Forces and Fire provides hunting opportunities for disabled vets

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Randy Evans is a friendly, easy-going guy with an engaging smile — but he quickly becomes solemn and serious when he talks about the disabled veterans he’s had the opportunity to meet.

“I never served, and I believe that’s why I do this,” Evans said. “These people gave everything they have for us, and I feel we should give something back to them.”

Evans is a founder and spokesperson for the Forces and Fire organization, which hosts outdoor recreational outings for disabled veterans, law enforcement and firefighters.

In short, Evans takes wounded vets from all over the country deer hunting, right here in Iowa.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s so rewarding,” Evans said. “Sometimes I feel like we get as much out of it as the vets do.”

Forces and Fire Inc.’s mission is to provide a safe outdoor recreational experience for any disabled veteran, firefighter or law enforcement officer and their families, where they can enhance their strengths and independence as a family.

Their goal is to let them know that their contribution is recognized and has not been forgotten. And the experiences give family members the chance to see loved ones be active again.

Forces and Fire is managed and operated by unpaid volunteer firefighters and veterans. Evans said he is among six people on the board of directors, and “we have a lot of volunteers.”

“Our work is to ensure that these heroes have an opportunity to integrate back into civilian life,” Evans said. “Our goal is to serve those who have given so much to serve and protect our freedom.”

Evans became involved with veterans organizations about eight or nine years ago with the Purple Heart Tour — an organization based in the Greene area that organizes pheasant hunting outings for wounded veterans.

Evans was president of that group — which is still active — for four years, before he opted to split off and start an organization with an area deer hunt.

“One thing we do that other groups don’t is, we invite families,” he said. “We want it to be a family adventure.”

Three years ago Forces and Fire hosted an entire family on a hunt — a husband and wife and two kids.

“That was awesome,” Evans said. ”We had no clue how we were going to handle it, but it worked out perfectly.”

Evans said the group prefers to guide four hunters at a time.

“We’ve done more and we’ve done less, but four seems to be about the right number,” he said.

Typically they hunt during the bow season. All the hunters and guides will get together for a meet-and-greet supper on the first Sunday in November.

Organization is time-consuming. The process for next year begins immediately after the end of this year’s hunt. The group has to raise funds, reserve land to hunt on, and begin vetting next year’s applicants.

Finding land to hunt on has not been a problem.

“We have a lot of area farmers and landowners who have been so gracious,” Evans said. ”We have never, ever been turned down, not once. They are so generous. The landowners are just absolutely priceless.”

Forces and Fire pays for everything — travel expenses, licensing, deer tags, food and lodging, etc.

Evans said the meet-and-greet is usually held at a house on an acreage just outside of Rudd, owned by Dr. Jay Lala, a Mason City dentist.

“It’s a beautiful home, and it’s just ideal for the vets because it’s all one level,” he said. Evans and his wife also have an acreage south of Charles City, where the hunters have stayed.

A couple of military vets help to find the hunters. Jeremy Baughm, a “special forces guy out of Missouri,” finds the out-of-state veterans.

“Jeremy was one of our first hunters here,” Evans said. “We use him as a liaison for out-of-state vets, because he has all the military connections.”

For in-state hunters, the group utilizes Luke Chatfield, out of Floyd.

“We use Luke, he’s Army Reserve, he knows the local vets, the Iowa vets,” Evans said.

Support for Forces and Fire comes primarily from donations and fundraisers.

“Pancake breakfasts, rummage sales, we sell mums and pumpkins,” Evans said. “Anything we can do to make money, we do it.”

Valero is probably the biggest donor, according to Evans.

“Quite a few of their employees donate, and then Valero corporate donated money to help build a handicapped-accessible deer blind,” he said. “We wouldn’t be able to do a thing if it weren’t for the donations we’ve been so lucky to get.”

Legislation has helped lower the price tag. In 2012, the Iowa Legislature passed a bill that allows a limited number of nonresident disabled veterans and disabled active military personnel to hunt in Iowa at resident hunting license prices.

Forces and Fire and four other groups that provide similar services to the military lobbied for the law.

“We were very fortunate, we got the law changed in two years,” Evans said.

To qualify for one of the special licenses in this program, the hunter must either be a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more, or serving on active duty in the federal military service and participating in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System.

The applicant must also be a participant in a hunt conducted by an approved nonprofit organization, such as Forces and Fire, that provides hunting experiences for disabled veterans and military personnel.

Of course, the hunt isn’t just limited to military personnel. Forces and Fire also brings in law enforcement and firefighters — including New York City firemen injured during and after the 9-11 attacks in September of 2001.

“That’s getting to be an almost nonexistent group, I’m upset to say, for medical reasons or deaths,” Evans said.  “Whenever they come to Iowa, they’re just thrilled that they’re remembered. One of their favorite things they say is ‘we can’t believe that the Iowa people have not forgotten.’”

Evans said that New Yorkers were so close to the attacks and the aftermath that they sometimes can miss the forest for the trees.

“It sometimes seems to them that they’ve been forgotten in New York,” he said. “I’m sure that nobody has forgotten,” but the comment does say a lot about the kindness of Iowans.

Evans said that 100 percent of all donations to Forces and Fire go toward the activities for the disabled veterans, fire fighters and law enforcement officers. They are tax deductible. To donate or volunteer, call Evans at 641-330-1757.