​A Year of Impact, A Year of Heroes: Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead
As we close out 2024, we pause to reflect on the extraordinary year we’ve shared with you. This year has been nothing short of life-changing for the heroes we serve, and we couldn’t have done it without your unwavering support. Together, we’ve created experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime.
2024: A Year of Service, Healing, and Brotherhood
When we say we “Dug In” this year, we mean it. Our team of dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly, with heart and passion, to ensure that every hero who joined us had not just an experience, but a transformative journey—one that offered healing, adventure, and, most importantly, a chance to connect with others who truly understand.
For our veterans, these trips weren’t just about a break—they were about finding a place where they felt safe, respected, and, above all, supported. We believe every hero deserves that—and with your support, we were able to make it happen.
25 All-Expense-Paid Trips
We provided 25 all-expense-paid trips for combat-injured veterans, offering them an opportunity to rest, bond with fellow heroes, and heal. For many, these trips marked a new beginning—a chance to step away from the daily struggles and reconnect with themselves and others who shared similar experiences. The memories created on these trips will stay with them forever, and your support made it all possible.
85 Hero Seats Filled
This year, we filled 85 Hero seats. That’s 85 veterans who were able to experience the strength of camaraderie, the power of adventure, and the peace that comes from sharing their journey with others who understand. Every seat represents not just a number, but a person—a hero who was given the chance to heal, grow, and move forward in their own way.
Looking Toward 2025: More Heroes, More Healing
As the WHHC unit continues to grow, we’re filled with anticipation for what 2025 will bring. But we can’t do it alone. We need more hands, more hearts, and more heroes to join our mission. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or someone new who wants to make a difference, we invite you to join us in making 2025 another year of unforgettable experiences and lasting memories.
A Call to Action: Your Support Changes Lives
If you’ve ever wondered how you can make an impact, now is the time. Volunteers like you are the heartbeat of this organization. Whether it’s giving your time, energy, or support, you are directly helping us create life-changing experiences for those who’ve sacrificed so much for all of us.
Imagine the impact we can have next year. Together, we can fill more seats, send more heroes on trips, and, most importantly, continue to offer them the respect, care, and opportunity they so deeply deserve.
A Heartfelt Thank You: To Our Heroes, and To You
We want to thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for the incredible support you’ve shown throughout this year. You’ve helped us serve those who served us. You’ve helped us give back to the heroes who have given so much for our country. Your kindness has made their journey a little easier, their healing a little deeper, and their sense of hope a little stronger.
We are deeply grateful for your belief in our mission. Together, we’ve built something powerful—something that makes a lasting impact in the lives of our veterans. And as we look ahead to 2025, we know that with your continued support, we will continue to make magic happen for our heroes.

With heartfelt gratitude,
- The WHHC Team

Date: December 4th-7th, 2024
Heroes served: 3
Location: Hollidaysburg, PA

Details: Heroes Calvin Thomas and James King were selected to return to the TB Wilderness Lodge after last year's turkey hunt. In addition to Calvin and James, the landowner also invited WHHC Alumni member David Lewis and his kids to join everyone in camp. The Heroes arrived at the lodge Wednesday evening and were greeted with a delicious dinner prepared by the Belinda family. The Heroes had traveled for most of the day and were shown to their sleeping quarters to rest before hunting the next morning.
The next morning everyone was up early and enjoyed breakfast before heading to their hunting blinds with their guides. After sitting for most of the morning everyone agreed the deer and weather were not cooperative, so the Heroes were picked up by UTV and transported back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, the Heroes headed back out to the blinds for the evening. Everyone saw deer but no shots were taken.
During the final days in camp Calvin Thomas harvested a beautiful 10-point whitetail buck and James King was able to fill his antlerless tags. Everyone had plenty of fresh venison to take home to share with their family for the holiday.
A special thanks to The Belinda Family and everyone who assisted making this hunt possible for James and Calvin. This was our 12th year at the TB Wilderness Lodge, and it was a trip the Heroes won't soon forget.

Date: November 23rd-24th, 2024
Heroes Served: 1 + Caregiver
​Location: Houston, Texas

Details: We received a call from a WHHC supporter in Houston, Texas asking if we could help out a local Vietnam Veteran and his wife.
Veteran Joe Hodge and his wife Shellie were treated to a peaceful white bass fishing trip on Lake Houston. The weather was perfect, the fish were biting, and by the end of the evening, they had filled the coolers and made some great memories together. They now have plenty of fresh fillets to share with friends and family this Thanksgiving.
But we weren’t done yet.
We decided to spend another day with Joe and took him out for a great day of fishing for redfish and seatrout. It was another incredible outing, filled with good laughs, tight lines, and the kind of peace that only comes from being out on the water.
This is what WHHC is all about, serving those who’ve served, creating space for healing, and giving back to the Heroes and families who have given so much for us. Joe and Shellie, it was an honor to have you on the water with us.

