Journey of recovery

It was March 2010, and Master Sgt. Mark Vomund was on foot patrol with his military service dog, Herco.

It was just another deployment cycle, one of many between Afghanistan and Iraq during Vomund’s 25 years of service in the Army. 

Then the improvised explosive device went off. 

Vomund was the soldier closest to the blast. Herco was about 25 feet away. 

This particular bomb contained about 60 pounds of explosives. In comparison, a hand grenade contains six ounces. 

It left a crater that was 10 feet wide and six feet deep. 

Vomund suffered a traumatic brain injury. 

Vomund is now on a journey of recovery, acceptance and raising awareness for injured veterans. Based out of North Carolina, he travels the country and tells his story, “From Soldier to Survivor.” He spoke at the Whitefish Moose Lodge on Wednesday night.

It wasn’t his first visit to Whitefish. 

He first visited four years ago on a Wounded Warrior Project trip. Since then, Vomund has brought his wife and their two children to Whitefish at least once or twice a year. He said he hasn’t done that with any of the other communities he’s visited. 

“The Whitefish community kind of took me in,” Vomund said. “This community is more than very generous people. 

“When I first came here four years ago, I was learning to snowboard and this 10-year-old kid just stuck by me. Yesterday, I got to go hike a mountain with her. There’s something special here. This is part of our family’s rehabilitation process — the people who take time to remind us that we’re worth believing in.” 

Vomund was always a go-getter. Growing up in California, he had a paper route when he was 7 years old, competed in track and cross country at 8 and started his own yard work business when he was 9. 

As an adult, he owned a successful landscaping business and was part of the Army National Guard. He was newly married, and enjoyed being able to serve his country while having a civilian life at the same time. 

But Vomund started to become “more intrigued with the military,” he said. “I wanted to work with international allies. I wanted to push myself further.” 

So he enrolled in the National Guard Special Forces Unit to become a Green Beret. 

He then landed a job as a park ranger/firefighter in California, while still holding on to that civilian life. 

“I have to admit, I was living the perfect life,” Vomund said. 

When Vomund was called up for active duty, his family moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 

“It was a pivotal decision with significant consequences,” Vomund said. 

Then came Sept. 11, 2001 “and then everything changed for our country.”

Months later, all of Vomund’s training went into use. During his time at Fort Bragg, he had received Herco and been training him for deployment. Herco was highly skilled at protection and attack and could also detect explosives. 

“He performed superior, selfless service to the country,” Vomund said of Herco. 

Vomund battles his symptoms every day. He had a crainiotomy that gave him a new balance system. He has trouble with speech, hearing, memory and a number of cognitive abilities. 

Traumatic brain injuries can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Some symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later. 

Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, trouble sleeping, memory and concentration problems and mood swings.

“Standing up here, giving this presentation, is a challenge,” Vomund said Wednesday. “Every day is still a constant struggle against my symptoms. This is an endurance event.”

Herco was adopted by the Vomund family and became Mark’s service dog. Herco, a dog that was trained for battle, who was always alert, protective and on guard, began to relax after a few months in the Vomund home. He’s now a protector of the whole family — not just Mark. 

“But the bottom line is, Herco and I survived. I have slowly regained the self-worth I once had. I have a devoted comrade in Herco, who somehow understands me,” Vomund said. 

Reporter Brittany Brevik may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at bbrevik@dailyinterlake.com.