Fort Rucker welcomes wounded warriors before they ride the Boll Weevil 100

Some of America’s heroes will enjoy a weekend on the water. Fort Rucker is hosting several veterans for a wounded warriors retreat on Lake Tholocco.

I've done South America, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Fort Benning Staff Sergeant David Cochran.

Staff Sergeant David Cochran's time in the military has taken him all over the world, but he'll be spending this weekend at Fort Rucker for a wounded warrior retreat.

Cochran has spent the past few years dealing with some stress from his time with the National Guard, and the retreat gives him a chance to bond with fellow wounded warriors.

"I'm working. It's always going to be a work in progress with each individual, no two people are the same," said Cochran.

Cochran and a few others will be staying in a new cabin that overlooks Lake Tholocco, built specifically with wounded warriors in mind.

"All the specifications on the cabin were actually built as if someone was in a wheelchair,” said a Fort Rucker employee during a walk-through tour. “The stove is lowered the countertops are lowered."

The cabin also has roll-in showers and an ADA ramp.

"I've met a friend here that's in Atlanta, and he's wheelchair bound, and I'm going to send him some pictures of this place, and I'm sure he'll be here shortly as soon as he gets a free moment,” said Cochran.

Fort Rucker provided its guests with wounded warrior-specific equipment, including a pontoon boat with a wheelchair entry, wheelchair accessible RV and handi-capable deer stand for hunting.

The retreat lines up with the Boll Weevil 100-Mile Bicycle Ride over the weekend, which Cochran and several other military families will participate in.

"I was the person who answered the phone when the government called and said, ' Can we send wounded warriors to the Boll Weevil one hundred?' And I said, 'Yes.' Then they said, 'well will you let them ride at no cost?' and I said yes,” said Conrad Stempel, Co-Chair of Wiregrass Wounded Veterans Committee

The Wiregrass Wounded Veterans Committee raised more than $4,000 to pay for the weekend, so now all Sergeant Cochran has to do is ride.

"I feel this will be an amazing event, and I'm just proud to help you all out and be here,” said Cochran.

The Boll Weevil 100 will start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise.

More information on staying at the Wounded Warrior Retreat by the Lake is available on Fort Rucker’s website:

https://crg.amedd.army.mil/guides/tradoc/rucker/Pages/default.aspx