District Digest News Stories

Wounded Warriors Outdoors find therapy in hunting, fishing at Lake Cumberland

Nashville District Public Affairs
Published April 28, 2014
Park Rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District and local volunteers from the Lake Cumberland pose with a group from the Wounded Warrior Outdoors program at Holcombs landing before going on a fishing trip on Lake Cumberland near Wolf Creek Dam.

Park Rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District and local volunteers from the Lake Cumberland pose with a group from the Wounded Warrior Outdoors program at Holcombs landing before going on a fishing trip on Lake Cumberland near Wolf Creek Dam.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kristian Cedeno from Queens, N.Y.(left) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Park Ranger Daniel Clark pose with a wild turkey shot by Cedano at the Lake Cumberland State Park in Jamestown, Ky while on a fishing trip and wild turkey hunt with the Wounded Warrior Outdoors program on April 24, 2014.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kristian Cedeno from Queens, N.Y.(left) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Park Ranger Daniel Clark pose with a wild turkey shot by Cedano at the Lake Cumberland State Park in Jamestown, Ky while on a fishing trip and wild turkey hunt with the Wounded Warrior Outdoors program on April 24, 2014.

U.S. Army Maj. Yancy Baer  holds a 24 lb Stripper fish he caught while fishing on Lake Cumberland with Park Rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District. The group hosted members of the Wounded Warrior Outdoors program for a fishing trip and wild turkey hunt at the Lake Cumberland State Park on April 24, 2014.

U.S. Army Maj. Yancy Baer holds a 24 lb Stripper fish he caught while fishing on Lake Cumberland with Park Rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District. The group hosted members of the Wounded Warrior Outdoors program for a fishing trip and wild turkey hunt at the Lake Cumberland State Park on April 24, 2014.

JAMESTOWN, Tenn. (April 28, 2014) – Park Rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District and local volunteers from the Lake Cumberland area hosted a group from the Wounded Warrior Outdoors program for a fishing trip and wild turkey hunt at the Lake Cumberland State Park today. 

 

The Nashville District’s staff members from the Lake Cumberland resource center, and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources hosted the group of active duty service members with war wounds the time to relax, set aside the stresses associated with the every-day labor of physical and mental therapy. 

“This is a great trip, I caught a huge fish and shot my first turkey,” said Army Staff Sgt. Kristian Cedeno from Queens, N.Y. 

Cedano has endured a long road from recovery.  He was injured July 18, 2012 while on patrol, when an improvised explosive device detonated and he lost his right leg, sustained major muscle damage to his left leg, fractured his jaw bone, broke six fingers, suffered hearing loss, lost teeth in the blast and has endured many surgeries since.

For Cedano, the chance to catch fish and turkey hunt is an important part of healing because it provides encouragement, stability and patience in hopes that he will return to active duty as a drill sergeant.

Park Ranger Daniel Clark, whose family has hunted around the Lake Cumberland area for years, set up a hunting blind about a mile off the road inside the Lake Cumberland Park. He and Cedano walk through the woods and set up.  Clark sets out two decoy-wild turkeys complete with remote control that allows movements from the fake bird.   This is supposed to lure the adult turkey into easing closer to investigate.  Clark uses two bird calls to attract a turkey. He makes the calls.  “He’s coming, can you hear him gobble back,” said Clark.

The men wait.  The turkey approaches from the distance, stops, spreads his feathers and struts around.  Cedano has his 12-gage shotgun aimed in the ready position at the moment 35-yards away.

Cedano, who served tours as an infantryman, levels the shotgun toward the shadows.  He squeezes off a shot. Boom! Finding his mark on the first shot, Cedano pierced the turkey’s neck.  The creature flops over in its tracks and the two men begin to celebrate.  “Yes!” said Clark.  Cedano has a wide grin on his face.  “That’s how it’s done,” said Clark.  For a young man who has endured so much over the last year, this stands as a simple reminder of Cedano’s purpose.

