Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Valentine | Capt. Matthew Vancleave (left), officer in charge of logistics assigned to the 447th...... read more read more
BAGHDAD – "You form a bond, a deeper bond than just American citizen and American protector," said Joe Mercurio. "There is that bond and then there is the angler bond. Anglers are a family; Iraqi anglers, American anglers, you get that common bond as fishermen."
Fishing show host and creator of Operation Catch Fish, Joe Mercurio, made another visit to Iraq for the 3rd annual Baghdad Fishing Derby held April 28 around the shores of Z Lake at Victory Base Complex.
Operation Catch Fish was created to bring a feeling of home to those deployed to Iraq.
"I want to be meeting GIs, shaking hands, telling stories and putting smiles on faces, that's what we are here for," said Mercurio. "It's all about spending time with the guys deployed here and making sure we give them a little break from their daily lives."
Mercurio was joined by fellow television personalities: Sheli Sanders, a fishing show host and model; Mary Delgado, of ABCs The Bachelor; and trick-casting guru, Gary Hain. The group also included two members from the New Orleans Saints football team cheerleading squad, the "Saintsations."
The founder of the Baghdad Anglers Club, Lt. Cmdr. Joel Stewart, a native of Great Falls, Mont., assigned to the USS Makin Island, returned to Iraq with the fishing crew to act as a liaison.
Stewart said he truly appreciates what the service members do everyday and had this bit of advice for those who are looking to take up fishing:
"Fishing should be about enjoyment, getting in touch with oneself and nature. You have to know the water, understand the fish and know what they eat."
Armed with this advice, a fishing pole and the help of visiting professional fishermen, the service members and civilians at VBC were ready to take on the Operation Catch Fish challenge.
The event started with windy weather but the sun still beat down heavily on those around the lake. For hours, several people cast artificial lures, flies and even dining facility hot dogs as bait. For most, the day was just time to sit back, relax and take in the view.
"It's like a mental vacation, everything disappears when you hold a fishing rod," said Sgt. Mark Aren, a Detroit native and mechanic assigned to 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, 1st Armored Division. "All the stresses of home and work disappear.
As Aren claimed he was trying to win the trophy for smallest fish caught, someone walked by carrying a very small, minnow-like fish. Aren said he didn't mind.
"I already won—I'm fishing," he said, grinning.
For a few participants, this was their first time fishing. Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Gibson, the Iron Oasis Dining Facility non-commissioned officer in charge, assigned to Company B, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armd. Div., had entered the tournament with no prior fishing experience.
"[I've] never fished before. I got the opportunity to fish and compete at the same time," said Gibson. He also said that he looked forward to the thrill of bringing in his first fish.
"I can only anticipate how I am going to feel—like a kid in a candy store—excited," he said.
Although not her first time fishing, Mendon, Ohio, native Spc. Libby Myers, an intelligence analyst assigned to Company A, DSTB, 1st Armd. Div., talked about the first fish she caught just three days prior in preparation for the tournament.
"I was panicking, as I was reeling it in, the fish came out of the water," she said. When she finally got the fish to shore she had to celebrate.
"I did this little girl dance, then I had to remind myself that I am 20 years old," said Myers.
Unfortunately both the fun and the contest came to an abrupt halt as gusting winds, rain and blowing sands arrived. Contestants, hosts and spectators made their way quickly to the Morale, Welfare and Recreation building to conduct the awards ceremony.
The winning fish, an 8-pound, 11-ounce, common carp was caught by Air Force Capt. Matthew Vancleave, officer in charge of logistics assigned to the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. The Omaha, Neb., native, had only fished a couple of times in the past and only came to the tournament because his fellow office workers signed him up for it.
"I never win anything," said Vancleave. "Just catching a fish was good enough for me today."
But win he did, and took home nearly $3,000 in prizes, including a portable generator, a watch and a signed Guy Harvey print.
"I wasn't expecting to catch anything. I had a new pole with a hot dog at the end," he said.
After the prizes were handed out, the crew stood by to shake hands, swap fish stories and take pictures with the participants.
"I think just coming out to Iraq shows that they care about us and that they are also brave," said Myers. "We have to be thankful for them coming out and giving us something to do to take our minds off work."
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2010 08:32 |
| Story ID: | 48934 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 854 |
| Downloads: | 565 |
This work, Operation Catch Fish III: Victory Base Complex hosts fishing tournament, by SFC Phillip Valentine, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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