Braving enemy fire to occupy a critical firing position the young soldier engaged and neutralized six insurgents at close range. Then the soldier, still under relentless fire, ran into a burning vehicle to retrieve an automatic weapon and successfully defended his platoon’s position, bringing great credit to himself, and to the 1st Calvary Division.
Meet Clayton Carver, 1st Calvary vet, family man, wounded warrior, hero, and avid bass angler. The Killeen, TX, native, and former Fort Hood soldier, was here on Lake Sam Rayburn to pre-fish for an upcoming BASSMaster Weekend Series tournament.
Spending a day on the lake with him, this former Marine enjoyed the camaraderie that only comes from two veterans having fun and catching bass together. We were fishing the lower end of “Big Sam” looking for a pattern that could possibly put a winning weight on the weekender scale, and hopefully, some cash and points in Clayton’s tackle pack.
Clayton, a Bronze Star w/valor and Purple Heart recipient, with 8 active duty years and two Iraqi deployments under his belt, has already won the exceptional “Tuff Man” event and the weekend warriors “Fishing for Freedom” tournament.
(Awarded the Bronze Star in 2004, Clayton Carver was recognized for his bravery as reported here in his medal certificate.)
Specialist Clayton W. Carver, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Calvary Regiment for valorous acts of heroism while assigned as a rifleman on a combat patrol in Sadr City, Baghdad Iraq. Specialist Carver boldly moved under enemy fire to occupy a critical firing position which allowed him to engage and destroy six insurgents at close range. His personal courage in recovering a machine gun from a burning vehicle while under enemy fire allowed his platoon to successfully defend its battle position. Specialist Carver’s actions and inspiring example under fire bring great credit upon himself, the First Calvary Division, and the Untied States Army.
“My goal and dream is to win a seat at the BASSMasters World Classic, stated a very determined Clayton. And hopefully I’m well on my way to doing just that. I was fishing with Killeen TX, teammate Joshua Brown on Lake Belton last October 26th when we won Texas Marine’s “Tuff Man” tournament with 5 bass/15.86 lbs, winning $2,500 for 1st place after competing against 109 teams in that event. Then I was teamed up with Bass/pro legend Gary Klein, of Weatherford, TX, for the “Fishing for Freedom” event competing against 250 other teams. Gary provided me with an absolute treasure of bass fishing info, Clayton enlightened, teaching me how to pattern the bass on a lake that he had never been to before. Belton, a deepwater lake, had most anglers fishing deep patterns, but Gary found our fish in very shallow water where no one else was looking, where we managed to catch over 15 lbs of bass taking 1st place for the “Fishing for Freedom” event, and winning a fully rigged Triton/Mercury Bass Boat w/Motor Guide Trolling Motor and Lawrance electronics.
“My first dream of winning a bass boat was now realized, Clayton stated, now for getting to the BASSMaster Classic. I understand that it’s going to take determination, dedication, and great skill to make it there, but my military experiences have given me the will to succeed and accomplishing those goals and dreams.By: Ed Snyder / Ed Snyder Outdoors
