Hunting Blog TAMPA — If you want to see a blind Iraq war veteran from Tampa go hunting, tune into the Sportsman Channel Thursday night at 9 p.m. Joel Tavera, who was severely burned, suffered traumatic brain injury, lost part of his right leg, the sight in both his eyes and the fingers on his left hand on March 12, 2008 when a rocket exploded near his armored Chevrolet Suburban inside Talil Air Base in Iraq, will be one of three area veterans appearing on Amazing America with Sarah Palin. “It was awesome,” said Tavera of being on the show. Tavera shoots with the aid of a device that attaches to an iPhone, allowing a spotter to see the view through the rifle scope. Sometimes the spotter will talk to him, sometimes it may be a touch that helps Tavera aim. The appearance on the Palin show was engineered by Dave Winters, president of the Black Dagger Military Hunt Club, a local charity that helps veterans continue taking part in shooting sports activities. “We want to show that anyone can do this after being wounded or injured and that you don’t have to give up,” said Winters, who retired from the Air Force and is now working as a contractor at MacDill Air Force Base. “We struggle with 22 veteran suicides a day. This is a good news story that people can overcome some very serious injuries and still do the things they love.” Winters said he chose the veterans, who all served in the Army, specifically because of the challenges they face. Tavera cannot see. Terry Del Pizzo Jr. of Port St. Lucie was paralyzed after a car accident and Frank Wade of Tampa suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. “There are injuries that are seen and unseen,” he said. “I wanted to show the range.” All three veterans praised Winters’ organization. “I was very glad to be able to help showcase Black Dagger, because they have done so much for veterans,” said Tavera. Wade said he drove 14 hours straight from Ohio, where he had been hunting, just to make it to the show. Terry Del Pizzo Sr. said the hunting club provides opportunities his son would not otherwise have. The appearance came about thanks to Twitter, said Winters. “Last summer, I saw a post from the Sportsman Channel that Amazing America with Sarah Palin was having a second season,” said Winters. “I sent them a Tweet back that we have some amazing warriors coming back injured with a never-give-up attitude and that they would be missing something” if the producers didn’t do a segment on them. Two months later, Pilgrim Studios reached out to Winters and they set up a shoot, held last October at Razor Ranch in Zolfo Springs. The day started off with former commandos parachuting out of a plane with a 300-square-foot American flag, said Winters, then went on to a shooting competition and then hunting. “The heroes that have sacrificed their lives and experienced life-altering injuries deserve every chance to return home and lead productive lives,” said Tom Caraccioli, director of communications for Sportsman Channel. “This is the biggest reason we choose to tell their stories – so people are aware and understand the profound gratitude we all should hold in our hearts as citizens of the United States to the men and women who have made these sacrifices.” Though blind, Tavera was still able to outshoot the show’s on-site host, comedian Jerry Carroll, something Tavera said he joked about on camera. “I guess I get more trigger time,” said Tavera in a phone interview. Palin did not come to Florida, but serves as the in- studio host, said Winters. Want to know how the guys did? Tune in. haltman@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7629 @haltman Razzor Ranch contact info. www.razzorranch.com or 239-850-3063

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