Date: November 20th-25th, 2024
Heroes Served: 5
Location: Tiskwilla, Illinois
​
Details: Heroes James Hawks, Brandon Long, Jarid Clapp, Richard Bell, and Jay Youngblood, arrived safely at the Wyndham Hotel in Princeton Illinois and were greeted by WHHC staff members David Faville, Jeffrey Kelley, Anthony Gray, Bernie Altman. Also in attendance was Franca Fasano who represents the Faville Family, the owners of the 1,250 acre ranch the Heroes would be hunting on. After brief introductions each Hero was issued their hotel room key, and everyone was taken out for a welcome dinner.
The next morning the Heroes enjoyed breakfast at the hotel and were picked up at 9:00AM and taken to the Cloverleaf Ranch. Upon arrival, the Heroes were given a safety briefing by Officer Brook Stanbary and issued their complimentary Illinois hunting license and tags and proceeded to the gun range. After the Heroes returned, they were greeted by Mr. Phillip Foster, a representative from the office of Senator Tammy Duckworth. Mr. Phillip presented each Hero with an appreciation letter for their service that was personalized and signed for each Hero. After introductions each Hero was presented with a brand new Tactacam 6.0 camera to record their hunt and experience while at the Cloverleaf Ranch. The day ended with another great meal at a local restaurant.
The next morning the Heroes arrived at the Ranch very early and were placed at their hunting locations. Hero Jay Youngblood was the first to shoot and harvested a nice 8-point buck. Each Hero had encounters with deer, but no other deer were harvested on this day. Once the hunting was over the Heroes were taken out for dinner before being returned to their hotel rooms.
The following 2 days of hunting would prove to be a challenge as the deer movement was slow. Heroes Richard Bell and James Hawks were fortunate enough to fill their tags on the last day of hunting. After camp was cleaned up and the deer were processed, Mr. Faville took everyone to a local 5-star restaurant for a farewell dinner.
This event would not be possible without the support of the Faville family. This was our second year at the Cloverleaf Ranch and the Heroes had another phenomenal experience. We appreciate everyone who continues to support WHHC and the Heroes we have the honor of serving. We can't wait to bring more Heroes to the Cloverleaf Ranch next year!

Date: November 12th-16th, 2024
Heroes served: 4
Location: Foreman, Arkansas

Details:
Filled with gratitude for the camaraderie and joy experienced over the past week. It was a privilege to connect veterans — Timothy from the Army in Little Rock, AR; Tiffanie from the Navy in Missouri City, TX; and Ricardo from the Marine Corps in Humble, TX — with the Southern Sportsmen Foundation for an incredible four day whitetail deer hunt. Each veteran was paired with a knowledgeable guide, and the event was a success, as every participant harvested a deer, creating unforgettable memories.
Listening to the heartwarming stories from the donors and volunteers who made this event possible brought great joy. The relationships formed during the hunt were truly inspiring, and witnessing these connections was a wonderful experience.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Mike Cranford and the Southern Sportsmen Foundation for their invaluable support in making this unforgettable experience possible for the veterans from Wounded Heroes Hunting Camp.

Details: Hero Heather and her husband Travis arrived on Sunday October 13th at Hupp Outfitters in Long Bottom, Ohio. The weather was great all week with a cold front moving in on Monday night. Deer were moving all week, but the old mature bucks were lying low during daylight periods. On Thursday, that all changed! At 6:30PM Heather successfully harvested a beautiful 8-point buck at 30 yards.
As always, the food and accommodations were amazing. We truly appreciate the Hupp family continuing to support WHHC and the partnership that has formed to ensure those we serve get the best experience possible!

Date: September 14, 2024
Number Of Heroes: 19 
Location: El Campo, Texas

Date: August 31st - September 5th, 2024 
Number Of Heroes: 2
Location: Gold Beach, Oregon ​

