Black and white image of a veterans fist and wedding ring holding onto a USA flag.

Giving Back – Veteran & Gold Star Hunt Recap 

by Justin Shaffer

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
JOHN 15:13

This countries greatness is built on the foundation of blood spilt through selfless service, courage and sacrifice of those great men and women who have answered the call to serve.

Our freedom endures because of those fearless warfighters who run toward the sounds of gunfire to take the fight to our nation’s enemies.

Today, we walk humbly in the footsteps of giants, giants of warriors who have come before us.

This Memorial Day, lest we never forget the gift given by those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice, as we owe them a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.

Graphic of a gold star, on top of a purple circle with the USA flag in the back representing the Gold Star presented to families of veterans.

Memorial Day, first formalized in 1868, is the nation's foremost annual day to mourn and honor its deceased service members. Originally called Decoration Day, it honored the fallen after the Civil War. The tradition continued until WWI where it evolved to honor all who gave their lives in service to our country.

In addition to those fallen service members, are the loved ones left behind to mourn. This is a burden these families must bear that is unfathomable to most and an honor that none of them desire.

During World War I, families would display small banners with a blue star for every family member deployed. If that service member died, the family replaced blue with gold, signifying the ultimate sacrifice they made for this country.

The nation recognizes this honor of sacrifice they’ve made, with the designation of the “Gold Star” which was officially recognized in 1947.

Since 2020, KUIU has partnered with guides, outfitters, and industry partners to provide all-inclusive hunts as a small thank you for their service and sacrifice.

In 2023, we hosted six different hunts honoring both Veteran and Gold Star family members alike.

These are their stories.

CHRIS VOGELER & LANCE VOGELER

Two images, one of late Lance Vogeler smiling in uniform and one of his family posing with their harvested moose.

This past September we conducted our first hunt of the season out east in Maine for moose with Nathan Theriault and his crew at OMM Outfitters. Our first recipient of the year, Chris Vogeler is not only a combat veteran but also a Gold Star Family member.

Chris joined the Army in 2013 after his brother, SFC Lance Vogeler was Killed in Action in 2010. Joining the same unit as his brother, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, he deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 as part of “Operation Enduring Freedom”.

He left the Army in 2016 and completed the HERO Corps Program where he was selected to be a Homeland Security Investigator in the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit.

Chris was on the hunt to honor his late brother SFC Lance Vogeler.

Four separate pictures of Lance Vogeler, two images in combat and two images in uniform.

SFC Lance Vogeler enlisted into the Army in 2001 where he was assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

On October 1st, 2010, He was Killed in Action by enemy indirect fire during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, he was 29 years old.

Lance was on his 12th deployment in support of the Global War on Terror with four previous deployments to Iraq and seven to Afghanistan.

He left behind his wife Melissa and three children, Colin, Kyle, and Madison.

JOSHUA SALINERO & CHARLIE SALINERO

Two images of a Charlie Salinero's son with his harvested deer and one in his uniform.

Our second hunt was in Southern Colorado with the team from the Whitaker Brothers Hunt Company (WHBC). WHBC donated three hunts this past season hosting two retired Army combat veterans and a Gold Star son.

The first recipient to hunt with WHBC was 16-year-old Gold Star Family member Joshua Salinero, a sophomore at Oak Ridge Military Academy in North Carolina. Josh grew up in the outdoors accompanied by his father the late Charlie Salinero who Josh was on this hunt to honor.

Two images of Charlie Salinero, one of him smiling directly at the camera in his army uniform and one of him in full uniform with his wife at formal.

Sergeant Major Charlie Salinero enlisted into the Marine Corp in 1987 where he served honorably until 1995. He reentered military service in the Army spending most of that time serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Joint Special Operations Command.

SGM Salinero would see extensive combat, deploying 11 times serving a total of 47 months in theaters of operation in Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Sadly, in 2021 Charlie passed away after a three-year battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife Sandra and their son Joshua.

MIKE NELSON

Three images of veteran and business owner, Mike Nelson - one of him uniform in front of a chopper, one in full uniform and one with his son and harvest.

Following Josh’s success, Mike Nelson was up next to chase pronghorn antelope with the WHBC crew.

Sergeant Major Mike Nelson enlisted into the Army in 1999, serving his country for 23 years including a combat deployment to the Farah Province of Afghanistan. Throughout his career, he held various key leadership roles within multiple units, culminating as an Infantry Battalion Operations Sergeant Major. 

