Wounded Warriors Find Solace While Fishing In Alaska

The following appears in the January issue of Alaska Sporting Journal:

BY CHRIS COCOLES

Alaska is becoming something of a second home for Randy Houston, but the fishing trips he’s taken to the Ketchikan area mean so much more.

Houston’s Alaska experiences have been a chance to sit back and watch some of his heroes catch the fish and, more importantly, find a sense of purpose and peace in their lives.

Such a cycle never gets old for the 72-year-old Houston, whose California-based Purple Heart Anglers last year continued a tradition of raising money to send disabled veterans on fishing and hunting adventures.

In October, Houston and his charity hosted several wounded warriors who served in various combat tours in American wars on a memorable salmon fishing trip to Ketchikan.

“This was our eighth trip and we had 12 total this year,” Houston said in late 2021 of this latest visit to the Last Frontier, which included himself, veterans and volunteers who were on hand to help out.

“It’s a great trip. The vets, they just have a blast. It’s emotional, but at the same time it’s a lot of fun. We had several up there who had never been to Alaska. And some of them had never caught a salmon before. Firsts and firsts.”

In all, the vets brought home about 34 pounds of salmon fillets apiece, but as most of these journeys have gone during Purple Heart Anglers’ near- decade of existence, it’s a whole lot more than just catching fish.

“It’s such a broad range of (emotions). My wife calls it calm exhilaration,” said Houston, who started Purple Heart Anglers back in the early 2010s to honor his late brother Jerry, who earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for Valor in Vietnam (Alaska Sporting Journal, November 2016).

“When it started out years ago, people asked why I do what I do, and I said I wanted to do something with my brother, and it has just morphed into what it is. And over the years we’ve now had over 3,000 disabled vets out, and that doesn’t even include their families and all the volunteers who have gotten out with us. Now I do it because it needs to be done.”

It’s been quite a ride for all involved. The emotions have been at high levels for the wounded vets who gathered for the trips. Houston said many of the stories he’s heard are not prudent to print, and while Purple Heart Anglers prides itself on the notion that, “We don’t do politics and we don’t do therapy,” Houston embraces the importance of helping bring these brave men and women a sense of normalcy and peace after they sacrificed so much in battle.

“To see the vets up there enjoying the country that they served and protected, and being able to give them an opportunity to do that, (it’s special) to see the looks on their faces,” Houston said, also understanding that as the years have gone by he’s had to say painful good-byes. “On the way back I was talking to one of our volunteers and I looked up the photos that I’ve got from the past, and we’ve probably lost 10 (people) who have passed away.”

But for many of them, this Alaska trip and all the other fishing and hunting adventures have provided memories for everyone who participated or helped pave the way for the excursions.

Houston is based in the San Francisco Bay Area coastal community of Half Moon Bay, but he plans to relocate to Oregon soon.

But you can bet he’ll get back to Ketchikan again, presumably with a new group of servicemen or -women. Certainly he’s gotten something out of the experiences as well.

‘“To see them, it gives me personally a sense of satisfaction, saying thank you for what they’ve done and also what they’ve done for me and my family,” Houston said. “All of the stuff that they went through to be of service to me. And to be able to stand there and catch fish was something I won’t forget … I’m proud of the people who are involved with (Purple Heart Anglers). It’s just an amazing thing to watch.”

PURPLE HEART ANGLERS’ ALASKA trips have received generosity and time from organizations like Ketchikan’s Gilmore Hotel (907-225-9423), which hosted the group, and local fishing guides from Oasis Alaska Charters (907-302-4115; oasisalaskacharters.com), who helped send everyone home with plenty of salmon fillets.

“The Gilmore Hotel has been on our side since day one. We’ve got a (Purple Heart Anglers) plaque that hangs on their entry across from the front desk, a ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done.’ And they treat us with respect and dignity. They care.”

As for Oasis Alaska Charters, Houston added, “They go way past what normal is. Last year when Covid was going on, they had just bought a new van, and instead of having us take taxis they gave us the keys to the van to use in getting us to and back for the fishing. And they don’t do that for everybody.”

Houston raved about the guides’ generosity to his organization and has appreciated just about everyone he’s interacted with on his multiple trips to the Last Frontier and specifically in Ketchikan.

“The taxi cab drivers, they know who we are. They remember us from the years’ prior. They’re always there to welcome us and to take us wherever we want to go – even on side trips like to go see the bears. They don’t charge us for that. They just take us. Everybody cares and they treat the vets with the respect that I consider to be due.”

And the now-annual trips to Alaska have become standard for Houston. Before even heading back to the Lower 48 in October, he had already made arrangements for a 2022 return for a new group of fishing vets.

“It’s one of those trips of a lifetime,” he said.

When asked to share some of his most recent interactions with those he gets out to fish and hunt, Houston only agreed to get specific if the conversation was off the record. It was understandable why. The stories of PTSD effects can be too horrifying to print. But that’s part of what inspires Houston to keep this journey going to honor his late brother Jerry, a decorated Vietnam Army veteran who passed away in 2011.

Purple Heart Anglers was born when Jerry died. Houston had no military connection himself except for his big brother, and almost a decade later he can’t see himself not continuing the commitment he made to doing what he can for these American heroes.

Even as he turned 72 this past November, Houston quickly answered no when asked if he was getting burned out after dedicating so much time to his organization. But he is inspired by comedians/actors Jerry Lewis and Danny Thomas, who famously used their celebrity as philanthropists and whose legacy of giving and raising money has continued even as they’re no longer with us.

In other words, as long as Houston’s physically able, there are funds available to make the Alaska trips and he has the privilege of offering opportunities to help heal those who fought for his freedom through the great outdoors, Houston will head back north again and again.

“Do I want to do this until I can’t do this anymore? Yeah. My goal, I guess if you want to call it a goal, is to have this live on past me. I just want it to keep going,” he said. “It’s not about me, but it’s about the ability to get a disabled veteran out fishing for a day. That’s something I want to continue.” ASJ

Editor’s note: For more on Purple Heart Anglers and how to contribute, go to purpleheartanglers.org.