Current Events

Camp Patriot exists to take United States disabled Veterans on outdoor adventures

OUR CURRENT ADVENTURE - an Elk Hunt near Rexburg Idaho:

Camp Patriot is excited to team up with Jake Meyers & Doug Rasmussen of the Safari Club International Northwest Chapter and Roy Klingler of Elk Safaris West www.elksafariswest.com.

We have selected two fantastic young men who have served their country and during that service have sustained permanent life changing injuries. We have scheduled with Roy to be on location at the ranch in Rexburg on Sept 15-19.

In advance, I would like to thank all involved in making this happen! Just remember, without someone volunteering to pick up a weapon and stand a post, WE do not live free! This is our way of, "Giving back to those who have given".

I have asked the Veterans to type a bio and send a pic. Below you can get a quick glimpse of who these guys are! You can see more pictures of the hunt below their stories.

Take care & God Bless!

Micah Clark
Camp Patriot
Executive Director/Founder

HI,  My name is Ben McDonald, from Shelbyville IL...

I have been a member of the Illinois National Guard  since May of 1999.

Since then I have been on four active duty deployments:

In November of 2000 I went to Kuwait, in January of 2001 we were sent to Germany,

January of 2005 my unit was called up to go to Iraq. In September of 2008 we

were called to Afghanistan.

On January 12 of 2009, I lost my left hand to a high explosive machine gun round.

Since then I have been at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio TX.

While there I have been in occupational therapy and have been getting my prosthetics.

I will be medically retired on 25 Aug, 2009. I plan on working as a plumber/ pipe fitter.

Hello, This is SO1 Elliott Miller, from San Diego, CA...

Elliott enlisted with the US Marine Corp in 1996.  After honorably fulfilling his 4-year enlistment, he enrolled at Southern Illinois University. 

Within hours of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Elliott re-enlisted into active service with the US Navy.  After basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station, he reported to the Navy SEAL BUD/S class in Coronado, California.  After successfully completing the legendary, grueling BUD/S training, he was assigned to SEAL team 5 as advanced medical corpsman and sniper.

In November 2006, while his team was located within the dangerous Al-Anbar province of Southern Iraq, Elliott suffered life-threatening injuries while under enemy fire.  He then fell victim, along with one other fellow team member, to a massive IED (improvised explosive device) explosion.  The device, laced with phosphorous, caused severe burns to his hands and legs.  He also suffered two massive open leg fractures of one leg, and open fracture to one arm, massive loss of blood, and traumatic brain injury secondary to the blast.

Elliott's injuries left him close to death and in a coma for four weeks.  After first receiving phenomenal medical care at the US military hospitals within the combat zone, he was airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany where he was stabilized.  He was then airlifted directly to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas to begin the healing process.  Numerous trips to the surgical suites began (now numbering over 45) with skin grafts to his legs and hands, and reconstruction and repairs to his left leg and right arm.

After four months of intensive care, Elliott was relocated to the Palo Alto Polytrauma center in Palo Alto, CA at Stanford University.  Numerous surgeries and near fatal infections followed, but his incredible strength and Navy SEAL resolve prevailed.

Elliott returned to his SEAL brothers in San Diego where his medical treatment and rehab continued at Balboa Navy Medical Center.  It was here that the decision was made by Elliott to amputate his severely injured left leg above the knee, and it was here that Elliott received the Bronze Star with Valor, and the Purple Heart.

In March, 2009, after completing an assignment to a traumatic brain injury rehabilitation center in Omaha, Nebraska where he received intensive rehab work to improve his prosthesis and wheelchair skills, along with intensive speech therapy, he returned to his SEAL team brothers in San Diego. Today Elliott remains an active member of his SEAL team and works daily while continuing further rehabilitation work.

"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those whom would do us harm."

Winston Churchill

Elliott Miller arriving @ Idaho Falls Airport with fellow SEAL support buddy:

Arriving at Roy Klingler's Squirrel Creek Ranch:

Elliott Miller and Roy Klingler, Elk Safari's West, spotting their elk:

Elliott's 6x7 bull elk:

Elliott's marksmanship as a SEAL sniper made us all proud with his 100+ yard shot!

Jake Myers of Safari Club Int'l NW, Elliott Miller, Camp Patriot Director Micah Clark and Roy Klingler, Elk Safari's West standing:

Ben McDonald's adventure was equally exciting!

Note his left hand prosthetic which he controls with his shoulder:

UhOh... don't think I'll stick around for this!

But Ben got him anyway!

Note the "new hand" for the next job:

Marauding bear adds to the adventure:

Can't resist the chance to fish!

Mouths were watering with this beautiful rainbow:

Wild river near the lodge brings delight to our souls...

With Heartfelt Thanks to Our Host Families at Elk Safari West: