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More than 50 wounded veterans from around the country are taking part in a five-day excursion in the Big Sky area.

It's called Operation SAS or Sports, Afield and Stream. The soldiers attending each sustained serious injuries in the war on terror, both mental and physical wounds.

During the trip, the soldiers engage in winter sports, hunting clinics, tours of Yellowstone National Park and more.

The banquet that began the event Friday night was packed with family, friends, the local American Legion, Senator Jon Tester and Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger.

The event was emceed by country music star Lee Greenwood. He says SAS helps the soldiers regain self confidence.

"They have to rediscover what their talents are, what their energies are, what their focus is for the future, and that's what we're going to do here," Greenwood said.

It was a room packed full of emotion and powerful stories.

Peg O'Donnell and Scott Kruchten are attending Operation SAS from Wisconsin.

Scott does not retain the visible marks seen by many of the wounded warriors. Don't think it makes his a short injury list though.

"Broken leg, two broken ribs, broken shoulder, head injury two blood clots, emergency brain surgery in Baghdad," he said.

He takes medicine now to guard against seizures.

Peg helped found Operation Never Forgotten. That's the nonprofit that spearheads the SAS event.
Her son Lance Corporal Shane O'Donnell was killed in Iraq in 2004 when his group's Humvee rolled over an improvised explosive device. It was an explosion leaving only one survivor, a man who should not have survived the helicopter flight to Baghdad.

"We support each other, and our ultimate goal is to both live our lives to the fullest because that's how you honor those who've sacrificed their life," she said.

Scott says if each service member here experiences something new, that's living life a little more.