Wounded warriors bond during
annual patriots hunt

by Eve Meinhardt
Paraglide

	photos by Eve Meinhardt/Paraglide Sgt. Scott Wallace, Warrior Transition Battalion, fires at a pheasant as Stan Millwood looks on, during a hunt organized for wounded warriors by Ken Barnard, founder of Patriot Hunts, at the Allen Brothers Hunting Preserve in Blandenboro, N.C. Saturday.

Ken Barnard, founder of Patriot Hunts, an organization dedicated to providing outdoor experiences for wounded Soldiers, is passionate about what he does. His group organizes hunting and fishing trips for wounded warriors. His latest expedition was to the Allen Brothers Hunting Preserve in Bladenboro, N.C. to treat interested Soldiers and their Families to a pheasant hunt.

On Saturday morning, 20 wounded warriors, along with a few children and spouses, gathered in the parking lot of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville. While waiting to start the convoy to Bladenboro, the Soldiers were treated to coffee and doughnuts courtesy of Fayetteville Cares. Joanne Chavonne, co-founder, and her husband, Mayor Tony Chavonne, served the troops.

The idea for the hunt started with a conversation between Barnard and Ron Allen where Barnard asked Allen if he could bring three or four wounded Soldiers to the hunting preserve to go pheasant hunting.

“I said yes, but why just three or four? How about you bring 20 or 25?” said Allen.

Barnard and Allen worked together to make the event a success. The Soldiers were escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders to Blandenboro and treated to lunch at the Allen Brothers’ lodge before beginning the pheasant hunt.

Barnard donated a shotgun as a prize for one of the participating wounded warriors. Sgt. 1st Class Frances Montes-Crawford said she was elated when she learned she won the gun.

Montes-Crawford began hunting because of Patriot Hunts. She was introduced to the sport at a quail hunt that Barnard organized last year.

“When the opportunity first came up, I figured I would give a try. It’s always good to try something new,” she said. “I was hooked. I’ve been hunting three or four times since then.”

The 19-year veteran said hunting has given her an outlet, helping her heal and experience something outside of Army life. Barnard said that is the goal of his organization.

“I live and breathe the outdoors,” he said. “I always thought this would be something great to do for these guys. There’s a huge need for it and it offers them a purpose and a reason to get back in the game, mentally and physically.”

Barnard said offering the chance for Soldiers to experience hunting or fishing for the first time since their injury or even for the first time in their lives, makes it all worthwhile.

“These Soldiers go over there and lay it all on the line. They do it for us and ask nothing in return. Well, I’m going to ask for something in return — your help,” he said as he addressed the over 100 people gathered at the hunting preserve to greet the Soldiers. “I will do the leg work for you. If you have land we can use or an idea, all you have to do is raise your hand and say I want to help.”

Anyone wishing to help Patriot Hunts continue to organize hunts and fishing trips for wounded warriors, call Ken Barnard at 237-5951.