer we raised over $35,000 towards the GBF’s Warrior Sportsmen Program. For more information and to learn how you can help support this program, visit their website.
Director of Mission and Program Delivery for the Green Beret Foundation Travis Wilson, and his two sons, caught this limit of silvers on fly rods.
