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    Wounded Warriors paddle as team during Dukes Oceanfest Canoe Regatta

    Wounded Warriors paddle as team during Dukes Oceanfest Canoe Regatta

    Photo By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal | U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor pilots of the Hawaii Air National Guard (Right) compete as...... read more read more

    HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES

    08.16.2014

    Story by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal 

    DMA Pacific - Hawaii Media Bureau   

    HONOLULU - Twelve teams emphasized teamwork while paddling a three lane, 300 meter sprint, as part of the wounded warrior division of the Duke's Oceanfest Wounded Warrior Canoe Regatta at the Hala Koa Hotel Beach Park in Waikiki Aug. 16.

    Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono and Wounded Warrior U.S. Army Col. Gregory D. Gadson provided opening remarks during the event to help honor and commemorate the service of wounded warriors and everybody involved in the event.

    Each canoe team consisted of six members who were required to work together to cross the finish line.

    "You think of it as a group going out there on the battlefield, well we're a group in a canoe," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Billie Grines-Watson of the Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB) stationed at Schofield Barracks and team member of the WTB Honu canoe team. "Everyone has to work together. It can't just be one person. If you don't have everyone working together you won't be able to move the canoe at all."

    Training together has been essential for members of the WTB Honu canoe team and has contributed to their performance.

    "[Training] gets your form down and you get the feel that no matter who's in your boat, just being in sync and doing the correct form is where it's at," said U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Atkins of WTB stationed at Schofield Barracks and team member of the WTB Honu canoe team. "Once you start doing that you switch around with everyone in the club and it builds camaraderie."

    U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Arzadon, 154th Wing maintenance operations control specialist, Hawaii Air National Guard stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, coaches wounded warriors on canoe paddling as part of the Ho'okanaka Canoe Club.

    "They work together and it's [a good feeling] to see them progress and get where they're from despite what their dealing with coming home from the battlegrounds or coming back to the civilian life," Arzadon said. "It brings everybody together and it's a team effort. You're a team where you're learning the culture of canoe paddling. It teaches them how to blend and to be one unit."

    U.S. Army Special Forces Sgt. Maj. Retired Kimo Wheeler has supported and mentored the men and women of the WTB canoe team and feels a sense of pride when working with them.

    "I have a special feeling for these men and women out here," Wheeler said. "You see the peace in their eyes. Ten seconds of combat is completely thrown out of the picture by two hours of paddling because it's so peaceful and it helps strengthen their minds and bring them back to the reality that there is a lot do for their family, for their country, for their unit, and for themselves."

    The teamwork and friendships that come along with canoe paddling racing has been rewarding and helpful for Grines-Watson.

    "You've also got the invisible wounds that no one really sees so it's nice to be able to get together with your brothers and sisters to be able to talk," she said. "When no one else really knows what you're going through, they do. That's the best part of this, you've got your team with you."

    Steven Nardizzi, Wounded Warrior Project chief executive officer, explained the goal of having wounded warrior events like this.

    "It's to bring awareness to the fact that you have so many warriors coming back injured from these conflicts and to highlight their successes," "You can see that when warriors get the right support and they're given the opportunity to heal they can move forward with their life but it takes a lot of community support for that. This is really to raise awareness that warriors need their help and that they're a vital part of this community."

    The WTB Honu canoe team placed second in the wounded warrior division.

    In addition to the 12 teams who competed in the wounded warrior division, 33 teams competed in the military division for active duty, National Guard, Reserves and veterans and nine teams competed in the youth division. Gold Star families were also able to participate in heats during the ocean sports festival.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.16.2014
    Date Posted: 08.18.2014 18:43
    Story ID: 139712
    Location: HONOLULU, HI, US

    Web Views: 307
    Downloads: 2

    PUBLIC DOMAIN