Kirk Mattingly is a hero. He is 73 years old, married, and an Army Veteran of the Vietnam war.
Kirk joined the Army at 17 years of age to escape a tumultuous and abusive home life. He remembers thinking anything would be better than his immediate situation, but he was far too young to anticipate the atrocities of war and the impact it would have on his life.
He was trained at Fort Walters and deployed to south Vietnam in December of 1968, as a helicopter Crew Chief, just before the Tet Offensive began. Kirk reflects that his training in no way prepared him for the intensity of battle, the bloodshed, the emotional losses, and the utter chaos of his war-time deployment.
In 1969, Kirk’s helicopter was shot down in enemy territory. He recalls that extraction took a very long eight hours, as they were surrounded by and taking fire from enemy combatants. The experience was terrifying and inflicted a lifetime of physical and emotional wounds on Kirk and his crew.
Kirk spent 19 weeks in the VA hospital, and though he emerged physically intact, he was shattered inside. Kirk says he saw things no human should ever witness and that those memories persisted, causing him 40 years of anger, anxiety, unhappiness, and distraction. Over those years he tried medications, psychiatrists, psychologists, church – nothing worked. His relationships were suffering and he felt lost and isolated.
In late 2022, Kirk’s acupuncturist referred him to a military retreat at Quantum Leap Farm. Kirk didn’t want to go – he says he was afraid of confronting his anxiety and depression, old memories, and the possibility of another failed attempt at gaining happiness. He had the perfect excuse – the retreat fell on his wedding anniversary. Jeanine, his wife, insisted that he attend, so he went with much trepidation.
Kirk says the experience saved his life and his marriage. He met a pony mare who showed him very clearly how his anxiety and pain affected those around him. In her way, she convinced him to let go of his pain and his past for a moment, so she could feel safe bonding with him, and they could start a relationship. Kirk says his experience connecting with this mare motivated him to try the tools being offered at the retreat. Tools to manage his anxiety and depression, and to truly see his present, without the shadow of his past. He met other veterans struggling with the same troubles and finding their way too – they became a tribe, and he no longer felt isolated and alone in his journey.
Kirk says he fell in love with Quantum, its horses, and its professional and experienced staff – he didn’t want the retreat to be over! So now, Kirk attends Buddy Check (a weekly group therapy session) with other veterans, volunteers regularly at the farm, and mentors other veterans there. Jeanine, Kirk’s wife, volunteers right alongside him and says Quantum’s horses saved both their lives.
None of this would be possible without the support of The Patriot Fund. Their support enables us to offer equine-assisted therapy services to Kirk and many other veterans like him – over 600 Veterans and their family members each year at Quantum alone! When you support the Patriot Fund, you are quite literally saving lives, improving the quality of those lives, and supporting nonprofits dedicated to serving the many needs of veterans and their families. Thank YOU, and all our friends at The Patriot Fund!
To learn more about Quantum Leap Farm click the link HERE.