Operation North State Lake Norman
Here's a letter Terry received for oner of the Vets we fish with.
“Good Morning Terry
Life has gotten a lot brighter and enjoyable thanks to Operation North State. I am a Disabled Veteran that served 23 years 2 months and 11 days. I was an artilleryman. Living my dream of serving my country. Since I can recall all I ever wanted was to be a Soldier began playing war with my GI Joe figures and bunch of green soldiers. I enjoyed my time in the military and was Gun Ho always ready for anything that came up. I never felt better than when I was in. I was in excellent shape, great work team and contributed to the planning and executions of training and combat operations. While I was thriving on dreneling and felt at home with the comradery of being in a good unit. Having served 4x combat tours to Iraq, 1x Kosovo and 1x Korea. These assignments exposed me to war and many wearing injuries. After my last deployment in 2011 I could go on needed medication for my PTSD and back and knees were almost to the point I needed surgery. Had to get shots every 6 months and daily pain meds to keep up with the push forward. The doctors told me I am being referred to medical board and was medically retired. My life came to a screeching halt. No more team was not in charge anymore and had 15 oral prescriptions and 4 ointments to digest and apply and couldn't sleep without them and using a CPAP to help me breath well and comfort my sleep. That made my problems more intense as I started to isolate myself at home became very irritable towards my wife and children. I was feeling frustrated and sad didn't have to much going on. Would go to church; volunteered with fellow church members but still didn't motivate me enough. I was introduced to Operation North State by the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Fort Bragg which was where I ended up transitioning out though. They informed me of a fishing opportunity with fellow Veterans. I was not sure as I didn't care much for counseling sessions or being around big groups. I gave it a shot because I had never been fishing and didn't know anything about it other than I thought it was boring. After my first experience participating with Operation North State I felt welcomed and it was enjoyable contrary to what I thought. After going on a second fishing opportunity I started to socialize more with other fellow combat Veterans and the conversations we're good about fishing tips bragging and challenging each other. Little did I know this was the therapy I needed it felt good gave me something to look forward to and enjoyed being around people again and not so uptight. I learned to fish; met some great people and now I look forward to going fishing every moment I can. Operation North State provided a tool, pass time, cure, and hobby I can pass on to my boys and rest of my family and friends. I enjoy meetings with Gunny, Maytag, and James to name a few fellow Veterans and these are some of my comrades that been to combat and travel from across the state to participate and we always smile and give each other a firm handshake before the bragging takes over. Thanks to Terry Snyder for putting in all the time, planning, and energy it takes to keep the ONS family strong and going. Some fellow Veterans have shared that they are less dependent on some of their medications and show some happiness as this is infectious due in part to the nucleus that Operation North State has created. I have taken my family fishing on a boat with Brad Holder excellent fishing guide and this is something I could of never done had it not been for what has grown out of the good that keeps giving from my Operation North State family. I am busy and ready to go fishing cleaning my gear which has been given to us by wonderful donors. I have a calendar with things I am looking forward to doing and I have some great friend boaters that will take my family and me fishing. That is worth a million bucks and better for me and fellow Veterans than any medications. I am forever grateful to Operation North State. “
Respectfully
Steve Gomez
