Freedom, which is what this week is all about, means so much to the seven men who went offshore fishing Tuesday in a big boat far into the Gulf of Mexico.

It was payback, in a good, patriotic way, for four Purple Heart recipients escorted out to Vermilion 215 and back to Cypremort Point by Blaine Romero of New Iberia. Romero was keeping up his end of a free offshore fishing trip he donated to the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce’s Clay Shoot, a fundraiser held in April.

Terry Ronquillo of New Iberia was on the four-man team team that shot 197 out of a possible 200 to win the fishing trip with Romero. But he and they had other ideas, particularly since he is a board member on the Gonzales-based Wounded War Heroes.

“We all decided to donate the trip to the Wounded War Heroes to take these guys fishing,” Ronquillo said a few days after the banner and bountiful offshore fishing trip 76 miles from Quintana Canal Boat Landing.

Ronquillo, 52, has been the accounts manager 3 1/2 years at Acadiana Cooling & Compression, an oilfield-related company. His shooting team included Acadiana Cooling & Compression customers Keith Talley of Youngsvlle, who is with Dallas-based Crosstex Energy, and Troy Mouret of Houston, formerly of Jeanerette, and his son Massey Mouret of Lafayette, both with Black Elk Energy.

“We talked about it right there on the spot. We got with the Chamber of Commerce people to see if it was OK. They said ‘yes’ it would be OK with them and that they had to confirm it with Debbie and Blaine Romero, the owners of Fire Boss,” Ronquillo said.

One of the “people” in the chamber was U.S. Marine veteran Chad Courtois of New Iberia, owner of Advantaged Assets, an insurance, retirement and financial services business who is a chamber board member. Courtois, active locally in patriotic events, served in the first First Gulf War.

Romero, 43, vice president of Fire Boss of Louisiana, which is owned by his wife, Debbie Romero, said, “I was real excited when Chad called me up first when they found out they were getting the trip. Then he said he wanted to go.”

“I didn’t want to pass it up, helping those guys out and being part of that,” Courtois, 39, said.

“Those guys” were Doug Dupont and Wendell Horton, both of Lake Charles, Tommy Gelhing of Baton Rouge and Mike Savoie of Folsom. They were combat veterans who suffered shrapnel wounds and other injuries while serving overseas.

Gelhing, Horton and Dupont were able to get to New Iberia for a supper and get-acquainted meeting Monday night at Little River Inn. Savoie caught up with the group Tuesday morning in time to leave Cypremort Point.

That supper was special, Dupont said.

“We ate supper. Oh … my … goodness. I had steak and shrimp. The owners, who I’d absolutely love to thank, donated an appetizer absolutely out of this world,” he said about the sweet potato beignet.

The good times were just getting started. Romero introduced them to some great saltwater fishing the next day in the Gulf.

They went in his 31-foot long center console Fountain and caught their limit of red snapper, six “keeper-sized” lemonfish among the many lings they caught, and “a whole bunch of sharks,” Ronquillo said.

“We had our limit of red snapper. We caught a bunch more that we released,” he said.

Dupont, 40, was in heaven on earth, or, rather, water.

“Absolutely incredible. That was tremendous. I couldn’t believe the amount of fish out there,” he said.

Dupont suffered head wounds five years ago while fighting in Iraq. He said, “I’m fine. Obviously I’ve got some challenges but I’m making due.”

Courtois appreciated the outing and the reason behind it.

“They do so much for us and they sacrifice so much I just wanted to be part of thanking them for their service,” he said. “I think all of them did three tours or more in Iraq.”

Romero said, “Oh, it was great. It was fantastic being out there with those guys. They all handled the rods real well. They’re a good group of guys and you couldn’t ask for a better trip.

“It was slick coming back. Going out thre was a 2- to 3-foot chop. It was nice to be out there with a little breeze blowing.”

How much did Dupont appreciate them?

“Oh, man, they’re like angels. It was just a tremendous offering,” he said. “One thing about our profession. We work for the people. It comes with challenges. I appreciate people who appreciate our American way of life. I damn sure appreciate it.”

Ronquillo, who moved here in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina ruined his home in southeast Louisiana, is getting ready for the Wounded War Heroes’ next big outing for Purple Heart recipients. The third annual event is scheduled to be held out of Empire.

“I got involved in it last year. Bryan (Bryan Geoffroy with Acadiana Cooling & Compression) and them gave me the opportunity to be a part of it,” he said about the all-expense paid weekend for men like Dupont, Savoie, Horton and Gelhing.

Last summer’s event, which was televised on a local cable television channel, had 41 wounded war veterans and is expected to have 50-55 this year.

To a man, they’ll probably say, like Dupont, “I am very grateful.’翿