CCRS Supporting The Troops

Wounded warriors hit the high seas

By CHRISSY VICK
Jacksonville Daily News
Note: This article has been edited to remove references to a particular organization and it’s website.

**** members Tim Taramelli and Richard Phelps featured in News! And they've found a way to turn that passion into a service for Camp Lejeune's war-wounded.

Taramelli and Phelps are members of an online forum who have banded together to take wounded warriors out fishing for free. ****** members have a passion for fishing. Through the "Take a Hero Fishing" program, local fishermen take Marines and sailors from the Wounded Warrior Barracks aboard Camp Lejeune out into the open waters. They say it's just a small way to say thank you.

"If you were able to go out on the water with these guys you'd see why it's such a fulfilling thing to do," said Tim Taramelli of Hubert. "They served our country at war, and when they get out there they're completely at peace."

Taramelli has taken wounded warriors and other active-duty Marines and sailors on numerous fishing trips on his boat. He and other ******* members, all a part of the online forum at ******, say it's become the highlight of what they already love to do.

He remembered the first three wounded Marines he took fishing. They had never been before.

"They sat in the heat of the day patiently waiting for four hours to catch something," he said. "The tide turned and they started hooking them. To see their faces light up with joy when they got a fish was amazing."

Cpl. Noe Aguirre of the Wounded Warrior Barracks is just one of many who have been fishing with the ******* group. He was injured Nov. 25 in Iraq while on a foot patrol.

Aguirre says it was his first time fishing and something he enjoyed. With his family and friends in California, time spent with people who care is something he needs.

"The (Wounded Warrior) Barracks is great," he said. "But sometimes you just need to get out. The thing that always gets me is you don't even know these people, and yet they consider you a hero. It's what keeps me going, what makes my deployment worth it."

The idea was brought forward by ****** member Master Gunnery Sgt. Jim Allen of Marine Forces Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune after he heard that other members had helped Marines with a situation in Wilmington.

Among them was Rodney Carroll of Raleigh, who comes to the area regularly to take Marines fishing.

"Last year we found out that Marines in Wilmington were being stopped from entering some restaurants and clubs down there," Carroll said. "We wanted to find out which ones and stand up for them. From there, we decided there was a whole lot more we could do."

Carroll and others wanted to show their appreciation for the troops and held their first Military Appreciation Day last year with fishing, activities and a "southern style" cookout for more than 200 service members and their families.

"What these guys do for us is important, and we want them to know we appreciate it," Carroll said. "It doesn't matter whether you're for or against this war, you can't deny these guys serve our country."

Allen later posted an online message for ******* members with the idea of taking wounded warriors fishing.

"I asked them to take them out fishing to get them out of the barracks and help with their recovery," Allen said. "I got a huge response."

Getting the injured Marines out in the open water helps with recovery through boosting morale and improving coordination, he said.

"The main purpose is to help these guys out," Allen said. "The organization as a whole has been phenomenal."

The fishermen later gathered enough money and donations to give the wounded warriors fishing poles, tackle, lures and bait for Christmas.

Richard Phelps of Hubert is working to collect donations to pay for fishing licenses for the Marines and sailors. He hopes to see more service members coming out on the trips, but also more people in the community getting involved.

"People aren't aware of what we're doing, and we want them to take a Marine fishing," he said. "Anyone can join in. The smiles on their faces speak for themselves."

Phelps, who has been in Onslow County all his life, enjoys giving Marines the history of the Swansboro area while fishing.

"It's just the fact that we can pass on some of the enjoyment we get out of being outdoors," he said. "They really appreciate it. Down here it's hard for them to get out and fish."

For more information on the "Take a Hero Fishing" program, visit *******. The next Military Appreciation Day will be held on May 19 at the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Fort Macon. For more information, visit www.militaryappreciationday.org.

To help with the costs of fishing licenses for the wounded warriors, send a donation to Wounded Warrior License Fund c/o of Richard Phelps, P.O. Box 292, Hubert, N.C. 28539. NOTE: DONATIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR MILITARY HEROES PLEASE DONATE TO www.MILITARYAPPRECIATIONDAY.ORG.

Another article that was in the Jacksonville Daily News:

May 18, 2007 - 12:00AM

Wounded Warriors tackle pier fishing

DAILY NEWS STAFF

Note: This article has been edited to remove references to a particular organization and it’s website.

Lance Cpl. Ryan Hughes had his first North Carolina saltwater fishing experience earlier this month.

Members of ***** want to make sure it's not his last.

