The annual Wild Jaeger Veteran Adventures Fishing Tournament was held on Sept. 14 at Lake Oconee’s Sugar Creek Marina.
The tournament is part of the WJVA's mission to reconnect veterans with the military brotherhood and the civilian community.
The winner of this year’s WJVA tournament was the team of Daniel Jenkins and Dustin Williamson, with 13.71 pounds of fish. Second place went to the two Jeffs – Jeff Giese and Jeff Johnson – who caught 12.14 pounds of fish.
Tommy Tarrer captured the “Big Fish” honor with a bass weighing 4.73 pounds.
Tarrer and his partner Robert “Uncle Bob” Van Dine, who served as a master chief diver in the United States Navy, won the tournament the previous two years. Unfortunately, Uncle Bob passed away before he could win a third tournament.
Retired Lt. Col. Frank Adkinson founded WJVA 10 years ago and said soldiers share the strains of fatigue, mission focus, family separation, and even sore muscles, giving them a bond the civilian sector cannot fully appreciate.
Many veterans can also benefit from reconnecting to that brotherhood, and Adkinson said WJVA provides a variety of fully funded outdoor activities, including hunting, golf, hiking, fishing, and paddle boarding, to help foster this feeling.
According to a recent story by Leigh Lofgren in Lakelife Magazine, WJVA plays an important relational role between the military and civilian communities.
“Lessons learned from past wars show that nothing helps a veteran more than when the people who sent him or her into combat demonstrate their appreciation and support,” Adkinson said. “This is important in a veteran’s healing process.”