Notes from the Field: September 2021

NOTES FROM THE FIELD: September 2021

A scenic view from WWIA's 3rd Annual Camp Hackett Black Bear Hunt in Phillips, Wisconsin.
Photo courtesy of WWIA Guide Derek VanBuren.

Notes From the Field: September 2021

The start of fall presented some awesome opportunities for our Heroes to unwind, reconnect, and enjoy hunting and fishing in the great outdoors, as we proudly hosted six world-class events across the country. Our incredible family of supporters went above and beyond this month with some phenomenal fundraisers, raising donations and awareness for the work WWIA is doing on behalf of our combat-wounded veterans. Read on to learn more about the events our Heroes were able to enjoy this month and get ready for more amazing adventures ahead as we enter the last quarter of this year. Be sure to check out this month's spotlight feature to learn more about one of our outstanding Purple Heart Hero Guides. 

Events and Fundraisers

   3rd Annual New Hampshire Black Bear and Bass Combo

    September 9-13  Grafton, NH

Three of our combat-wounded Heroes recently traveled to Grafton, New Hampshire for the 3rd Annual New Hampshire Bear and Bass Event. The pristine wilderness provided our Heroes with outstanding opportunities as they were able to harvest two nice black bears over the five-day event. Their time on the water was equally enjoyable as they were able to catch some nice large-mouth bass and pickerel. This event truly epitomized the meaning of "getting away" from the hustle of everyday life and allowed these combat-wounded veterans the space and time they needed to connect, recharge, and form bonds with their brothers. The food throughout the event was wonderful and plentiful, expertly prepared courtesy of camp chef John Nuggent. Each Hero left New Hampshire with tremendous gratitude, new friendships, and a lifetime of memories. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Host Roy Holland and his phenomenal friends and supporters for making this already amazing event even better. Special thanks to WWIA Guide Jake Whipkey for his assistance and attention to our Heroes during their stay. 

"I would like to first and foremost thank everyone for this awesome experience. I met a lot of great people who I believe truly had an American spirit and appreciated my service. This hunt offered me plenty of first time
experiences from seeing and harvesting my bear to catching some of the fish I caught. Out of it all though I think the most important things it helped me with was learning to cope with my issues, I had a hard time getting on that first plane. I also was able to make new friends and grow my family through this new brotherhood. I want to thank Jake, Dave, and Roy with his Crew for helping me through this. Thank you, Corrina and John, for this amazing experience, I hope that you are all blessed for years to come for what you provide and for how you help out the Veteran Community. Much love and Respect for all you do."

   2nd Annual Heroes Northland Experience Bear Hunt

    September 15-20  Iron River, WI

 3rd Annual Camp Hackett Black Bear Hunt

  September 15-20  Phillips, WI

Three of our Purple Heart Heroes gathered at WWIA's Camp Hackett in Phillips, Wisconsin to take part in five days of hunting, camaraderie, and fun at the 3rd Annual Camp Hackett Black Bear event. Camp Hackett offers outstanding opportunities for hunting a variety of game animals over 410 bountiful acres of private land. Once everyone was settled in, they were given a safety briefing by WWIA Founder and CEO John McDaniel that also covered information about the property and the upcoming bear hunt. They spent time zeroing their rifles and got in a quick evening hunt. The next four days, our Heroes were back in the field and all three were able to harvest outstanding bears. They also had an amazing time goose hunting over two mornings and harvested an impressive total of 57 geese! As remarkable as the hunting was, our Heroes thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of their time in Wisconsin as it provided them with some well-deserved time away from the stresses of everyday life and helped them build rapport with one another over meals and shared experiences. The people and businesses of Phillips and the Northwoods are phenomenal and have truly embraced WWIA throughout the years, partnering with us in our mission to serve, honor, and change the lives of our Heroes. We are grateful and humbled by their patriotism and support. Our sincere thanks to Event Leader, Colonel (Retired) Arthur Kandarian for his coordination and care of our Heroes. Additional gratitude and appreciation to Battle Born Batteries, Dragonfly Energy, The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Jeff and Casey Williams and the staff of Knock 'Em Stiff Outfitters, Bob Bolz, Bernie Luedtke of Seed N Feed Store, Mike Reed, Don and Isaac Angelo, and John Carlson. Special thanks to William Ball, James Greeley, and Jeff & DeDee Schillinger for donating bear tags to our Heroes and for their combined efforts in making this event so successful and memorable for our combat-wounded veterans. High praise to WWIA Guide Derek VanBuren for his support and efforts throughout the event.

