SUPPORT.DEFEND.FISH.
T
he armyBassanglers & the Coalition are not
content with just fishing the toughest team
tournaments in texas. More importantly,
they use their ability to fish in national team tournaments and the support of some nationally
member of the team is gone, the other “rucks up” and carries the load for both of them, this is by design and is ingrained all our military training,” states roberson.
Finally, and last on their list of “priorities of fire” is the FiSH pillar of the mission statement. They currently
recognized sponsors to raise the awareness and
fish all across the country on the World Fishing Network
generate support for some very note worthy charitable
on the toughest National team tournament trails,
causes and events. “We are ecstatic about the support
like Bass Champs, oakley Big Bass tour, Faith angler
provided by all our sponsors that enables us to carry out
Network and other regional and national trails. again,
our SUPPort.deFeNd.FiSH mission,” says roberson.
they uses these appearances as “combat multipliers” to
the team dedicates a lot of time and effort to raising
promote returning Heroes Home, HoW and Vo and the
awareness and money for returning Heroes Home
Fishing for Freedom charity events all while caring the
(returningheroeshome.org),HeroesontheWater
torch as ambassadors for their respective sponsors, but
(heroesonthewater.org) and Veteran outdoors
do not count them out as qualified contenders.
(Veteran outdoors). With the severity of their wounds,
If you read about their successes in the
(amputations, parallelization, burns, disfigurement, post-
tournament highlights page of their website, you will
traumatic stress, etc) it is critical that they have a place
quickly notice they are a threat every time they idle
andoractivitiesastheybegintheverysurreallongroadto into a weigh-in. President/Founder, Cody roberson,
recovery and reintegration.
describes the team by saying, “We don’t consider
In addition, the ArmyBassAnglers
ourselves professional fishermen, but professional
& the Coalition are involved in three fishing tournaments
Soldiers who just happen to be really good, avid anglers
dedicated to taking Soldiers fishing. the team volunteers
with a far more important mission —HooaH!”
their personal time to supports “Fishing for Freedom”
BASS/ESPN has tapped ArmyBassAnglers
each year on Belton lake, Choke Canyon & truman lake.
as the Ceremonial launch Boats for the past three
the whole premise behind the events is an opportunity
consective years for each day of The 2009, 2010 and
for the local angling and business community to thank
2011 Bassmaster Classics and recently the Paa has
these Heroes for their service and sacrifices. annually,
tapped aBa to be the lead boats for the 2011 toyota
Choke Canyon reservoir is the host location for “Fishing
texas Bass Classic on Conroe.
for Freedom,” a tournament that pairs local fishermen
In 2012 ArmyBassAnglers and the Coalition will
with wounded Soldiers in the San antonio area for a day
continue their mission by continuing to build combat
of tournament bass fishing on an awesome fishery just
power across the country. in FY 2012 as part of an
for them. all three events are heavily supported and only
expansion phase of their current operations President
made possible through the generosity of local businesses,
Cody roberson has created an alliance to partner
volunteers, and caring local and regional anglers. these are
with the Western powerhouse of fishing and fishing
justafewofthewaystheteamandorganizationlivesupto forums—Western Bass.com. “We are extremely
theSUPPortpillarinitsthreeprongedmissionstatement. excited about our new Coalition partner Western
As mostly active duty Soldiers, the members of
Bass.com in our fight to SUPPort.deFeNd.FiSH.
armyBassanglers & the Coalition have the very surreal
We are looking forward to a whole new level
responsibility to deFeNd this nation and the liberties
of StratCoM capability across the entire Western
we enjoy as americans. Members of the organization
ao of the US to achieve our objectives. Western
are currently deployed with several others scheduled
Bass.com will truly allow us the ability to expand
to make their second or third deployments next year.
and reach service members from all branches of
it makes it tough to uphold their obligations in their
service proudly serving in the Western ao. What
charity work and to their sponsors, but what makes
an exciting time and exciting opportunity to partner
them & the Coalition unique is that their military
with such a great organization as Western Bass.
background creates a “take care of each other”
com—HooaH!,” stated Cody roberson, President/
mentality. “each angler has a “battle buddy” that he
Founder of armyBassanglers, NavyBassanglers,
fishes two-man team tournaments with and when one airforceBassanglers, MarineBassanglers.com.
36
http://www.returningheroeshome.org http://www.heroesonthewater.org