Wounded warriors are winners on the water

After a raucous round of high-fives and back-slapping congratulations had subsided, Justin LaPree took a deep breath, exhaled through a wide grin and stared proudly at the 44-inch striper he had just decked.

"Heck of a bass!" announced mate Stan Rand, "Is that your biggest fish ever?"

Indeed it was, and for a while it looked like the lengthy linesider might contend for top spot in the striper division of the North Shore Anglers 4th Annual Montauk Hook 'n' Slice Charity Golf and Fishing Tournament. The event, designed to raise funds and awareness for the non-profit Wounded Warrior Project - while also raising the spirits of participating veterans and their loved ones - was held last Saturday out of Star Island Marina and Montauk Downs Golf Course.

"The Wounded Warrior Project has been tremendously helpful to me," said the 29-year old LaPree. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 1st. Marine Division in Fallujah, Iraq, suffering from a traumatic brain injury caused by several IED explosions in 2004, and from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Honorably discharged, the Katy, Texas, native now works for Brownstone Investment Group in NYC. "Aside from helping wounded veterans with rehabilitation and readjustment to civilian life," he explained, "the Wounded Warrior Project puts people like me in touch with others who have gone through similar experiences. Most injured soldiers find it's easier to talk to someone that has faced comparable challenges and can help mentor us through recovery."

Also on board the spacious 42-foot downeaster Big Blue this day was 28-year old Timothy Strobel of Selden. The retired U.S. Army Corporal served as a senior medic for the 1st Infantry Division in Baghdad. He managed to walk away from 14 IED explosions before a shot through the lower leg put him out of commission in 2007 and retired from the Army in 2009.

"I was told I would never walk again, but here I am," said Strobel with a disarming grin. "A surgeon told me not to let my injuries define who I am. Instead, let them define what I might accomplish next. I've taken that to heart and I'm working in the medical field. It's programs like this that have helped me get my life back together."

Sturdy enough to stand at the rail in nasty rollers at the Elbow Rip, Strobel decked the first fish of his life, a cocktail blue, and followed that with several stripers caught on live eels. Strobel's girlfriend, Jennifer Datorre of Mineola, and Kelly Presley of Manhattan, LaPree's girlfriend, also decked a couple bass apiece.

"I'm so glad to see everyone out here having fun," said captain Jack Picciano of Glen Cove, the leader of our Flower Hill Auto Body team, as he pointed the bow back toward port. "My crew consisted of childhood friends. We get together every fall for this cause. We realize we are lucky to live free and proud, and a large part of that is because of sacrifices made by brave military personnel like these guys. I'm thrilled to have them aboard."

If you would like to make a donation to the Wounded Warriors Project, want to participate in the program, or need more information, go to www.woundedwarriorproject.org. For specifics on the Montauk Hook 'n' Slice Charity Golf and Fishing Tournament, check out montaukhookandslice.com.

E-mail: outdoortom

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