By Simon Gonzalez
A member of the U.S. Marine Corps looked at the number of soldiers from the Army base at Fort Bragg on hand for the Oorah vs. Hooah Fishing Battle at Wrightsville Beach on October 29 and shook his head with disgust.
“It happened again,” he said. “Outnumbered.”
A buddy quickly corrected him.
“Ain’t no such thing as being outnumbered,” he said.
Maybe not in battle, where fighting spirit and determination might carry the day. But the number of hooks baited and in the water makes all the difference in a fishing contest, and the Army’s superior numbers carried the day in the annual friendly competition between the two services that took place in rough waters about 25 miles offshore.
“There’s only one thing that needs to be said,” said Chief Warrant Officer Jim Lane as he received the winner’s trophy during a post-event celebration at the Bridge Tender. “Army strong!”
This was the ninth Fishing Battle pitting Marines stationed at the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East at Camp Lejeune against soldiers from the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Bragg.
Both units exist to care for wounded, injured or ill service members, to help them transition to medical retirement and life after the military or back to combat units, and to provide support for their families.
Most of the men fishing on the Vonda Kay last week were injured fighting in Afghanistan or Iraq. Many are suffering from unseen wounds, dealing with the effects of traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress.
The competition was organized by Hope For The Warriors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing medical services and resources for wounded service members, veterans and their families and gave the participants a chance to get off base and enjoying camaraderie while reeling in a few fish.
“These activities make a difference,” said Army Master Sergeant Carlos Ramirez, one of the soldiers from Fort Bragg. “It gets your mind off your problems.”
Even though the Army earned bragging rights for the year, members of the winning team downplayed the competition aspect.
“The Army and Marines like to take jabs at each other, but this was just a good day of fishing,” said Army Sergeant First Class Eugene Foutz, who caught the biggest fish of the day, a 20-pound amberjack. “Any day on the water is a good day.”
Army Staff Sergeant Henry Pagan agreed.
“The trophy was a bonus,” said Pagan, who barely missed the biggest fish prize with an amberjack that was a few ounces smaller than Foutz’s. “But I wasn’t here for the competition. I was just here for the fishing.”
Pagan is on his way to medical retirement because of cumulative injuries sustained while serving with the 82nd Airborne and in Special Operations. This was his second consecutive year to participate in the event.
“Last year I barely caught any fish, but I had such a good time,” he said. “I wanted to come back because I enjoyed the camaraderie. It’s just fun.”
The Fishing Battle was the brainchild of Raleigh psychiatrist Dr. Richard Weisler, who met Marines in the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East while delivering a lecture on depression and PTSD at Camp Lejeune in 2007. He has had a home at Wrightsville Beach for 21 years, and spent many weekends on the water with local fisherman Kit Taylor.
Weisler wanted to do something for the wounded veterans, and he had Taylor partnered with Hope For The Warriors to organize the inaugural event. He was back out on the boat again this year.
“To see people who have experienced significant trauma out there having a good time, that never gets old,” he said. “It’s something we want to continue.”
