Front row from left to right, Dave Meyerkorth, Mike Lewis, Kory Paris, Michael Graves and Treyton Lewis. Back row Greg Ronning, Gabe Grady, Justin Berg, Bill Rosten, Jesse LaMere and Adam Meyerkorth.

From April 27 through April 30 The Wounded Warriors Guide Service along with four veterans came down from Minnesota to engage in a spring turkey hunt.
Board member, Justin Lightfoot has been involved with Wounded Warriors guide service for about four years. The Missouri trips are one of the most sought-after adventures that they do every year.
For the spring turkey hunt in Missouri, Lightfoot received almost 50 applications to go on the event. They all go through the selection process and he was able to bring four veterans to Northwest Missouri in the Rock Port area for the turkey hunt and all four veterans were able to bag a turkey. The four veteran members of this group were Greg Ronning, who served during Vietnam; Bill Rosten, who served just under 12.5 years active duty in the United States Marines and was deployed to the Middle East during Desert Shield/Storm; Jesse LaMere, who served in the United States Army 2003-2006 with the 1st/506th Air Assault Infantry Regiment (Band of Brothers); and Justin Berg, who served in the United States Navy, 2005-2008. Naval Air Station Pensacola (05-06), USS NIMITZ (06-07), and HSL-43 Battle Cats (07-08).
This was the fifth event that Meyerkorth Aviation and Mike Lewis have hosted in our area. “Everyone is always very welcoming and it’s a great time in the outdoors for the veterans. Recreational therapy is a great way to help veterans overcome their disabilities from their military service. It’s great for the veterans to get together and meet fellow veterans of different services and different times of service and share stories, ” said Lightfoot. Wounded Warriors Guide Service is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based out of Minnesota. They work with veterans of any era getting them into the outdoors. They have camping outings, duck hunting, goose hunting, bear hunting, turkey hunting, fishing in summer and winter, and deer hunts. Events the veterans go on are all free for the veterans and all money is raised through donations and fund-raising. All of the board of directors are volunteers. They have no paid personnel in their organization, so all money raised goes to help getting veterans into the outdoors.
“I personally cannot thank the people of Northwest Missouri that have donated time, land access, money, and food to make these events possible in your area. I wish all the donors could hear the veterans on the ride home every outing talking about how amazing people are in the area. These events do help veterans and are so important in helping them cope and heal with their disabilities,” stated Lightfoot.
“We were there for about 3.5 days and there was so much emotion in the “see you next time” there were tears ready to drop from many. It wasn’t a good-bye, as many, if not all locals, offered to have us back; not as a client, but as a friend! The trip wasn’t just about a turkey hunt, but about family and life as a whole. I truly came back a better man/father after experiencing and being exposed to some of the truest people I have ever met,” said Berg.
If you would like to help or donate to the Wounded Warrior Guide Service contact Mike Lewis via call or text at (816) 390-2241. If any local veterans would like to apply for these hunts you may do so by going to www.wwgsmn.org.

From left to right; Justin Berg, Greg Ronning, Jesse LaMere and Bill Rosten.