Lucas Hancock, former Army mortarman, McKinney, Texas, poses with an American alligator he tagged during the 8th Annual Wallisville Lake Veteran Gator Hunt, Sept. 29, 2023. The male alligator measured 11 feet, seven inches long, which was the longest alligator harvested during the three-day hunt. Prior to the event, Hancock hadn’t even seen an alligator in the wild. During an interview after landing the alligator, Hancock expressed his gratitude to the event organizers and his appreciation to the other veterans for the camaraderie they shared after completing a tough mission, together.