Iraq vets fly-fishing back to health

Project Healing Waters helps disabled veterans recover from emotional and physical wounds

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

It's not easy to think about a horrifying and bloody war in a foreign desert when you're standing waist-deep in a clear-blue Montana trout stream, with a fish on the line and a cool breeze rustling the leaves. For a group of Iraq veterans visiting Whitefish last week, that's exactly the point.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is a non-profit based near Washington, D.C., that is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled military personnel through fly-fishing and fly-tying education and outings.

Last week, eight Iraq War vets took part in an all-expenses-paid trip to Whitefish to take part in the International Conclave hosted by the Federation of Fly Fishers.

"The goal is to give these guys hope, give them a hobby and help them enjoy life again," explained fly-casting instructor Jim Valle, an attorney from New Jersey. "It's extremely relaxing and therapeutic. A lot of people say fly-fishing is sort of a Zen experience. I know it kept me alive. I would come home from working on murder cases, in a bad mood, and my wife would tell me to go out to the yard and fly-cast. It worked."

Staff Sgt. Brian Mancini is currently a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. While on patrol in Iraq in 2007, he came about as close to death as any living person can get. The huge scars on his face and head allude to the story of the day his life changed forever.

"We were on patrol on July 23 last year, we were in a hellacious firefight, and we got hit with an E.F.P.," he recounted while taking a break at Whitefish High School last Friday. "I lost my right eye, all the teeth on my right side, and my whole forehead is titanium. My whole face is rebuilt. I had extensive tongue damage, and received third-degree burns. I lost consciousness about five minutes after I got hurt, and I had extensive brain-tissue damage."

An E.F.P. (explosively-formed projectile) is a directional explosive designed to destroy armored vehicles, so one can imagine the amount of damage it can inflict on a human being.

Mancini, who served as his patrol's medic, said the young medic he was training that day ended up performing first-aid on him.

"He saved my life," Mancini said. "It was ironic that the student saved the teacher."

Mancini spent the next three weeks in a coma and was in a semi-conscious state after that.

"I woke up with my whole family around me," he said.

After being flown from Iraq to Bethesda, Md., he was sent to Walter Reed to begin extensive rehabilitation. About three months ago, one of his friends introduced him to Ed Nicholson, president and founder of Project Healing Waters.

"I had done some rod-fishing, so I thought I'd give it a shot," Mancini said. "It's an awesome program. The doctors and nurses can prescribe all the medication they want, but getting out in nature is healing in itself."

Mancini said he participated in several outings with the program, and he was hooked right away.

"It gets you away from the day-to-day grind of occupational therapy," he said. "The pain doesn't go away, but it's not as prevalent when you're out fishing. It's a combination of beautiful landscapes and being out in the wilderness, the water and being around great people."

The people involved with Project Healing Waters are a big reason why the program is so great, according to Mancini.

"There are so many amazing people who are willing to give their time," he said. "All these guys that came on this trip have significant injuries, and this program helps show that it's a positive life we're in, and fly-fishing allows us to make a connection. That's the biggest thing, showing you that you can do things again, despite the injuries that may have occurred. Life's not over — it's just about finding those small pleasures again."

Retired Army Capt. David Folkerts, now the program manager for the organization, was one of the first veterans to take part in the program. Folkerts was injured during a route clearance mission as a platoon leader and medic in Taji, just northwest of Baghdad, in April 2005. An improvised explosive device, or I.E.D., exploded and sent shrapnel through his left side.

"It blew me up 20 feet in the air and severed several arteries in my arm," he recounted. "My buddies put a tourniquet on and flew me to Baghdad. They told me when I woke up, 'You're probably going to lose your arm.' But they were able to take a vein from my leg and saved my arm. It was pretty amazing."

Folkerts spent eight weeks as an inpatient at Walter Reed. He spent the next three years as an outpatient recovering from physical and emotional scars of the war.

"I definitely suffered from P.T.S.D. (post-traumatic stress disorder)," he said. "It lasted about a year."

Folkerts found out about Project Healing Waters while he was recovering in Walter Reed and started attending some of the outings.

"I fell in love with it," he said. "The program did a lot for me. Fly-fishing was an incredible outlet. It's pretty depressing in the hospital, and trout don't live in ugly places. The peace and serenity you get from being out in nature is amazing. Also, the difficulty of fly-fishing gives you a sense of accomplishment."

Nicholson started the organization four years ago after retiring from 30 years in the Navy.

"I was at Walter Reed for a non-combat-related injury, and I saw guys hobbling around," he explained. "I just went up to them and said, 'Hey, do you want to go out fishing?' One thing led to another, and the next thing you know, we had a nonprofit."

Project Healing Waters relies on donations and corporate sponsorship to pay for the fly-fishing outings.

"It grows every year," Nicholson said. "We're franchising our program at veterans hospitals and bases across the country. More and more veterans are getting the benefit of our services."

The program is open to disabled veterans from any war and is currently helping a mix of mostly Vietnam, Gulf War and Iraq War veterans. The organization has more than 30 programs in hospitals around the country.

Nicholson is a firm believer in the therapeutic benefits of fly-fishing.

"It is an extremely enjoyable sport for anybody," he said. "For someone who has lost some mobility, it builds confidence in your ability to adapt to everyday activities, especially as far as your hands go. The emotional state of mind is improved, and it provides a mental and physical boost for these veterans just when they need it. It helps people who never thought they would enjoy it."

For Mancini, fly-fishing has helped him validate a very simple yet important point.

"You don't have to stop enjoying life just because you got hurt," he said.