American Warrior Radio

National Vietnam Veterans Day is observed on March 29. March 29, 1973 was the day the  US Military Assistance Command – Vietnam stood down. This year has a bit of added significance; it is the 50th anniversary of the war. The Department of Veteran's Affairs estimates there are still 7 million Americans who served on active duty during the Vietnam war still living. Commander Brian Wierzbiki, Chief of Public Engagement for the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration joins us to talk about their initiatives and support programs for the 50th Anniversary. The mission of the Vietnam War Commemoration is to thank and honor Veterans of the Vietnam War. They also include personnel of federal agencies, governmental and non-governmental organizations who served in support as well as our allies and persons supporting on the home front. The organization went active in 2012. Brian's office provides support to any organizations organizing 50th anniversary recognition events. So far they have supported 28,574 events with 13,539 partners. A calendar of all the events are listed at their website. Any group interested in receiving support or listing their event with the Vietnam War Commemoration can visit their website and submit the information. Brian says that even though the anniversary is March 29, they will support programming through November 11, 2025. Their website has several interesting elements including an in depth history page with timelines oral histories and even a virtual tour of the Pentagon exhibit. Other support elements provided include Veteran lapel pins, certificates of honor and commemorative flags. Eligible Veterans include anyone who served between November 1, 1955 and May 5, 1975. Surviving spouses are also eligible for a pin. Brian says that his role in support of the commemoration has significantly informed him about Vietnam Veterans role. He deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. When he returned from Afghanistan, the first people to greet him were Vietnam Veterans.  

“Brothers After War” is a documentary film directed by Jake Radenmacher in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation. Brothers After War debuted in 140 movie theatres nationwide. I strongly recommend both Veterans and civilians see this film. Between 2005-2007, Jake risked everything, including his life, to tell the story of his brothers serving Iraq. He embedded with multiple units, filmed numerous combat engagements, and interviewed more than forty combat Veterans in the warzone. The result was the award winning “Brothers at War” documentary. In “Brothers After War” Jake reconnects with some of the soldiers and Marines featured in his first film. It is a poignant, often sad and something humorous look at their lives after war. An underlying theme of the film is the idea that sometimes one of the hardest parts of being a warrior is returning home. Jake says, “I started Brothers After War broken.”  From 2016-2018 he had a two-year international custody battle. In a meeting with Sinise, Gary told him “Jake, sometimes I think the way to heal a broken heart is to help someone else.” Jake's two brothers are central characters in both films. Between them, his brothers deployed a total of sixteen times. He also included a number of spouses in both films and considers it a unique aspect of the production. After producing Brothers At War, Jake and a team began conducting resiliency workshops sponsored by the Gary Sinise Foundation. Jake and a team of three Veteran trainers visit various communities to use the film as a catalyst to open discussion with Veterans. If you would like to have them visit your community, visit their website to schedule an event. TAKEAWAY: After seeing the film, one of the Veterans told Jake “Brothers After War made me feel like I wasn't alone, that I'm not broken, that it's okay to be vulnerable. It gave me hope for my future.”

Tax attorney Hubert Johnson is a Navy Veteran and founder of Guardian Tax Law. On this episode of American Warrior Radio, Hubert shares tax tips for Veteran entrepreneurs. While serving in the Navy, he injured his spine, resulting in a medical discharge. He was feeling sorry for himself until he reported to the VA pain clinic at the age of 19. Witnessing the situation that the older Veterans were in, he says at that moment “I was going to be all right.” Hubert despised his federal tax class in law school. But “life happened” and he fell into tax law because “I just needed a job and I have been doing it ever since.” Hubert shares important tax tips for Veteran entrepreneurs, the foremost being to always get good, expert advice. The advantages/disadvantages of the various business structure options should be explored before starting operations. Adding employees is an especially important threshold. The IRS treats payroll tax issues as if one is “stealing from their employees.” Entrepreneurs can be held personally liable for both payroll and sales tax issues. Hubert recommends people be extremely cautious when entering into partnerships. “Trust but verify.” We discuss an issue unique to entrepreneurs who are still serving in the military; having a plan in place for the business to keep operating and taxes filed during a deployment. There are special provisions for military members serving overseas. Hubert clarifies residency issues relative to military members. The rule of thumb is residency is established as state where their enlistment took place. However, residency can be established somewhere else. He cites California & New York tax laws as particularly onerous when it comes to military members. In contrast, Oklahoma doesn't tax military Veterans. “Before you leave a state, file a non-resident tax return so they will leave you alone.” TAKEAWAY: “Get a mentor. Surround yourself with people who can help bouy you up and you can call and ask questions. There isn't a millionaire out there that truly did it all by themselves."

