Enjoying a day of hunting and camaraderie
Review Photo/ERIC HRIN Charlie Davis, incoming commander of VFW Post 1568, presents a gift hat to James McGee.
Review Photo/ERIC HRIN James McGee poses for a photo with local veterans: first row, left to right, Bill Wida, McGee, Don Surrett, Roy Schrimp; second row, Charlie Davis, Lester Price, Joe Nolte, Carl Covey and Tom Colella; and third row, Paul Mosier, Richard Dykeman, Dan Rungo and Laverne Kisner.
TOWANDA TWP. - James McGee didn't have a successful turkey hunt Saturday, but he did get to enjoy the camaraderie of some local veterans during a visit in Towanda Township.
U.S. Army Spc. McGee, a "wounded warrior" who was injured in Iraq in 2008 and is stationed at Ft. Eustis in the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU), won a skeet shooting competition through the wildlife foundation of NASCAR great Ward Burton, and was awarded the chance to go on a turkey hunt in Pennsylvania through the National Wild Turkey Federation, in addition to some other hunting prizes.
On Saturday, McGee went on the hunt on the property of the Hirst family in the Milan area, in Bradford County. The television show "Xtreme Outdoors Huntin' Hard" on the Sportsman Channel covered the hunt and McGee's visit for a future episode.
"He got lucky," McGee said of the turkey. "He wouldn't come across that field for nothing." McGee said the hunt will continue Monday, and he hopes to bag a turkey then.
"He just got a reprieve today," he joked.
He thought the area had some beautiful scenery.
According to turkey federation member Buck Shimp, who was on the hunt with McGee, there were three chapters of the federation helping out and donating supplies for the hunt: the Lower Bucks Longbeards and its president, who is Shimp; the Delaware County Longbeards and its president, Chuck Matthews; and the Silver Spurs.
After the hunt, McGee enjoyed the company of local veterans at the pavilion at VFW Post 1568 in Towanda Township.
Appropriately enough, it was Armed Forces Day.
McGee, who was also in the Marine Corps for seven years, said he was impressed by the impact the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation is making with wounded warriors like himself.
"The Ward Burton Foundation is doing a tremendous thing for the wounded soldiers," he said. "A lot of the soldiers, they sit back, and they don't know what they're going to do when they get out."
"Every day you go to bed, you're hurting. Every day you wake up, you're hurting. You go to doctor appointments ... that's your life."
Glenn Campbell, with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, said Burton is trying to help the wounded soldiers by acting as a bridge between them and organizations that can help them like the VFW, AMVETS and American Legion. He said the hunt McGee participated in and the gathering with the VFW in Towanda was an example of Burton's outreach.
"This truly is the essence of grassroots," he said.
"He wants to guide you and nurture you back into society," McGee said.
"It's such a great foundation," McGee continued. He said Burton's actions have motivated to him to want to help others.
"He wants to do more for the WTU's, and get the soldiers out and doing things and get back on track," he said of Burton.
Although his injuries no longer permit him to work in the heavy construction field, his former career, McGee said he wants to pursue employment in the future, and is considering his options. He said he plans to help other soldiers get back into civilian life in the future.
Roy Schrimp, the outgoing VFW commander, said he was contacted by the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation about McGee coming to the VFW. He noted that members from American Legion Post 42, the Disabled American Veterans, the Marine Corps League and AMVETS Post 187 took part in Saturday's event as well.
"These guys, they're warriors," he said. "We're very grateful for what they do. We need more like them."
Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; e-mail: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.
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