Today, with another unpopular war being waged in Iraq, he hoped there was something he could do for returning soldiers who had risked their lives fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Every day, they faced car bombs and ambushes. Some lost limbs or received other permanent injuries. They are heroes who should be appreciated for all they have sacrificed, not forgotten or ridiculed for a job they were sent to do, Malley said.

Malley heard about the nonprofit organization Wounded Warrior Project's Outdoors Program that helps severely injured soldiers recover as they attempted to lead full lives again.

The Wounded Warrior program organizes sporting events for severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and other victims of the war on terrorism.

In 2005, Malley contacted the program about sending a few challenged veterans to come to Alaska to go fishing.

The Wounded Warrior program enlists the public to help with donations to reintroduce disabled veterans to unique programs and services. It pays for transportation and accommodations for veterans who are candidates for the sporting events. The program also tries to create more public awareness to help meet the needs of the nation's newest generation of veterans.

After enlisting the help of a few friends, Malley invited a group from the Wounded Warriors program to come to Kodiak in the summer of 2006 to go fishing. One of the handlers in the first wave of veterans to Kodiak was Vice President of Operations Al Giordano, who wanted to know “who was this guy who wanted to take disabled vets fishing?”

At the end of the trip, Giordano approached Malley and asked, “Do you think you can do this for more wounded warriors next year?”

In the summer of 2007, Kodiak hosted 32 severely wounded service members and their handlers, who arrived in four groups over a four-week period. The Wounded Warriors took home once-in-a-lifetime memories of an Alaska fishing trip, coolers of fish and a new extended family.

The special guests were treated like rock stars, despite the range of their injuries, which included healing gunshot wounds, amputated legs and arms, severe head traumas, and blindness.

Dozens of Kodiak businesses and nonprofit organizations supported the veterans by donating merchandise, services and monetary support so the veterans wouldn't have to pay for anything.

The Kodiak Best Western Inn provided rooms, while Western Alaska Fisheries donated processing for all the fish that was caught. Local nonprofits hosted the majority of the dinners and banquets that provided an opportunity for the warriors to meet Kodiak residents and gain self-confidence in handling social interactions.

The U.S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak and the Kodiak Coast Guard Auxiliary members participated in many of the events, taking the vets deep sea fishing in their boats, as well as on four-wheeling trips.

Kodiak organizers matched veterans with boats supplied with left- or right-handed reels for amputees and boats with roomier sterns accommodated wheelchair veterans.

Gov. Sarah Palin asked the Kenai River Sports Fishing Association for help when she realized there wasn't a way to defray the costs of nonresident sports fishing tags. The association picked up the tab and purchased king stamps for every veterans' license.

The townspeople enjoyed seeing beaming veterans haul in their first silver salmon, king or halibut on the fishing boats.

Wounded Warrior veterans soon realized other soldiers had similar challenges. The veterans were a blast doing some of the activities they thought they would never enjoy again. So, how do the veterans get into the program? Hospitals and rehabilitation centers from across the country contact the Wounded Warriors program with names of combat veterans who would benefit the most from outdoor events that can be useful to their recovery.

“Alaskans have adopted the Wounded Warrior project. I've never seen anything like it. They offer donations, their boats É the Elks Club took it on as a state fundraiser and has raised a ton of money,” said Ryan Pavlu, Wounded Warrior Outdoors Program director. “Peter Malley did a fantastic job of organizing the event and involving the community too.”

The 2008 Wounded Warrior program has added more Alaska events this year as word has gotten out.

The cost to send 32 veterans to Kodiak this year is $43,000, Pavlu said. Airfare is usually around $1,200 a person. Donations are needed to cover fuel costs of $5,000 to $7,500 over the two weeks. Total costs for all expenses could run about $81,000.