Special Feature: Stacie Litsenberger Mountain Resident Made Military History in Iraq The war in Iraq is officially over, but it's still never far from Stacie Litsenberger's mind. Before the Fairview Forest resident retired from the Army in 2010 as a major, she was deployed three times in combat zones. As commander of a medical detachment unit in Iraq, she made military history by being the first to use skilled therapy dogs to help troops battle stress. Today Stacie is an occupational therapist (OT) at Mission Hospital, doing what she loves to do-making a difference in the lives of people who need help. The daughter of a mining engineer who moved his family from place to place because of his job, Stacie joined the Army right out of high school in 1986. She was then trained as a Czech linguist and an interrogator. During the Persian Gulf War, she was deployed to Saudi Arabia where she interrogated Iraqis, using Kuwati college students as interpreters. "You don't have to be mean to get someone to talk," she said. "Sometimes using a soft approach works. The trick is figuring out which approach is best because everyone is different." In 1991, Stacie left active duty but remained in the Army Reserves. Using the G.I. Bill to pay for college, she earned a degree in 1995 in occupational therapy from Eastern Carolina University. Her plans to enter the private workforce changed when, as a volunteer OT at Pope Air Force Base near Fayetteville, she worked with survivors of a military plane crash. Recalled Stacie, "One of the victims I was working with asked me, 'When will I be able to put a backpack on my shoulders and be a soldier again?' And I thought, 'If I can help this soldier, then I can be helping many more if I go back into the Army.'" So she returned to active duty in 1995, this time as a second lieutenant in the Army Medical Specialist Corps. From 1999 to 2001, she commanded an area support medical company at Ft. Hood, Texas. While assigned as an OT staff therapist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center outside Washington, D.C., Stacie was immersed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As a member of a team of professionals helping victims cope with the emotional trauma, she debriefed workers who had been in the Pentagon at the time hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 plowed into the building, killing 125 persons. "Some talked about how close they came to death, crawling through the smoke," she said. "Others grieved for their lost friends and coworkers, not to mention all their computers, files and personal belongings. Emotions ran very high and the details they gave were so acute that it really stayed with us. Those were some of the most difficult debriefings I've ever done." To those who were traumatized, the team offered encouragement and support; suggested limiting their exposure to media coverage; and emphasized the benefits of relaxation techniques, proper sleep, good nutrition and regular exercise. Shortly after American military forces invaded Afghanistan, the staff at Walter Reed began seeing an increase in troop amputees for the first time since the Vietnam War. "We had to rethink everything from the height of the toilets to the design of the hospital rooms," said Stacie. Each patient was treated by a team that included a psychiatrist, psychologist, physical therapist (PT), OT, nurse and social worker. The team would help the amputee adjust to a different way of life; for example, showing a soldier with one arm or one leg how to lift a child. "The PT gets you up and moving from point A to point B," Stacie explained. "The OT's job is to teach you what to do when you get there." Certain patients left an indelible mark with her. "One time a whole team of Special Forces was shot up," she recalled. "They got back in their vehicle, but they were so wounded they were passing out. Each soldier took a turn at the wheel and drove until he passed out and then the next guy took over. They finally got to safety." Former President George H.W. Bush showed up one day at Walter Reed and asked a severely wounded soldier, "Is there anything I can do for you or your family?" The soldier replied, "Help me get back to Afghanistan and be with my team again." Bush told him, "Your job right now is to get better and be with your family." During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Stacie was part of the team at Walter Reed that treated Jessica Lynch, the wounded Army private who, after being captured by Iraqi soldiers in an ambush, was rescued by Special Operations Forces in a daring nighttime raid. "She suffered through some really horrible experiences," said Stacie. Three Combat Deployments In April 2005, Stacie, who had been promoted to major, began a year-long deployment in Iraq. During the last half of her rotation, she was the executive officer (second in command) of the 85th Medical Detachment, Combat Stress Control. She headed a staff of more than 40 who helped reduce soldiers' stress and got them through the tough times so they could stay focused on their mission. The unit was determined to do whatever it could to prevent post-traumatic stress reactions, depression and substance abuse triggered