Operation Catch Fish- THe Baghdad Anglers Club and Fly Fishing School

Last weekend my friends and I met for our annual fishing weekend on the Muskegon River, Michigan. The guys that go on this trip have to be some of the best Americans there are, and so every year I ask them to dig into their pockets a little bit and contribute something to a charity that I favor- The Baghdad Anglers Club and Fly Fishing School.

The Baghdad Angler's Club and School of Fly Fishing is an organized fishing group of our military men and women. It was started in 2005 as a way to motivate our troops in Iraq and have them try something new. The club provides fishing equipment for service members who want to step out of the battle for a bit and just focus on catching fish. The club also has begun sponsoring a tournament, which is yet another fun way for our service members to be rewarded for their service to our nation.

I know what you are thinking- fishing, in Iraq? Although it is a place where few would think to fish, there are rivers, streams, and ponds that have many varieties of excellent fish in them. The last tournament that the club held had soldiers fishing in the ponds that surrounded Saddam Hussein's former palaces, from which the winner of the tourney pulled out a nice sized carp.

This group reminds me that even in the bleakest conditions, the American spirit will find a way to manifest itself and bring light and life into even the darkest corners of the world. The brave men and women of our military are once again finding ways to bring humanity to their mission, and remember who they are in situations where it would be understandable for them to forget.

Ray Combs, who reported on Operation Catch Fish - Baghdad this year, understands how important things like this are:

I am struck by the power and community found in the primordial act of pulling a fish from water. Fishing seems like a simple, subtle thing, until I filmed it on the other side of the world in a former dictator's palace with a bunch of soldiers. I leave Iraq with the knowledge that fishing is so much more than simply baiting a hook and tossing in a line. It's a sport that inspires passion, courage, and camaraderie no matter where it's done.

If you love fishing, if you love our soldiers, and if you love America, you might want to think about giving to this club. I know that they are always looking for donations- mostly fly and spinning rods and line. Your fishing group, school group, or church group could gather together as little as $200 and help to bring a little more happiness and peace to our soldiers serving in the Middle East.