WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Salmon fishing and crabbing in the Salish Sea is exciting, rewarding and fun. But it can also be a healing experience, as a group of about 60 U.S. military veterans found in early September.

They were guests of Warrior Service, an organization founded in Whatcom County by retired U.S. Army captain David Libby of Ferndale.

After retiring, Libby says he saw a need to reach out to other veterans in healthy, active ways.

“We basically focus on outdoor activities, outdoor recreation. We’re bringing veterans together, getting them out of their norm, or rut or whatever they might be in and getting them in a new area.” – David Libby

Libby says he was always an avid hunter and fisherman, but military life didn’t usually offer many opportunities for those activities. Then he got a chance to take part in an antelope hunting competition with an all-veteran group in Wyoming in 2012.

He says they won the event “and it was just a great feeling.”

“I mean it was just amazing, and I wanted to share that with other veterans,” Libby continued.

He and several other veterans took part in other hunts around the country the following year and those experiences cemented his commitment to create an organization that would provide them to any veteran.

Libby retired from the Army in 2013, and officially founded Warrior Service in 2014. Since then, it’s provided countless opportunities for veterans of all ages and from all walks of life to take part in events and the comradery that comes with them.

They still have a packed schedule in 2026 with fishing in Louisiana, elk hunting in Wyoming, deer hunting in Texas and a duck hunt in Washington state.

Scott McAuley’s boat unofficially called “McCrazy” in Squalicum Harbor. Photo by Joe Teehan

Every event is open to any veteran from any branch of service. Travel is the only expense veterans must cover. Warrior Service takes care of room, board and all other costs during the event.

Libby has a local volunteer staff of about six along with a network of volunteers around the country who help coordinate events and raise funds. He stresses that all the money they receive goes to the veterans.

“Somebody gives us a dollar, a dollar goes to the vets,” Libby said. “We have no paid staff.”

Volunteers from the communities where they hold events are eager to help, too. They needed local boat captains to take the veterans out on the recent salmon fishing and crabbing expeditions.

In all, 27 boaters stepped up, ready to provide their boats, fuel, time and experience.

Among them was Scott McAuley, a veteran himself. He and his daughter hosted two veterans on their boat as part of the program.

Brian from Amarillo, Texas and Jeremy from Tacoma served together during two tours in Afghanistan, mostly seeking out and neutralizing roadside explosives. They say Warrior Service events have enabled them to recapture the comradery they shared and relied on during their stressful tours of duty.

They expressed their appreciation for Libby and his organization plus McAuley and his daughter, but also for people who care and donate.

(From left) Jeremy, Brian and Scott McAuley at McAuley’s boat unofficially called “McCrazy” ahead of a full day of fishing. Photo by Joe Teehan

Michael Flint is one of Warrior Service’s local volunteer staff members. He’s also a veteran and says the changes they see in many of the participants can be profound.

There’s time to talk during the events, and Flint says that communication provides an important connection, or reconnection. He says veterans are a diverse group who may have served in different ways and during different times, but who speak the same language.

He stresses that they don’t preach, they just talk, and that’s often enough to help someone who may be struggling.

The organization and its number of supporters continue to grow. They held a barbeque fundraiser following the salmon fishing and crabbing event.

Libby says over 400 people showed up. That’s up from 300 last year.

They have a long and growing list of business sponsors, many of them local. You can see a list of them, and make a donation yourself at their webpage warriorservice.org.

Libby says it’s personally rewarding for him too.

“It gives me a way to reconnect with veterans and give something back and try to curb some of the nasty stuff that happens when these veterans get out, you know, the homelessness and depression,” he said. “I enjoy huntin’ and fishin’ so it works out.”

We are Whatcom is a weekly column featuring Whatcom County residents making a positive impact on the community. To submit a Whatcom County resident to be featured, click here.