Details: During the Hero selection process for this hunt, we learned of two brothers that resided in Oregon, and qualified for an all-expense paid hunt with WHHC. After speaking with Tim McLaren and Andrew McLaren, they were ecstatic and were selected as this year’s participants for our annual Elk hunt in Gold Beach, Oregon.
Heroes Tim and Andrew arrived at base camp and were greeted by Ron and Steve, our hosts and guides. The group got to share a delicious homemade taco dinner cooked by Donna, Ron's beautiful wife. Our generous landowners, Lyle and Diane, came by to join in welcoming the two heroes. After dinner, the Heroes and the guides went on reconnaissance and saw around 30 Roosevelt Elk in the area the Heroes would be hunting the next morning. After their encounter with the herd of Elk the Heroes and their guides returned to camp and shared stories by the campfire.
The next morning the Heroes woke up to a roaring campfire and hot fresh coffee. Shortly after 6am, Steve and Ron arrived at camp to meet up with the Heroes. As tradition, the USA flag was hoisted in base camp and the Heroes were taken to their hunting blinds. On the way to his blind, Tim and his guide bumped into a herd of Elk and decided to take a shot. Tim took his time and ended up making a very good shot and harvested his very first Elk, and it was a spike!
On day two, the Heroes woke up to Elk within range of base camp. Hero Andrew decided that he would like to take a shot at one of the spike Elk and took a shot. After the encounter, Andrew was reflecting on every detail about his shot and shared that his legs were shaking due to the adrenaline rush. After reviewing the camera footage, the team decided it would be best to give the Elk time since the shot looked low. The Heroes returned to camp and distracted themselves by playing Cribbage and the volunteers prepared baby back ribs for dinner.
After four hours of waiting, the team entered the woods and followed the blood trail to find Andrew's spike Elk standing and alive. Andrew took another shot at the Elk, and it was spot on. Andrew had just harvested his very first spike Elk! After a photo session the Elk was taken back to base camp and field dressed. Both Heroes were officially tagged out by mid-day on day two and everyone was extremely pleased with the results. The Heroes enjoyed a fantastic lunch provided by the neighbors and afterwards the Elk were quartered and stored at the neighbors to keep cool.
Congratulations to Heroes Tim and Andrew on their successful hunt. The time they got together in the field is priceless and we are very thankful for our donors and sponsors that continue to help Heroes “Heal On The Hunt’!

​Date: May 8th-11th, 2024
Number Of Heroes Attending: 2
Location: Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania

Details: WHHC sent 2 Heroes to T.B wilderness Lodge in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania to attend our annual Spring Turkey hunt. Heroes Jimmy King and Calvin Thomas arrived Thursday afternoon where they were greeted by the Belinda family and friends. This hunt is not only about trying to harvest a turkey but is truly the definition of "Healing On The Hunt". The Forecast for the few days did not look to good but it did manage to hold off from raining the first and last morning. The heroes tried their best to harvest a mature Tom and heard turkeys over the few days. They even had a few shots fired but were not able to tag out.  During the Heroes stay, they enjoyed great food, conversation and lots of laughs! Both heroes enjoyed their time spent at T.B. Wilderness Lodge and are looking forward to staying in touch with their new lifelong friendships that were made. Both Heroes have been invited back by the Belinda's to attend a fall Whitetail Deer hunt. A huge thank you to the Belinda Family!

Date: April 18th-21st, 2024
Number Of Heroes Attending: 2
Location: Ashland, Virginia
​
Details: Heroes Doug W. and William S. were flown from Texas and landed in Ashland, Virginia on April 18th to join our friends from Unit To Back Outdoors for the 8th Annual Old Dominion One Shot turkey hunt. This event is always a great time, and the Heroes enjoyed every second of their time in Virginia.

Date: March 23rd, 2024
Location: Baytown, Texas
Number Of Heroes: 2

​Date: December 10, 2023
Location: Huffman, Texas
Heroes Served: 3

Details: While the warm weather was still around, we decided to plan our last White-Bass trip of the year. The Heroes had an action-packed night of fishing and filled their coolers. ​

Details: Hero Jay Cab and his two sons enjoyed an evening of Fishing in Baytown, Texas with Heather and Zack Scott from Zack Attack Fishing. Shortly after launching, the coolers began filling with fish and by the time the evening was over Jay had plenty of fish to share with his family. It was another great day on the water with a Hero and his family.

Date: November 16, 2023
Location: Baytown, TX
Number Of Heroes Served: 1

​Details: All 5 heroes Chad Rozinski, Patrick Wickens, Daniel Barnes, John Drinkard, and Bernie Altman arrived safely and was greeted by Wounded Heroes Staff Members Jeffrey Kelley & Anthony Gray along with The Faville family who hosted this hunt on their 1,250 acre farm the Cloverleaf Ranch. After settling in, everyone was taken out to a nice restaurant for dinner.
The following day all of the heroes were picked up after having breakfast at their hotel and driven to the ranch where they all sighted in their weapons and also was met by Brook Stanbary, a conservation police officer, who gave everyone there Hunting license and Tags and went over all of the procedures. Each Hero was also presented with a Brand new Tactacam 6.0 Camera. We all had lunch at the Cloverleaf ranch and later on went to another fine restaurant for dinner.
On day 2, everyone got up bright and early and left for the ranch at 4:00 AM, we then ate breakfast and the Heroes were taken to their hunting spots. It was a chilly 26 degrees and everyone saw plenty of deer. Hero Chad Rozinsky harvested a mature buck with his Crossbow.
On day 3, nice bucks were taken by Daniel Barnes who was using a muzzleloader and Bernie Altman who was using a shotgun. On the last day of the hunt John Drinkard harvested a nice big doe. Patrick Wickens had several opportunities to harvest a buck but he passed and was hoping to get a shot at one of the monster trophy bucks he had seen. On the final evening Mr. Andy Faville treated everyone to another fantastic meal at a fine dining restaurant. Mr. Andy Faville and his entire family and staff went above beyond to make this event was an unforgettable experience. Our thanks goes out to them and we look so very forward to making this an annual event.

