The Patriot Woodworkers with Operation Ward 57 Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays - 2021 (Winners Announced)

[John Morris]

Introduction

Every year The Patriot Woodworker's adopt a Wounded Warrior or Gold Star family for Christmas. We do this through a great veterans support organization named Operation Ward 57. The Patriot Woodworker's submit an application to Ward 57 to be accepted to receive our family for Christmas, and each year we are chosen to participate. And each year, our sponsors donate wonderful items for us to giveaway for this cause. We use 100 percent of your contributions to purchase gifts for the kids, and a Christmas dinner for the family and to fund related project expenses such as shipping fees for gifts.

 

 

Our Mission 
We need your help to accumulate funds for Christmas presents for our Wounded Warrior adopted family, who has given much to our nation in physical and emotional sacrifice and much more in family sacrifice. 

 

The Wounded Warrior Family

I have had the honor of communicating with Mrs. Hulsey and learned much about her wonderful family, her husband, the kids, and they are of course just really great folks. Here is a brief introduction to our family this year by Mrs. Hulsey.

 

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Mike and I have 3 children together Austin who is our oldest who is a freshman in college, Elizabeth who is turning 17 in a few weeks and then there is Wyatt who is 7. Mike and I have been married for 19 years and we where married before his injuries.

 

And our guest of honor, Mr. Hulsey was gracious enough to share some of his history in service of our nation, please read below.

 

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SGT Mike Hulsey

 

Service dates from:

August 2001 - January 2011

 

Deployments:

Iraq 2003 invasion

Iraq 2006-2007

Afghanistan 2009-2010

 

I started my military career before September 11th with the belief that the world was a safe and stable place, and in my mind thought that my time in the military would be brief and peaceful with no conflicts being expected. Little did I know that the world would be forever changed a month into my training with the United States Army. At the time of my first enlistment I. The Army I chose to enter service as a 52D, a generator mechanic, and I thought even after the towers had fallen that even if there was a conflict, I would be far from front lines. Fast forward a brief period of time and not only were we fighting in Afghanistan, but war was looming with Iraq as well, and by now I didn’t seem to feel as certain as before that this would end anytime soon. within a matter of months after National news headlines had mentioned the possibility of war with Iraq, I was attached to the 1st Marine Corp Division, and an infantry company at that before being sent to Kuwait as we awaited orders to enter the country, and before long, there we sat in Baghdad. I learned two things during the invasion of Iraq, first is don’t ever underestimate the American Military’s might, and second was no matter your job, when bullets are flying, every man is an infantry man. As my unit began to prepare for redeployment back to the United States I found myself at a crossroads with my time remaining in boots quickly coming to an end if I didn’t reenlist.

 

Shortly upon returning home from that deployment to Iraq, I made up my mind that I no longer wanted to be a mechanic, and therefor I re-enlisted with the option to change my career field. I volunteered for needs of the Army and due to low numbers of enlistments at the time, I was reclassify as an NBC guy. I thought man, I’ll never see the front lines again, finally a safe position to be in. However, Uncle Sam was short of NBC guys in many infantry companies at FT Campbell. Knowing that my family would be much closer to home, and also coming to the realization that regardless of my job I would be deployed again, I volunteered to go to FT Campbell where I would spend the remainder of my military career until I was released from service. Of all the decisions I had made while serving, this was the best thing I ever decided to do.

 

I was assigned to 4 BCT, 2-506th infantry, which had just been stood back up at FT Campbell, shortly before I had arrived. After being processed into my unit I was handed off to the 1SG where I immediately began training per his orders, as there was no man worth having in his infantry company if the man could not perform the duties of an infantryman should it ever be needed. For these lessons I am very grateful, as it would later serve me well yet again in Baghdad. After two months of training, I was headed back to Iraq, with an infantry company none the less, but I felt safe, confident, well protected, and more importantly surrounded by my military family.

