Vietnam Army nurse takes to the mountain to ski

For many people, if you were to ask them, "Where do you see yourself at the age of 76?" The response probably wouldn't be, "Re-learning to downhill ski." For Army Veteran Gayle Smith, that is exactly what she is doing.

Growing up in rural upstate New York, Smith learned to ski at 10 and was always an active person. Following high school, she pursued a career in nursing. In 1970 after graduating college with a bachelor's in nursing, she was 21 years old and horrified by what she was hearing on the news about the conflict in Vietnam.

"I felt a calling to try and help them return home, which is why I volunteered to join the Army Nurses Corps," she shared.

Smith was sent to basic training at Fort Sam Huston in San Antonio. After only two months in Texas, she was sent to Vietnam, where she served in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) for 12 months.

"I provided care to service men with a wide variety of medical and surgical problems. Some had Malaria, many had various fevers of unknown origin, but most had multiple gunshot wounds or multiple frag wounds," she said.

"I would have given my life to help them survive."

Smith experienced the highs and lows of being a nurse in the Army, but she says she was extremely lucky as her MASH never took incoming enemy fire, nor was it over run. "My patients in Vietnam would do anything to help me and I would have given my life to help them survive," she recalled.

Smith returned to the states and took a job as ski patrol nurse for the winter in Stowe, Vermont. When the season ended, she used her G.I. Bill educational benefits to attend graduate school at Boston University and, after 12 months, graduated with a master's in nursing. Following graduation, she became a clinical nurse specialist at the White River Junction VA where she helped train nurses.

While working at White River Junction VA, she met Dr. Matt Freidman, who bonded with her over their passion in treating Veterans. They soon married, began a family and stuck it out through thick and thin. She experienced a variety of symptoms from unknown origins she would later find out were caused by Addison's Disease.

"I was relieved that I finally found out why I was having all those symptoms. Management of this disease is tricky at times. I need to judge how much medication I need to take," she said.

Addison's Disease isn't the only complication Smith has endured. She also experienced many orthopedic issues, which are common with the physical duties of nursing. The one that really seemed to affect her the most was when she required lumbar spine surgery. This caused her to become sedentary and brought the most pain yet.

In 2022, her physician at White River Junction VA, Dr. Annice Mason, recommended she talk to the Recreation Therapist Jen Stark. Dr. Mason encouraged her to get back up and try again.

"Annice Mason at VA told me that with rec therapy, I could get back to skiing," she explained. "I didn't believe her, but I am willing to try almost anything."

Don't let the term 'disability' dictate your future

In 2023, Smith participated in her first New England Winter Sports Clinic, the second largest adaptive winter sports clinic for Veterans in the nation. This clinic is held on Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire. She was nervous, but as the week ended her smile and pride were beyond measure.

This year she returned to Mount Sunapee with her husband, who she says has been with her every step of the way. He has supported her both physically and emotionally as they both began skiing again after 30 years.

Smith and all the Veteran participants from all around New England have the common goal of not letting the term 'disability' dictate their future. This adaptive sports clinic can be terrifying to try, but these clinics are made to meet each Veteran at their playing level and help them overcome obstacles with a very specific and customized plan of action for each individual.

"I've come to the conclusion that disability is a technical term. Folks in the program may have a disability, but they are achieving the same goals that non-disabled people have. They just do it differently," she said.

Smith's advice to anyone thinking of trying an adaptive sports clinic but who may be worried or scared is, "Do it! It's safe, the volunteers and staff are supportive and you have more courage than you think."

See more VA Adaptive Sports Veteran testimonials.

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