The weather was perfect Tuesday for a very special fishing trip. Four wounded war veterans enjoyed a day of fishing out in the Gulf of Mexico as part of the Bay Point Billfish Invitational. It's a day they will never forget.

The four wounded war veterans are seizing every opportunity they can to live a normal life, so they jumped on the chance for a day of fishing in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the team Galati Boat.

Calvin Coolidge with the Freedom Alliance said, "I wanted them to just get out on the boat, toss the lines in, connect with each other and just forget about kind of everything as they're recuperating and go out and have a good time."

Forty miles offshore these men were able to focus only on fishing. Three Iraqi war veterans, Jedidiah Bryan, Scott Adams, and Bay County's Joshua Cope, and one Gulf War veteran also from Bay County, Larry Noel, didn't let their injuries get in the way.

Scott Adams said, "I've got tears in both shoulders and I’m sitting there and I'm reeling it in and I'm lik, holy cow, when is this gonna come in? My shoulder started getting tired. Jedidiah was saying, hey, you want me to take over for ya? No, I couldn't do it ‘cuz I wanted to finish this one myself."

Larry Noel said, "Even though I got sick I still caught fish, I stilled fished. My first one was so big I couldn't even get him off the bottom. I don't even know what kind of fish it was."

Besides catching lots of fish, these veterans created lasting bonds and lifelong memories

"I can't thank these gentlemen enough to be able to go out on a boat that beautiful with a crew that nice and have all the stuff provided for us, it's just amazing. It really meant a lot for me."

"Indescribable. This is something I've always wanted to do. It was a wonderful day."

For Joshua Cope, he was just happy to be home.

"All the support I'm getting. I'm just amazed at how people still remember me and ask me how I'm doing and tell me thanks. I'm just proud to be from this area."

Bob Wells, Patriot Guard Fla. Chaplain, said, "I've known Josh since his first welcome home. He's not one to smile very much. I've never seen him smile as much as he did today. It truly was a blessing to see."

"Yes, I'm a veteran. I'm a Southwest Asia veteran, but nothing like these guys went through, and these guys are my heroes. They're my heroes."

The fishing excursion was sponsored by Bay Point Marina, Coastal Marine Management, Team Galati and the Freedom Alliance, a non-profit military organization.

The men and their families are enjoying a week full of activities and will be VIPs at this week’s Bay Point Billfish Invitational.