FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 9/15/03
WIESBADEN, GERMANY – The Yamamoto Bass Battalion is headed for Germany at the end of September for the “Operation Iraqi Freedom Fishing Tour”. Joining bass fishing legends Roland Martin and Gary Yamamoto, will be Beverly Yamamoto, "The Singing Cherokee” Chief-George Braswell, and two-time Women's Bass Fishing Association's world champion Judy Wong. During their five-day tour they’ll perform at a number of military bases and at the Army Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany where close to 100 troops are recovering from wounds suffered during the war in Iraq.
Joining the Yamamoto Bass Battalion is
Nashville’s "World's Greatest
Fishing Band". Gary Shiebler is the founder and an avid fisherman. The band’s new fifty-song CD set, "Papa Was A Fishin' Man", is a
collection of original songs devoted to fishing. The band hopes to brighten the
spirit of the troops by performing, and RR Records is donating 1000 copies of
their CD sets for the troops. The band knows many
U.S. troops love country music and long to be back home at their favorite
fishin' hole.
Tour sponsor Gary Yamamoto stated, “History is rich with examples of men and women who answered the call to duty in times of need, unselfishly defending the American way of life and the freedom it represents. All of us here at Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits believe we owe our armed services a debt of gratitude; we salute them all.
Gary Yamamoto -
Athens, TX - Yamamoto fished all through his
childhood, in rivers sluicing through the Hawaiian Islands where he was born,
and the surrounding Pacific Ocean. He was 18 when he set foot on the mainland
for the first time, enrolling in college to study electronics. But Gary put his
education aside to enlist in the Air Force where he served as a Sergeant, X-Ray
Technician from 1964-68 with an overseas tour in Thailand during the Viet Nam
War. Today Gary competes on the BASS Pro Tour and FLW Tours and has qualified
for the Bassmaster Classic twice.
Roland Martin - Clewiston, FL - Roland Martin’s legacy of longevity,
consistency, and national tournament wins remains the standard by which all
others are judged. Roland served as a 2nd Lieutenant/Artillery in the US Army
from ’63 to ’65. Of the many fishing titles that Martin has earned, the most
indicative of his dominance, and the least likely to be equaled, are his BASS
Angler of the Year titles - all nine of them! In 2003 Roland made his 25th
appearance in the prestigious BASS Masters Classic.
Beverly Yamamoto – Athens, TX-Mississippi native Beverly Yamamoto is an
international bass fishing competitor, partnering with husband Gary Yamamoto.
When not tossing a Senko in Spain or Mexico she splits her time between their
Wagyu cattle operations (Yamamoto Custom Beef headquartered at the couple’s BK
Ranch in Texas), duties as VP of Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits and Director of
International Marketing. Beverly is justifiably proud of her father, World War
Two veteran Herbert M. Sasaki, Lt. Colonel Mississippi National Guard, Ret.
Sasaki was a member of the 442 Regimental Combat Team – for the size and length
of service the most highly decorated unit in the history of the U.S. Army. The
442 received nine Presidential Citations for their actions in the European
Theater of Operations during World War Two.
Judy Wong - Sugar Land, TX - Born in San Francisco, Judy Wong entered
competitive bass fishing in 1977 on the Bass’n Gals circuit, took a break in the
80’s to raise her son, and returned to competition in 1989. Today she competes
on the WBFA Tour, BASS Central Invitationals, and works as a full-time fishing
guide. Judy won the WBFA World Championship back-to-back in 2001 and 2002, was
Champion of the Beauty and the Bass Invitational Pro/Am in 2002, and narrowly
missed a WBFA World Championship three-peat with a second place finish in 2003.
Chief-George Braswell – Salina, OK-Chief-George Braswell retired from the
US Air Force with the permanent rank of Chief Master Sergeant,
Telecommunications, ’65-’95. Since retiring the Chief has worked exclusively in
the fishing industry and today he is National Field Promotions Director for Gary
Yamamoto Custom Baits, and logs tens of thousands of miles annually between
promotions and shows. From his home base in Chimney Rock Holler (actually
Salina, OK) the Chief also manages his music business, featuring his timeless
country-gospel favorites as well as patriotic tunes. CD’s available through Free
Spirit Productions – 918-434-6707
"YAMAMOTO BASS BATTALION WELCOMES U.S. TROOPS IN GERMANY"