Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | Blaine Grinalds (right), one of the few teen campers at Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Nathan J. J. Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
KILLEEN, Texas – The dry, freshly cut grass was flying around like snow in a blizzard as the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter came in for a landing.
The children and their parents did everything they could not to run for cover.
This was no ordinary day for the children and families who attended Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children in Killeen, Texas, Nov. 7 – 9.
But for many outsiders who've never visited PKRC, no day would seem ordinary.
There are children on wheel chairs playing miniature golf, there are others who are missing legs, but are climbing a 40-foot climbing wall. Some children have life-threatening disabilities or diseases.
Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children is a non-profit organization dedicated to putting a smile on the faces of these special needs children.
Still, when a Black Hawk from Company B, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, landed in on one of their fields, it was quite a sight; more so for Stetson Bardfield, 7, who watched from his wheel chair as his dad came in for landing.
"It was really windy and all the dust that was in the tree pile – I had to get down like this," he said as he ducked his head down in demonstration.
"I was glad that my friends saw that the helicopter was coming," said Stetson.
This was a very special moment for Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shai Bardfield, a Black Hawk pilot for Co. B, 3-227th, because PKRC holds a special place in his heart, he said.
"My son is diagnosed with arthogryphosis – it's a joint disorder – and PKRC put on a week-long camp during the summer for children with his disability," said Bardfield.
"We went to the camp this summer and I absolutely fell in love with the place and fell in love with the idea of what they're doing," he said.
On this particular weekend Stetson again joined with other children diagnosed with arthogryphosis to have some fun – including sitting inside an Army helicopter.
Although Stetson's legs are amputated from the knees down, he had no problem getting into the aircraft to hang out with the rest of the children. His father was there to hoist him wherever he wanted to go.
"When my son was born his legs were basically locked Indian style and his arms and wrists were turned outward and bent in. He didn't have any range of motion or very little range of motion," said Bardfield.
Stetson's condition was so severe his legs had to be amputated at the knees so that he could be fitted for prosthetic legs. This would give him greater mobility, said Bardfield.
While at the camp the first time, Bardfield came up with the idea of letting the children check out a Black Hawk. So he approached Scott Simmonds, the executive director of PKRC, with the idea. That's when it all came together.
"It's a first and I think it's just great. I've never seen [a Black Hawk] up close before. Hopefully we can do it some more," said Simmonds. "I think it's good for the kids – from just a wow-perspective – to see that. And for this one it kind of really hit home because one of the pilots is one of the kid's dad."
Simmonds, who grew up in Temple, has been the executive director for 15 years and loves the services he provides the special needs community.
He says he loves his job because he gets to see these young children persevere through difficult disabilities and diagnosis, but more importantly he gets to see them forget about those difficult times while they're at PKRC.
"Our mission is very simple; it's to serve chronically ill and special needs kids and to provide a place for them to just kind of celebrate living," he said.
Bardfield, a native of Phoenix, agrees with Simmonds; he knows first-hand what a great facility PKRC is for children, he said.
"The great thing about that camp is it's not for just kids with the same disorder as my son. During the summer they do week-long camps from everything for kids with hand abnormalities to kids who're missing limbs to kids with cancer and kids who have diabetes – it's a huge long list," said Bardfield.
Regardless of their disabilities, the PKRC children climbed all over the aircraft asking questions about all the red buttons and the aircraft's capabilities. Even some of the staff broke down and jumped into the cockpit to have a look around.
Although many have seen the helicopters in the air, most have never seen one up close at a static display, said Bardfield.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Frank Aguilar, a Black Hawk pilot, along with Spc. Leroy Miller, fielded questions and guided campers and family members in and around the aircraft.
Bardfield, his fellow pilots and crew are used to supporting the fight against terror abroad, but supporting the community and, more specifically, special needs children is a mission that touches a softer part of their hearts.
"I love being able to do that. I'm not doing this for me or for media attention; it's solely for the kids," said Bardfield.
Simmonds was grateful for the support from 1st ACB.
"Having great community partners like (Fort Hood) and all the others out there that we have ... We're not able to do it all by ourselves – it takes a group effort," said Simmonds.
"Fort Hood has just been great. It seems like anytime we need anything regarding volunteers or something like this I mean it's never a hesitation for whoever we're talking to, to say 'when and where?'" he said.
Once the children and staff were done checking out the Black Hawk, they all headed to the cafeteria to enjoy some good food and good company.
And with their tummies full of food, it was time for a nap for the little ones and time for departure for the Soldiers.
Just as they came, the Soldiers left with a billow of grass and debris flying about until the Black Hawk disappeared over the treetops; leaving the children a PKRC to sleep soundly after an exciting morning of Army Aviation excitement.
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2008 15:03 |
| Story ID: | 26300 |
| Location: | KILLEEN, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 342 |
| Downloads: | 274 |
This work, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade flies in fun for disabled children, by SGM Nathan Hoskins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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