From The Gulf to the Gulf Stream
All sustained injuries while in the field or as a result of their time in service, and were welcomed to Ocracoke by Hearts Apart, a charitable organization devoted to keeping families connected while service men and women are deployed.
Heading out to the gulf stream with buddies on a sunny October day was a needed "breath of fresh air," said Alex Minaric, who suffers from a muscular disorder after his 2007 - 2008 combat mission in Afghanistan.
The soldiers were pleased with the black tip and yellowfin tuna they caught, but the highlight of the day may have been the "immaculate" sight of bottlenose dolphin playing in the glassy waves, said Jonathan Dean.
Dean didn't want to say much else, as he admitted to having had one or two too many cold beers during the day offshore. His big smile said it all.
"These guys have done a lot for us," said Brett Martin, the Executive Director of Hearts Apart, who accompanied the men on his Grady White, which he keeps docked at Ocracoke in the summer. A native of Canada, Martin built a thriving business in Wilmington, NC. "As a business person, I owe them a debt of service. The military creates an economy where we can succeed," he said.
The men are all part of Hope for the Warriors, which works with post 9/11 service members and their families.
The military re-classifies and centralizes injured soldiers as wounded warriors. It then teams with non-profits, like Hope for the Warriors and Hearts Apart, to provide services for the transition to civilian life. The men came to Ocracoke from their large warrior transition battalion in Fort Bragg. Another large battalion is at Walter Reid, in Virginia.
Many service members who return injured from war aren't looking outward, said Minaric. Bringing continued education, job and mental health counseling, and a chance to get out and have some fun to the injured veterans makes a difference, he said. He has about 40 days left before he retires from military service.
What's next? "I would like to combat human trafficking," said Minaric. After his deployment in the oft-contested Helmand province, he looks forward to working against "a black and white evil."
Billy Wilson, a native of Seagrove, NC, dreams of opening a bait and tackle shop, maybe with an accompanying bar. Those are three great things that go well together, he added. Wilson enlisted at age 17, took bullets in his back while on duty in Iraq in 2007, and re-enlisted while he was recovering. He returned to combat, and was the victim of a rocket propelled grenade attack.
He tells those facts frankly, like they're no big deal. Wilson continued to serve active duty until deteriorating conditions with his discs led to his deployment with the wounded battalion.
The prospect of civilian life is "scary. That's the best word for me to use," said Wilson. "I've been in since I was 17. I don't know anything else." He, his wife, and their two children plan to move to Washington state to be near her family. Wilson earned a degree in advanced computer repair, and will pursue that career while he perfects his business plan for the Bait and Tackle Bar.
This was the first warrior trip on Ocracoke, and Martin hopes to host more in the future, as returning service members deserve our compassion and support, he said. Hearts Apart was recently recognized by the White House as one of the best charities in the country.
The Anchorage Inn donated rooms for the night before the excursion, a local boy scout troop made banners to welcome the soldiers, and John and Joan Crowe deserve to be thanked as well, said Audrey Speicher, who coordinated the trip.
To learn how you can participate, follow the links on the Hearts Apart and Hope for the Warriors sites.