"I struggle to write because it is hard for me to put into words how grateful I am to be a part of such an amazing event. From first contact all the way up to arrival, the communication from the Foundation was incredible. I am truly thankful for such an amazing community in Phillips that has come together to make this event possible. I will forever have great memories from Camp Hackett. The two bear, geese, one porcupine and countless lifelong friends are just an added bonus. Thank you, John, Art and Derek. Thank you to the people of Phillips and thank you WWIA."

7th Annual Eagle River Muskie Chal-Lunge

September 23-26  Eagle River, WI

Seven of our Heroes traveled to Wisconsin to enjoy four days of relaxation, fun, and fellowship at the 7th Annual Eagle River Muskie Chal-Lunge. Our Heroes were welcomed with open arms by the incredible community of Eagle River and spent the first evening getting to know the hosts, community members, event sponsors, and their fishing guides over a wonderful buffet style dinner at Eagle Waters Resort. They were also presented with an assortment of fishing gear, a custom rod courtesy of St. Croix Rods, lures and tackle by Joe Bucher Outdoors, fishing reels donated by the congregation of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Frog Togs from the Boundary Waters Musky Club, gorgeous handmade quilts by the Northwoods Quilters, and beautiful hand-drawn cards from local elementary school children, thanking them and wishing them luck during their fishing excursion. It was a humbling and gracious welcome and our Heroes were incredibly moved by the kind gestures and patriotism of the local community. Eagle River is known for its world-class muskie fishing and our Heroes were primed and ready as they hit the water over the next few days in search of the elusive and hard-fighting muskie. They would not be disappointed as they were blessed with some exceptional catches. The food, camaraderie, and friendships throughout their stay were second-to-none. On the final night of the event, our Heroes were also honored with an incredible banquet in their honor at the local VFW Post #8637, where they enjoyed a delicious prime rib dinner. They were also presented with beautiful commemorative plaques and were able to acknowledge and thank the outstanding community members, volunteers, and sponsors who worked hard to make this event possible. High praise and appreciation to the extraordinary fishing guides that skillfully led our Heroes: Bill Jacobs, Bob Jacobs, Lou Mirek, Ryan Renolds, Andy Hendrickson, Lou Dreger, Jay Hollnagel, Colin Crawford, and special guest – Hall of Fame Angler Steve Heiting. Special recognition and thanks to all the incredible hosts and sponsors for their faithful support. Our gratitude to WWIA Guide Dan Berryman for his coordination and care throughout this event. The 8th Annual Muskie Chal-Lunge is scheduled to take place September 22-25, 2022.

"I would like to thank WWIA as well as the Eagle River community. This event is life-changing. I would like to thank Dan and Matt for being great Guides for WWIA. I would like to thank Scott for organizing this event. I would like to thank Louie and all the Guides for a great time on the water."

11th Annual NY Upland Bird Hunt & Couples Retreat

September 24-27   Palmyra, NY

Three of our Heroes and their spouses were recently celebrated at the 11th Annual NY Upland Bird Hunt and Couples Retreat. The first morning had the men take in some first-class guided pheasant hunting at the Bear Hill Farm and Hunt Club while their spouses enjoyed a wonderful Keuka Lake (one of the Finger Lakes) wine tour. Our couples had time to relax, form new friendships, and eat outstanding food during this memorable four-day getaway. These couples were honored by the local community throughout this event and were even honored with a wonderful community dinner on the final evening of the event. Each couple went home with a cooler full of pheasants and a handful of recipes to enjoy their harvested birds. We would like to recognize and show our appreciation to Mary Lou Reisdorf and her amazing community of friends, volunteers, donors and sponsors for hosting our couples at this outstanding event. We would like to also thank the following individuals and businesses for their tremendous dedication and support: David Merow, Guy Slack and Inland Waters Trap League, Kevin and Barb Heald from Twilight on the Erie RV Resort, Tom and Moreen Dennison, American Legion Post 1977, American Legion Post 428, VFW Post 2246, NY State Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, The Bickford Home, Kellog Memorials, Mitchell Architecture, Bruce Ross (dog handler), Jamie Linder (dog handler), John Nolander, Nick Berlin (dog handler), Charles Luffman (donating pheasants for the hunt), Shawn and Christie Ingram, and Ken Vowell. Special recognition to WWIA Associate Milt Yagel for his dedication and contributions throughout the retreat.  