Members of the online fishing community have made a commitment to help get Camp Lejeune's wounded warriors out on the water.

"Take a Hero Fishing" is a program started by the online forum at *******. Its members take Marines and sailors from Camp Lejeune's Wounded Warriors Barracks on fishing trips.

And with the help of the community, they are able to continue their support.

"Because of community support we were able to raise $1,950 to purchase fishing licenses for the Marines," said Richard Phelps of ********.

Since March, Phelps has been collecting donations to pay for the fishing licenses. The current cost of a license is $15.

Hughes was among a group of Marines who spent May 4 at Seaview Pier.

"It feels nice to be out here and we're all very grateful for all of this," Hughes said. "We've been treated very well."

Local fishermen such as Dale Shull of Sneads Ferry have been donating their fishing gear and their time to support the Marines.

"I come out here all the time to fish, but I especially like coming out to here to support these guys," he said.

Greg Ludlum, owner of the pier at North Topsail Beach, provided free access to the pier, as well as fishing poles, bait and free meals.

"I don't mind donating my effort, and it's well-deserving to them," he said.

Ludlum and fellow fisherman Frank Mumpower, who also provides free fishing trips for youth groups and church groups, hopes that donating time and supplies to the wounded will help to encourage more community involvement.

"It's nice to see those men being treated like humans," Mumpower said. "They have done their jobs, and it feels nice to help them."

The money that Phelps raised was donated from members of *******, as well as readers of The Daily News and other papers that featured the Take a Hero Fishing program. Phelps presented the donations to Robin Kelleher, president of Hope for the Warriors, a local nonprofit group that supports wounded warriors and their families.

"This is a way to get them out of the barracks and get their minds off of any problems they may have," Phelps said. "It's a morale boost for them to know that people in the community are thinking of them."

Marines hit ol’ fishin’ hole

Program provided to Wounded Warriors

April 30, 2008 - 11:36PM

THE DAILY NEWS

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the organization with which Richard Phelps is affiliated. Phelps and the community volunteers are members of NCAngler.com.

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH - Small mullet were about the only fish biting.

But Marines from Camp Lejeune's Wounded Warriors Barracks still enjoyed the surprise outing to Seaview Pier on Tuesday.

Fishing alongside the troops were community volunteers and members of NCAngler.com, as part of its Take a Hero Fishing program.

The program started through the online forum at www.ncangler.com and resulted in members taking Marines and sailors from the Wounded Warriors Barracks on fishing trips whenever possible.

Richard Phelps of NCAngler planned the pier fishing event.

"This has been the second year for this pier trip," Phelps said. "Greg Ludlum, the owner of the pier, was gracious enough to provide us with free access to the pier, and he donated fishing poles, bait and a free lunch. This pier allows wounded warriors to fish free any time - I wish other piers would do the same."

Phelps said he wanted to do the event again this year because he wants to make sure these men know they are appreciated and have not been forgotten.

"Whether you agree with the war or not, these guys didn't make the policy, and I don't want these guys to feel the same way men returning from Vietnam and other wars felt - forgotten and neglected," he said.

Many of the wounded said it was a great escape and bonding experience.

"It has been an outstanding experience - to get away for the day with the other wounded warriors is great," Cpl. Patrick Phillips said. "I like to fish, but can use all the help I can get, since I'm terrible at it. The (volunteers) have been great at giving me hints and tips. It's nice that people care about Marines, and it's a great chance for us to be with each other out of the military environment."

Lance Cpl. David Hoover enjoyed the normalcy of the day.

"To me it means catching up on lost time - doing normal things, and forgetting about dirt and worst places," he said.

Cpl. Dennis Albaugh said he could succinctly describe what the outing meant to him.

"I need only two words: therapeutic and fun," he said. "I woke up this morning not knowing I was going to get to do this today, and I feel so fortunate. I am very thankful for the people that put this together and enabled us to do this."

Phelps hopes he can encourage the community to support the program.

"I raised around $2,000 through members of NCWaterman.com and through The Daily News and other newspapers that have written stories about the Take a Hero Fishing program," he said. "If a reader wants to take one of these guys out fishing, all they have to do is call up the barracks. Hope for the Warriors, a local nonprofit group that supports wounded warriors and their families, maintains the account and will purchase a (fishing) license for them with this money, so they can go."

Phyllis Stiles said she was happy to see the wounded Marines enjoy the day on the pier.

"I came with my son, who is volunteering, and this is so nice!" Stiles said. "They should do this on every pier and serve them dinner."

Contact Topsail area reporter Suzanne Ulbrich at sulbrich@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8466.