FAIRMONT — When Captain John “Woody” Woodall, a former Raleigh man, first stepped out onto a secluded stretch of land in Fairmont nearly three years ago, he knew he found what he was looking for.
“I went down there and I felt the most at peace I’ve felt in many years and I said, ‘This has got to be the place,’” Woodall said. “I don’t shove God down people’s throats but I knew it was a God thing for me. God showed me the peace I found here and I was like, ‘This is it.’”
Woodall was searching for a home for Camp4Heroes, a camp devoted to wounded veterans and first responders. The purpose of the camp is to provide rehabilitation and relaxation for people Woodall refers to as “heroes,” while getting them involved in various activities, learning new trades and connecting them with others to help them heal and to understand the difficulties of readjusting to civilian life.
Woodall serves as the president and founder of the camp. His son, John T. Woodall, is the artistic director.
“One of the biggest things that helps these veterans is finding directions and letting them know that there are people out there that care,” he said. “Even from my own experience I felt like I had nothing to offer and nobody really cared, but I did find out that there were people that cared and I did have something to offer.”
The camp sits on 184 acres of land that includes a 10-acre lake. In the past two years, more than 225 people have taken advantage of the camp — and it has yet to open its doors.
“I swore when I bought the place I would never turn anybody away and I haven’t,” Woodall said.
His own experiences helps him see just how much the camp is needed.
“I know what they see,” he said.
Woodall was captain of the Raleigh Fire Department for 28 years and is responsible for the construction of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial there.
“We were just about to do the groundbreaking on the memorial when 9/11 happened,” Woodall said.
He was asked to be the liaison between the New York City and North Carolina fire services. Since then, he has made 210 trips to New York City, Woodall said.
During visits and work at Walter Reed National Medical Center, Woodall noticed the growing number of soldiers suffering catastrophic injuries as well mental issues as a result of service during the Iraq War.
“We had triple amputees, double amputees, single amputees, quadruple amputees … and as it progressed we had guys coming back with post traumatic stress,” he said.
By working with the Gary Sinise Foundation, Woodall found an alternative way to heal heroes — by giving them purpose.
“We would get about 40 or 50 warriors together and we would have art classes, fishing, archery, all kinds of things, and at night we would have a camp fire,” he said. “A lot of things were settled over camp fire.”
Woodall believes it was art that saved him when he was diagnosed with PTSD in 2004, and he realized that programs should be more accessible to wounded veterans and first responders year-round.
“It changed my whole line of thinking,” Woodall said. “So what we’re trying to do here is change the guys’ whole line of thinking.
“You’ve got a better direction. There’s something you have to offer society. Let’s find out what that is and move forward. That’s what this camp is all about. It’s a healing camp.”
When Woodall decided to establish a camp, he knew he wanted a central, secluded area between Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune and Fort Jackson.
“I wanted a place that was tranquil,” he said.
Two years ago, the main lodge was the the only thing that sat on the land. Thanks to donations and support, the camp now has three one-bedroom cabins and RV hookups, which will be part of the “Veterans Village;” a pier that leads to a gazebo overlooking the lake; an outdoor kitchen; picnic shelter; walking trails; camping sites; and horse stalls for animal therapy.
“We have good support system,” John Woodall said. “We’ve been doing this for 17 years.”
Although the camp has undergone major infrastructure changes, the Woodalls still have ambitious goals for the camp’s future. Plans include adding a veterans memorial garden, and a non-denomination chapel with a recording studio attached.
They plan to break ground on a wellness center within the next couple of years. The center will be where most of the classes are held and will include a commercial kitchen, art studio, space for exercise and fitness training, and a library.
“We’re going to be tied in with two different community colleges to have a culinary class program so they can get a certificate to become a chef,” Woodall said.
Those who stay at the camp will be on a weekend trial. After the weekend assessment, the camp will determine if they need to stay for a week or be referred elsewhere for help.
“We start them off in the process of seeing where they are in their journey,” John said.
Veterans are required to bring their DD 214 forms, which contains information about the veteran’s military history and manner of discharge.
Once the center is finished, the Woodalls officially will open Camp4Heroes.
The camp is completely funded by the donations from individuals and organizations. Woodall’s wish list for the camp includes sponsors for buildings, building supplies, donations for operations, volunteers and equipment for clearing brush, and experts in trades to teach veterans hobbies and job skills.
Donations can be mailed to Camp4Heroes, Inc., P.O. Box 400, Fairmont, N.C., 28340 or by going to camp4heroes.org and clicking “DONATE NOW.”
