After retiring from the Army in 2015, I sought an outlet to help with my PTSD. I always wanted to fish in Alaska but didn’t know how to start. So, I booked a trip and flew to Anchorage, Alaska by myself in Aug 2018. While I was waiting on my connecting flight in Anchorage, I met a guy named George, and he told me his magical life story. When I arrived in Homer, Alaska, George’s sister Nina Faust was waiting on him, and they offered me a ride to my lodging. What I thought was going to be a drop-off turned out to be lifetime friends. Nina and George gave me a tour of Homer, Alaska also brought me to their home, which overlooks the whole city of Homer. The view from Nina’s residence was peaceful and relaxing.

After arriving back in Ga, I promised myself I would return every year long as I could manage it. After I returned home, it dawned on me that the outdoor activities I participated in help me to cope with my PTSD, and it could do the same for veterans. Deep sea fishing in Alaska sold me because the water has been known to have healing properties and is hugely beneficial to those suffering from PTSD. So, I went again by myself in 2019 and 2020. I experienced the same tranquility as before, being on the water was so peaceful, and the scenery was spectacular. I wanted to share this adventure with other Veterans battling PTSD.

In 2021, three veterans accompany me to enjoy Alaska. In 2022, nine veterans came along. I shared my experience with my wife, on how this has helped so many vets already who are repeat travelers. We then decided on taking other veterans on this great outdoors adventures, but as a company. We organized and planned on how to accomplish this task and this is how the birth of Military Veterans Fishing Charter Inc., (MVFC) became a company. June
2-7, 2023, we will have some new faces in the group, which will be a polit test to get
feedback on how successful was this trip for them coping with PTSD. It’s an inspiration seeing veterans who has never been to Alaska watching them experience the scenery, landscape, animals and great fishing that’s in store for them.