On Saturday, January 7, 2023, the 7th annual Hunting with Soldiers (HWS) hut was conduced in San Saba County.
Winfield Basham of Cleburne, Texas, arranged the hunt, along with Gordon Melton, President of HWS, from Paducah, Texas. Winfield has held other hunting events with soldiers since 2009.
Eighteen hunters, including James Lewellen, Kempner; Josh Douglas, Weatherford; Rodney McGavitt, Conroe; Michael Matthews, New Braunfels; Robert Bott, Childress; Anthony Brand, Copperas Cove; Greg Klhoe, Houston; Justin Jones, Boerne, Ramzi Jawan, Burleson; Roary McClain, Canyon Lake; Kenneth Hilliard, Adkins; Alan Chapuseaux, Humble; Joshua Jones, Corpus Christi, West Rutledge, Hutto; J. T. Ortiz, San Antonio; James Van Horn, Pleasanton; and Matthew Beckstead, Livingston.
Guides from San Saba area were Rickie Smith, Tony Johnson, Malcolm Jolly, Bill Jones, David Stewart, and Ramiro Cisneroz. Guides from other areas included Jose Ortiz, Harker Heights; Jess Hernandez, Killeen; Nicolas Barnum, Killeen; Stephen Crump and Justin Shawn Barbour, Decatur; and Peyton Hosen, Burleson.
Breakfast was served at The Father’s House prepared by Rickie Smith, Tom Brand, Larry Crump, Malcolm Jolly and Tony Johnson.
At noon, the soldiers, guides and landowners enjoyed a great meal at Pepperbelly’s. Speakers included Winfield Basham, HWS President Gordon Melton and Justin Hoyt. As always, a solemn reminder was given that an average of 22 veterans a day commit suicide. The soldiers were given a military edition camo Bible with their guide’s phone number, to contact for support, information, prayer and to talk.
On behalf of the soldiers, Gordan Elton expressed appreciation for them to have the opportunity to enjoy the great sort of hunting, fellowship, food, lodging and support.
Prayers, support, and events like HWS can help, so they appreciated the weekend event very much.
Many thanks go out to the landowners, including Marsha Childress, Barbara Riggs, Terry Smith, Charles Nichols, The Lambert Ranch (Ramiro Cisneroz lease), Mary White Ranch Javier Baez lease), Marge Wagner, Deryl Hoyt, Les Hardy, Larry Crump, Franklin Craine, and Charlie Cummings, for letting the soldiers come out and enjoy the day. All together, eight deer and one hog were taken.
Thank you also to Lynn Hamrick for providing lodging at his B&B.