I still can not begin to find the words to explain just how exciting that was. All in a moment of conquering an absolute fear I have hidden from since I made it home from war. 

   I had grown up an avid hunter in the hills of KY and had a marriage to the outdoors. But after years of my life being dedicated to war and fighting. 

Walking the sands of Iraq to Climbing the mountains of Afghanistan all to find the enemies of our great nation and destroy them with extreme prejudice takes an unspoken toll on your head and your heart. 

   It makes the sand of the beach not feel so good it makes the thin air of the rocky top mountains not smell so good. It makes the silence of the wind not sound the same.

But in that moment, in that small moment just sitting in that blind with other veterans and having like minded individuals surrounding you as if your with your team or your platoon again just makes you feel safe in the silence of the wind. 

   I remember riding into the blind that morning while it was still dark and having so much anxiety and fear. Literally feeling like i was being hunted not doing the hunting, all to get to that blind and be surrounded by BROTHERS IN ARMS and know Im not alone. 

IM NOT ALONE! 

Not alone in life not alone in the woods being hunted. But more so im with my team im with my brothers and we are back on the hunt. 

   I signed into the service at 17 yrs old and by the time most kids was saying by to the parents for the school semester, I was a fully trained and proficient warrior and leader on and off the battlefield. I was still a child in my blood when I tasted war for the first time. And for years to come I ate breathed and slept war. That changes you. 

   That changes everything you ever loved. Food taste different, smells, have different memories, emotions bring back certain things, noises change what your response used to be. But in this moment everything was what I once remembered it. 

My loving Wife my Best friend and brother from unit and my mom all said the exact same thing when they seen the pictures of the hunt. Without having spoken to each other. Look at your smile I dont guess I seen it at first but man were they right. 

I dont feel like Ive smiled like this in years. 

Thank you HookSet Brothers Combat Recovery and Rock Water Ranch for an amazing moment and an amazing harvest for my family. 

To bring home meat and be a provider for my family as a man is a feeling only few would understand. 

Thank you all and I will forever support you in any and all ways possible. 

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!!

-Justin Kelly