Brotherhood, Gratitude, and the Hunt – Jake (USMC)

When I found out that I was granted this hunt, I was overjoyed.
It's all I thought about for weeks. Any hopes and expectations I had were far exceeded by my actual experience with the Wilderness Healing Project.

The hunting aspect of the trip was what we were all there for, of course, and that was a once in a lifetime experience, giving me memories I will have for life. What I didn't expect was the relationships that I would build. Spending a week with a group of fellow veterans, on and off the mountain, was what made it truly special. I am not exaggerating when I say it was truly life changing.

Chamley Outfitters ran the best hunting camp I've ever seen or heard about. Wrangling all those horses and pack animals, as well as a bunch of greenhorn riders, was nothing short of amazing. Blake Chamley and his son, Kaden, provided everyone with a five-star experience. We had hot meals at least twice a day and a never-ending supply of coffee, thanks to Blake’s wife, Johanna, and our camp cook, Deb. I think it was the best fed I've been in a very long time.

Daniel, Kaden, and JP were our guides, as well as our chaperones from the time we landed until we got back to the airport. The guidance, leadership, perseverance, and unrelenting pursuit those men showed on the mountain was the most impressive and humbling thing I have seen, in or out of the military, period. For a couple of Florida boys, Daniel and JP sure have made themselves at home in the mountains of Wyoming.

None of this would have been possible without the people in the background. Erica coordinated all of our travel as well as making sure all of the cogs of the machine were running smoothly. Her communication and coordination were flawless despite her many responsibilities with the foundation, museum, and in the community. Her energy and professionalism are why she's such a rockstar.

Finally, to the generosity of a man who wants to be thanked the least yet deserves more praise than words can express. The National Military Vehicle Museum he has built is something everyone should put on their travel list. Many of the exhibits touched us on an emotional level because his personal heart and soul are in everything you experience. This was evident as he led our group on a private tour, captivating us with both his breadth of knowledge as well as the depth of his character.

Mr. Starks, I cannot thank you enough for providing this experience to not only myself, but to my fellow veterans and the rest of the world.

I don't know how else to properly close this so I will simply go with the cheers of our last night together: SKÅL!

-Jake (USMC)