HEALING WAR WOUNDS AMID WAVES DISABLED VETERANS REVEL IN FREEDOM OF THE SURF.Byline: SUSAN ABRAM Staff Writer MALIBU -- They met the waves early Wednesday, some for the first time, others after years away. They were soldiers, Marines, sailors and pilots, all affected by wars both present and past, all injured in ways those who never faced a battlefield or vigorous training could ever know. But within the glassy, blue-green waves of Zuma Beach, these men and women transformed into surfers. Many faced, then conquered a new challenge: finding balance with wounded arms and legs, injured necks and spines, loss of vision and memory. "I'm a little winded, but it feels pretty good," said a breathless Glenn Alley, 59, a Vietnam veteran This article is about veterans of the Vietnam War. For the French psychedelic musical group, see Vietnam Veterans. Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War. , as he emerged from the surf. Once in the Air Force, Alley served two years in Vietnam, where he suffered an eye injury from enemy fire. On Wednesday, he learned to paddle out, catch a wave and glide onto shore. "I always wanted to surf, even though I'm not a fan of the water," the Palmdale man said. "It sure feels different." Dubbed dub 1 tr.v. dubbed, dub·bing, dubs 1. To tap lightly on the shoulder by way of conferring knighthood. 2. To honor with a new title or description. 3. Operation Amped, the dozen servicemen and -women were invited for a day of surfing thanks to organizers from the William Morris Agency Founded in 1898, the William Morris Agency is the largest diversified talent and literary agency in the world, with offices in New York City, Beverly Hills, Nashville, Miami, London, and Shanghai. , the VA Greater Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Healthcare System and with the help of Calabasas resident and surfer Tom Tadd. The idea came to Tadd one day when he saw a surfer without legs. He has since organized similar events for Marines out of Camp Pendleton. "Surfing is freedom," Tadd said. "These men and women fought for our freedom. I wanted them to experience that free feeling." South African native and 1977 world champion surfer Shaun Tomson Shaun Tomson was born on August 21, 1955 in Durban, South Africa. He is considered one of the world's most significant surfers and was the 1977 world champion. He first gained notoriety while surfing at Jeffery's Bay. joined the event to offer a few pointers. "Surfing can teach you wonderful things," he told the group. "It makes you look at the world from a different place." Sun Valley resident David Vidana, a 27-year-old Marine who underwent emergency surgery in Iraq after an enemy's bullet pierced his helmet and skull, said the sport was tougher than it looks. "It's tiring, but the adrenaline adrenaline (ədrĕn`əlĭn, –lēn): see epinephrine. keeps us going," he said. Ex-Marine Richard Pineda, 30, said a day at the beach was a pleasant change from frequent trips to the VA hospital, where he receives speech therapy. He suffered an aneurysm aneurysm (ăn`y  rĭzəm), localized dilatation of a blood vessel, particularly an artery, or the heart. after he returned from
serving in Iraq.
He became one of the first in the group to stand up on his board. "It's beautiful out here," he said, just as the sun broke through clouds, casting a golden light against the cliffs. "It's harder than it looks, but it feels so good." susan.abram(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3664 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) David Vidana, 27, of Sun Valley learns to surf at Zuma Beach in Malibu on Wednesday morning. He was injured in the Iraq war Iraq War: see under Persian Gulf Wars. Iraq War or Second Persian Gulf War Brief conflict in 2003 between Iraq and a combined force of troops largely from the U.S. and Great Britain; and a subsequent U.S. in April 2003 and had an emergency craniotomy Craniotomy Definition Surgical removal of part of the skull to expose the brain. Purpose A craniotomy is the most commonly performed surgery for brain tumor removal. . As an Operation Amped participant, Vidana was among a dozen servicemen and -women to receive surfing lessons. (2) Richard Pineda, 30, learns how to ride a surfboard during a disabled veterans surfing clinic at Zuma Beach. Pineda had a tour of duty as a Marine in Iraq but came home and had brain surgery. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer |
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