Details: WHHC staffers and veterans Steve Jackson and Anthony Gray were treated by Jeff Kelley to a Veterans Day weekend archery hunt at his beautiful farm in Pennsylvania.
On Friday evening, the bucks were chasing and running does all over the property. No shooters gave either vet a shot.
Veterans Day was on fire. Anthony saw a few shooters and connected around 4:30 PM on a nice 8 point. The buck decided to bury himself in extreme thick terrain down the other side of a mountain. It took Anthony and Steve 2 hours to pull him out!
The guys parted ways on Sunday morning after a relaxing weekend at a beautiful farm!
Huge thanks to Jeff Kelley for sharing his beautiful farm!

Details: We met our friends Zack and Heather Scott from Zack Attack Fishing at the Thompsons Marina for an evening of fun on the bay. Wounded Hero Jeff, and his wife Sheabrie were such a pleasure to have aboard, they both have incredible stories of survival, and it was an honor to be able to serve both of them. The fishing started off slow but after the sun went down the Heroes started hooking into Bull Reds and the fight was on.
Thank you to everyone who continue to support WHHC, these trips would not be possible without you!

Details: Hero Mark and guide Steve arrived at Hupp Outfitters on Sunday evening. They settled in and had an amazing home cooked dinner in anticipation of WHHC’s 4th annual Hupp hunt.
They had an amazing first sit. They saw plenty of deer and at around 8:30, a nice, unique rack buck came in. Mark let one fly with the crossbow. Unfortunately, the shot was a tad low and the buck lived.
During the search, they utilized the services of a thermal drone to assist. The technology is absolutely amazing and is a perfect alternative to a tracking dog. Huge shoutout to Air-Rowe Drone Recovery & Ag Services for donating their time and services!
Mark harvested his first ever deer on Thursday at around 9:00. The shot was perfect on a big doe! They dropped the doe off at Rose's Deer Processing. Another huge shoutout for processing his deer for no charge. They had the deer processed, vacuum sealed and frozen solid in less than 24 hours!
As always, huge shoutout to Hupp Outfittersfor allowing us the opportunity to keep doing this hunt every year! Always amazing people, food and giant bucks!

Date: September 23rd - 25th, 2023
Number Of Heroes Attending: 5
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana ​

Date: September 14, 2023
Location: Palacios, Texas
Number Of Heroes: 18 

​Details: We got the invite from Speed Limit Outfitters LLC to come down south for a Dove hunt. We quickly made a call to our friends at Retrievers From Warriors and invited them to bring some of their Heroes along for the trip. A few days later, we had 18 Heroes in Palacios, Texas sitting along a fence row harvesting Dove left and right. It was non-stop action! Dove hunting was new for us at WHHC but after seeing how the Heroes got to interact and build friendships while hunting we have decided to offer more Dove hunts very soon.

Date: September 1-6, 2023
Location: Gold Beach, Oregon
Number Of Heroes: 2

Details: WHHC was once again invited to bring 2 Heroes out to Gold Beach, Oregon to join an Elk hunt with Mr. Hanks, and his team of volunteers for 2 wounded Heroes. When the Heroes arrived in camp they were immediately welcomed into the WHHC family and got settled in. After a few encounters with Elk each day both Heroes successfully harvested Cow Elk. The two Heroes that attended the hunt this year had a great time and left camp with fresh meat to share with their family back home.

​Thank you very much Ron Hanks, Lyle Dishner, Steve Pollock, Deena, Ron Carlson, Jim Cogley, Phil McCracken, Paul, Tyson Kreger, Bean, Bill, Geff.

Date: August 31, 2023
Number Of Heroes Attending: 1
Location: Waterside Marina, Texas

Details: Last-night we met Heroes Sean Jordan and Adam Linke at the Waterside Marina in Huffman. Both Heroes are local to Houston and served our Country with honor. These warriors have incredible stories and are still continuing to improve upon themselves today. We are thankful for the time we got to spend with them and welcome them both to the WHHC family. ​

Date: August 26, 2023
Number Of Heroes Attending: 3
Location: Waterside Marina, Texas

Details: Yesterday we met Wounded Hero Michelle and her wife Amanda at the Waterside Marina in Huffman, Texas. Michelle served in the 720th MP BN and was part of the initial invasion force into Iraq in 2003. It was an evening of laughs, comradery and filling the coolers with fresh fish for them to enjoy at home. As always, thank you to both Zack and Heather Scott for continuing to help WHHC complete our Mission.