Yellowstone National Park

September, 2007

The plane touched down under a blue Montana Sky. I was about to start the most wonderful adventure I could ever imagine. I had been invited to attend a fly fishing trip with Warriors and Quiet Waters, a Bozeman Montana based group similar to Project Healing Waters. I was a little apprehensive at first. I would be traveling without any of my Project Healing Waters family. For the first time since arriving back from Afghanistan, I was totally on my own.

Whatever fears I had were soon put to rest. On the afternoon of 17 September, I was greeted by the wonderful smile of Jean Fanning. Jean is the wife of Retired Marine Corps pilot COL Eric Fanning who is the brainchild of WQW. We secured my gear, loaded it and my wheelchair into the van and set off for the private side of the airport where the rest of the party was landing. There we linked up with 6 young Marines and one other Army soldier. They had flown in by C-12 from California. I soon learned they were Warriors in Transition from Balboa Navy Medical Center and Camp Pendleton. The Marines all had injuries similar to mine. The Army soldier was an amputee. Also traveling with the group was WQW support staff from California Ric (call sign Rico) Jones also a retired Marine Corps Pilot and his son. Later that evening we would be joined by the Recreation Therapist from Balboa.

Warriors and Quiet Waters had done a lot of preplanning for our adventure. Local restaurants had donated an evening meal for each night we were on ground. A wonderful home had been donated for our stay as well. We were able to settle in to comfortable group accommodations. We awoke our first morning to the smell of a home cooked breakfast. Jean was joined by volunteer Jamie Franks. We were blessed with more food then we could possibly consume and it was delicious, balanced and a healthy start for our busy days. The first morning we had a radio spot to promote awareness for the wounded warriors and the need for “Quiet” times on the water. From there it was on with our adventure. We went to a local farm where we were greeted by our guides for the week. We had a training session followed by fly casting practice with our professional guides. We were each given the gift of a new rod and reel, chest pack, hats and sunglasses. Also in the group were local volunteers ranging from ranchers to retired Army Generals. I was assisted by local Pro Guide Steve Gamble. I was soon to learn that Steve is the owner of the Gallatin River Lodge.

The second morning we began our drift boat adventure. The day was cold with misty rain, but no one seemed to mind. I was placed in a boat with Rico Jones and guide Jeff Shouse. I was unprepared for the beauty and excitement of drift boat fishing the Yellowstone River. Rico and I enjoyed a full day of catching Rainbow and Cutthroat trout. We took out for lunch on a rocky bank and were soon greeted by the Cavalry. I called it an ambush, perfectly executed. As soon as we set out the food, 3 horses appeared from over the hill top. They were great company. And great thieves of our apples. Because of the excellent training I had gotten by PHW volunteers, I was able to land 13 trout and 3 white fish, enough to be the day’s leading fisherman. The Marines were quick studies, though, and they were quick to beat my record in the days to come. We raced the rain off the water and rounded out the day at the Gallatin River Lodge hosted by Steve my guide from the first day. His lodge was beautiful and rustic. The atmosphere was wonderful, the food beyond compare.

Our third day on ground we started early for a guided tour of the Yellowstone National Park. What an adventure. Our bus driver was former Army Special Forces and a veteran of Vietnam. He donated his birthday to us, saying he couldn’t think of a better way to spend it than with Wounded Warriors. It was an honor for all of us.

Due to my upcoming surgery, I left on 22 September, a day before my new found buddies from the Marine Corps. I fished the Madison River until noon and caught my flight home at 1330. It was a perfectly timed adventure that I will never forget. It was the perfect peace I needed to get me through the next surgery and upcoming frustrations of life in a medical environment. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity. My thanks go out to Project Healing Waters and Warriors and Quiet Waters for their cooperative work to get me out to Montana and on the water…

… Any day on the river is a good day.

SFC Diane Cochran “Strength and Honor”

PHWFF Angler