"I can’t thank you enough for the honor we have had to meet you and the great Americans you have surrounded yourself with to make the couples retreat so special for the Warriors, but also for our wives. You and your crew have reminded us that there are patriotic Americans that believe the U.S. service members are important to the security of our Nation and are willing to risk their lives to defend the US Constitution, and it’s citizens! You have made us feel so special and honored by the wonderful gifts and efforts you and your posse have put forth into making this weekend so terrific! God bless you and yours"

3rd Annual Shell Beach Louisiana Fishing

September 24-27   Shell Beach, LA

Four of our Heroes were welcomed to Louisiana for the 3rd Annual Shell Beach Fishing Event. Once everyone arrived and settled in, they spent time getting acquainted while enjoying a delicious meal of red beans, rice, and bread. They also enjoyed meeting some of the local residents who came to welcome them, including longtime WWIA supporter and parish Sheriff, Jimmy Pohlmann. Our Heroes took to the water early the next morning to explore the marshes and bayous and they caught an unbelievable amount of fish, reeling in 49 redfish, 11 sheephead, and 1 bass; confirming why this area is renowned for having some of the best fishing in the Southern U.S.! Everyone returned to camp and enjoyed an awesome Cajun shrimp boil courtesy of Chief Deputy Rob while reminiscing over their tremendous day. The next morning expectations were high as everyone boarded their respective boats and made a quick stop by Campo's Marina to pick up bait before heading back out to the marsh to cast their lines. Day two was just as phenomenal with fish being landed quickly and repeatedly throughout the morning. The day's grand tally came in at 44 Redfish, 7 sheephead, 5 speckled trout, 1 flounder, and 5 bass caught, an incredible haul! Everyone feasted on an outstanding Pastalaya lunch, graciously prepared by Jimmy Kamm while watching a football game and sharing stories and laughs. They capped off the evening by being treated to a sunset river cruise on a gorgeous 50 foot Viking yacht, then had a first-rate redfish dinner with pasta salad, wonderfully made by Audie "Rock" Murphy. Before our Heroes departed for home, they took a quick trip to the Chalmette Battlefield at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park to learn about the history where the Battle of New Orleans took place. This event was world-class from start to finish and our Heroes raved about their time in Louisiana. Each of them went home with a cooler full of fish, new and treasured friendships, and fond memories from this special event. Our heartfelt thanks to Hosts, Capt. Casey Kieff and Glenn Schurr for their coordination and exceptional care of our Heroes. Additional thanks and gratitude to Audie "Rock" Murphy and Terry Taylor. Special recognition and appreciation to Captains Eric Olsen (Saltwater Therapy Charters), Terry, Uncle Dave Cavanaugh, and Ben Bowden for their expertise, hospitality, and for honoring and serving our Heroes. We also salute and applaud WWIA Guide Jason Gaudette for his assistance and support throughout this 4-day event.

"What a great organization, giving all they have to wounded warriors. No one really knows how much it means to get together with other veterans. To share their experiences over the years. Many separated by years of age, but all young at heart when together. This trip was an experience I will never forget and will share with my family and  friends. Great memories, great leadership, great support and great volunteers. First time experience fishing in salt water and I truly enjoyed catching some fish and watching my new friends catch fish. It is hard to explain what I experienced on this trip, but the WWIA group made it all possible."

6th Annual WWIA Wisconsin Golf Tournament

September 4   Oshkosh, WI 

The 6th Annual WWIA Wisconsin Golf Tournament held at Botten's Green Acres Golf Course teed off on September 4th and was another HUGE success! The weather was picture-perfect for our golfers and we appreciate the tremendous support from our local community who came out to enjoy the food and fellowship and place bids for some of our amazing auction items. This year's collective tournament efforts raised over $15,500! Special recognition and thanks to Nancy and Dan Bourassa for their outstanding coordination and hard work on this event year after year! A BIG shout out to those that helped us make this fundraiser so successful: Brad and Jody Botten & their family, Lora Sipperley, and Tom and Sue Johnson. This tournament would not have been possible without the support of so many incredible individuals and businesses, especially those who donated their time, money, or an item to the silent auction. Our sincere thanks and gratitude to all of our amazing sponsors (for a full list of sponsors, click here). Additional thanks to all of the participants, volunteers, and to everyone who came out to enjoy this special day and help support WWIA and our Purple Heart Heroes! 

