San Marcos — Over a million military veterans, from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, have returned to the U S badly wounded and hurting. They must deal with injuries both visible and invisible. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are very prevalent and cause long term problems. All theses wounded warriors need help.

Let me introduce you to a group that is doing something for them to make a difference.

Jim Dolan is a veteran Air Force pilot and founder of Heroes on the Water (HOW). HOW simply offers the therapy of kayak fishing. Four years ago, HOW was birthed with a simple purpose: To help injured military personnel relax, rehabilitate and reintegrate with society through kayak fishing and the outdoors. For thousands of our hurting heroes, kayak fishing has become a liberating source of rehabilitation.

“It shatters the perceived limits of their injuries and creates an openness to interact, learn new skills and focus on a bright future ahead,” says Dolan.

Actually, the kayak fishing opportunities provided by HOW is triple therapy: 1. Physical exercise - paddling and fishing. 2. Occupational skills - learning a lifetime activity. 3. Mental and emotional healing - relaxing outdoors on the water.

Kayak fishing also offers camaraderie, a sense of independence anda new sport to enjoy with their families.

A mother of an injured veteran, standing next to a line of abandoned wheelchairs, put it like this: “Looking out onto the lake, there is no way to differentiate between the able bodied and the disabled heroes - a huge therapeutic moment for the parent of a wounded warrior.”

A few days ago my fishing pal, Mike Schlimgen, joined a group of leaders from HOW to guide a group of wounded warriors on a kayak fishing adventure. The injured vets came from Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, home to many of our healing heroes.

Kody heads up the HOW program at Brooks. Wounded in battle, Kody spent a year at Walter Reed Hospital before coming to Texas. Joe, an original HOW team leader, invited Kody on a kayak fishing trip in 2010. After just one outing, Kody was hooked. Now he is able toshare his motivation and joy with other battle buddies.

It was a warm, foggy, winter morning when the bus load of injured combatants arrived at the Guadalupe River to fish. This was their first experience with Heroes on the Water.

Mike said, “One by one, they took their places in the kayaks, grabbed a paddle and fishing pole, and pushed off into the river. A few displayed smiles of joy as they headed out on the water; others looked as foggy as the warm winter air. It had been a long time since they had smiled at all. Maybe today would be different.”

Soon chattering and bantering could be heard from the river. Someone had caught a nice bass. As others paddled to get a closer look at the fish, jokes and laughter broke the silence of the morning.

“More smiles began to appear. It was working,” boasted Mike.

After two hours of paddling and fishing a shore lunch of sandwiches and chips brought the fishermen together. They had worked up some healthy appetites.

“By now the morning fog had lifted and the spirits of our warriors had lifted as well. War stories began to emerge, a military tradition as old as time itself. Life was good,” related Mike

These guys had joined the military from faraway places like Montana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Idaho, and Hawaii. Together, they went into battle, fighting for freedom. Now they were engaged in the common goals to rehabilitate and reintegrate. To get better and get on with life.

HOW currently had 35 chapters nationwide. This kayak therapy organization is funded completely through donations from individuals, corporations and industry sponsors. The need more financial resources and volunteer help.

Dolan says, “When you help Heroes on the Water, you help a veteran. When you help a veteran, you help their family. When you help a veteran and their family, everybody wins.

Visit www.HeroesOnthe Water.org and learn more about how to help our wounded warriors.

Jim Darnell is an ordained minister and host/producer of the syndicated outdoors show, God’s Great Outdoors. His column appears every Thursday in the Daily Record.