United States Marine Corp (USMC) veteran Rich Campbell fishes from a kayak in the middle of Barber Lake during an outing sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio. The event was conducted by the Southwest Heroes on the Water Organization and was the second event sponsored by the DAV on Barber Lake, as a part of its Outreach and Engagement Program for disabled veterans. Photo courtesy the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio.

United States Marine Corp (USMC) veteran Rich Campbell fishes from a kayak in the middle of Barber Lake during an outing sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio. The event was conducted by the Southwest Heroes on the Water Organization and was the second event sponsored by the DAV on Barber Lake, as a part of its Outreach and Engagement Program for disabled veterans. Photo courtesy the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio.

<p>Army veteran Ray Hutchinson (left) fishes on the bank of Barber Lake during a veterans outing conducted by the Southwest Heroes on the Water Chapter. He is assisted by Mike Carwile (right), a volunteer of the Southwest Heroes on the Water Chapter. Volunteer Carwile is helping Hutchinson unhook his first Blue Gill fish. Photo courtesy the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio.</p>

Army veteran Ray Hutchinson (left) fishes on the bank of Barber Lake during a veterans outing conducted by the Southwest Heroes on the Water Chapter. He is assisted by Mike Carwile (right), a volunteer of the Southwest Heroes on the Water Chapter. Volunteer Carwile is helping Hutchinson unhook his first Blue Gill fish. Photo courtesy the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio.

Thirty-one (31) veterans and volunteers participated in a one-day kayaking and fishing outing on Saturday, August 19, 2023 held at Barber Lake, near Newtown, Ohio. The event was conducted by the volunteers of the Southwest Heroes on the Water Chapter expressly for veterans in the Clermont County area.

The outing was sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio, as a part of its’ Veterans’ Outreach and Engagement Program. The DAV Department’s Senior Vice-Commander Jeff Wittneben, from the Beavercreek, Ohio, area traveled to Barber Lake to observe and actively participate in the event.

This was the second time that the Southwest Heroes on the Water Chapter and the DAV Department had joined together to have an outing at Barber Lake. The first time the event was conducted in 2022, seventeen (17) veterans had participated.

“Apparently the word is spreading among veterans about the benefits of this program,” said DAV Department Senior Vice-Commander Wittneben. “To go from seventeen (17) participants in 2022 to thirty-one (31) participants in 2023 shows significant growth and a demand for a veteran-oriented outdoor program like this.”

Veterans participated in the outing by fishing on the bank of Barber Lake, kayaking on the Lake or fishing from kayaks in the middle of Barber Lake.

Notification efforts to contact veterans for the event was coordinated through the VA Medical Center to get veterans involved.

“It was good just fishing and talking with other veterans about our military experiences,” said Army veteran Ray Hutchinson. “It was a good experience just talking to Mike Carwile on how I got disabled in the military and him helping me landing my first giant Blue Gill fish!”

To Air Force veteran Reynolds Robertson, the outing was an opportunity to paddle a kayak for the first time to the middle of the lake. “It was peaceful out there on the middle of the lake and I just could reflect on my overseas assignments in the Air Force,” said veteran Robertson.

“Based upon the positive response received by the veterans here,” said Wittneben, “I am going to support another outing for veterans in 2024. The

number of veterans that participated in this calming therapeutic activity today is great and part of our DAV outreach program to our disabled veterans.”