58th Annual 2021 South Dakota Trappers Fall Convention

September 10-11   Clark, SD   

Please join us in recognizing and thanking the South Dakota Trappers Association (SDTA). They held their 58th Annual 2021 South Dakota Trappers Fall Convention September 10th and 11th in Clark, SD. WWIA’s Logistics Coordinator, Corrina Hart, was honored to attend this outstanding event. This two-day convention was full of informative training classes and demonstrations, featured a variety of vendors, lots of outstanding food, and fun. It was also attended by some of the most patriotic American outdoorsmen and women you’ll ever meet! A 50/50 fundraising raffle was held which raised an impressive $820.00. One of the SDTA Board Members, Matt Bennett, USMC, won the raffle and graciously donated his half back to WWIA! Some additional individual donations were also made for a total donation of $915.00 in support of WWIA. Incredible! ⠀
The South Dakota Trappers Association is dedicated to preserving trapping, promoting trapping, providing trappers education, and serving as an overall advocate for trapping. They have been faithful supporters of the Foundation and have helped educate WWIA Guides at our official Guide School. Our sincere gratitude and thanks to SDTA President, John Hopple and his entire team for being preeminent outdoor trapping educators and conservationists, and for their tremendous support of WWIA and our combat-wounded veterans.

Kim's 3-Mile Bar & Grill WWIA BBQ Fundraiser

September 11   Phillips, WI

Kim's 3-Mile Bar and Grill hosted a WWIA BBQ Fundraiser on Patriot Day, September 11th, in Phillips, Wisconsin. This fundraiser featured $10 all-you-can-eat BBQ, drink specials, giveaways, prizes, and more! Residents and patriots from the local community gathered to enjoy good food and fellowship and had a great time for a great cause! Our sincere thanks to owner Kim Hoffman for her tremendous support of WWIA and our Heroes over the years, to the amazing staff at Kim's, to all the incredible Pitmasters, and to all everyone who came out to help support WWIA and our Heroes!   

30th Annual Tuddy Golf Tournament

September 12   Oshkosh, WI 

We would like to express our gratitude to everyone that participated in the 2021 Tuddy Golf Tournament at the Oshkosh Country Club in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This was the 30th year of this outstanding event and it was a beautiful day for hitting the greens with good friends for a great cause. WWIA was honored to be the recipient of the tournament proceeds and grateful for the $1,100 raised on behalf of our Heroes that will go to the local WWIA Camp Hackett events in Phillips, Wisconsin. Special thanks to Jeff Daun, and to everyone who attended, sponsored, contributed, and participated in this event for your exceptional support and commitment to helping us bring honor, connection and healing to our Purple Heart Heroes. 

WWIAF Southern Vermont Chapter Game Dinner Fundraiser

September 18   Bennington, VT

Please join us in congratulating and thanking the WWIA Southern Vermont Chapter and the amazing community members and businesses who came together on September 18th, to raise an impeccable $67,575 for our Purple Heart Heroes! We are humbled and incredibly grateful for this stellar effort! This is a record-setting amount for the Southern Vermont Chapter who continue to raise the bar every year through the generosity and dedication of so many patriotic people! With this year's remarkable fundraising effort, the Southern Vermont Chapter has now raised over $343,000 collectively in support of WWIA. What an astounding accomplishment! A HUGE THANK YOU to Mike and Debbie Davenport for their tremendous work and coordination in making these annual fundraisers so successful. In addition, we would like to thank all of this year's sponsors, donors, attendees, and volunteers for continuing to go above and beyond to support WWIA and our Purple Heart Heroes! 💜

WWIA September Spotlight

For our September Hero Spotlight, we are honored to introduce you to Corbin McClanahan. Corbin proudly serves as a Guide for WWIA, sharing his skills and insights with his fellow Purple Heart Heroes. We sincerely appreciate Corbin taking time to share some of his thoughts with us and know you will enjoy getting to read about his story and experiences. 

Corbin, can you please give us a brief introduction and tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in the small coastal town of Florence, Oregon, fishing, hunting, hiking, and spending much of my time outdoors. I joined the military out of college in 2008 and served the next 8 years in the National Guard as a Combat Engineer. While enlisted, I did a tour in Afghanistan in 2010 conducting route clearance operations and counter IED missions in Southern Helmand Province. During these missions, I was struck on 5 separate occasions by enemy placed IEDS. I was medically retired after 8 honorable years of service in 2017 for wounds received in action. I returned to Portland State University in 2017 to finish my Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. I currently live with my wife and daughter in Tigard, Oregon, working for the Federal Government. I enjoy archery elk and Blacktail deer hunting on the Oregon coast every year and love going out on the Columbia River to target monster sturgeon and Chinook salmon. I am grateful for and appreciative of my wife Haley for her patience and for allowing me to continue guiding these outstanding WWIA events!

How did you first get involved with WWIA? 