“This shows me that I have a lot of life left and I can accomplish almost anything if I have patience,” said Cedano.  “It builds my morale and confidence, what infantry man would like to keep shooting. Shows I can still do my job. 

“This is an honor for us to get to do this,” Clark said. “When Kris got his first turkey, I think it excited me more than it did him and anytime you can help them get outside, take advantage of the sunshine, and water, that’s a piece of therapy,” said Clark. 

Lake Cumberland Park Rangers Daniel Clark, Marshall Jennings and Tyler Matthews all said it is very special to interact with the wounded warriors for a week of fishing and hunting.

This five-day taste of freedom is part adventure, part therapy.  It was started by Ron Raboud, a Florida native, businessman and longtime hunter, the non-profit Wounded Warrior Outdoors has been taking active-duty injured military personnel into the wild helping service members heal since 2008 with the blessing of medical personnel. 

“We are very thankful for the Corps participation and taking the time for us,” said Raboud. “These are great opportunities for them and hunting and fishing are just the motivation for them to work hard as they rehabilitate.”

Raboud himself is the son of a WWII Army veteran seriously wounded in France and says the healing comes from when the guys have to get out of their comfort zone, climb steep inclines, use muscles ordinarily not used, and they’re showing they can overcome a lot of challenges out in the real world.”

Raboud said WWI is run solely on passion and private donations.  Fifty wounded, but active, members of the military are selected to participate each year. Our host facilities are of the highest quality and offer all the comforts of home. WWO also provides complete outfitting including gear, clothing and field transport. Even taxidermy services are provided at no charge.

Most important to the program, Active Duty Warriors in transition are provided with all the accessibility and equipment necessary to make it an adventure that is truly memorable and one in which they can participate fully. No matter the individual’s disability, our focus in on ability and making sure their adventure becomes the memory of a lifetime.

All military branches have participated in our program and many relationships with military hospitals help facilitate WWO programs. It costs about $250,000 a year to put a handful of adventures like this – turkey hunting in Kentucky, fishing in Florida, bear-hunting in British Columbia or hunting alligators in Florida.   

The WWO program was specifically founded to provide wounded servicemen and women with therapeutic outdoor adventures across North America. WWO provides deserving Active Duty Warriors in transition the opportunity of a lifetime in the wilderness location of their choice.

“This has touched my life,” said Matthews, “This is my second year and we appreciate being out here with those who have sacrificed, been wounded, and still give all of themselves for us and for our freedom,” Matthews said. 

Afterward hunting and fishing, the wounded warriors expressed their appreciation and enjoyment of the activities and show of respect they received. They stayed at the Lake Cumberland State Resort and said they appreciated the Pumpkin Creek lodge and staff.

Clark said it was a group effort of the entire Lake Cumberland community that stepped up to support the event. The Corps partnered with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Wildlife Resources Agency, friends from the Wolf Creek Hatchery, the Lake Cumberland State Park Resort for the great food and local businesses.

No matter the individual’s disability, Raboud said the WWO focus in on ability and making sure their adventure becomes the memory of a lifetime and contributes to the morale and confidence of the service member.

“I had a great time at Lake Cumberland and this program is helping get me back on my feet on my road to become a drill sergeant,” said Cedano. “I’m around good people, which keeps feeding me to be better and that’s all I can ask.”

Wounded Warriors Outdoors group attendees include: WWO mentors, Ron Raboud and Jim Sursely, a U.S. Army Vietnam. U.S. Army Sgt. Kristian Cedeno, U.S. Army Sgt. Matt Melancon, U.S. Army Maj. Yancy Baer U.S. Marine, Staff Sgt. Phillip McGill; U.S. Marine, Master Sgt. Blaine Scott and U.S. Marine, Cpl. Ivan Sears

The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.

Also follow Lake Cumberland on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lakecumberland.

For more information about the group: WoundedWarriorsoutdoors.com