A campfire can help to heal the wounds of war.

"It's where the closure began, where soldiers could talk to other soldiers who understood what each other was saying," explained Chuck Spoerer.

Closure for Spoerer meant coming to grips with the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) he suffers since serving as an infantryman during the war in Vietnam. 

Spoerer also received a lot of understanding and help from his wife of almost 40 years.

"I knew him before he went to Vietnam and after he came back," said Carol-Ann Spoerer.  Noting the difference in her husband after his service, the Spoerers struggled for years to understand what had changed in him.

"I wanted to understand him better, to learn about him from the inside out," said Spoerer.

To that end, she began Hope Restorer's Network, an organization designed to offer hope, support and resources to the spouses and family members of veterans affected by combat related experiences and PTSD. 

The organization's goal is to provide understanding to spouses and family members that they are not alone and that it is possible to live with PTSD.

"It took us while, but we've worked it out; we're in this together," she commented.

And it lit a fire under her husband.

"I had not been camping in years, and yet I decided to go camping with a couple of friends who were vets," he added.

It was while sitting around a campfire with fellow veterans Rick Whitacre and Dan Ary that Spoerer came up with the idea of creating RnR Oasis, a non-profit organization designed to provide rest and recuperation (hence the "RnR") for wounded veterans through camping and fishing experiences.

The goal is to promote psychological and physical healing and closure for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"My wife works to helps the spouses who suffer as much as the veterans do," continued Spoerer.  "RnR Oasis works to help the veterans who are in the Wounded Warrior Battalions across the country," he added.

One of those battalions is at the Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC).  Although RnR Oasis has not yet contacted MAMC, it plans to do so.

Literature provided by RnR Oasis states that there are approximately 500 wounded veterans assigned to the Wounded Warrior Battalion at MAMC.

It goes on to say that commanders have said that if wounded veterans are fit enough to go camping or fishing, then the military will provide the transportation if a camping facility that caters to the injured and disabled is available.

"We want to help these veterans," said Spoerer.

RnR Oasis rents the campgrounds, provides all gear and equipment, food and even firewood for up to 50 veterans at a time.  There is no cost to the veteran.  And the state has issued a group-fishing permit that allows RnR Oasis participants to fish without obtaining an individual license.

Spoerer also pointed out that local businesses have donated items.

"Businesses have been generous," he added.

In order to facilitate the fishing, RnR Oasis is in the process of building a boat with a drop-down bow in order to accommodate wheelchair bound veterans.

"And the neat thing about the boat - as well as with everything else - is that we've had a lot of donations," added Spoerer as he stirred his coffee.

Spoerer also made it clear that RnR Oasis does not - and will not - make a cent.

"We are not in this for profit," emphasized Spoerer as he pointed to a recent newspaper article which detailed how 20 of 29 organizations purportedly devoted to serving veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan were not using the donations they received for their benefit.

"We do not make a cent," he again clearly emphasized.  "This organization is all about and for the veterans who are giving us and our country so much," he firmly stated.

And the organization is focused on getting its message out.

"The more people know about us, the better we will be able to help wounded veterans nationwide," said Spoerer. 

For spouses wishing to know more about the Hope Restorer's Network, call  (425) 413-4298 or email Carol-Ann@HopeRn.org.  For more information about RnR Oasis, call (425) 413-0505, visit www.RnROasis.com, or email Chuck@RnROasis.com