Veterans find comfort through the art of fly fishing
by Andie Judson / Project Healing Waters / WCNC -TV / July 2017
Two veterans from North Carolina find peace from PTSD within the fish filled rivers of South Mountain. They are part of Project Healing Waters, a nationwide non-profit organization that provides recovery for those who served our country through the art of fly fishing.
Burke County, North Carolina
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ne humid day in July, Shawn Justice and Calvin Norton made their way down a dirt path at South Mountain State Park. Both seem cautious in nature, their eyes surveying the 360 degrees of thick, green brush surrounding them.Unbeknownst to the naked eye, the two men are both veterans, having sacrificed far more than the time spent abroad in ravaged war zones.
According to a recent study from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, around 20 veterans die from suicide each day. Although their guns and gear are set down when they return from time served, many soldiers continue to carry the burden of witnessing war. Shawn and Calvin are just two of the many soldiers returning home only to battle a brand new condition in the form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Shawn Justice. Image credit WCNC- TV.
As the veterans continue along the trail, the sound of what they came for becomes audible: a rushing river. Without even seeing the stream, the water begins to do what it does best on Calvin and Shawn. Their stances become relaxed and the conversation starts to flow as the sound of water washes over them.
“This is like taking a shower, but not getting your body clean, it cleans everything out of you… all the ick, the dirtiness of everything,” Shawn said. “It just washes it off.”
Calvin was sent overseas to serve his country in 1969, while Shawn donned his uniform in 2003. And although the two men are separated by 34 years of service, both bear the scars and raw grit of wartime. Both men seek solace in the same exact sport… looking to find comfort in daily life.
That’s where Project Healing Waters comes into play. The non-profit organization dedicated to helping veterans overcome the pain of their past through fly-fishing. Volunteers within the program teach veterans how to fly fish, tie flies, and rod building.
The nonprofit has benefitted veterans nationwide but none more than the two putting on their waders and making their way into the rivers of South Mountain.
“Literally, it probably saved my life. Well [Project Healing Waters]… and my wife.”
Shawn served in both the U.S. Army and National Guard. In April 2003, he was overseas in Basrah on an undisclosed mission when the unexpected occurred.
Photo courtesy of Shawn Justice.
“We were captured on the water, we were in boats in the river between Iraq and Iran and they took us into Iran,” Shawn said. “The rules of engagement were complicated there, it was a difficult scenario… all of us but two made it out.”
The haunting past of Shawn’s time enlisted created a heavy onset of PTSD upon his return home.
“You go through a thing like that, especially in war, and you come away with a completely different outlook on the whole world,” Shawn said. “So, it’s awkward and weird to be social.”
In an effort to suppress the pain, Shawn buried himself in his career and fatherhood, a tactic used by many other veterans once they enter the civilian world.
“There was no time to deal with grief or stress and you’re a soldier, you soldier on,” Shawn said.
But ignoring his grief didn’t come easy. For the first time in his life, Shawn turned to drugs.
“I had never done anything like that before, I wasn’t a partier and I started to see it was affecting me more than I thought,” Shawn said.
Shawn credits his wife for being a guiding light through such a dark time. When it’s typical to lash out or isolate, talking through issues isn’t easy. His wife provided him with an outlet for conversation as well as direction.
“My wife, she’s heaven-sent, that’s my hero right there,” Shawn said. “My wife started looking for organizations, found Project Healing Waters and pushed me in that direction, she had to push me to go fishing which tells you a little about how bad PTSD can be.”
Since joining Project Healing Waters, Shawn has been able to not only find a channel of comfort but also connection with other veterans who suffer from PTSD. Fly fishing is one of the few times Shawn says he can fully relax.
“It’s sacred grounds as far as I’m concerned. This water, this peacefulness, it’s calm, it’s safe, there’s nothing to stress about… it’s okay here,” Shawn said. “Everyone has been through things but ours was to a degree that changed us so being in a place like this, an environment like this, we’re able to relax and broaden our circle of people we can let in.”
NOTE: Featured Image Vietnam at a glance: – Calvin Norton. Photo courtesy of Calvin Norton.
If you’d like to volunteer or donate to Project Healing Waters, visit their website.
