RnR Oasis
Help for Wounded Warriors and Armed
Forces Veterans
Was formed when....
In
the fall of 2007, three disabled Vietnam
combat Veterans who had become friends were talking about why they had
not been camping since returning from Vietnam. There were two common
reasons for this.
Fear - The three, to a man, fear no one face to face. They were trained for combat; their skills and training were tested and reinforced in Vietnam. To this day the combat habits that were formed so many years ago still prevail. In their days of combat, night operations were referred to as “on ambush”. Today, without the help of their former combat unit members (brothers), a single combat Vet at a night camp fire may feel like “bait”. He is alert. He can’t relax. The light of a campfire is limited to ten feet, and at that fire, his back is always open to the darkness. What does the darkness conceal?
Lack of a desire to socialize - They did not talk to people very much, and trusted them even less. They never wanted to answer probing questions about the war, and didn't want to tell anyone other than fellow veterans about their experience and feelings.
One of the three, Rick, had gone out camping on a limited basis. He felt as a father he owed it to his sons to introduce them to the outdoors, and under those conditions he didn’t have to discuss the war. He trusted his sons to alert him in the event of an intruder approaching out of the darkness behind him. His sons are now grown and he had given up camping.
In that Rick was senior in rank, he “invited” the other two for a little camping RnR. After many attempts, Rick finally prevailed and the three went out into the woods for three days. While unpacking and setting up camp, it was discovered that between them they had not come unarmed (a clue to their psyche). After a little bit, they learned they completely trusted each other. They relaxed. They talked a little about the war, their anger, their sorrows, and the absence of joy in their lives. They Bonded!! They gave each other hope. Rick, Dan, and Chuck learned the following recipe for healing.
Find a remote campsite, add a few Vets, a little fishing or a little play, good food, a campfire, and allow it all to simmer for a few days
This is a tried and proven recipe. IT WORKS !!!!
The next week RnR Oasis was formed,
Fear - The three, to a man, fear no one face to face. They were trained for combat; their skills and training were tested and reinforced in Vietnam. To this day the combat habits that were formed so many years ago still prevail. In their days of combat, night operations were referred to as “on ambush”. Today, without the help of their former combat unit members (brothers), a single combat Vet at a night camp fire may feel like “bait”. He is alert. He can’t relax. The light of a campfire is limited to ten feet, and at that fire, his back is always open to the darkness. What does the darkness conceal?
Lack of a desire to socialize - They did not talk to people very much, and trusted them even less. They never wanted to answer probing questions about the war, and didn't want to tell anyone other than fellow veterans about their experience and feelings.
One of the three, Rick, had gone out camping on a limited basis. He felt as a father he owed it to his sons to introduce them to the outdoors, and under those conditions he didn’t have to discuss the war. He trusted his sons to alert him in the event of an intruder approaching out of the darkness behind him. His sons are now grown and he had given up camping.
In that Rick was senior in rank, he “invited” the other two for a little camping RnR. After many attempts, Rick finally prevailed and the three went out into the woods for three days. While unpacking and setting up camp, it was discovered that between them they had not come unarmed (a clue to their psyche). After a little bit, they learned they completely trusted each other. They relaxed. They talked a little about the war, their anger, their sorrows, and the absence of joy in their lives. They Bonded!! They gave each other hope. Rick, Dan, and Chuck learned the following recipe for healing.
Find a remote campsite, add a few Vets, a little fishing or a little play, good food, a campfire, and allow it all to simmer for a few days
This is a tried and proven recipe. IT WORKS !!!!
The next week RnR Oasis was formed,