Retired Army vet plans to travel Mississippi River by canoe

May 30, 2016 at 10:10 p.m. | Updated May 31, 2016 at 3:15 a.m.

by Associated Press

The Memphis Queen riverboat moves up the Mississippi River in Memphis. A year after nearly record floods, the Mississippi River level has dropped so low that it's beginning to affect commercial operations. Port managers worry that their passages to the river could fill up with silt, and barge operators may have to lighten their loads.
The Memphis Queen riverboat moves up the Mississippi River in Memphis. A year after nearly record floods, the Mississippi River level has dropped so low that it's beginning to affect commercial operations. Port managers worry that their passages to the river could fill up with silt, and barge operators may have to lighten their loads.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - A retired Army veteran from Clarksville plans to travel the length of the Mississippi River by canoe for personal growth and to raise funds for fellow veterans.

The Leaf-Chronicle reports Bennie Giles will set a canoe into Minnesota's Lake Itasca the first week of June for his adventure.

Giles says since he's been out of the military, he has lost the brotherhood he found inside the Army and has been doing things on his own, which he says has been difficult. He expects his journey to be similar to boot camp, breaking him down so he can build back up and come out a better person.

Giles is also committed to using the trip to raise money and awareness for Homes for Troops, a charity that builds homes for wounded veterans. He hopes to raise about $5,000.

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