Mike was medically retired in 2022 due to injuries sustained in service and now owns and operates a custom gun shop, FOX 7 Firearms with his wife Lisa and their two daughters.

MATT WILSON

Three images of Matt Wilson, one of him in the field, one of him with his harvested deer and older picture of him on a mountain perch from war.

The final hunter with WHBC, was recipient Matt Wilson who was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go on an exploration hunt on a new untouched lease with Jason Whitaker looking for trophy mule deer which is exactly what they found.

First Sergeant Matt Wilson spent 27 years in the Army serving most of that time within the 75th Ranger Regiment where most notably he was selected to be a team leader in the elite Tier 1-unit, Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment.

He deployed worldwide on numerous combat missions and co-authored the Ranger Athlete Warrior Program, which plays a pivotal role in integrating Human Performance Optimization into the Special Operations Command and the U.S. Army. 

After successful cancer surgery in 2017, Matt was medically retired from the military. Continuing to make an impact, he now serves as the Human Performance Combat Applications Liaison to the Military at JAG HP Consulting.

CHRISTOPHER GANCZEWSKI & STEPHEN GANCZEWSKI

Three images of Christoper Ganczewski, two studio shots in uniform and one of him and his successful harvest.

Our next hunt took us to the mountains of West Texas with Jim Breck Bean and his team at High West Outfitters for Aoudad. The recipient for this hunt was current active-duty Air Force Major and Gold Star Brother Christopher “Ski” Ganczewski.

Major Christopher Ganczewski is the Commander of the 1st Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, in Romania. Since commissioning in 2012, Chris completed the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) training and has since held a variety of Special Warfare positions during that time.

He has deployed three times including to Operation RESOLUTE SUPPORT in Afghanistan in 2015, providing airpower liaison support.

Ski was honoring his fallen brother, Army Ranger Stephen Ganczewski on his hunt.

Two images of Stephen Ganczewski, one studio shot of him in front of the USA flag and one of him in uniform and armed out in the field.

SGT Stephen Ganczewski enlisted into the Army in 2003 and after completing training, was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia.

During his tenure in the military, he was deployed six separate times, conducting five tours in Iraq and one to Afghanistan. Stephen was serving as a Fire team leader when on Nov 16th, 2007, at just 22 years old he was killed in Balad, Iraq from wounds sustained from a combat-related incident.

He is survived by his wife Rachel and daughter Makayla.

DANIEL PARTEN, DAVE PARTEN & TYLER EDWARD PARTEN

Three images of the Parten men, one featuring Daniel with his harvested deer, one of Tyler Parten in uniform following his brothers footsteps and the last one of their dad hunting.

Our final hunt of the year wrapped up in the deserts of Sonora, Mexico with Joe Surprenant, owner, and operator of Top Shelf Outfitters for Coues & mule deer.

Daniel Parten was selected as the recipient of this hunt. He is both a combat veteran and Gold Star brother.

Captain Daniel Parten followed in his brother’s footsteps graduating from the West Point Military Academy in 2010. After his commission, he served as a Ranger-qualified officer and Senior-Rated Jumpmaster with the 82nd Airborne Division. Daniel served on active duty for 5 years, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2012.

Today he works in the Tech Industry and is married to his wife Tara who he met at West Point. They have three beautiful children together.

Daniel along with his father Dave, who was able to join him on the hunt, were there to honor Tyler Parten.

Two images of veteran Tyler Parten, one of him in his combat gear on top of a mountain peak and one in full uniform.

1st Lieutenant Tyler Edward Parten graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2007.

He was then assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado and was serving as a Scout Platoon Leader on a combat deployment to Afghanistan.

On September 10, 2009, in Konar province, Afghanistan he was Killed in Action from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire.

He is survived by his parents Dave and Lona and his siblings Daniel and Anna Laura.

We at KUIU and our partners are truly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to be able to give back to these amazing heroes and warriors as well as to honor their fallen loved ones.

If you’re interested in donating or becoming a partner to KUIU’s Veteran and Gold Star Family Hunt Program or any of our nonprofit partner organizations, please contact Justin Shaffer at justins@kuiu.com and visit our page Veteran Non-Profit Partners.

KUIU would like to thank the following outfitters, donors and corporate sponsors who make this great program possible. Please help by showing your support to them.