“War is Hell,” once said Civil War Gen. William T. Sherman, and many who fought in Ramadi, Iraq, from 2004 to 2006 would agree. Oliver North, in an interview with Sean Hannity in 2005, described Anbar Province as “one of the most violent places on the planet.” The war in Iraq had shifted from toppling the Saddam Hussein regime into a struggle against insurgents—both Iraqis and determined foreign fighters who were eager to kill Americans in the region.

On occasion, Freedom Alliance will gather a group of war fighters who fought in the same battlespace; this commonality provides instant connectivity and group cohesion. In my opinion, those who fought in Ramadi during the early years of the war in Iraq deserve our focused effort.

And so in April, we invited five Ramadi veterans to participate in the Offshore Experience at Los Sueños Resort in Costa Rica. We provided a week of fishing and other adventures interspersed with group discussions on warriorhood and how to carry the burdens of combat when the war is over.

Combat veteran Karl, who served with the 1st Battalion of the 503rd Regiment, said, “I have never had a group session, so this was a first. It helped that all were in the same combat area that I was in and roughly around the same year. Even one was there as a Marine … at the same time. He was part of the QRF force for an incident involving my platoon.”

Two participants were Army veterans and three were Marines. Mike W., a Marine and combat veteran of two deployments, returned to the program to co-lead the group with Freedom Alliance staff.

Mike’s relationship with Freedom Alliance began in 2019, when his friend, who was concerned about Mike’s well-being, reached out to us. Plagued by nightmares, recurring violent memories, and overwhelming thoughts about his war experiences, Mike agreed to attend the program. He enjoyed himself, but he ultimately couldn’t open up to expose the inner demons that sunk their claws into him daily.

“It was a really great experience to be around veterans again,” Mike said about that first event, “but I realized that even though I was in a pretty emotional state at the time, I was completely locked up the second I got around these other Marines.”

When the pandemic hit, Mike was isolated, and the darkness that had surrounded his heart and mind tightened its grip. His friend reached out to us again, and we were able to secure immediate crisis counseling for Mike with psychotherapist and author Dr. Edward Tick. This was at a time when there were very limited resources available because of lockdowns across the globe.

Over the course of the next year, Mike worked hard within the framework of Dr. Tick’s model—the same model we use at the Offshore Experience—and he began to learn new ways to carry his burden without breakdown.

In 2021, Mike was invited back to Costa Rica with another group. This time, the experience and the outcome were different. We still included the outdoor adventure and extravagant comforts, but since Mike’s first trip, we had added a therapeutic element.

During the pandemic, Freedom Alliance partnered with Dr. Tick to develop a structured series of discussions to teach his model of carrying one’s war experiences based on warrior cultures of the past.  Mike was integral in showing the group how this approach had translated directly in his own healing journey.

With our most recent group, Mike again lent his personal experiences to the program, to share how the model has given him hope. He even called out his fellow warriors who would subconsciously redirect the conversation when topics moved too close to the heart space. To our delight, the others began calling Mike “the voice of reason.”

Trey, a combat veteran who fought in Ramadi in 2004–05, said, “It was not like other trips. Pepper, the Experience leader, has partnered with an amazing psychologist by the name of Dr. Tick. He is the author of several books, such as Warrior’s Return. The approach Pepper used to help me process my personal struggles was unlike any other therapy or counseling I have been through. Using Dr. Tick’s theories and Pepper’s personal life experiences, this program has come together in an amazing way.”

Our adventures began with a hike at Rainmaker, a self-guided tour through the mountains, about an hour and a half drive south of the resort. The hike involved crossing suspension bridges in the jungle canopy and playing in swimming holes at the base of the mountain. The rainy season had begun, creating lush foliage, and the scenery was stunning.

The next day, we were greeted by Chris and Laura Jessen as we boarded their 65-foot Hatteras Fish Tank for a day of offshore fishing. The Jessens have supported our program yearly with offshore fishing charters, and it has become one of their favorite days of the year. I overheard Chris speaking with their guest captain, Johnny Fuentes, about how they loved seeing the excitement and joy on the faces of the veterans. Fish Tank is a top competitor in the Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown tournament, and this was apparent that day, as we caught 20 sailfish, a blue marlin, and a sizeable mahi.

That evening, we were treated to dinner at a beachside restaurant by Capt. John Lagrone and his wife, Vanessa. John, who has been participating in Freedom Alliance events for years, had rounded up some fish donations from friends in the fleet so the men could enjoy freshly caught and prepared seafood. John is a legendary captain, having fished in Central America since the early days of sportfishing in this region.

Our donors are a huge part of the Offshore Experience. As Trey said, “Freedom Alliance has built one of the best programs I have ever been a part of. Freedom Alliance has partnered with and continues to find donors who are truly invested in helping the Warrior Spirit heal… Listening to their reasons why helped me understand that our community does care. Because I had no worries about lodging or expenses on this trip, I was able to put all my energy into healing.”

The next day, we fished again, but on the brand-new 71-foot Garlington Miss Behavin, courtesy of owner David Finkelstein. Capt. Jose Reyes took us out to the fishing grounds of the previous day, where we caught 3 sailfish and a mahi and fought for 30 minutes with 250-pound marlin. The troops enjoyed the comforts of this luxury sport-fisher, which included an enormous mezzanine sofa bench, complete with air-conditioning vents. Although the bite had slowed, it seemed a blissful respite, as the men were still beat from the prior day’s action.

We were then treated to a restaurant dinner, this time by Freedom Alliance supporter Andy Shapiro. When Andy is in town, he is dedicated to hosting our troops for a meal during their stay in Costa Rica. He created this toast that has now become tradition: “To those who have given so much yet received so little; from us who have received so much but given so little.” He then goes on to express his heartfelt appreciation for our military that serves to keep our country free.

The following day was one of rest and relaxation at Isla Tortuga—a paradise-like island, featuring white-sand beaches, blue water, and shady palms. Donated by Jim Kitchell, the tour began with a 45-minute catamaran ride to the island, onboard Costa Cat Cruises. Throughout the day, the Costa Cat staff waits on each customer, retrieving drinks, serving a delicious spread for lunch, and inviting them to participate in snorkeling, banana boat rides, and island tours. Jim, the owner of Costa Cat Cruises, spent the day chatting with us in between his duties.

That night, we hired chef Randy Diaz to prepare fresh sushi in the condo as we concluded our group sessions and final ceremonies.

In addition to those mentioned above, the Freedom Alliance Offshore Experience relies on the generosity of donors in the Los Sueños Resort community to help with almost every aspect of our program. Gerald & Virginia Lindholm and Bob & Alicia Hagadorn donated condos for this week at the resort. Los Sueños always provides deep discounts on meals at the resort restaurants. Gato Gordo Golf Cart Rentals gave us two golf carts to help the veterans with transportation around the resort.

Special thanks to those who contribute financially to help cover the costs of our other expenses, such as airfare—especially in these recent times as the costs go up.

If you are considering supporting this program, see what Trey wrote about us on Greatnonprofits.org: “If you are looking for a great organization to give to, look no further. You can look into the financials of Freedom Alliance—they are the real deal. Take it from me, this is one of the best programs that really focuses on healing the warrior spirit.”

This article was originally published at: https://www.faoffshore.com/news/2022/6/6/ramadi-reunion-in-costa-rica

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