OPERATION VET FIT:  Unlocks  Code  For  Combat  Veterans  Health  and  Well-­‐Being    A  US  Navy  Corpsman,  Afghanistan,  Silver  Star  recipient  was  handed  a  key  to  a  local  fitness  center  in  Bethel  Connecticut,  told  to  use  it  whenever  he  wanted,  and  for  no  charge  at  all.  That  day,  Operation  

Vet  Fit  was  born.  In  less  than  two  years  over  seventy  combat  theatre  veterans  would  do  the  same.  The  biggest  surprise  was  the  flood  of  Vietnam  Veterans  that  joined  and  have  since  reclaimed  their  lives  through  improved  fitness  and  everything  that  comes  along  with  it.      The  initial  idea  was  to  provide  a  free  fitness  center  for  returning  combat  veterans.  The  concept  was  built  around  a  growing  body  of  research-­‐based  evidence  supporting  the  theory  that  exercise  and  improved  fitness  was  helpful  for  combat  veterans,  especially  those  suffering  from  Post  Traumatic  Stress  Disorder  (PTSD),  which  is  a  new  term  used  to  describe  an  old  issue  amongst  nearly  all  of  our  nations  defenders.  Especially  those  directly  effected  through  combat  engagement  with  enemy  forces  and  those  in  that  area  of  activity.      

During  and  after  the  Vietnam  War,  returning  veterans  were  not  welcomed  home  by  crowds  of  citizens  at  the  airports  or  by  local  parades.  For  this  generation  of  warriors  there  would  be  no  pageantry,  pomp  or  circumstance.  Instead,  crowds  of  angry  protestors  greeted  them,  spat  upon  them,  insulted  them,  and  called  them  baby  killers  amongst  other  derogatory  terms.      Even  

our  nation’s  Veterans  Organization,  the  American  Legion,  and  the  Veterans  of  Foreign  Wars  refused  the  “Nam”  vets.  They  were  told  “that  was  no  war”,  “you  didn’t  fight  for  America”,  and  thus  an  entire  generation  of  combat  veterans  would  have  to  figure  out  life  in  America  by  themselves  and  from  scratch.    

Many  simply  killed  themselves,  others  chose  revenge  and  killed  others,  and  a  few  ran  for  public  office.  But  most  compressed  the  anger,  grabbed  their  bags  and  moved  on.      Meet  Dan  Welch,  a  United  States  Marine,  Infantry  

Rifleman,  enlisted  in  the  Corps  in  1966,  and  served  in  multiple  combat  tours  in  Vietnam.  He  was  awarded  the  Purple  Heart  three  times,  and  earned  both  the  Bronze  Star  and  Navy  Achievement  Medals  with  Valor  amongst  other  awards  and  decorations  before  completing  his  enlistment  in  1970.      While  in  Vietnam,  his  parents  and  siblings  would  receive  calls  and  were  continually  harassed  and  tormented.  Protestors  told  his  parents  that    “I  hope  your  son  dies  in  nam”  Well,  he  didn’t  die.  Following  his  enlistment,  Dan  was  also  greeted  by  protestors,  spat  upon,  and  called,  “baby-­‐killer”  amongst  other  things.  

   Dan  is  like  so  many  Vietnam  Vets.    He  came  home  and  tried  to  get  back  to  a    ‘normal’  life.    But  it  was  so  hard  to  keep  everything  that  had  happened  in  the  war  inside.    There  was  no  one  to  really  talk  to  because  the  public  just  didn’t  want  to  know.    There  was  no  support,  and  this  above  all,  was  –  and  is-­‐  what  the  Vietnam  veteran  needs.      Relationships  didn’t  work  out,  he  has  two  wonderful  sons  from  his  first  marriage,  but  it  didn’t  last.    It  was  difficult  to  find  and  hold  onto  jobs  for  the  first  several  years.        

 Over  a  period  of  six  years,  Dan  learned  the  electrical  trade  and  became  licensed  in  that  field.    He  earned  a  good  living  but  there  was  something  always  separating  him  from  others.    There  was  no  one  to  understand  –  the  need  to  be  able  to  talk  about  what  was  inside  overshadowed  everything.      It  would  be  21  years  later  in  1991,  when  a  civilian  doctor  checking  out  his  knee  finally  first  thanked  him  for  his  service.  It  turns  out  the  doctor’s  father  was  also  a  combat  veteran.    

