Wounded Warriors:
"There's nothing you can't do!"
Adapted from articles in the Mammoth Times - Diana Proemm Photos
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Welcome to Mammoth - By Christina Reed

Terry shows Bob how outriggers work

Terry Smutney has a philosophy about his disabilities - they don't exist to stop him from life or living it to its fullest. A Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra volunteer, Smutney argues he wasn't really living until Kathy Copeland, the program's Executive Director, became involved in his life. He notes, quietly with a broad smile, the program saved his life.

Smutney, like many of the program's volunteers, was on last week at the Holiday Inn in Mammoth Lakes to greet a group of Wounded Warriors from the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. Through the very generous donations of many of the town's residents and businesses, six soldiers wounded in Iraq were invited to Mammoth to enjoy the mountain skiing and snowboarding and learn some new ways to see life. Smutney is one of the best speakers of the evening, as he greets these soldiers in a very personal way.

From his wheelchair, Smutney rolls out the red carpet of welcome and inspiration. He's surrounded by volunteers assisting the visiting soldiers throughout their weeklong visit. Smutney is happy to share the benefits of the Wounded Warriors Disabled Sports Project with the newly arrived guests, and he is just the person to show, through actions and commitment, how the program helps with early intervention and the re-introduction to active sports. Smutney knows that many of these soldiers were once very active in winter and summer sports, and he's anxious to see them get a good start on their rehabilitation.

DSES Volunteers ready for the Wounded Warriors

Smutney wasn't always keen on being a volunteer or engaged in a life within the community. He describes his journey of struggle from a hermit-like existence, dependent on drugs for relief from pain and his Gulf War injuries in the 1990s, to the current community participant and volunteer. While initially getting out was painful, from many aspects, Smutney says he's fully engaged in winter sports with a mono-ski and a broad smile. He can now count the number of days he's not on the hill making turns, where before he couldn't tell you when he went out of his home.

Each day promises so much for Smutney he's having a difficult time choosing his activities, he tells the newly arrived wounded soldiers.

"I don't believe in the word disability," and "I'm hoping to get these guys to see there isn't anything they can't do," he says with deep conviction.

Copeland's inspiration gave him the desire to embark on the vibrant life he has now, he admits, and he's taken it upon himself to challenge many of the town's handicapped policies.

Today, however, Smutney is content to be the perfect liaison for the Wounded Warriors Project in Mammoth and he's really the best example of how this program, offered throughout the United States, is rebuilding the lives of many of our brightest and most active citizens. Smutney is approaching life one great enjoyable moment at a time with the attitude that there's "really nothing you can't do" if you put your heart and mind into it.

For more information about this inspiring program, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

The disabled soldiers of the Wounded Warriors Project and DSES volunteers enjoyed an evening of relaxation and good food over dinner at the Mammoth Lakes home of Craig and Anne Knoche.

Wounded veterans discover new abilities - By Alex Rose

Randell shows off his mechanical leg

Corporal Brian Reimers lined up small plastic coffee creamers on the breakfast table. Each creamer was supposed to represent a Humvee on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq.

Reimers pointed to the first creamer. "It was a perfect shot, as far the insurgents were concerned," said the public affairs Marine from Camp Pendleton. On Oct. 4, 2005, a roadside bomb had exploded directly underneath the Humvee, which killed the driver and wounded everyone else in the vehicle.

One of the wounded soldiers was Randell Leoncio, 25, a Navy Corpsman with the 7th Marine Regiment. As a result of his injuries, his right leg was amputated below his knee.

In spite of his amputation, Reimers said that Leoncio recently completed a 26-mile marathon on a hand bicycle in Miami. "He is totally upbeat, totally optimistic," he said. "He wants to live."

Leoncio is one of six wounded veterans who participated in the Wounded Warrior Project hosted by Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, the Navy Medical Center in San Diego and businesses in Mammoth Lakes.

On Wednesday morning, the veterans fueled up on heaping plates of food at the Breakfast Club before skiing and riding at Mammoth Mountain.

Over breakfast, Leoncio explained that he uses a special prosthetic limb when snowboarding. The limb contains a hydraulic shock, similar to one found in a mountain bike, which allows the limb to flex over bumpy terrain.

"There are people out there who have these injuries and have no idea they can do this stuff," he said.

Robin and Ken show Alroy what ski boots are all about

Terry Smutney is a mono and bi-ski instructor with Disabled Sports, who coached and mentored veterans during the event. A disabled veteran from Operation Desert Storm, Smutney said that injuries don't really change anything in a person. "You just modify a bit," he said.

"I want to try and show people that there really aren't any disabilities. Disabilities help you discover what your abilities are," Smutney said. "There is nothing you can't do. These guys are doing things they didn't think possible."

At Mammoth Mountain, the veterans were greeted with near perfect skiing conditions: Blue skies, warm temperatures and no wind. At the bottom of Chair 11, Alroy Billiman, 27, an Army machine gunner, said he enjoyed the speed and control of skiing. "It's fun, and I love it," he said.

Billiman, of the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, lost his right arm as a result of a roadside bomb in Iraq.

Doc tries his hand at 4-tracking

"Doc" Jacobs, 21, a Navy Corpsman with the 7th Marine Regiment, sustained injuries to his legs from a roadside bomb. He said he enjoyed the challenge of skiing. "I've never done this before," he said. "I also wanted to get away from San Diego."

Later in the afternoon, two instructors stood near the top of Chair 3 and watched Leoncio make turns on his snowboard. He slowly traversed the steep terrain on his board, at times pausing before gliding over packed powder. The instructors commented how good he looked.

And from a distance, Leoncio didn't appear disabled. He resembled any other snowboarder, carving edges into snow, weaving and winding down the mountain.

The Rotary Clubs of Mammoth and Bishop sponsored lunch for the Wounded Warriors on Thursday, Feb. 1, which was followed by snowmobiling adventures.