Sports help warriors on path to healing

A UMNS Report
By Kathy L. Gilbert*

7:00 A.M. ET Jan. 8, 2013 | WASHINGTON

The Rev. Laura Bender, a United Methodist Navy chaplain and regimental chaplain for Wounded Warriors, shares a moment of laughter with Lance Cpl. Damaso Soto. UMNS photos by Jay Mallin. View in Photo Gallery
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Deep in the heart of the Pentagon, warriors are warming up for several rounds of fierce volleyball competition.
The gym is an assault on the ears: dozens of volleyballs hitting the hardwood floor, deep baritone shouting of teammates pumping up teammates, shrill whistles.
This is the second annual Wounded Warriors seated volleyball tournament, and it includes all branches of the military pitted against each other — and each team is in it to win.
Many of the men and women on the floor today are missing arms or legs or have scars across their heads and bodies.
Everyone competing in this tournament is wounded, ill or injured. Most are young men with shaved heads, but there are a few women competing or on the coaching teams. The Special Operations Forces stand out because many have long hair and beards.
An announcer points out before each round that the rules of the game for seated volleyball are the same as regular volleyball except for three things: The net is lower, size of the court is slightly smaller, and some part of the player’s torso must maintain contact with the floor at all times or a “butt lift” will be called.
Cpl. Dylan Kelley, 22, of the Marine Corps is participating for the first time today.
“It’s very motivating, especially to see double amputees, other people fighting cancer, just coming out here and giving it their all, you know, putting their whole heart and soul into the game,” he said. “You know, just everybody comes away winners, all the time.”
Some injuries are “in-your-face” apparent but for others like Kelley, the wounds are not visible.
Invisible wounds are hard to mend and anyone who has gone to war is wounded, says the Rev. Laura Bender, a United Methodist Navy chaplain who serves at the United States Marine Corps Wounded Warriors Regiment in Quantico, Va.
“War changes everyone … some of us are better able to manage the changes in our lives. But some have physical ways in which they are not able to manage as well.”

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