Nick Padlo was a sophomore at West Point when the 9/11 attacks occurred. He would go on to serve two tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Armed with an MBA from Stanford University, Padlo made a good transition to the civilian sector, taking a job with a successful business. It seemed he had the world at his feet. But all was not well in his life. He experienced a divorce and along the way he started drinking and experimenting with drugs. The feelings that he was trying to numb became worse because of his addictions. On 2018 he found himself in a Dallas hotel with a half empty bottle of liquor and a gun trying to decide if that would be his last day on earth. Instead, he did a web search for rehab. Padlo clarifies that if someone is asking themselves if they are drinking too much, or if family members suggest it, then there is a 90% certainty that there is a problem. “When you start having negotiations with yourself, you've crossed some sort of a line.” He says the main question one should ask is whether the relationship with alcohol is blessing you and your family. Padlo had to do rehab twice before it “took”. Padlo shares three issues that are particular to Veterans that can complicate addiction and recovery. Padlo committed to devote the rest of his career to helping other people dealing with addictions and he founded Sophros Recovery. In mythology “Sophrosyne” describes a well-balanced state that leads to temperance, moderation and prudence.  While Sophros is affiliated with all major insurances, they also have scholarships they can offer. “If we can't help you we will find someplace that will.” TAKEAWAY: “Nothing changes if nothing changes. If you are hearing this and need some help or know someone who does – do something!"

The Van of Valor program is the brainchild of Kevin and Lauren Wallace. Their mission is to travel to all of the lower 48 states and record the stories of at least 100 Purple Heart recipients or Gold Star families. Kevin had served in the Air Force for seven years when the opportunity came up to become a Combat Photographer. On April 3, 2011 Kevin was attached to a team of 12 cavalry scouts tasked with establishing an observation post in a set of ruins in Northwest Afghanistan. Kevin sensed that something was amiss when their meeting with the village elders was less than cordial. They began taking fire while exiting the village but were able to make it back to the ruins. Kevin and his 11 comrades were engaged on three sides by more than 100 Taliban fighters, some of whom were using women and children as shields. During the attack, an RPG came so close to Kevin that it singed his beard. It exploded behind him, peppering Kevin, four of the scouts and their working dog with shrapnel. He would be awarded the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star w/ Valor for that battle. The couple had discussed traveling the lower states and bought a used Fed-X van with 300,000 miles, converting it to a travel van. Lauren says she was inspired start the Van of Valor project after personally witnessing the impact that shared trauma has among Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families. If anyone knows of a Purple Heart story that needs to be told, please check the Van of Valor website to see if your community is along their planned route. You can also track their progress at the website. Kevin and Laura are accepting donations to offset the costs of the journey. TAKEAWAY: “We are asking people to dig up a lot from their past and make people uncomfortable so that the grander public can understand the sacrifice that Gold Star families and those who see combat suffer from.”

“Jeep Show; A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge” is a fictional work by author Robert B. O'Connor that sheds light on a unique and little know effort during World War II. Military Occupational Specialist Code 442 was assigned to some names you may recognize; Mickey Rooney, Sammy Davis Jr, Mel Brooks and Red Buttons. They were part of a special morale initiative to provide entertainment to troops on the front lines in areas deemed too dangerous for USO tours. Jeep Show units consisted of 3 soldiers who would provide the equivalent of a traveling vaudeville show. Because front line troops were constantly on the move, these contingents would conduct several performances a day. Robert B. O'Connor first became aware of this unique program when he was an executive with Proctor & Gamble. He was researching a failed marketing scheme led by Jim Hetzer called “The Oxydol Circus.” Hetzer's family informed O'Connor that their father was involved with Jeep Shows during WWII. Hezter would become the basis for the fictional main character in O'Connor's novel. Interestingly, he chose to also place the REAL Mickey Rooney in the novel. We spend some time discussing Rooney's career and his possible motivation for volunteering during World War II. Rooney was awarded a Bronze Star for his role with the Jeep Shows. O'Connor chose to involve his main character in the Battle of Bulge, not only because it was a significant part of the war in Europe but also because it highlighted the often unrecognized role of “Team SNAFU” during that clash. Team SNAFU described the role of traditionally non-combat personnel like clerks, supply and medical personnel who were forced to take up arms in the protection of Bastogne. Jeep Show is a delightful and compelling novel that puts readers right on the front lines and introduces us to the often unheralded contributions of support troops like those who carried the 442 MOS.

