McChord Airmen participate in Annual Swim to Live event

Published Aug. 27, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Russ Jackson
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- The Bellingham Bay is located in northern Washington just 17 miles south of the Canadian border. Its waters are dark, murky and flowing with strong currents. The water temperature of the bay stays just below 50 degrees. The morning of Aug. 25, four Airmen from McChord Field jumped in and swam a relay of four miles to raise awareness for victims of post-traumatic stress.

Swim to Live is an annual event hosted by the Josh Fueston Memorial Foundation in Bellingham, Washington, that is committed to raising awareness of military post-traumatic stress and honoring U.S. and Canadian service members who lost their lives to it.

Second Lt. Elizabeth Keenan, 62nd Comptroller Squadron flight commander, Senior Airman Zavki Omonov, 627th Force Support Squadron evaluations technician, Airman 1st Class David Knutson, 627th Force Support Squadron evaluations technician, and Airman 1st Class Daniela Hurtado, 627th Force Support Squadron promotions technician, all made the 112-mile journey from Joint Base Lewis-McChord to Bellingham Sunday.

"This event offered an excellent opportunity to discuss and learn more about the causes, effects, struggles, and remedies for those suffering with post-traumatic stress," said Keenan. "Through the support of many families of those who have lost the battle with post-traumatic stress, jumping in the Bellingham Bay to battle the currents, cold, dark water, and other unknown conditions did not seem like a daunting task."

Once in Bellingham, they met Laurie Fueston, the Josh Fueston Memorial Foundation founder, who thanked them for their service and for volunteering to swim in the frigid waters to raise awareness in her son's name.

She created the four-mile Swim to Live event for her son, Josh, who, at the age of 14, wanted to raise awareness for the thousands of children who die each year from drowning by completing an eight mile swim in the Bellingham Bay. He was pulled out of the water at the four mile mark as he had become hypothermic with a body temperature of 93 degrees. He vowed to one day finish the last four miles.

United States Army Private 1st Class Josh Fueston lost his life to post-traumatic stress in 2009. He never did finish the final four-mile swim.

"Dave [Knutson] and I were training for a triathlon but when we saw this opportunity, we pulled out of the event and immediately focused on this swim because it was for such a great cause," said Omonov.

The Airmen jumped into the Bellingham Bay just after 8 a.m. and took turns swimming as long as their bodies would allow before tagging out with another swimmer. They were joined by members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Armed Forces.

After four and a half hours, the swimmers made it to within a few hundred yards of buoy No. 4 and the end of their swim. All the swimmers decided to finish strong as one team as they all leapt into the bay and swam together to the finish.

The Bellingham Bay swim was followed by a banquet where the swimmers were honored after different speakers addressed the audience about post-traumatic stress.

"The more that we learn about the challenges that some of these men and women face after war, the better we understand how to support these warriors and strengthen our community," said Stacy Rice, American Red Cross, Mount Baker Chapter executive director.

Rice greeted all the guests, sponsors and swimmers before introducing the evening's key note speaker.

Dr. Bridget Cantrell, Hearts Toward Home International president, spoke in length about post-traumatic stress and donated copies of her books to include Souls Under Siege and Once a Warrior: Wired For Life to everyone in attendance. The books provide useful information for families who have loved ones returning from a combat deployment.

"The most important of life's battles are the ones we fight in the silent chambers of our soul which is particularly poignant for our military men and women," Cantrell said. "One active duty military person takes their lives every 25 hours. That is a result of pain and suffering and feeling alone. We need to find how we, as a community, can support our men and women as they come home and help prevent these numbers from increasing."

The night ended as Pete Kremen, Whatcom County councilmember thanked the swimmers for volunteering and presented them with a certificate of appreciation.

"I've been an elected official for 30 years and I've heard the word 'honor' used in speeches time and time again," said Kremen. "So much so that sometimes, I think, the word loses its meaning.

"But this morning, watching the U.S. and Canadian warriors honor their fallen comrades by entering the cold, dark waters of Bellingham Bay, facing fears and memories, the kind that most of us will never experience, the true meaning of the words 'to honor' were expressed for all to see."