Wounded Warriors leave the hospital to hit the water

VIRGINIA BEACH

Caleb Allen didn't catch a fish Saturday morning. Didn't even wet a line.

But it would be hard to argue that he wasn't the happiest man on Rudee Inlet.

Sitting comfortably in his kayak, his arms locked behind his head, Allen was savoring every second of what was a hot and humid morning.

Allen is a Navy SEAL. And from his hospital room at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, he hadn't seen the light of day in two months.

But Saturday he joined eight other servicemen participating in a kayak fishing trip sponsored by the Tidewater Kayak Anglers Association, in coordination with the Wounded Warrior Project and Heroes on the Water.

Allen, 23, more than qualified to attend the event.

During a training operation in Suffolk, the Lake City, Fla., native broke his pelvis in five places and broke a femur when his parachute collapsed during a sky dive.

"I had a crash landing," he said, flashing a wry smile. "After 407 dives, 408 turned out to be the magic number. It was a breath-taking experience to say the least. The ironic thing was that my parachute inflated after I hit the ground.

"So this is my first time out of the hospital. I'm optimistic that I'll have a full recovery. But right now... I'm having the time of my life."

Two members of the local kayak anglers club paddled on either side of Allen, who spends a vast majority of his time in a wheelchair.

While the other eight were casting lures for all it was worth, Allen was ecstatic to simply be drifting along on Rudee Inlet's sun-drenched waters.

"I'm loving this," said Allen, who was working a kayak that had a foot-driven trolling motor. "It's like rehab... in so many ways. I can't even tell you how much being outside is doing for me."

All around the country, fishing and hunting organizations are signing up with the Wounded Warrior Project in an effort to take servicemen and women who suffer from a variety of physical or mental issues on outdoors expeditions.

"We have a couple of people dealing with brain cancer, and a couple of guys suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and a few guys who have been physically injured," said Marine Capt. Adam Sacchetti, a TKAA member who has helped coordinate other outdoors adventures for military men and women. "These kinds of events are entertaining, meaningful and extremely therapeutic."

Several members of the kayak fishing group are either currently serving in the military or have in the past.

Cory Routh, a former TKAA president who helped coordinate Saturday's event, isn't one of them. But living in a military area has given him a keen appreciation for what people serving their country have to endure.

"It's a chance for members who have military backgrounds to show their appreciation and work with their peers," Routh said. "And for me, what better way is there to say thank you for what these people do than to give them a day on the water."

As Allen drifted down one shoreline, a group of kayak anglers congregated next to the boat ramp and dock facilities used to launch local Navy SEAL practice operations.

Mike Manning, a Marine corporal stationed at Cherry Point in North Carolina, was battling a line-pulling flounder.

The 21-year-old Virginia Beach native said he tries to return to Virginia Beach to fish whenever he can. His flatfish measured almost 21 inches - a keeper - and one of the morning's highlights.

And as the group closed in for pictures and high-fives, Allen watched from a distance and smiled.

He was happy to see another soldier enjoying himself.

But he doubted that any of them were having a better time than he was.

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com