Terry “Ranger” Johnson's path toward fulfilling his dreams was a rocky one. His “comeback” story is one of resiliency, commitment to one's goals and is full of messages that should inspire every one of us. Terry grew up off of a dirt road five miles outside of a tiny town in east Texas. While Terry is a dedicated patriot, he admits he joined for the money and to get out of that small town. While serving at his first duty station he encountered some Rangers and decided that would be his next career goal. There was one big problem though. Terry did not know how to swim and he flunked the pool test. We all have fears, and Terry admits that the toughest thing he ever had to do in life was getting over his fear of water. He concentrated on swimming lessons and earned his Ranger tab seven years later. He says that getting past that swim test imbued him with confidence and a “stay in in the fight” mind set.  He had to take the ASVAB test FIVE times before he qualified to join the Green Berets. Terry served for 20 years but adds “If I hadn't hurt my back earlier in my career I would have done 30 years. I loved the Army..there wasn't no LIKE about it. I loved it. I thrived in it.” Upon retiring Terry “Ranger” Johnson dedicated himself to helping and motivating others. He has published a series of books including “Stay In The Fight” and “Train Like You Fight”.  We discuss some of the inspirational lessons in his books In addition to his motivational speaking business, Terry and his son Gino also ventured into the entrepreneurship arena with Champions for Veterans, which helps Veterans reclaim their earned VA benefits. TAKEAWAY: “Even when you are down and out you can do more – you've GOT more. When you show that grit it empowers others to believe they can as well.”

“This Troubled Ground” by  is part memoir/part fiction. Les served our nation for 28 years, beginning with four years in the active duty Air Force and the remainder in the National Guard. He retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel in 2013. Dover Air Force Base is often the first domestic stop for the remains of the fallen coming from overseas. During the height of the Afghanistan War, President Obama changed the policies to allow families to have media presence if they wished. This required a public affairs team to be present on the ramp for the dignified transfer.  Les was one of the first public affairs officers to arrive following the policy change and estimates he oversaw over 100 dignified transfers.  He also participated in the dignified transfer of the team of CIA officers. Les emphasizes that “the job is NOT for everyone. You are going to witness some of the hardest things in your life.” His publisher calls “This Troubled Ground” an autobiographical novel. Les says it was the product of a combination of his experiences at Dover and his deployments to Afghanistan. While deployed he was attached to the International Security Assistance Force, facilitating interactions between our foreign allies and the Afghan media. He says for the most part he was privileged to work with some amazing leaders. An overriding theme of “This Troubled Ground” is the question of whether “Afghanistan was worth it?” The book takes us from a family member asking that question on the ramp at Dover to the second time Les deployed to Afghanistan. Even though he swore he would never go back, Les DID volunteer for a second deployment and suggests it was because he might have been searching for the answer to that question. Though “This Troubled Ground” is a fictional story, one of the families he met on the ramp at Dover specifically asked him to use the real name of their fallen son so that he wouldn't be forgotten.

Mike Croissant, a retired CIA officer, set out on a mission to learn more about his uncle. His uncle was an a bomber crewman that survived World War II without of scratch but was then killed in a plane crash shortly after returning home. Drawing from his uncle's letters home, along with dozens of interviews with surviving Veterans, Mike produced “Bombing Hitler's Hometown; The Untold Story of the Last Mass Bombing Raid of World War II in Europe." It describes the April 25, 1944 mission to bomb Linz, Austria. Hitler spent many of his early life in Linz, Austria. He intended to make it the cultural capital of Europe after the war. Strategically, it was also a key location for Nazi Germany. As a transportation hub, tons of war materials flowed through the rail yards. It was also defended by more than 164 anti-aircraft batteries, one of the most intense defensive concentrations in 1944. Given the fact that Russian troops had already entered Berlin on April 16th, we discuss whether this risky mission was even necessary. Hitler committed suicide on April 30th. Mike's book puts the readers right in the cabin with the aviators that flew B-24 and B-17 bombers on the April 1, 1944 mission. Readers will experience the cold, the terror of flying through the flak barrages and the heartbreak of seeing fellow aircrews get shot down. He also does an excellent job of taking us through the experiences of the crews who were shot down and some of the residents on the ground that captured or helped them. Croissant tells us about one crew member was captured by Russian troops who, despite being our allies, tortured him for several days after accusing him of being a German spy. In one bizarre incident, an Austrian Commandant tried to draft crew members into joining a guerilla war against the Nazis. TAKEAWAY: “I did it for the men because they deserve it and I did it for their kids. Their kids need to know, and indeed, all Americans need to know what those men did for us right at the very end of the most destructive conflict in human history.”

