LETTERS OF GRATITUDE

The Freedom To Fish at Clark Hill
from BR400
10/27/2008 10:24:43 AM

Sergeant Clyde Jesse (CJ) Harris from Chicago was the soldier I drew out with yesterday on Clark Hill......It has been Clark Hill to me all my life, not Thurmond or Clarks Hill, but Clark Hill. I wasn't going to let CJ fish with me since he stated he was a Bear's fan, but he said he even had on a Walter Peyton t-shirt. I figured if the guy was wearing a Walter Peyton t-shirt, he was OK and could ride with BR200 and me. CJ was 23 years old and had been in the Army since he was 17 and the National Guard before that. He was an extemly nice young man and a great representative of the US military. He said he was an AIT instructor....I told him explain the acronym and he said he basically trained the troops after the graduated from boot camp. CJ is married and his wife is also a soldier. He had done a tour in Iraq and then was sent to Fort Gordon. I think he made a great impression on BR200.

BR200 was also able to fish with us. He had been to a Fish The Fall tournament at Lake Murray and he came over to help out with the event. His services were not needed since the FLW series guys hung aorund Sunday to help with the weigh in and such...
Many thanks for the support from FLW Outdoors!

So, CJ, BR200, and I loaded up and went up Little River to the Raysville area where my good friend Buter and I had found a few fish Saturday by working #11 Rapalas around the hydrilla line in the stained water. I figured this would be a good way for CJ to get a few fish since it is a pretty easy technicque to pick up on for a guy who has never been on Clark Hill.

We hit several pockets and bays with grass and I was only able to get two 10" fish. I guess the strong cold front had completely shut our bite down. We fished in that area to about 12:00 and we checked with Buter across the lake and he only had one keeper so we ran back down the Cherokee Creek area to hit some points with some topwater and Sebiles.....No luck.

It was a little scary running up the Little River but when we got back below the big bridge it was pretty easy to run except for a few sand bars just barely sticking out of the water...SCARY.

CJ was impressed with the Cougar FTD with the big 250 Pro XS! He kept commenting on the big motor and I said do you want to drive it? He said Oh Yeah. Since it was open water below the Littel River bridge, we took off east and he was getting the feel for it..especially the hot foot. We went down and made a tight turn and I told him to head straight for the bridge opening and give it some gas. We were moving along pretty well and I kept bumping the trim up and he had the bow flying and I told him go punch it. He got it up in the 65 MPH range and ran it about a mile until we stopped at the bridge. Needless to say he was smiling big time.

We hit a few more points and went by Wildwood to drop off BR200 at 1:30 to see if he could help do anything before the boats came in at 2:00.
CJ and I hit a few points and pockets near the ramp with no luck. I was still an awesome day to show some thanks to these men and women who make it possible for us to do what we do.

Many thanks go out to the boaters who showed up to help take these men and women fishing, Columbia County and the Clark Hill area people, FLW Outdoors, and especially Rick and Shannan Tilson who organized everything. Shannan had been down at Augusta all week making sure everything was taken care of and even was able to promote the event on local TV and radio. Shannan didn't have an offical count yet but she said there were between 55 and 60 soldiers that were able to go fishing.

BR

Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Tilson,

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of such a great event. I am really glad that I was able to make this years event and I am looking forward to the next one. The FLW group made the guys feel like they were Pro's for a day, they get a Big Atta-boy for doing an "Outstanding" job.

The Mission was to take the troops fish' in and Tilson's you went "beyond yourselves" to promote fellowship and create a relationship among all the participates and your community.

Sincerely Thanks,
Joey Hazel
Days Process Technician
Solutia, Inc. Greenwood

Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:08 AM
Support soldiers through fishing event

Rick and Shannan,

I would like to personally thank both of you again for a Fantastic Event this past weekend. Super and Positive comments are being received from those who participated in the fishing event and attended the show.

Brigadier General Foley would like to personally thank ALL involved in the fishing event and show. I know it's Thanksgiving week, but if you could please find the time to send me a list of those individuals and their mailing addresses who contributed their time and effort to the Fishing Event and The Show by next Monday-26 Nov 07, I would be greatly appreciative of your help and assistance. Would like for you to include the National and Georgia ABA staff and volunteers, the entertainers, and
boaters if possible.

I hope both of you had safe trips back to your homes and have rested somewhat for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday.

Again Thank You for All you did for our Service Members and their Families.

Bill
WILLIAM H. WREN, JR
Chief, Recreation Division, DMWR
Fort Gordon, GA

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Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007
Subject: Thanks Again

Ladies, thanks again for all of your tremendous efforts to put the fishing and show together....have heard nothing but great comments about what great events both were. Please extend thanks to Jessica and everyone else who helped make it happen, especially to the Bama Girls, Brad Cotter, and the Wayne Mills Band who all volunteered their time for the show.

Thom E. Tuckey
Col, US Army, Retired
Executive Director
CSRA Alliance for Ft Gordon

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Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007

Again, I cannot tell you how much fun we had! You will have to ask Chris about his wild ride on the boat -- I don't think he will ever get in a boat again -- ha ha! I also don't believe our girls will ever be the same again after meeting those BAMA girls. Their life aspiration is to now become a BAMA girl. Considering Chris is originally from Alabama -- I wonder if I should be concerned. We still haven't stopped laughing over the girls mimicking the Bama girls dancing!!

Chris will be speaking to you about the pictures, etc. He has some wonderful pictures of this event. This is our busiest time of the year and unfortunately everyone wants those holiday pictures, but he hopes to have something for you at the beginning of next week.

It was really nice meeting you and hope to meet you again one day. By the way -- YOU did a fabulous job organizing this event!!

Thank you!

Donna Owens
The Portrait Parlor
(276) 679-4770