Thirty-one soldiers from the Fourth Brigade Combat Team stationed at Fort Stewart, GA will have some happy memories to carry home with them from the 19th Big Bend Saltwater Classic held June 15 through 17. The group traveled here, was provided with lodging and participated in the tournament free of charge thanks to collaboration between Sgt. First Class Felix Quiles, originally of Puerto Rico and the coordinators of the tournament.
Quiles saw a commercial for the Saltwater Classic and immediately decided he wanted to attend and bring along his fishing buddy Pablo Galindo. He sent an email to the tournament coordinators explaining that he and his friend wanted to fish but didn’t have a boat and Chairman Ben Betts immediately responded that the soldiers were more than welcome. Quiles and Galindo received free registration and were provided with a place on one of the participating boats. Sandy Beach Properties, a tournament sponsor provided housing for the men and their families.
Quiles and Galindo had a wonderful time and Quiles commanding officer asked if he could arrange for more of his comrades in arms to make the trip. In February 2007, he contacted Michelle Clarke, this year’s tournament chairman and asked if he could bring a bigger group of soldiers down to fish. Clarke told him to let her know how many would be attending.
“I was a little worried that we would not be able to find enough places on boats but it wasn’t a problem.” said Clarke.
With support from Sandy Beach Properties and the Big Bend Veterans Association and the many anglers who opened their hearts and their boats, thirty one soldiers were able to visit Franklin County this Father’s Day.
“I am so indebted to the guys who stepped up to provide places on boats. We had one guy who lived in Atlanta and kept a boat in Alligator Point. He didn’t even register for the tournament; he just came down to take a soldier out on the water.” said Clarke.
Matt Miller of Tallahassee was one of the visiting soldiers. He had been fishing in Carrabelle before. “We appreciate all the captains that took us out. We caught fish. We didn’t pay a dime. They treated us like kings,” said Miller.
Quiles and Galindo were both back this year but they didn’t catch many fish.
“We ran out of gas,” said Quiles. “We didn’t make it in till 9 p.m. on Saturday, but we had a few beers and we had a blast.”
During the awards ceremony on Sunday morning, the soldiers presented a plaque to the tournament in gratitude for their hospitality. “We hope to come back here soon,” said Quiles.
“We know for a fact it won’t be next year because we ship out for Iraq sometime in September, but hopefully in 2009.”
Lois Swoboda/The Times The visiting soldiers watching the awards ceremony.