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First Operation Injured Soldiers Hunt in Michigan Ends With A
……..Bang!!!!!!!
In Feb. I had the privilege to meet Eric Howard from QDMA. During our conversation he asked if
he could host a couple of soldiers for hunts in Hastings Mi. One would be for Whitetails this fall,
the other, the one we were on would be for the ever elusive Eastern Turkey!! After receiving the
call from Eric that we were invited down my first call was to Don Goldsberry, a Vietnam Veteran
who served with both First Cav. And the famed 101st. While serving with distinction, Don
unfortunately lost his leg after stepping on a mine in Vietnam. Don’s reply was an energetic yes,
“but I have never been turkey hunting before” he said. My reply was that there was a first time for
everything. All arrangements were made and I would be picking Don up on Wed. the 19th of April.
After arriving in Onondaga Mi. we loaded up and headed for Hastings. Enjoying the scenery of
Michigan’s country side we soon arrived and checked in at our hotel. Plans for the night included
dinner with Eric and the rest of our supporters, gentlemen from both the Pheasants Forever, North
West Turkey Federation, and QDMA. During dinner Don was presented with the first of his
surprises, a new camo hunting jacket from Operation Injured Soldiers. Dinner at the County Seat
was a great time for all involved. After dinner Don was given the second of his surprises.
Pheasants Forever had donated the use of their mule to transport Don to and from his hunt.
After dinner it was decided that we would get some much needed sleep as we were getting up at 4:
00 am to head to the woods. We were hunting on John Cheeseman’s farm and our guide’s Eric and
Steve had seen several good Tom’s in the fields surrounding the farm.
As we headed out to the woods I was once again reminded of why we do this, Don was as giddy
as a kid at Christmas waiting to open his presents. Arriving at the farm we loaded up in the mule
which saved us the walk into the woods and headed out to our blind. The wait for Don was filled
with anticipation, waiting for daylight when the birds would come down from their roost. Daylight
found the sounds of turkey surrounding us in the woods where we were sitting. Steve was
hammering the calls and the toms were responding with vigor. As Steve called and the tom’s
responded we waited, watched and listened. The turkey’s are around us we can hear them calling
to Steve but nothing has come into sight. About 8:00 the wait finally got to Don. “Can I stand up
and stretch” he asked, we had not heard anything for about 30-45 min. so I said go ahead. “My butt
hurts” he said. Oh the joy’s of sitting in a blind. As Don ask’s me what time it was I could tell he
was ready to head to the truck. The early morning, and the anticipation had drained him. I looked
around and coming down the hill behind us were 6 jakes. I reach over and tap Don and say “don,
we have turkey coming down the hill behind us”. “WHERE” he says as he jumps and turns!! Good
thing we were sitting in the new Matrix blind from Double Bull. “Calm down, slow movements I
remind him”. “They are coming right down the fence row and will be right to our front right, the
one in the lead is the biggest, if you want him take him when your shot is clear”. As the birds
cleared the Walnut tree we were next to Don said he had a shot. “Take him”, I said. His response
was a loud……BANG….. From the 12 ga. He was using. The Jake never knew what hit him . 10
yards, with a 12ga, loaded with # 6 turkey shot even if it doesn’t have a choke is deadly. This bird
was done, he was flipped over and did not move. High fives, and congratulations, followed with
Don laughing and crying. His first turkey hunt and his first turkey. This was indeed a great day .
As we exited the blind we looked at his trophy and smiled. The bird had started to flop on the
ground. “Should I shoot him again”? Don asks. “No, he’s done, do you want to go get him or do
you want me to?” “You go” he say’s still shaking. As I duck under the fence and collect Don’s
turkey I can hear Eric and Steve running through the leaves yelling and whooping that they had
heard the shot.
Pictures and more laughs were in order next with everyone wanting to hear the story from Don.
During which all he wanted to say was thank-you. As the tears rolled and laughter came. We
headed back to the truck, and some breakfast for our hero. Relaxing the rest of the day, with a BBQ
that night for Don, we headed out the following morning to take Don home to share his story with
his wife.
As I drove home to my own family, I thought about all the soldiers, who still wait for the time
when they will be able to hunt again, and for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to us, so that we
may enjoy these time honored traditions. These young men and women, leave their own families,
and friends so we may live how we wish and say what we want without fear of reprocutions. For
those who protest, I ask do you realize who you step on while doing this, it is not the politicians,
but the soldier who gives you the right to speak your mind. They deserve our support, not our
protest.
To those who came before us, and to those yet to come I say thank you. You will always have this
old soldiers support.
……..Bang!!!!!!!
