Oregon City, OR -(FirearmsGuide.com)- When retired United States Army veteran Pablo Cadena’s convoy was ambushed while serving in Afghanistan, he was severely wounded by an RPG, nearly losing his leg. The injury marked the end of Cadena’s career in the armed forces and left him in a dark place mentally, even after his physical recovery. Back at home, Cadena was despondent, as he was so used to the camaraderie within his unit, being a part of that special team and helping the other troops through traumatic situations while training or on the battlefield. He turned to the television to fill the space his service once filled in his life.

Cadena’s wife recognized his struggle to return to civilian life and sent an email that would set her husband back on a positive and productive path. She signed him up for a weekend hunting trip with Hero Hunt, a nonprofit organization that provides therapy and camaraderie to line-of-duty injured military, police, firefighters, and other first responders. Cadena was apprehensive at first, but with a little prodding and a lot of acceptance and support from Hero Hunt volunteers and other wounded veterans, Cadena’s first hunt was a therapeutic success. One hunt turned into three more, and a year-and-a-half after that initial breath of fresh air hunting in the woods, Cadena is now a Hero Hunt ambassador, organizing events and helping other veterans work through their trauma.


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