On March 12-2008 we had the pleasure of having Senior Airmen Robert Harper, his mother Carla and friend Pete aboard the RUFFINIT. Rob has been deployed three times for the Air Force in the past 5 years. His most recent deployment was in Afghanistan, Rob expects to be shipped out again within the next year. We are very pleased that we could provide some quality R&R for this young veteran. The fishing was not great, but we did manage to send Rob home with a nice mess of fish for supper. We cut the day short, as the sea Gods were not too kind to mother Carla, but not before Rob hooked into a BIG fish which unfortunately he could not get in to the boat. We want to thank Rob for helping keep our homeland safe, and hope he comes to see us again after his next deployment. Rob do keep safe.

Soldier Jeff Anderson 2-9-2008   After returning home from his deployment in Iraq in January, Jeff, along with brother John and three friends fished on the RUFFINIT Sat Feb. 9-08 We were fortunate to get out at all, as we ran into areas of very dense fog on the way to the fishing grounds. Once we were about 10 miles from the Sanibel Lighthouse, the fog lifted and we had a beautiful sunny day with almost flat calm seas We caught a lot of small fish, although big fish were hard to find, Jeff did managed to catch a nice Gag grouper to take home for dinner. I hope that the folks enjoyed fishing as much as I enjoyed having them aboard the RUFFINIT. I want to thank Jeff for helping keep us safe in our homeland.

On Feb. 2/08 the "RUFFINIT" hosted 1st Lt Jennifer and husband Capt Alan Condor. On this day, Mother Nature smiled upon our guests, the weather was beautiful and sunny, and although we started off with 5 foot rollers, the seas calmed down in the afternoon for a great ride home. The fishing was very good, and with the expert help of mate Capt Paul Guenther we managed to catch some very nice grouper for dinner that evening, along with a wide variety of other critters to keep the Condors very busy. Our catch included numerous undersize grouper, one (guestimate) 150 LB. "Goliath Grouper", a rather large Loggerhead Turtle, which must have like the boat, as we caught the same Turtle twice, and a fine mixed bag of Porgy, Grunt, Lane Snapper, Mangrove Snapper and Triggerfish, which we filleted for Jennifer and Alan to take home and enjoy at a later date. That evening Capt Paul and Roda Guenther joined us for dinner of fresh Grouper and Shrimp prepared by my wife Carol (the Admiral). We had a great time with Jennifer and Alan. Jennifer was to be deployed the next week to what she called the "sandbox", understandably for security reason she could not tell us where she would be stationed. For a keepsake, Alan gave me his unit coin which as he said "has been all over the world". We wish Jennifer and Alan well and want to thank them for helping keep us safe in our Homeland.

After Congressman Connie Mack was here to boost OOA. He sent me a flag of the USA along with this letter, as well as a nice thank you note.

On Dec. 5 the RUFFINIT hosted an OOA fishing trip for SAR Airman Kyle Cupps, his father Mike and brother Jordan. In spite of the seas being somewhat higher then forecasted the Cupps family had a great time, and managed to keep first mate Darrell Arnold and this captain pretty busy baiting hooks and taking the fish off. Although most of the Grouper were somewhat short, we did manage to bring home 4 keepers along with some nice Grunt and Mangrove Snapper. I hope they'll enjoy eating the fish as much as we enjoyed catching them. I want to thank Airman Kyle for helping keep us safe in our homeland.

While home from his tour of duty in Iraq Alfred Sansone and his lovely wife Jessica, as part of OOA fished aboard the RUFFINIT. We had a beautiful day, lots of sunshine, calm seas, and as you can see in the picture, some nice Grouper that were willing to bite. It was great to have Alfred and Jessica aboard the RUFFINIT. I apologize to the Sansones for misplacing the notes I made during our fishing trip, so I'll have to go on memory.. Both Alfred and Jessica are in the service, Jessica was expecting to be deployed to Guantanamo later this year, we wish them good luck.  I hope we will see them again when Jessica completes her assignment over there.