In Feb. I had the privilege to meet Eric Howard from QDMA. During our conversation he asked if
he could host a couple of soldiers for hunts in Hastings Mi. One would be for Whitetails this fall,
the other, the one we were on would be for the ever elusive Eastern Turkey!! After receiving the
call from Eric that we were invited down my first call was to Don Goldsberry, a Vietnam Veteran
who served with both First Cav. And the famed 101st. While serving with distinction, Don
unfortunately lost his leg after stepping on a mine in Vietnam. Don’s reply was an energetic yes,
“but I have never been turkey hunting before” he said. My reply was that there was a first time for
everything. All arrangements were made and I would be picking Don up on Wed. the 19th of April.
After arriving in Onondaga Mi. we loaded up and headed for Hastings. Enjoying the scenery of
Michigan’s country side we soon arrived and checked in at our hotel. Plans for the night included
dinner with Eric and the rest of our supporters, gentlemen from both the Pheasants Forever, North
West Turkey Federation, and QDMA. During dinner Don was presented with the first of his
surprises, a new camo hunting jacket from Operation Injured Soldiers. Dinner at the County Seat
was a great time for all involved. After dinner Don was given the second of his surprises.
Pheasants Forever had donated the use of their mule to transport Don to and from his hunt.
After dinner it was decided that we would get some much needed sleep as we were getting up at 4:
00 am to head to the woods. We were hunting on John Cheeseman’s farm and our guide’s Eric and
Steve had seen several good Tom’s in the fields surrounding the farm.
As we headed out to the woods I was once again reminded of why we do this, Don was as giddy
as a kid at Christmas waiting to open his presents. Arriving at the farm we loaded up in the mule
which saved us the walk into the woods and headed out to our blind. The wait for Don was filled
with anticipation, waiting for daylight when the birds would come down from their roost. Daylight
found the sounds of turkey surrounding us in the woods where we were sitting. Steve was
hammering the calls and the toms were responding with vigor. As Steve called and the tom’s
responded we waited, watched and listened. The turkey’s are around us we can hear them calling
to Steve but nothing has come into sight. About 8:00 the wait finally got to Don. “Can I stand up
and stretch” he asked, we had not heard anything for about 30-45 min. so I said go ahead. “My butt
hurts” he said. Oh the joy’s of sitting in a blind. As Don ask’s me what time it was I could tell he
was ready to head to the truck. The early morning, and the anticipation had drained him. I looked
around and coming down the hill behind us were 6 jakes. I reach over and tap Don and say “don,
we have turkey coming down the hill behind us”. “WHERE” he says as he jumps and turns!! Good
thing we were sitting in the new Matrix blind from Double Bull. “Calm down, slow movements I
remind him”. “They are coming right down the fence row and will be right to our front right, the
one in the lead is the biggest, if you want him take him when your shot is clear”. As the birds
cleared the Walnut tree we were next to Don said he had a shot. “Take him”, I said. His response
was a loud……BANG….. From the 12 ga. He was using. The Jake never knew what hit him . 10
yards, with a 12ga, loaded with # 6 turkey shot even if it doesn’t have a choke is deadly. This bird
was done, he was flipped over and did not move. High fives, and congratulations, followed with
Don laughing and crying. His first turkey hunt and his first turkey. This was indeed a great day .
As we exited the blind we looked at his trophy and smiled. The bird had started to flop on the
ground. “Should I shoot him again”? Don asks. “No, he’s done, do you want to go get him or do
you want me to?” “You go” he say’s still shaking. As I duck under the fence and collect Don’s
turkey I can hear Eric and Steve running through the leaves yelling and whooping that they had
heard the shot.
Pictures and more laughs were in order next with everyone wanting to hear the story from Don.
During which all he wanted to say was thank-you. As the tears rolled and laughter came. We
headed back to the truck, and some breakfast for our hero. Relaxing the rest of the day, with a BBQ
that night for Don, we headed out the following morning to take Don home to share his story with
his wife.
As I drove home to my own family, I thought about all the soldiers, who still wait for the time
when they will be able to hunt again, and for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to us, so that we
may enjoy these time honored traditions. These young men and women, leave their own families,
and friends so we may live how we wish and say what we want without fear of reprocutions. For
those who protest, I ask do you realize who you step on while doing this, it is not the politicians,
but the soldier who gives you the right to speak your mind. They deserve our support, not our
protest.
To those who came before us, and to those yet to come I say thank you. You will always have this
old soldiers support.
| INJURED SOLDIERS FOUNDATION |
| It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble. It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the VETERAN, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote. |
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