by the tension of combat. "Modern war is exhausting," she said. Although battle fatigue was a common mental ailment, combat wasn't the only cause of stress. Many troops in the field had to handle serious situations back home like marital, parental or financial issues. "We tried to give the soldier coping mechanisms and resources so they could deal with these problems," said Stacie. "We wanted to make sure they were sleeping, eating, exercising and talking to their buddies." She said many troops had trouble sleeping because of what they saw in battle. Nightmares and anxiety attacks were common. Stacie and her team also conducted psychological debriefings after traumatic events such as firefights or bombings that resulted in casualties. "We would talk to the unit as a whole, typically seven to sixteen soldiers, about stress management," she said. "Some were angry or crying or wanting to blame someone. I'd tell them, 'We all react differently, but we're soldiers and need to support each other to get through this together.' Emotions were always so raw." Despite their training, no one on her staff was immune to stress. "It's called compassion fatigue," she said. "Everyone suffered from it at some point." After her rotation was over, Stacie was awarded her first Bronze Star. "She received high praise from battalion and brigade commanders for her direct work with soldiers in minimizing the negative effects of traumatic stressors," according to the military citation. "Her initiative and outstanding performance resulted in the lowest suicide rates in Operation Iraqi Freedom history and the highest return to duty rates of 98 percent." During her first deployment, Stacie noticed many soldiers had unofficially adopted stray dogs and cats even though it was against military regulations. She saw firsthand how these pets helped reduce stress and offered troops an emotional release. "When I was called in to do a debriefing, I saw that soldiers with pets would open up while petting their animal," she said. Back in the U.S., Stacie pitched the idea to her superiors about using therapy dogs in combat zones-something that had never been tried before. The military brass gave her the go-ahead. During her second Iraq deployment — this time as commander of the 85th Medical Detachment, which was from February 2007 to April 2008 — Stacie received two trained black Labrador retrievers, Boe and Budge. The breed is known for being friendly, easy-going and remaining calm among people under stress. The dogs were donated to the Army by Vet-Dogs, a subsidiary of Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. At a cost of $40,000 each, the dogs underwent four months of training to deal with emotional situations, flying in helicopters, loud noises and heat. "When the dogs arrived, they were ready to go to work," said Stacie. "We used them as icebreakers for soldiers who needed a stress management class or one-on-one counseling. The troops would be more open to talking about their feelings as they petted the dogs. Sometimes a soldier would come in really angry. The dog would walk over to him and sit down, and the soldier would pet him and the dog would take away the stress." Troops were encouraged to interact with the dogs through petting or playing a game of fetch-activities that also lower blood pressure and provide comfort and relaxation. Some soldiers had difficulty approaching senior officers with personal issues, but the dogs allowed them to ease into those kinds of conversations. "The therapy dogs helped develop rapport with soldiers," Stacie added. "The dogs' presence helped build unit morale and cohesion. The love of animals was the common ground for increasing understanding, building empathy and fostering compassion, which are essential components for healing. Sometimes all someone needs is a lick in the face." After her second tour of duty in Iraq, Stacie was awarded another Bronze Star for "outstanding leadership during combat operations" and ensuring her unit provided expert services for more than 50,000 troops in northern Iraq. The citation also praised her for traveling "to nine forward operating bases, crossing hundreds of miles in hostile territory, and personally assessing the stressors experienced by combat arms soldiers." Fortunately, she never was in a firefight, but she did come under mortar fire. Stacie, who was also awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, finally retired after 20 years in the military. "I was allowed to have two commands, and I pretty much did what I wanted to do," she said. "It felt good to retire on my own terms." Making a Difference from Iraqi War Zones to the Mountains She then moved to Hickory Forest Road and began her civilian career in occupational therapy. "There's nowhere else I want to live," she said. "I love my house and Fairview Forest." She also loves her coon hound, Chester-the first dog she ever owned. Although she enjoys her civilian life, she still maintains a strong bond with those in uniform. Says Stacie, "The more that I am retired from the military, the more I understand the sacrifices that soldiers make." Fairview Forest Homeowners' Association   •   101 Fairview Forest Drive   •   Fairview, NC 28730