Testimonials

This outing was one of the best times that I have ever had on the water. The great job that the volunteers have done is beyond verbal expression. The day totally took my mind off of the medical conditions that I have and the sense of failure that many of us Wounded Warriors have. Many of us still have not completely wrapped our minds around the fact that our military careers are now more challenging than ever before. Not to mention our future lives with our families and friends. This organization needs to be taken to the next level by means of major corporate sponsors; in order to make this event more Nationally known and funded. It was a great day. We as Soldiers temporarily forgot about our missing limbs and disabilities. Words cannot describe the amount of gratitude that myself and other Wounded Warriors fell about this program. God Bless you all and continue the great work that is blessing all of the Wounded Warriors of the United States military Soldiers...Tory C. Daniels

Volunteering my time to Operation Float a Soldier is something I can only describe as one of the most fulfilling things I've ever had the pleasure of doing. I'm happy that there is an organization out there doing something I feel great about being part of. Thank you for the opportunity to serve those who tirelessly serve us.

I spent the day on my first OFAS and had an amazing time. From the minute we arrived to the minute we departed, we were treated like family. Every volunteer went out of their way to make sure all of our needs were met. I have been at the Warrior Transition Battalion for almost seven months but will be going home next week, so this was a wonderful ending to my time in Texas. Thank you so much for your kindness and for spending your free time with us. Your love of Christ was very evident by your words and actions.

In 2004, I took a job as a contractor to work overseas in Kuwait. As part of my duties, I had the unfortunate job of going to the TMEP (Theater Mortuary Evacuation Point) to perform communications work, and saw first hand the sacrifice our brave men and women had to give. As you can imagine, this broke my heart, and I knew that there were many more back home with serious injuries that they were trying to overcome. It was during that time that I decided I was going to do something to lift their spirits when I returned home. In January of 2005 I made it back home, and in the spring I was working on my pontoon boat to get it ready for the summer. As a Christian, when I have time to myself, I like to pray, and I had been asking our Lord to show me how I can give back for a long time. It was was on a beautiful spring day, I was about to put up some final railing on the boat, and while I was praying, He answered my prayer by telling me to not put that railing on, and make it wheel chair accessible. It was a glorious moment, and I immediately thought of my brother in Christ, Seth Warnick, and shared the news. Obviously, Seth was on board 100%, so we ventured off trying to figure out how to get these guys and girls out on the water. Our first event was during that summer of 2005, and it was fantastic! We had 1 pontoon boat, and we took out 8 fellas. I know I got more out of it than they did, but we all had a wonderful time. And that is how this ministry started. A desire to give back, incorporating all the help Seth and I could get, and 7 years later, we are going strong and growing bigger each year, through community support and a large desire to show our wounded how much love, respect and care for them. I have to say, God is good!

Operation Float a Soldier (OFAS) is one of the best thing that happened to during my stay at SAMMC. While deployed to Afghanistan, I was part of on Air Advisory Group assigned to Kabul Air Base as a Mi-17 Flight Engineer. My scheduled year tour was shorted on 22 Jul 12, two and a half month into the deployment, when the helicopter I was flying in crashed on the side of a mountain near Kamdesh, Afghanistan. During the crash I experienced TBI, left shoulder dislocation and a fractured left greater tuberosity just aft of where the supraspinatus tendon connects. Luckily the tendon stayed in place so no surgery has been required. From there I was rushed back to the states and eventually I ended up at SAMMC. After spending a few days in the hospital I was moved to the dorms where I was literally provided with the bare minimums; 4 white walls, a bed, a dresser, a closet and a bathroom. Almost felt as if I was staying in a psych ward. Within the next few days I discovered the WFSC where I saw a flyer for OFAS along with many others. Initially I was hesitant to sign up for the trip as I was still a bit weak and hurting so I skipped that first trip and went onto the second one. Getting away from the dorm room and out of the base all together was refreshing and rejuvenating. It was emotionally refreshing in the fact that it felt that there is someone out there that still cared for us especially after receiving such a warm welcoming from the OFAS crew. It was physically rejuvenating being in the water, on the boat, jet ski and at a later trip (when I was in better physical condition) on the kayak. One highlight of the whole trip was the fact that it didn't matter on what condition the Wounded Warrior was, they would figure out a way to accommodate in order to make the day better for that person. The night of my first OFAS trip, while on my dorm room and doing my prescribed passive range of motion exercises for my shoulder, I was able to break through moving my arm from the 90 degree (straight out in front of me) point to a full 180 degree (just above my head). Five months after the accident I was back doing what love doing the most; flying. Now almost a year later, I'm getting ready to PCS from the helicopter world into the fixed wing world at Andrews AFB to fly in the Gulfstream as a Flight Engineer. I know I've gone a bit long, but I feel that OFAS had a great part on my recovery, they deserve all the recognition in the world and I really don't think I would be in the position I'm currently in if they have not had been part of my life. Thank you for what you do and I wish that you continue to do so for many years to come; We really need it!

As a member of OFAS, Ive had the privilege of befriending America’s finest! Over the years, we’ve celebrated marriages and birthdays. We’ve witnessed joy and occasionally,sorrow. We’ve had families ask us to pray (as a group) for their healing. This ministry was established as a blessing for those wounded in the line of combat –but it has turned into a blessing for us –the volunteers of OFAS.

I arrived at the WTU on Monday, 9 July 2012 and was totally blown away by the amount volunteer help that was awaiting me to assist me and every other Soldier with open arms. This a non-profit organization that was founded by true Americans that really appreciate the Soldier and all that is sacrificed by us. I was informed of the trip to Canyon Lake and immediately signed up for it. This a great group of civilians that treated all of us as if we were their family and really opened up their hearts and lives to us. We jet skied, snorkled, fished, sun bathed, danced, listened to some awesome live music and feasted like KINGS on brisket, chicken, sausage and much much more. This was an inspiring and very theraputic trip that was definately needed by all the Wounded Warriors and their families. I only wished that my family was able to attend and be blessed by the amount of work and facilities supplied to us. This was a Great Day! The boat rides were absolutely relaxing and needed. It all of our minds off of our physical and non-physical handicapps; even if just for the DAY:) God bless these great people and please open the eyes of others and inspire them to take up arms and fit for all the wounded Soldiers in helping to keep this thing alive. God Bless you all:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))tory