A Hero’s Welcome
by Michael Ritchie
Veterans Danny Holbrook and Ryan Hulce may have fought in different wars but were honored with nine other U.S. disabled veterans in Thermopolis, Wyoming during the annual Hunting with Heroes program. “The people of Wyoming were extremely good to us,” stated Vietnam Marine Veteran Danny Holbrook, “They were the nicest people I have ever met”. National Guard and Operation Iraqi Freedom Vet Ryan Hulce agreed, “We felt so welcomed.”
Hunting with Heroes program of Wyoming was Co-Founded by Colton Sasser (U.S. Army Veteran- Afghanistan and Dan Currah, an Army Vietnam Veteran. Currah shared, “We are losing our Vietnam veterans left and right due to the consequences of Agent Orange. When we came home from Nam, we did not receive a hero’s welcome. Our organization seeks to make up for that.”
The state of Wyoming makes available donated tags to organizations like “Hunting with Heroes”. Hunting with Heroes provides a guide, lodging, food, and gifts from sponsors. The 100% hunting opportunity also has meat processors that donate their services for our nation’s finest. “All they have to do is get here and we take care of everything once they arrive.” Says Currah.
Outdoor Ministries Director at Roscommon Baptist Church Michael Ritchie helped to raise funds for the travel expenses and Deacon Dennis Fiebelkorn drove the men from Michigan to Wyoming and back. “Safari Club Mid -Michigan came up big once again,” shares Michael Ritchie, “They paid for gas, lodging and food for the way there and back.”
The hunters arrived a day early in Thermopolis and met with their guides to sight in their rifles. That night dinner was provided for them at the local V.F.W. post. Each hero went out hunting after breakfast the next morning and were told they would not settle for a small one. Each guide is apprised on the hunters’ disabilities and their hunting methods were adjusted accordingly. Danny was concerned he would have to walk a distance and was relieved to find out that by hunting on private land to harvest his antelope he was able to just get out of the vehicle and shoot from a rest. Danny’s Guide T.J. Owsley stated, “I was extremely worried, because of the weather (wet and windy) we were presented with, access to private ground would be limited. The ranchers were concerned we would tear up their roads with our vehicles. The antelope were tucked away out of the wind which presented a challenge spotting a good one.” Owsley a Veteran himself, spotted one that he knew they needed to kill. Danny went on to say, “T.J. knew the landowner and told them our situation and the landowner gladly gave us permission to hunt on his land. He even wanted to help T.J. gut it and lift it into our truck.” The special antelope scored 82” and had beautiful heart shaped horns, almost touching at the top.
Ryan’s guide Shane Wilson (a National Guard Veteran) took Ryan out the evening before to pre-scout for their hunt but were challenged by the weather and their scouting yielded no bucks they would want to take. It had Ryan a little worried about the next day how their hunting would be. But after they were busted on a stalk at first light, Ryan shot his 75 3/8” Wyoming antelope buck at 8:30 am. A perfect shot took down the beautiful buck just 50 yards from behind the truck.
That evening the V.F.W. handled the meal and local teen aged children served the Heroes their meal. All 11 Veterans had shot nice bucks and were all happy to tell their stories to each other. The antelope meat was being processed and frozen for their trip home. Sunday noon meal was at a private home and was highlighted by a ceremony to honor each hunter for their service to our country. The whole process from beginning to end offered our Veteran’s a hero’s welcome.
Colton Sasser summed up the whole experience “When Dan and I started Hunting with Heroeswe wanted to honor the disabled Vets with a high-quality western hunting experience. What we found was so much more. By bringing these Veterans here from all over the country with common backgrounds from their military service the greatest benefit was the friendships formed, the lifelong relationships that we established and the heart-to-heart conversations that were shared.” Colton who himself is a purple heart recipient said concerning this, “One of our hunters was a groomsman in my wedding party. We have kept in touch ever since his hunt here.”
If you know a disabled Veteran that deserves to be honored or would like to make a donation for future Vets, contact Hunting with Heroes of Wyoming by clicking on their website: https://huntingwithheroes.org/ Be aware that hunts are booked for the next two years.
To become a member of Safari Club international and specifically SCI-Mid-MI. here is their website. Every year SCI Mid -MI supports disabled veterans by providing hunting opportunities they would not afford on their own. https://midmichigansci.org/membership
If you would like to support Ryan Hulce hunt for next year we are planning for him for a Maine Moose Hunt through Veteran’s Afield contact David Hentosh at: https://www.veteransafieldfoundation.org/support and tell him you would like to Support Ryan Hulce (a Michigan disabled Veteran) for his moose hunt.