I first heard about WWIA 4 years ago from a fellow Purple Heart recipient who had attended a Foundation fishing trip. He told me about his experience in such detail that it inspired me to apply for an event on the WWIA website. A few months later, I went on my first trip in 2019, attending the Bayfield Cast and Blast. I was blown away by the amount of support from the local community and the patriotism of people who just wanted to give back to our nation's Heroes. After that event, I was hooked and wanted to help as much as I personally could.

Why do you choose to be a WWIA Guide on our events?

I choose to Guide on events with WWIA to see the faces of Heroes who get to experience their firsts, whether it's their first fish caught on a fly or first turkey or deer harvested. Being able to see first-hand the unfiltered excitement and joy they experience is an amazing feeling.

What has been the biggest benefit for you since becoming involved with WWIA?

Helping my fellow Heroes has truly aided me in finding purpose after my military career. Being able to assist Heroes in escaping the hustle and chaos of the real world and helping them find tranquility and peace in nature regardless of the harvest, brings me tremendous joy and gratitude.

What is something you would like others to know about WWIA and your own experience with the Foundation?    

WWIA is an amazing organization that continues to go above and beyond to serve and honor our nation's Purple Heart Heroes by providing world-class outdoor adventures for them. This organization and the amazing community volunteers will make you feel welcome and right at home, no matter what event you attend or where you travel to. The amount of support and love this organization gives to America's Heroes is simply outstanding.

What would you say to others who are considering getting involved with WWIA either as a Hero or in any other capacity? 

If you know a Purple Heart recipient from your unit, social group, or in some other way, please urge them to apply for an event with WWIA. These events are not just an opportunity for them to hunt and fish, they provide opportunities to re-kindle that camaraderie they once experienced in the military, creating new bonds and friendships with people who've shared similar experiences and challenges. These events can provide a much-needed outlet for them to heal and help them to realize how valuable and enjoyable life can be after their military service has concluded.

Help Support WWIA & Our Heroes During CFC Season

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is officially underway! You can easily make a pledge online to help support WWIA and our Purple Heart Heroes. CFC allows federal employees and retirees to make charitable contributions to a number of eligible charities they personally select by directing a portion of their income or annuitant payments to those non-profits. CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign and the pledges and contributions received help non-profits like WWIA continue the work we are doing to assist in the healing and restoration of our Heroes. As you look to make your CFC charity designations this season, we would appreciate you considering making a pledge to WWIA and making a direct difference in the lives of our Purple Heart Heroes. Click here to be taken to the CFC Donor Pledge Site. Thank you in advance for your consideration and for your faithful support as you partner with us. With your help, we are changing hearts and minds and bringing healing and restoration to our combat-wounded veterans. 💜

Thank You for Helping WWIA Become a Top-Rated Nonprofit

Thanks to you, we did it! WWIA is honored to have been rated a top-rated nonprofit in 2021! Our sincere appreciation and thanks to everyone who took time to share your experiences and feedback to help us achieve this wonderful honor over the past 7 years! We are humbled by the stories and reviews you have offered as testimonials to the work we are doing to bring honor, connection, and healing to our Purple Heart Heroes. We could not do this without your tremendous partnership and support. Click here to read what others have had to say, and If you haven't shared your own WWIA experience, please consider leaving us a review. THANK YOU!

Support our Heroes Through CARS Vehicle Donation Program

Did you know that you can help support WWIA and our Heroes by donating your car, truck, van, SUV, boat, motorcycle, ATV, RV, trailer or airplane? Working or not, free towing, tax benefits, and helping support our combat-wounded veterans are just a few of the benefits  of using the CARS vehicle donation program. Simply click HERE to start the donation process or call CARS toll-free at 855-500-RIDE (855-500-7433) to have a donation staff specialist help guide you through the donation process. If you would like to learn more about how the CARS vehicle donation program works, please click here. We thank you in advance for your support!

Shop and Support WWIA Through AmazonSmile

You can help support WWIA whenever you shop at Amazon through the AmazonSmile program! When you select WWIA as your preferred charity; anytime you shop at Amazon a portion of your purchase will go to support WWIA and our Purple Heart Heroes! Every bit helps, in fact, WWIA received $588.75 in the first half of 2021 from this program. If you're not already signed up, simply click HERE to be taken to the AmazonSmile page, and then select Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation as your charity option. You can also sign up for AmazonSmile on the Amazon Shopping app on your phone. You can find it in the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android. Be sure to tell others, as it's a simple way to support us while doing something you already do. Thank you!

Want to Learn More About WWIA? Visit Us Online! 

Our website is full of information about who we are, how we serve our Purple Heart Heroes, and how you can get involved!  Visit us today! Click HERE!

813-938-1390 | info@wwiaf.org | wwiaf.org