Healing Waters is a project aimed at helping soldiers returning from the various theaters of war in which we are engaged. Some have had amputations, others any variety of wounds, nearly all carrying PTSD or TBI (traumatic brain injury from concussive explosions or physical blows to the head). On May 16, 17, 18, soldiers from Fort Carson, Colorado, participated in a Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing experience in the mountains west of Denver. The experience was sponsored and funded by several very generous Christian men who attended and spent time with the soldiers helping them with their gear and cheering them on in their fishing excursions.

There were several soldiers in attendance from previous years, but most were first timers. All the “newbes” received a fly rod, reel, line, leaders, indicators, and several other items of gear. Flies were supplied by their “mentors”—one mentor for each soldier.

We met on Thursday at noon, and Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin gave a short keynote address. I then spent some time giving them fly casting instructions. Much of it was lost on their eagerness to fish, but that was AOK because the mentors worked with each new angler to sharpen their casting and introduce new fishing skills. They spread out over the river and began to fish with utter abandon. It was a time to focus on an intensely possessive activity and leave all their problems behind. The stories are many, and many of them were shared with me as I rode an ATV from angler to angler along the river, helping them in every way I could.

We fished Thursday afternoon, Friday, and Saturday. And while no one was “cured” of PTSD or TBI many, if not all, saw a beam of hope that could guide them out of the darkness of these severe disorders and into the light of more normality. It was the glow from this beam of hope that I saw on the faces of all of them as we ate our last evening meal together on Saturday, while former attendees shared their stories of how fly fishing had helped them deal with their difficult problems. Our salute and heart goes out to every one who participated.

Everyone got together at the food tent for assignments matching angler to mentor .

Anglers, mentors, sponsors, and organizers all had a chance to talk and get to know each other at the start of each fishing day.

The mentors watched each angler artfully, helping them to master nymphing with an indicator or tossing big steamers.

Mentors were every ready to net the fish that were hooked.

A big rainbow like this one would make me smile, too!

My ATV was necessary to get me from angler to angler over several miles of river.

Fish were measured so that the anglers could have a good record of everything they caught.

It’s the smile that makes the outing so worthwhile for anglers, mentors, sponsors, and organizers.