 

Fast forward through the deployment, with three IED’s being struck and two months remaining before we were to go back home. We were told to cordon off a block and go house to house, looking for a High Value Target. While each squad from my platoon struck off in different directions, I along with the radio man an interpreter and one gunner stayed with the company CO. In a matter of a few minutes of the squads moving, we began to take small arms fire from rooftops. We began to scan rooftops trying to ID targets but as we were doing this, a man came from around the corner of the building and started firing in our direction. The first burst of fire went wild and was nowhere close to the vehicle or my squad, but before we could react, again he came out from the corner of the building and opened fire. This time rounds walked down the street and up onto our vehicle. The rounds upon impact split into fragments which hit the company commander and our RTO. At this time the gunner in our lead vehicle realized where the threat was and began to orient in his direction, but before he had completely moved into a position to engage the target the man came from behind the building and fired a third burst. This time the interpreter and myself were wounded when rounds fragmented and ricocheted down the street. We were finally able to eliminate the threat and moved out to receive aid.

 

I would later be awarded a Purple Heart for injuries related to this incident, however, unfortunately it was an IED that truly injured me during this deployment. After returning to FT Campbell I began to see a spine specialist due to lower back and hip pain that I was never able to recover from, and that seemed to continue to worsen. I would ultimately deploy again with the same company this time to Afghanistan, but was assigned to the TOC and radio until my injuries either improved or until they knew what the surgeon would be able to do for me when I returned home.

 

Sadly, after returning home from my third deployment, the decision was made that my injuries would require spinal surgery to correct, and at that time my military career would go in a different direction. I would be medically discharged before having my spinal surgery at a later date to correct the ruptured discs in my lower back and both hips were replaced as well.

 

At this time I am retired and spend my days with my family (my wife Meaghan, sons Austin and Wyatt, daughter Elizabeth), my service dog (Crockett), and I spend a lot of time when possible or feasible outside fishing or at my fly tying bench working on any number of patterns that I might find as being useful at fooling any uneducated trout.

 

Kind Regards,

Mike Hulsey

 

Our Christmas Family Images

 

Rules

• Sorry, only Residents of the US and Canada may participate. Outside countries may contribute but you will not be entered into the system for receiving items due to shipping costs. If you are in an outside country, and do contribute, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
• All are welcome to participate, members, forum hosts, admins and non-members. (John Morris (Founder) and family may not participate).
• Please allow 1 to 3 weeks for delivery of prizes, most of the time prizes are sent out immediately.
• You may contribute as much funding as you like to earn entries into our random draw.
• Your contributions will be accepted up to December 31st 12 am Pacific Time, at which time project will close and item recipients will be chosen. Please allow up to 48 hrs for recipient names to be listed in this topic.
• 9 names will be randomly drawn by Random Picker software, and items will be awarded in the order of names drawn, the order in which the items are listed below, are the order they will be drawn.

 

To contribute to our Adopted Family please click on "Donate" button

 

This year, the items our sponsors have donated can be seen in the image below, these are some great prizes folks! You can donate only 2 dollars with multiple entry bargains, and your odds of receiving a sponsored item are very high given our typical turnout. To view the entry fees, and to purchase your entries please click on the Donate button above!

 

 

Item links

• Laguna 14|12 Bandsaw ($1599.00) for one recipient @Masonsailor
• Easy Wood Tools Full Size Finisher ($129.99) for one recipient @DuckSoup
• Easy Wood Tools Mid Size Finisher ($119.99) for one recipient @FlGatorwood
• Florip Toolworks 9" Dovetail Saw presented by Woodcraft ($119.99) for one recipient @PostalTom
• One Way Bowl Steady Rest presented by Woodcraft ($109.99) for one recipient @p_toad
• Woodcraft 2 year magazine subscription ($29.99) for one recipient @FrederickH
• General Finishes Clear Finish Package ($225.00) 8 cans of finish for one recipient @JimM

  High Performance Satin, and Flat - 2 cans total
  EVII (Endurovar II) Satin - 1 can total
  Exterior 450 Satin, Flat, Semi Gloss - 3 cans total
  Arm-R-Seal Satin, Semi Gloss - 2 cans total

• General Finishes Pigmented Package ($230.00) 8 cans of finish for one recipient @Joseph

  Milk Paints – Lamp Black, Antique White, Blue Moon, Driftwood, Tuscan Red 5 cans total

  Stain Blocker - 1 can total
  Brushable White Enamel Satin, Flat - 2 cans total

• General Finishes Stain Package ($235.00) 8 cans of finish for one recipient @Gerald P. (Gerry) Cousins

  Water-based Stain – Provincial, Tobacco, Graystone, Whitewash, Pecan - 5 cans total

  Gel stain – Antiqute Walnut, Java - 2 cans total

  Exterior 450 - Mesquite - 1 can total

   

  In Closing

  Ok Patriot Woodworker's, it's time to muster and it's time to show everyone what we are all about! The purpose our woodworking community was created is for this reason, to help those who have served us, and paid the price.

