9th Annual MO-KAN Catfishing

June 5-8

St. Joseph, Missouri

Three Purple Heart Heroes traveled to St. Joseph, Missouri for the 9th Annual MO-KAN Catfishing event and several days of fishing the mighty Missouri River. Heroes Stephen, Jeremy, and Steven were warmly welcomed by Host Brian Roderick and the tremendous group of volunteers and supporters who would be spending the weekend with them. After getting settled into their accommodations at the Napier hunting lodge and receiving a safety briefing, the Heroes wasted little time getting out on the water. They joined the volunteer boat captains to set limb lines and do some rod-and-reel fishing, successfully bringing in the first catch of the trip before returning to the lodge for dinner and some well-deserved rest.

The following morning began early as the Heroes headed back onto the river to check their lines and enjoy some more fishing. Several nice catfish were caught before everyone returned to the lodge, where volunteers cleaned the morning’s catch and began preparing for an afternoon fish fry. After lunch, Jeremy returned to the water for some additional fishing, while Stephen and Steven enjoyed some downtime and relaxation at the lodge. Later that afternoon, Steven had to depart the event early for personal reasons.

Beautiful weather greeted the Heroes for another morning on the water as they once again headed out with the volunteer boat captains. The fishing continued to be productive, with all of the Heroes catching fish during the event. After returning to the lodge, everyone gathered for a late breakfast-style lunch before spending the afternoon cleaning fish, exploring the hunting club on side-by-sides, relaxing, and enjoying each other’s company. A delicious steak dinner capped off another wonderful day, followed by an evening of conversation and camaraderie in the lodge’s great room.

The 9th Annual MO-KAN Catfishing provided our Heroes with much more than an opportunity to catch trophy catfish. The incredible hospitality, time spent on the river, outstanding meals, and relaxed evenings at the lodge created the perfect setting for meaningful conversations, new friendships, and the special connection that comes from spending time alongside fellow Veterans.

Special recognition and sincere thanks to Host Brian Roderick and volunteers Brad Smith, Shawn Vandeloo, Andy Supple, and Shane Gilenwater for their tremendous hospitality and dedication to our Purple Heart Heroes. Additional gratitude and appreciation to WWIA Guide/Associate Christopher Ritchie and to all the wonderful club members, supporters, and friends who helped make the 9th Annual MO-KAN Catfishing another memorable experience for our combat-wounded Veterans.

“I really want to thank everyone who put in the work and organized this event. It was first class. I had never been catfishing before and had never eaten catfish. The fishing was amazing. The guides were seriously the best. Everyone was over the top welcoming. I don’t leave the house often, so getting on the river was a refreshing change of pace and being around other men that can relate to your… stuff. Food was over the top, I felt like a rock star. The organization of travel and communication made everything feel stress-free. A huge thank you to everyone.”

– Steven S., US Army
Purple Heart Recipient