#06–338 December 11, 2006

Injured Iraq war veterans to participate in deer hunt

Eight injured veterans of the Iraq War will be participating in a deer and feral hog hunt Saturday, Dec. 16 at Millaree Hunt Club near Columbia in memory of a Lexington man who was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The veterans from all service branches are currently recuperating from their injuries at Augusta VA Medical Center in Augusta, Ga. Two of the veterans are from South Carolina, with the rest from around the country. The veterans will be transported to Millaree for a steak lunch and in the field by 3 p.m. for the Thomas Caughman Memorial Hunt.
           
Army Specialist Thomas Caughman of Lexington was an avid outdoorsman who grew up hunting and fishing. Caughman died in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 9, 2004, when his up-armored high-mobility-multi-purpose wheeled vehicle was struck by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. He was assigned to the Army Reserve’s Company C, 391st Engineer Battalion, Spartanburg. SPC Caughman's military awards include the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star. Learn more about SPC Caughman at Write to the Front.

Marion Burnside, former S.C. Natural Resources Board chairman, is president of the Millaree Hunt Club and serving as host of the hunt. The event is being co-sponsored and completely underwritten by Quality Deer Management and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Take One Make One program.

To learn more about Take One Make One and other educational opportunities for youths and adults, call (803) 734-4011 in Columbia. A goal-oriented educational program, Take One Make One encourages both mentors and youths to work with the program staff, DNR conservation officers and biologists.