Another honor for WQW Alum Matt Bradford! Matt received the USO Van Cleave Award in recognition of distinguished service presented at the USO Gala and Gold Medal Dinner in NYC, December 9, 2009. Matt and his Mom Debbie attended the event.

The following is an excerpt from a USO Facebook post by General Raymond T. Odierno who received the USO’s Distinguished Service Award at the Gala:

“On December 9th, I had the honor of attending the 48th Annual Armed Forces Gala and Gold Medal Dinner in New York City. The event, which was co-hosted by NBC’s Brian Williams, and retired Army Col. Jack A. Jacobs, a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in Vietnam, raised over $1 million dollars for the USO. The mission of the USO of Metropolitan New York is to positively contribute to the morale and personal welfare of U.S. military personnel and their families who reside in, are stationed in, or are visiting the tri-state area. The organization helps channel the American public’s desire to give back to those who serve the country into programs and services that enrich their lives.The USO’s Distinguished Service Award was presented to the only five living Air Force Medal of Honor recipients, Col. Bernard F. Fisher, Col. James P. Fleming, Col. Joe M. Jackson and Col. Leo K. Thorsness. Col. George E. Day was also honored, but was not present.

I was honored to receive the USO’s Distinguished Service Award, which was also awarded HBO for its outstanding military-themed programming, and Bruce Whitman, president and CEO of FlightSafety International, Inc., and co-chairman of the Medal of Honor Foundation. The USO’s Distinguished Service Award is USO’s premiere award that recognizes exemplary leadership and service to the armed forces.

Five Service Members, representing each branch of service were given the Van Cleave Award in recognition of distinguished service, accomplishments and demonstrated leadership while deployed overseas: First Sergeant James Meltz; Lance Corporal Matthew Bradford; Captain Justin Conelli; Petty Officer Benjamin Foster; and Construction Mechanic First Class William Albano. These service members represent the new great generation of young men and women, who in an era of persistent conflict have raised their right hands and volunteered to bear the heavy burden of war on behalf of a nation. Their bravery and resiliency never cease to amaze me, and they deserve our recognition and thanks.”

In the 2009 FX re-cap, we introduced you to Matt Bradford, the wounded warrior Marine who had lost both legs and his sight in an IED explosion, and became Warriors and Quiet Waters first blind fly fisherman alumnus.  During Matt’s FX 2 visit in June, WQW Board member Steve McGrath struck a friendship with Matt and discovered that Matt and his Mom Debbie, both native Kentuckians, were hard core University of Kentucky Wildcat fans.  As luck would have it, Steve was acquainted with C.M Newton, legendary Alabama basketball coach and longtime Athletic Director at Kentucky!  Knowing Matt’s love for the Big Blue, Steve contacted Newton and arranged for Matt and his Mom to attend the Kentucky v. North Carolina basketball game in Lexington in early December.  At the good bye dinner on the last night of FX 5 in September, Steve told Matt about the trip and the game.  Matt was smiling so hard that we thought he might split at the seams!  Steve also made arrangements with local businessman friend, aircraft owner and pilot, Jerry Severson to fly Matt and Debbie from San Antonio, Texas to Lexington, Kentucky for the game.  WQW Board member Tom O’Connor and his wife Celia, who is one of Warriors and Quiet Waters volunteer “Moms”, accompanied Matt and Debbie on the trip. It was a wonderful experience for Matt and Debbie.  Not only were they were treated to one of the best college basketball games of the year, it ended up being a Kentucky Wildcat win!!! Warriors and Quiet Waters is grateful to the University of Kentucky and C.M. Newton for their hospitality, and we owe a very big note of thanks to Jerry Severson for the donation of his plane and his piloting expertise.  Thank you!

The holiday season is often a time to reflect on the experiences and blessings of the past year.  As we reflect on Warriors and Quiet Waters (WQW), 2009 was an amazing year.  WQW organized and accomplished six Fishing Experience (FX) events in 2009 hosting 38 wounded warriors and their wives.  The continued positive response and the testimony from the wounded warrior participants reinforce our belief that the Warriors and Quiet Waters is one of the finest programs of its kind in the country. 

“I’ve been in the wounded warrior community for over 3 years, both as a patient and staff. The level of commitment, passion, and resources that Warriors and Quiet Waters offer these veterans is unequivocally the best I’ve seen to date.” 

