In 2010 after returning from a tour in Afghanistan, I was contacted by the spouse of a wounded Green Beret who was at Walter Reed Army Hospital with her husband and his teammate. They were wounded together when they hit an IED on a dismounted patrol. They were being asked to go diving in Key West, FL as a family by Task Force Dagger Foundation. As a diver and fellow Green Beret, she wanted me to vet the organization. After a few conversations, they invited me and a teammate down to check things out and help where we could. When I got there, I saw a lot of great Patriotic Americans trying to provide wounded Special Operations families an awesome break from the daily routine of doctors and hospital stays. It was easy to jump in and help. The most humbling experience was having one of my peers, the only survivor from an IED, who lost both his legs get into the pool the first time with his stubby legs and walk without any assistance. It was during this first Dagger Dive that I realized the water was not only a great healer, it was a great equalizer regardless of the level of injury. An operator may not be able to run or lift, but in the water, all was equal. Task Force Dagger is different than any organizations in the fact that the entire family is invited to the event. When this happens, the family can begin to heal together and experience new things together. I have continued to support and volunteer with Task Force Dagger for over 10 years, and have seen many families begin the healing process together.
