BIGFORK – In the 22 years that Rusty and Zella Gaeta have been married, they have taken just two vacations together; one in 1994 to Guatemala and one last week to Flathead Lake. Such is the life of a U.S. Army Special Forces family.
Rusty and Zella joined four other Special Forces members and their families for a week on Flathead Lake in Bigfork. During their visit, the families did everything from fly fishing to whitewater rafting, thanks to the U.S. Army Special Forces Association.
“It’s just great for all of us to be here together,” Zella said.
The U.S. Army Special Forces Association is a group of veterans who have served in conflicts around the world. Its basic mission is to advance the public image of the Special Forces, as well as projects like providing a weeklong getaway for deserving soldiers. This is the second year the association has brought a group of soldiers to the Flathead.
Last week, Rusty and his wife stayed in Bigfork. They got to borrow a new car from an area dealership, stay with a local family and enjoy the facilities of the Flathead Lake Lodge. For Rusty, who is about to retire from the military after 35 years, it was the greatest gift he could receive.
“This is the biggest pressure release valve you can imagine,” he said.
Rusty joined the Special Forces in 1980 and became Warrant Officer in the mid-1990s. During his time, he has traveled the world, from South America and Central America to the Middle East, where he did three tours in Afghanistan. Although it kept him from home a lot, he has never regretted it.
“It’s (been) like a romance novel because I’ve been able to do all this stuff, but my wife may not see it that way,” he said.
Zella said it has been tough to have her husband gone so much, missing holidays, birthdays and anniversaries, but she knew what she was getting into when they got married.
Having a week away from their home in North Carolina was a dream come true, Zella said, adding that the Bigfork community had welcomed the soldiers with open arms.
One of the organizers is Leland Hyslop, president of the U.S. Army Special Forces Association Chapter 28 in Montana. Hyslop served in Vietnam and said the association gives him a chance to reconnect with others like him.
“I enjoy being with special forces guys because we’re a similar breed and we’ve all had similar experiences,” he said. “We stick together because we can sit around and tell stories and swap lies that we all understand.”
Hyslop said the soldiers that came to the Flathead last week were picked by their commanding officer. For some it was the first time they had enjoyed the company of family members in a few years.
“They usually try and pick someone who has been overseas and hasn’t seen their family much,” he said.
For more information about the U.S. Army Special Forces Association visit www.specialforcesassociation.org.