  Remember this is not charity, this is not a hand out, this is payback!

   

  Thank you sponsors!

  We also need to thank our sponsors Woodcraft Supply, Laguna Tools, Easy Wood Tools and General Finishes for their generous support and for donating those wonderful items for the raffle! For without them, we would not have a community, nor would we be able to perform the work we do. Thank you guys!

   

  

   

  Prior Years Projects

  • Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays 2015
  • Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays 2016
  • Adopt a Gold Star Family for the Holidays 2017
  • Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays 2018
  • Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays 2019
  • Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays 2020

   

[John Morris]

Dear Patriot Woodworkers and guests, our annual tradition of adopting a wounded warrior family for Christmas, has now officially begun, I want to wish all those who contribute, the best of luck, and thank you for supporting our adopted family this year!

 

[lew]

ALRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[p_toad]

count me in

[John Morris]

Well, over the weekend we got off to grand slam start! Thank you to all who have contributed thus far, if this keeps up we'll crash our goal and more! Thank you folks!

[John Morris]

We are a third of the way my friends, please get your entries in early. 

We need your help to fund the gifts before Christmas! 😊

[John Morris]

Dear folks, we have been honored with a family photo of the Hulsey's. The image was taken right before they sat down to their Thanksgiving dinner, please see the original topic. What a wonderful family they are!

[lew]

Awesome!

[Al B]

i'm in.

[JRo]

I'm in for $100.  Merry Christmas to all!

[John Morris]

I nice blog by Woodcraft, is live! Thank you Woodcraft!

 

Woodcraft Supports Patriot Woodworker Project to Thank Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts

WWW.WOODCRAFT.COM

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Woodcraft joins The Patriot Woodworker to honor a wounded Tennessee veteran and his family this Christmas season.

 

[lew]

1 hour ago, John Morris said:

I nice blog by Woodcraft, is live! Thank you Woodcraft!

 

Woodcraft Supports Patriot Woodworker Project to Thank Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts

WWW.WOODCRAFT.COM

---

Woodcraft joins The Patriot Woodworker to honor a wounded Tennessee veteran and his family this Christmas season.

 

Fantastic write-up!!

[Grandpadave52]

I suspect all, y'all have noticed by now we've exceeded our giving goal of $2500 to this point by nearly 107% at $2672.

 

WELL DONE Patriot Woodworker Family!! THANK-YOU & Blessing to all who have given already as well as those unable but have been cheering and praying our goal was met and surpassed. Your spirit for giving and caring is amazing. What an honor it is just to be a small part of such great people here.

 

So...We still have 9+ days to add to our total and help "our family", The Hulseys even more.

[honesttjohn]

Added a couple more dollars to the pot.

[John Morris]

Thank you all for your contributions! We are coming down the home stretch, stay tuned!

[lew]

Just now, John Morris said:

Thank you all for your contributions! We are coming down the home stretch, stay tuned!

Any word on how the Christmas went for the Hulsey family???

[John Morris]

As far as I know Lew it went very well. Mrs. Hulsey may get some images to us. 

[John Morris]

Dear folks, we raised nearly 3000.00 for our family this year! I want to thank everyone involved, I wish everyone could walk away with something for their efforts, but the biggest winners is our Wounded Warrior Family, The Hulsey's.

 

Please see the original post for this topic, and see the winners names next to each item. Will the recipients please message me with your shipping information.

Thank you once again to our sponsors for supplying these wonderful items for this annual tradition of ours.

 

I am truly humbled by the turnout this year, thank you all once again!

[Grandpadave52]

Congratulations to all of our raffle winners!

Thank-you to all who contributed and to our wonderful partners and sponsors.

And Thank-you @John Morrisfor all of your behind the scenes logistics but most importantly for coordinating our opportunity to help one of our nation's heros.

Bless you all for making The Patriot Woodworker Forums lead the way for putting others before self.

[John Morris]

3 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Bless you all for making The Patriot Woodworker Forums lead the way for putting others before self.

So honored to be a part of this community, thank you Gramps