 In  2002  Dan  would  meet  a  very  supportive  and  understanding  woman  through  a  mutual  friend.  Her  name  is  Robin  and  she  was  the  only  person  willing  and  able  to  sit  and  listen  to  his  graphic  recollections  and  painful  memories  of  war.        Robin,  a  High  School  teacher  of  Science,  Bio-­‐Ethical  Issues,  and  some  forensics  is  an  educated  woman  with  a  big  heart  and  also  three  supportive  children  of  her  own.  She  strongly  encouraged  Dan  to  get  enrolled  into  the  VA  Healthcare  system  and  to  sit  down  and  talk  with  someone.  In  2003  she  would  become  Dan’s  wife  and  this  marriage  is  working”.  In  Dan’s  words,  “Robin  is  my  saving  grace  that  changed  my  whole  life”.    On  May  10th  2013  Dan  became  a  member  of  the  Operation  Vet  Fit  family  just  prior  to  heading  into  open  brain  surgery  and  with  no  assurance  that  he  would  survive.  Well,  he  did.    Following  his  successful  recovery  from  brain  surgery,  Dan  had  weighed  312  pounds.  That  was  September  2013  when  he  began  to  follow  an  exercise  program  designed  by  Operation  Vet  Fit  founder  and  fellow  Marine,  Dan  Gaita.  Today,  April  30th,  2014  Dan  is  down  70  pounds  and  weighs  242.      

For  Dan,  Operation  Vet  Fit  was  more  than  a  gym  but  rather  an  environment  of  like-­‐minded  men  and  women  whom  all  had  one  thing  in  common,  they  served  in  the  protection  and  defense  of  their  nation  and  did  so  in  an  enemy  territory.    It  also  helps  that  the  person  whom  founded  and  runs  the  operation  is,  himself,  a  US  Marine.      

This  rare  type  of  commonality  ceases  to  exist  for  many,  yet  in  this  environment  it  opens  up  the  doors  for  all  kinds  of  great  conversation,  most  of  which  are  certainly  not  suited  for  general  audiences  yet  still  instrumental  in  reestablishing  a  sense  of  brotherhood,  which  itself  is  commonly  lost  after  service  in  the  military.      

Operation  Vet  Fit,  which  initially  had  an  anticipated  operational  capacity  of  40  combat  veterans,  now  provides  its  facilities  and  services  to  over  70  veterans  and  does  so  with  absolutely  no  grant  funds  from  the  Federal,  State  or  local  government.  Operation  Vet  Fit  has  no  paid  board  members  or  employees.    How?  Over  75  local  community  donors  give  monthly  though  memberships  at  the  fitness  center  where  they  also  serve  an  integral  role  in  veterans  post  combat  reintegration.    

In  addition  to  the  free  fitness  facility,  which  is  open  24/7/365,  Operation  Vet  Fit  brings  their  veterans  on  weekend  camping  and  rafting  trips,  football  and  basketball  games,  golf  outings  and  recognition  dinners,  all  while  participating  in  area  wellness  events  such  as  5K’s,  Tough-­‐Mudders,  Warrior  Dashes,  and  a  barrage  of  other  activities  designed  to  foster  a  life  of  purpose  and  inspire  our  nation’s  greatest  to  improve  their  life  and  the  lives  of  those  around  them.      In  short,  It’s  working.      The  program  has  received  broad  non-­‐partisan  endorsements  from  local,  State  and  Federal  Congressional  leadership.  As  a  new  public  charity  under  section  501(C)(3)  of  the  Internal  Revenue  code,  

the  greatest  challenge  has  been  attaining  major  grant  funds  and  large  donors  to  allow  the  programs  and  facility  to  continue  and  expand  its  services  and  mission.      Operation  Vet  Fit  is  currently  seeking  $160,000  in  grant  funds  to  be  used  exclusively  for  the  replacement  and  upgrade  of  current  fitness  equipment.    The  new  equipment  will  double  capacity,  reduce  maintenance  costs  on  aging  equipment  and  greatly  improve  the  fitness  experience  for  each  veteran  and  donor  member.    How  Can  You  Help?  Visit:  http://www.operationvetfit.org