Rolling into gold medals and Minnesota fame

Hank Ebert joined the Navy in 1966 as a Helicopter Combat Rescue Airman. Based out of Japan and trained as a rescue combat swimmer, he spent two tours flying up and down the Vietnam coastline during the war. He served four years then shortly after returning home to Minnesota, in September 1970, his life took a dramatic turn.  

 “I got in a motorcycle accident. Motorcycle versus car. That kind of changed my life a little bit,” said Hank. 

Hank’s family took him directly to the VA Medical Center. Unfortunately, his injuries were so severe that, at age 23, instead of walking out of the VA, he rolled out in a wheelchair.  

Hank went to college. Just before his last quarter he was offered a job from a Brainerd bait shop operator to serve as Governor Rudy Perpich’s guide during the Governor’s Fishing Opener of 1976.   

“I was getting bored with college anyway and I thought, yeah, I’m going to go fishing. And I ended up fishing for 46 years,” he chuckled before continuing. “Yeah, I’ve caught a lot of fish, a lot of big fish.”  

His years of perseverance as a guide landed him perhaps the biggest fish of them all. He was inducted into the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame in 2023.   

While local fame comes from his angling expertise, he is a bit of a superstar in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games crowd too. Hank started competing in Games, co-presented yearly by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America, in 1993.

“The first Game I went to ... I did five events and got five gold medals. I thought yeah, this is okay.”  

Hank has competed in over 20 games. One of his most memorable was 2006, in Anchorage, Alaska. Competing in the archery event he split an arrow already in the target with another arrow. “I was the first person to ever shoot a Robin-Hood at the Games,” said Hank.  

If winning competitions hooked Hank, it’s the inspiration he sees in other competitors that keeps him on the line.  

“I tell you what, there’s people here, with their physical disabilities, that I’m not sure I’d be here in the same situation... It’s just impressive what people will do,” said Hank during an interview during the 2024 Games. “People don’t see each other for a year... It’s all hugs and kisses … It’s just awesome.” 

Hank, now 77, is beginning to feel the Games are getting to be more work, but the comradery with his fellow Veterans keeps him coming back. Being a great competitor doesn’t hurt either. In the 2024 Games in New Orleans Hank earned gold in archery and trap shoot, silver in discus, and bronze in shotput. 

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games will be held in Minneapolis July 17-22, 2025. Learn how you can be a volunteer or register to be an athlete by visiting wheelchairgames.org. To see pictures from the 2024 Games, visit 2024 National Veterans Wheelchair Games | Flickr.