6th Prize
Hunting Journal with Weatherby Logo (100 awarded)
Matt Brophy, Pennsylvania
“My dream hunt would consist of myself and my two best friends. I might as well say my two brothers even though not blood. We shared and spilled our share of blood, sweat and tears together. We were all green berets in the army stationed at Ft. Lewis in Washington State...me, Rob Shailor and Dan McCants.
We were all in the same company and all had a passion to hunt, fish, and just be outdoors. We spent many hours together planning, doing and dreaming. One of the hunts we always talked about doing was a hunt spot and stalk for black bears on nearby Vancouver Island British Columbia. We agreed when we retired this would be our gift to ourselves for all the seasons we missed due to military commitments.
In 2000, I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes and was forced to get out of the military early and become a civilian before I was ready. Talk about culture shock. Rob and Dan assured me we would still do our bear hunt but now I was left to plan it since I had more time. I got the ball rolling and we discussed dates and a year when this would be feasible. All looked like it was coming into play and we talked about it every chance we got. Dan went from being a green beret to a Chinook pilot in the elite 160th Special Air Squadron while Rob became team sergeant of a scuba team. I now work for the U.S. Postal Service.
On February 20 of this year, I received a call from Rob. I imagined it was with some hunting or fishing report. I couldn’t be more wrong. Dan’s helicopter crashed in Afghanistan killing Dan and several members of his crew. He did manage to save his precious cargo...a platoon of Rangers. My world stopped as I knew it.
I immediately set off for a 13–hour drive to pick Rob up at the Nashville Airport and comfort Dan’s family, which consisted of a young wife, Shannon, an 11–year–old boy named Trevore and 11–month–old girl, Kailee.
At the service during the picture presentation of our brother was several photos of Dan with Trevore and game he had taken like turkey and elk. Plus numerous pictures of Dan with his family enjoying the great outdoors. While in Tennessee, the NWTF had its show in Nashville. Rob, myself, and some other military/hunting buddies took Trevore to it.
His love for the outdoors almost rivaled his love for his father. It was then that Rob and I decided we would take Trevore with us when we finally went on this dream hunt.
So my friends that is my dream hunt nothing fancy and nothing in some far off land. Just me and my buddy taking a fallen brothers son on a hunt to continue the legacy we know Dan would want to have. Thank you for your time.”