                   Wounded Marine Captain and 2009 FX Participant

There were so many 2009 Fishing Experience highlights that it’s hard to select which ones to feature. FX 1 was held in early May.  For the past two years, wounded warriors (WW’s) have stayed in a private home southwest of Bozeman.  This home was not available for ‘09, and WQW made arrangements to rent a vacation home a few miles northwest of Bozeman on the East Gallatin River.  The 356 Ranch was a great location for the WW’s, and WQW is very grateful to the 356 Ranch owners who made a generous donation to help with the cost of rental.  FX 2 in June offered some great fishing for the WW participants including a trip to legendary 16 Mile Creek on the CA Ranch.  The Anderson family, owners of the CA and 16 Mile Creek, have kindly allowed WQW access to this amazing fishery, and trips to 16 Mile are very special.  In 2008, we arranged to take a group of wounded warriors on a combined fishing and camping trip to Slough Creek in Yellowstone Park.  Due to extraordinarily high water, we were unable to do the July ’08 trip to Slough.  Undaunted, we scheduled another July trip in 2009.  Yellowstone Park cooperated by allowing us to secure a reservation for a Slough Creek campground and waived the entrance fee for the wounded warriors, and the Ohrstrom family, owners of Silver Tip Ranch (STR) on Slough Creek located just outside the Park boundary in Montana, arranged for the four wounded warriors and the four volunteer guide companions and their gear to ride up to the Slough Creek campground in the horse drawn, rubber tired Silver Tip Ranch wagons.  The weather and the trout cooperated, too, resulting in a spectacular trip that went so well that Bob Frey, WQW volunteer guide leader, commented “The trip went so well it was scary!”  Included in the group of 4 wounded warriors who went to Slough were 3 one-armed amputee anglers.  I had the good fortune to accompany the group for the first couple days of the adventure, and it was amazing to watch 3 one armed guys catch one beautiful Yellowstone cutthroat after another on big Green Drake mayfly imitations.  Nobody kept count, so, I can say whatever I wish, but I’d say that collectively, the Slough Creek wounded warriors caught well over 100 trout, all on dry flies!!  In August, WQW ran the second Couples Fishing Experience.  In 2008, we offered the first Couples FX or 4 couples, and it was so well received that we did it again in 2009 for 5 couples!  The opportunity for the wives to accompany their wounded warrior husbands is a unique occasion.  The Couples FX is run in a fashion similar to our regular FX’s with some special events added for the women which included a full day at a local spa!  All of our wounded warrior participants are very special, but on the September FX 5 event, we met a most extraordinary young man, Matt Bradford.  Matt, a Marine, was blown up in an IED explosion in which he lost both his legs and his sight.  The challenge of teaching a blind wounded warrior with no legs how to fly fish and then to take him fishing was daunting, but Matt wanted to come on the trip so much that we agreed to bring him to Bozeman.  The experience with Matt was remarkable.  Not only did he master the technique of fly casting, when we took the wounded warriors out on the pond to fish following the morning’s instruction, Matt was the first angler to catch a trout!  On the following day, Matt caught trout on dry flies on the Madison River. That’s right, a blind wounded warrior angler catching trout on dry flies.  Remarkable!!  Matt had a wonderful trip and all that met him and worked with him remarked on his positive attitude, his great sense of humor, and his dedication to dealing with his handicaps.  Heading into the final FX of the year in mid-October, the weather was miserable.  During the prior week, it was very cold and snowy and there was some concern about whether the FX could occur.  The decision was made to move forward in spite of the weather, and our patience was rewarded as the weather moderated and warmed up, and FX 6 was a grand success.  Due to the previous week’s cold weather, the water had cooled down, and the fishing was a bit slow, but all the wounded warriors caught trout and had fun.  FX 6 included a slight twist in that all the WW’s got to attend a Montana State University Bobcat football game where they tailgated with MSU fans and were introduced during the pre-game flag and National Anthem ceremony.  It was moving to see the response of the students and fans and hear 10,000+ folks applauding the wounded warriors as they walked out to mid-field for the anthem and flag ceremony.  It was a fitting ending to another great year for the Warriors and Quiet Waters program. 

There are many factors that contribute to the success of the Warrior and Quiet Waters program.  Living, as we do, in arguably the finest location in the US for fly fishing for trout, the abundant-God-given resources at hand provide lots of outstanding fly fishing opportunities, and many Bozeman area landowners kindly open up their properties for WQW use.  WQW is blessed by numerous donors who provide generous support which allows us to provide these amenities to the WW’s, and the 100’s of volunteer companions, “WQW Mom’s”, drivers, and volunteer guides surround the wounded warrior participants with a warm, caring “family” atmosphere that allows them to relax and enjoy the peaceful tranquility of fly fishing for trout in the mountains and around the moving water of southwest Montana.  Thank you. 

As we near the end of 2009, many consider charitable gifts to their favorite charities.  Warriors and Quiet Waters asks you to consider giving to support our 2010 Fishing Experience program.  You may send donations directly to WQW at PO 1165, Bozeman, MT  59771 or simply visit the donations page on this website and make your gift online.  Thank you for your support! 

Dave Kumlien, WQW Board member and Director of Fly Fishing Operations