Legacy, Loyalty, and Love

Andy Harvell joined the Air Force after graduating high school in 2002, enlisting to enter the training pipeline to become a Combat Controller.  He first served in the 21^st Special Tactics Squadron where he completed four combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan before transferring to the elite 24^th Special Tactics Squadron.  Sadly, on August 6, 2011, Andy was killed in the Extortion 17 helicopter crash – he was one of 30 Americans, mostly special operators, and it was the greatest single-incident loss of American lives in Afghanistan. 

Beyond the tragedy, the loss felt by his surviving teammates and family cut deep.  When Andy’s widow asked one of our ambassadors if her son, now 17-years-old, could join some of Andy’s teammates on an event.  And so Master Sergeant Kyle H. reached out to Freedom Alliance to set up this very special event with Hunter and four veterans who knew and served with Hunter’s father (many of whom hadn’t seen Hunter in years). 

Kyle, Master Sergeant Cody L. (a pararescueman), Master Sergeant Justin C. (a combat controller), and Staff Sergeant Brock R. (a combat controller), joined Hunter for a week of meaningful group discussions, camaraderie, and adventure at Los Sueños Resort along the Central Pacific in Costa Rica. 

Justin and Cody arrived earlier than the others and were treated to their first meal by supporter Bob Schwegler, who reached out to host them.  He was departing the next day, but wanted to make the time to meet and treat the men arriving on Monday. 

Once all had arrived, the group checked into condos donated by Gerald & Virginia Lindholm of Texas and the Johnson family of South Carolina – beautiful condos with views of the resort’s golf course, pools, jungle, and ocean.  Justin wrote after the trip: “One of the best parts of my day while staying in Costa Rica was getting up early with a cup of coffee and sitting on the balcony.  As the light comes across the skyline and the fauna wakes up it makes for a peaceful serenity to begin the day with.  Listening to the Macaws as they flew up past the balcony and seeing the boats entering and leaving the harbor just set the tone for each day.  Thank you for affording me the opportunity to experience that and have those memories through your donation.”

The week began with a group hike to Rain Maker Conservation Park in Parrita, which is just over an hour away from the resort.  The park includes a self-guided tour along a trail in the jungle, crossing suspension bridges in the canopy, and stopping at the many swimming holes and waterfalls. 

That evening, Chef Christian Rojas donated a meal for the group and our friend Doug Hudson hosted the venue in his beauful villa at Los Sueños.  The meal consisted of a spicy tuna sushi appetizer, fried snapper tacos, garlic butter grilled Grouper, and finished with a rum-cooked pineapple and ice cream dessert.  Needless to say, the meal was outstanding and filled their stomachs, and Doug’s engagement and hospitality filled their hearts.

The excitement for the next two days was contagious as the group prepared for consecutive offshore fishing trips onboard “Grand Slam”, a 60-ft Paul Mann custom sportfisher donated by long-time supporter Wallis Higginbotham of Florida. Captain Dave Grubbs took us out to the fishing grounds with Jessey and Reedy in the cockpit…but with this group, it wasn’t a hook-and-hand-off ordeal: each person in the group was eager to learn the finesse of hooking their own billfish.  So, holding rods in their hands all day, waiting for the inevitable bite, they took to it fast and we ended up catching 15 sails!

The next day, we were back with the Grand Slam crew for another day of fishing.  Like the prior day, we saw many sailfish on the surface – cutting through the waters, jumping, and swimming in small schools of three to five fish.  And on the sonar, Dave marked fish after fish after fish…but they must have been spawning because very little fish were interested in eating!  On the radio, captains called out their frustrations but we were luckier than most, releasing eight fish.  Another beautiful day enhanced by the hospitality of the crew (who grilled deer burgers at mid-day) and the comforts of a yacht like Grand Slam. 

On their final day after breakfast, a van from Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park picked up the group for an excursion.  Located minutes away from the resort, the park has a host of activities for tourists visiting Costa Rica, and our group chose the 2-hour ATV ride.  The adventure took us through kilometers of jungle, pastures, and ended up at a waterfall where the men cooled off…and showed off with backflips, frontflips, and cannonballs into the swimming hole. 

Throughout the program, our groups attending the Offshore Experrience engage in group sessions discussing topics that range from moral injury, warriorhood, character, survivor’s guilt, grief, and more…the invisible wounds of war.  The material was developed with the help of psychotherapist Dr. Ed Tick.

At the concluding session, we held a small service of blessing – to commemorate Hunter’s transition into manhood, encourage and affirm our support of his future, and pray over him.  David Smith, the son of Paul Ray Smith, the first Medal of Honor recipient in the war in Iraq who lost his life protecting his men from an enemy ambush, wrote a beautiful letter to Hunter.  David wrote about his life after his father’s death and the feelings Hunter may experience as he enters adulthood, along with the wisdom he learned.  It was a special way to end their time in Costa Rica together.

We thank the many donors mentioned above, as well as the community who consistently supports our efforts.  This includes Los Sueños Resort who discounts our meals; Grupo Montecristo who donate golf carts (and the owners run Hospital Metropolitano in San Jose that serves US Veterans living abroad); as well as numerous other who support this program financially. 

A special thank you to the Altorfers for their very generous donation, making this event (and many more this year) possible. Together, we are making a difference.

Following their return home, Justin wrote on Greatnonprofits.org: “Freedom Alliance offered the opportunity to spend a week with my former teammates and gold star son of one of our fallen. The setting and relative isolation from the hustle of everyday life allowed us to be present. The setting is absolutely amazing but what sets this place apart is the caliber of humans you meet around every corner. There were smiling faces, people acknowledge one another, and things slowed down. This unique environment sets the stage for those hard conversations, vulnerability, and whether it is in the jungle or cockpit of a boat; a place to reflect. The program that Freedom Alliance provides helps veterans and gold star family members a roadmap to explore their thoughts and feelings. Growth is accompanied by pain but we often run from growth to shield ourselves from the pain. This offering was one where the participants are afforded the surroundings, mentorship, and tools to start or continue that growth journey. Thank you to Freedom Alliance & the donors.”