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SUMTER, S.C. (February 2, 2012) - Less than a
year ago Spc. Christopher Hemwall, a Monroe, Mich. native and an
infantryman currently stationed at the Warrior Transition Unit at
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., was
shot three times while deployed to Afghanistan.
Unable to walk, Hemwall's competitive
nature took a blow, until he met a Soldier who showed him he could
still compete.
Hemwall and fellow wounded, ill and
injured Soldiers and veterans traveled from around the globe to
Sumter, S.C. to attend the first Warrior Transition Command archery
clinic with hopes of earning a place on the 2012 Warrior Games Army
archery team. The team will compete at this year's games, now in
its third year, in Colorado Springs, Colo. April 30 through May
5.
Just days after he was wounded,
Hemwall was taken to WRNMMC . Shortly after being released to
outpatient care Hemwall, met two Soldiers returning from last
year's competition.
"One of them only had one arm and he
won (a medal) in marksmanship," Hemwall said. "He had one arm and
shot marksmanship with a rifle."
When the two Soldiers met Hemwall
asked questions about the competition and the training, eventually
picking up a bow, with his aim set on this year's games.
"I had been struggling a lot with
self-esteem issues," 22-year-old Hemwall said. "I had gained a lot
of weight and wasn't able to work out. I was afraid that I wasn't
going to be able to do anything, be active anymore. I spent the
first seven months in a wheelchair wondering if I was ever going to
be able to walk again."
The Warrior Transition Command's
Adaptive Reconditioning program clinics are conducted to prepare
Soldiers to use adaptive sports and reconditioning activities to
play major roles in the recovery and healing process.
"This is set up and designed for
rehabilitation, physical therapy, mental therapy, self awareness,
building confidence - helping our Soldiers come back," said Warrior
Games Army Archery Coach, Steven Coleman.
Coleman first became involved with
the program two years ago while stationed at Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, Wash. Coleman volunteered to run the archery program
and Skookum Archery Club gave the Soldiers time on the range.
"It's very rewarding and gratifying
to get to do this," said Coleman, a retired sergeant first class.
"You have Soldiers that want to do it, and want to learn. If they
want to make time, I'll give them time."
The four-day clinic, the first
archery clinic to be offered to the Soldiers, prepared them for
competition by taking them out of their comfort zone; flying or
driving thousands of miles from other countries and states,
changing time zones and being shoulder-to-shoulder on the firing
line.
A second clinic is scheduled for
March. To be able to provide these clinics for the Soldiers,
Coleman arranged with the American Legion Post 15 for the use of
the agricultural building at the Sumter County Fairgrounds,
donations and sponsorship from local organizations, as well as
emergency medical support from Third Army/ARCENT.
"It really is a privilege to be out
here," said Staff Sgt. Thomas Brown, Third Army/ARCENT operations
noncommissioned officer. "These Soldiers demonstrate that they can
compete and overcome whatever injuries they may have. It's a really
great thing to see."
Standing by his side and helping
Hemwall overcome his injuries is his wife, Valerie Hemwall.
"Doing all of this is good for them,
to get out and have fun," Valerie Hemwall said. "They help each
other. It has been great to see him and other Soldiers from Walter
Reed participate."
The WRNMMC WTU is one of 29 WTUs at
major Army posts, camps and stations serving wounded, ill and
injured Soldiers.
"I'm not only doing this for myself
but also, for the two guys we lost over there who were really close
friends of mine," Christopher Hemwall said. "I am living for all
three of us now."
The Warrior Games consist of athletes
from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Special Operations
competing for gold in archery, cycling, wheelchair basketball,
shooting, swimming, track and field, and sitting volleyball.
This year's Army archery team will be
chosen by WTC with recommendations from Coleman in April, but
attending the clinics does not guarantee Soldiers the opportunity
to compete at the games.
"There's no more of the one sport
athlete where I may be the ace in archery but if you can't do
another sport, you're not going," Coleman said.
Coleman has put a lot of effort into
coordinating this clinic and training the Soldiers, but he says it
is well worth it.
"These Soldiers and veterans have had
to overcome many obstacles, injuries and personal sacrifices. They
make me proud to be involved with them and of course, with the
sport of archery," said Coleman.
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