Weekends With Warriors (W3) gave me the calm and peace that I needed at a time in my life when I needed it most.
As a Special Forces Green Beret with combat deployments to every country that the US military has been engaged in since the start of the Global War On Terrorism, injuries and Post Traumatic Stress has taken an effect on me and my family that at times becomes unbearable. Constant trips to war zones, time away from my children and loved ones, near death experiences, loss of friends, and traumatic injuries to the heart and mind had me beaten down and losing the spark that made me who I am.
As a child I grew up hunting and fishing and learned to love time in the outdoors as only sportsmen can. My experiences and time in the military caused me to focus on my job and put myself and my family second. Over the years my mental health took a back seat to my career and when my daughter’s mother said she was leaving me I hit a breaking point.
At that moment I was introduced to Grady Davis and W3. W3 took me sport fishing for the first time off the Carolina coast with other veterans who like me used to be outdoor enthusiasts and also like me, because of our service had lost the parts of us that made us who we were.
It was a great 2 day trip. We caught tons of fish and had an outstanding time. But, most surprisingly to me after it was over, I realized how much I had been missing that part of my life. I realized the peace and stress relief that the outdoors brings me. Of all the things that I do to try and relieve stress, nothing compares to spending time doing something 1 love in the outdoors with fellow veterans. I felt like this is what had been missing in my life all along.
Since then, I have started spending a lot more time in the woods and on the water. I feel closer to myself than I have felt in a very long time and I know that I can always go outside to calm my soul. I owe this to W3 and the wonderful people who run this organization. Thank you guys for helping me and veterans like me find the pieces of ourselves we didn’t realize we needed so badly.
Very Respectfully,
SFC Wesley D. Minks
USA, Special Forces
1st. SFC (A), HHC, OSW
FT. Bragg, NC 28310