Four US Army Rangers from 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, having just returned from their first of what would become many combat deployments, made a journey to Arkansas to hunt ducks in January 2002.  Despite subsequent assignments that would scatter them around the country, those same men continued to rendezvous in Arkansas each January for 10+ years – missing one or two each year due to deployment cycles.

After several years of hunting hard, the collective group realized the weekend was about far more than the harvest.

Although all 9/11 generation combat veterans are eligible, DWS’ target population is the Special Operations community, the world’s most elite fighting force. This focus comes from the origins of our first to make their annual journey to Arkansas in 2002.

Special Operations Soldiers are role models – mentally, morally, and physically.  They use their minds as well as bodies to make sound judgments, reasoned decisions, and ultimately accomplish their mission – though they be the lone survivor.  These men and women demonstrate discipline both on and off duty, and their standards are enduring.