Soldiers on Sleds Builds Lasting Relationships

There are many times when folks meet for short encounters, and that's the last time they see each other. However, that is not the case with the Soldiers on Sleds organization. Take a situation last week, and let me introduce you to one of our Soldiers on Sleds participants. Here is Sargent Jennifer Driebel, a seasoned combat Medic, with experience in the field, both in, and out of the Armed Services.

When Jennifer is not serving her fellow soldiers, she travels all over the US as a Wellness Nurse, attending to many employees of various companies, drawing blood samples, checking temperature, pulse, and respiration (TPR) as well as conducting cholesterol screenings, thereby ensuring their health and safety.

Here Jennifer draws a blood sample from a fellow soldier.

She takes her work very seriously, trains constantly, and provides the compassion needed to fullfil such an important mission. She is just one, of the many more like her. And we are very proud that she is a member of our Soldiers on Sleds family.

Because of our on going relationship Jennifer recently contacted us, and informed us she was going to be doing some work up in our neck of the woods, and was inquiring where she might go fishing. Being an avid outdoors person, she always tries to find outdoor activities when she is traveling on the road. An accomplished  hunter, and fisherwoman, she had some time in between her appointments, and wanted to know if we could point her in the right direction. But better than that we reeled her in and took her on an afternoon adventure in Wisconsin's North Woods. First, we hit the Rainbow flowage, just below the dam, where she demonstrated her outdoor abilities. She had her own rod, reel, and tackle equipment, and within a short she landed two Northern Pike and lost something else which was of good size. From there we headed over to Pickerel Lake and out onto Captain Roger Klein's boat and headed for the weeds. But right by the dock, before we left, she picked up a small Musky. One that was very tired from the recent spawn. It was quickly placed back into the water where it gently swam away.

Once the boat was lowered into the water and we settled on board, we headed for the far side of the lake in search of the elusive crappie population. And it didn't take long for us to find them. But we did have some competition from a local resident Loon, who lingered nearby our boat for some time to spy on our success (or failure, as the case may be) at this quiet, and calm part of the lake.

 But Jennifer is a real good fisherwoman, and it did not take her long to catch the first crappie:

Just look at that determined look on her face. This one was followed by about eight more, a few perch, and one keeper Northern Pike.  But then it was over, just as fast as it started and we had to head back. 

I think she really enjoyed her afternoon out on the water with us two old  soldiers. But the thrill of the Northwoods was not over for her, just quite yet.


You see, if you are going to get the whole Northwoods experience you have to see first-hand, and up close everything that is there!


But more importantly , Jennifer got to see up close and personal, a Northwoods rarity, and that is one of our popular Albino Deer, this one was  nicknamed, Mamma. Mamma was there with her yearling fawn to check us out and see what we were up too.

Jennifer could not believe how close she was able to get up to her and snap a few photos. Mama was about six years old now and was very familiar with the area and the people who live in it. Her yearling, well that's another story?

As for Jennifer?  I am sure we will hear from her the next time she is in the neighborhood. We were glad to hear from her, and we're glad she reached out to us. It was good to see her again, and  spending the afternoon with us, was certainly our pleasure, as  we would welcome all of out Soldiers on Sleds family.