Challenge Magazine Summer 05

"Strength Training - Part I: The Shoulder" "Take it Outside"

“It was amazing, I was out there on the water, hearing everyone cheer me on. I was waterskiing!” said Sergeant Joseph Bozik, who lost both legs and his right arm in an insurgent attack in Iraq. “It’s something I never thought I would be able to do again.”

The people of Rockaway know what it’s like to fight through adversity. The entire Rockaway peninsula is made up of about 100,000 people. The community lost about 70 of its citizens in the September 11 attacks, and five were killed when a plane bound for the Dominican Republic crashed in a Rockaway neighborhood two months later.

On July 7 through 10, Rockaway welcomed Joseph “Joey” Bozik and 22 other wounded warriors as part of a Disabled Sports USA (DS/USA) event aimed at helping wounded warriors learn to water ski.

“I know this is helping them to regain their sense of themselves,” said Kirk Bauer, executive director of Disabled Sports USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran. “To see that joy and confidence when these men are waterskiing, it’s what DS/USA is all about. It is a wonderful validation to know this is going to help them.”

First Lieutenant Ed Salau of the National Guard lost his left leg when a rocket propelled grenade hit his humvee in an attack in Iraq. Salau says DS/USA events like the Adaptive Water Sports Festival have helped him gain back his confidence and self-esteem.

“What I love most about these events is that they are not making it easy,” said Salau. “They’re making us use everything we’ve got left to challenge ourselves and learn how to water ski. It’s not about pity.”

Salau and the other wounded warriors say their water ski instructors made all the difference and helped make the weekend a memorable one. Thirty-five members of the New York City Fire Department spent the weekend training the wounded warriors how to water ski, but both groups say the event went much deeper than a weekend of fun in the sun.

FDNY salutes our Wounded Warriors and guests.

“I got really recharged about human life and sacrifice and decency,” said Eric Schmanski, New York City firefighter with Engine 231 in Brownsville. “To see them [the wounded warriors ] accomplish things is so rewarding. They have made the ultimate sacrifice as an American. To help them out and really share some war stories of Iraq and 9-11 was meaningful. We share a bond.”

“There’s the purest form of respect, and it’s mutual,” said Salau. “I think the event was appropriately titled heroes helping heroes, but we are both just doing a job. I hold them in very high esteem, and it was an honor to work with them, period.”

“These firefighters passed the baton in the fight against terrorism to these soldiers. I know the wounded warriors felt a special appreciation for them,” said Bauer.

Specialist Joey Benegas is greeted by his host family, Ray Torpey and son.

The weekend event, sponsored by Disabled Sports USA in partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project, United Spinal Association, Graybeards, FDNY, Hub Financial Charities, and Adaptive Sports Foundation, began with a police escort into town. Traffic was shut down just outside of Manhattan and the wounded warriors, flanked by New York City firefighters and police officers, rode through Brooklyn

and Queens with hordes of people, including firefighters, waving and cheering them on.

“To see all the fire trucks with the guys on their ladders raised up waving, I had tears in my eyes,” said Bauer. “It wasn’t just what was done, it was how the wounded warriors felt, knowing these guys literally shut down rush hour traffic to show their respect and their support. I had to think about when we came back from Vietnam, and we were in such turmoil then. It was amazing to see how much support these guys are getting once they’re coming home.”

“I don’t feel like I’m a hero, but I did sacrifice something for this country, and I would do it again in a minute,” said Salau. “It makes it easier to say that when people are appreciative of what we’re doing.”

Although stormy weather delayed the start of the event, participants say a few last-minute excursions to New York City made the weekend even more of an experience. On Friday, July 8, one group of wounded warriors and firefighters visited the Empire State Building and another went to the New York Stock Exchange.

Preparing for the escort into Rockaway, Cathy Sarubbi (DS/USA volunteer and wife of New York firefighter) and daughter, Jamie pose with Army Humvee drivers.

Organizer and former NY firefighter, Flip Mullen takes our guests to Ground Zero.

“It was tremendous, we went on the floor of the exchange and everyone stopped trading and clapped and chanted “USA.” That roaring ovation is something I will never forget. It was an amazing thing to be a part of,” said Salau.

The wounded warriors stayed with host families for the weekend, and it was clear by the end –– the men had truly become part of the community.

“The families not only opened up their homes, but also opened up their hearts,” said Bauer. “I even had guys referring to these people as their family.”

By the end of the weekend, all 23 wounded warriors had learned how to water ski.

“That moment where I was standing up on that ski….what a great moment,” said Salau.

“It’s cool to go and water ski, but having my teenage son ski with me and trying to keep up, as a dad and a guy trying to get back to something called normal…there was no pity in their eyes –– it was, dad’s back!”

Clearly, the weekend meant more than a chance to learn to water ski and go fishing; it was a time for heroes of all breeds to come together to celebrate each other.

“I am privileged to help these young men, whether it’s water or snow skiing, transporting them around the community, or going for a couple beers and sharing life stories. I am honored that I was a part of this event,” said Schmanski.

Bauer added, “One soldier described it as the best weekend he’s ever had, and I know this is going to affect all of these men for the rest of their lives…it is definitely a week that I will never forget.”

By Aimee Balsley.
Aimee works in public relations at Schwartz Communications in San Francisco.  Prior to joining Schwartz, Aimee worked as a television news reporter and anchor.  In 2005, she won an Associated Press award for Best Enterprise Story.  Aimee holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

All photos by Ken Watson

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