Albert Winschel’s studious explanation of his efforts to help combat veterans cope with their experiences masks a deep, palpable connection with his fellow soldiers.

“Each experience is unique to the individual,” Winschel said. “There are certain individuals who really need that opportunity to express things they hadn’t come to terms with. They have a hard time talking to counselors. This is a way to help them get things off their chests.”

Winschel, a Marine Corps reservist and veteran of special operation forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, received the Marine of the Year award for South Alabama in a ceremony April 22 at the Mobile headquarters of the 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company. He said the award came from the company’s local Marine Corps League.

The award was based on his work coordinating the Warrior Bonfire Project, which organizes activities in relaxed atmospheres for wounded soldiers. Groups have been taken on campfires, hunting and ski trips, among other settings, to bond with one another.

“It’s an experience that’s unique to a small group of people,” he said. “And, often times, individuals who want to share that experience have difficulties speaking about them. They can relate to each other. It’s a good ice-breaker, I guess you can say.”

On March 2, 2010, the 27-year-old St. Aloysius High School alum was on patrol with the unit in the Afghan province of Helmand when he was wounded by small arms fire. He received a Purple Heart while in Bethesda Naval Hospital.

At least half a dozen surgeries on his right leg and hand ensued. He returned to active duty and, in 2012, spent several months in Uganda training local forces against al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based offshoot of al-Qaeda.

Warrior Bonfire Project is housed at Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport, home to the Southern Heritage Air Foundation. The group was co-founded by the air foundation’s Dan Fordice.

“We seem to have found a niche that hadn’t been delved too much into,” he said. “It’s been pretty successful in that regard.”

The effort has extended to military spouses in the past year.

“We had the spouses come in while we were staying at a lake house in Eagle Lake,” he said. “They toured, shopped, got to spend some time at Anchuca.”

Warrior Bonfire Project’s next get-together of veterans takes place May 23-25 at Ameristar Casino for a dinner-and-blues event, Winschel said. Another spouses event is planned June 6-9, where tours and shopping figure to be the centerpiece, Winschel said.

So far, the group has financed events for wounded soldiers with donations and small grants, Winschel said.

“The farthest I’ve reached out to is New Hampshire, but the farthest I’ve driven has been to Pensacola. The more I spend on travel, the less I can spend on events.

The lone requirement to participate in the organization’s events is a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat.

Those eligible and interested in participating may contact Winschel at albert@warriorbonfireproject.org.