On Tuesday July 17 as part of OOA, the Ruffinit hosted soldier Mark Starcher, mother Barbi, sister Aimee, friends Ellen and Kelly. Although it was very hot, we once again had calm seas and the grouper appeared to be hungry. My anglers for that trip did not have a lot of experience at offshore fishing, but we did manage to put 3 very nice grouper in the box for the folks to take home for dinner, including the 28" Red Grouper Mark is holding in the picture. We had a great time on the water, we wish Mark well with his August deployment to Iraq and hope he keeps safe. Capt Hank

When SPC Danny Shanhai informed his parents that he was coming home on 2 week leave from his duties in Iraq, they remembered reading/hearing about OOA, found the website and contacted the RUFFINIT to arrange an offshore fishing trip for Danny. Although the weather looked a bit dicey, we managed to get out on Saturday June 30. Our first stop was to catch some live bait, Danny and Dad Errol had such a good time catching pinfish etc., that I had a bit of a time convincing them that we had to further out to catch some Grouper for dinner. We caught a lot of undersize grouper, but managed to catch 2 nice keepers, at the end of the day Danny landed a 20 LB King Mackerel, which kind of put the "icing on the cake". Although Danny and Dad were busy catching fish, they managed to do justice to the Corona, submarine sandwiches and snacks. I want to thank Danny for the good job he is doing in Iraq and helping to keep us safe in our Homeland.

 I hope the Shanhai's enjoyed being on the "RUFFINIT" as much as this Captain enjoyed having them.

When you see the pictures I think you'll be able to sort out who's who.

Sgt Mike Cook is a medic on a 2 week leave, 3 months into his 15 month deployment in Iraq.

My idea of OOA is, to provide for our service people while on leave OR home from their assignments,
a chance to spend some quality time with family and/or friends.

Well, it doesn't get a whole lot better then our trip on Friday.

The seas were just about flat calm, the fishing was a bit slow but nobody minded that too much, as it gave
them a chance to enjoy the food, drinks, and snacks we provide for them on the "RUFFINIT".

The only fly in the ointment was, Mike wanted to catch a shark, we did get some sharks up to 4 feet,
but his sister Brandy was the one who caught them.
Anyhow, as you can see by all the smiling faces,,,, a good time was had by all..

I want to again thank you all for your continued support in helping us make this possible..

You're a GREAT bunch, and whether you like it or not, all the people on our OOA trips know about
Paragon and your contributions to our cause..

Some OOA trips are better then others.

In the picture, SPC Andrew West (crew cut & glasses) Mother Ann, sister Ericka, and brother David.
SPC Andrew West is home on two weeks leave from Iraq.

Mother Ann arranged, as part of OOA an offshore fishing trip for Andrew.
It was a pleasure to have one of our finest and family aboard the "RUFFINIT".

The forecast was for 10 knot winds and 2 foot seas, it doesn't come any better then that. We were all set for a great day on the Gulf and to put Andrew on some nice fish, and maybe send them home with some Grouper for dinner. Although we did everything right, on our first stop we filled the live well full of bait to use where I thought we would catch some Grouper.
Unfortunately mother nature did not want to co-operate, once we were 20 miles out, the seas were 3 to 4 feet with some 5 foot rollers, and the big fish appeared to be suffering from lock jaw. At our third stop, mother Ann wasn't feeling too good, and at the next stop Andrew managed to get seasick as well.
We tried a couple more stops, hoping that things would improve, however that was not to be.
So at about 11:15 we decided it would be best if we headed for home and give the good folks a break..

On Sunday June 25 the "RUFFINIT" hosted Seaman Christopher Passen and his parents Christine and Steve from Punta Gorda.

We caught some nice fish and had a great time.

Leroy Williams on leave from Iraq 05-14-05

Paragon Technologies would like to thank you for your support in helping us raise $450.00 for the U.S. Armed Forces in cash contributions. Our poker event was one of many of the fun events that we enjoy holding for a worthwhile cause. As a result of your generous contributions, our proud men will not go unnoticed.