“Indochina Hand; Tales of a CIA Case Officer” by Barry Broman features a compilation stories about situations encountered during a 25 year career with the agency. He can attest to the fact that sometimes truth IS stranger than fiction. Barry was first approached by the CIA while in graduate school. The recruiter said Barry was precisely the “kind of guy we are looking for”. However, when Barry informed him that he was commissioned in the Marine Corps and was headed to Vietnam. The recruiter handed him a business card and said “Here's my card. If you live, call this number six months before you get out of the Corps.”  Barry eventually did call that number and it was fifteen days between the Marine Corps and the CIA. We begin with some stories from his time serving in Vietnam. He describes the role of the “Combined Action Marines” who interacted with local militias. He also shares the story of how one of his friends almost lost his life do a drunk South Vietnamese soldier just days before he was scheduled to return home. One of the more compelling stories involved John Gunthner Dean, the Ambassador to Cambodia. Barry, Dean and some others were the last to get out of the country just ahead of the Khmer Rouge. The fate of those left behind still weighs heavy on Barry. Indochina was one of his favorite postings. Barry recruited 41 agents during his career and shares the delicate line one walks while performing those actions. If the recruitment fails, the CIA agent may only be ejected from the country. But the existing foreign assets exposed by the failure were likely to lose their lives. Contrary to popular belief, Barry says that many of the foreign agents were not in it for the money. It was usually the American traitors that were primarily motivated by greed.

Dr. Lanny Snodgrass completed basic training at the age of 63, perhaps a new record. He has wanted to serve in the military much earlier in life but a football injury made him ineligible.  However, as a VA psychiatrist, he witnessed the trauma of Veterans and the desire to serve in uniform became more intense. When he was sixty a friend suggested he try to join up again. He signed the paperwork, passed the physical and took the oath. Two months later he received a phone call from Army headquarters saying he was too old. It took three more years before he was finally accepted.  The US had just entered the Iraq war and psychiatrists were in short supply. Snodgrass says it is likely that had something to do with his eventual acceptance. He shares some of the challenges completing Officer's basic training with a heart condition. But he knew he would never get another chance. One of the more shocking moments he relates was when one of the training officers declared to the class that he “Would NEVER send one of his soldiers to a psychiatrist.” His experience serving in the field with young soldiers led him to challenge conventional wisdom surrounding age norms in the military. Snodgrass shares these theories in his book “The Ageless Call to Serve – Rethinking Military Service for a Changing World.” While he supports the current enlistment age, he feels strongly that teenagers should allowed a period of maturation before being sent into combat.  Snodgrass also makes a very compelling case for addressing the current recruiting challenges by allowing more mature individuals to serve.  Today's technologies mean there are many categories of service that do not require the physical stamina of younger adults. I love the idea that this flips the current blueprint on its head; persons can spend a career in the private sector developing advanced technical skills and education and THEN start a career in the military.

Havok Journal owner Charles Faint joins us for the last update of 2024. Charles is a retired Army Intelligence Officer who teaches at West Point military academy. Charles shares his “second favorite” event at West Point; “Branch Night”. Branch Night is the evening when the cadets learn what branch they will be assigned.  They are handed a sealed envelope and, after some formalities and a keynote speaker, they all tear open their envelopes to learn where they will start their Army career.  Generally, there is great excitement. However, on occasion, some cadets are disappointed.  Charles explains that “Some of the best things that happened to me in life happened because I didn't get what I wanted at the moment.” He would expect any Army 2nd Lieutenant to just commit to doing the best job they can wherever they are assigned. Next, we discuss Dave Chamberlain's article about transitioning to civilian life.  Dave served in our military for 38 years.  His article makes a great comparison between leaving the service and “phantom limb pain”. Dave describes his first “phantom pain” came when his unit deployed shortly after retiring. Vincent Johnson's article “Friends Lost in the Sandbox” describes his challenges in dealing with the loss of comrades and survivors guilt. Charles shares his personal experiences in the same vein. Brooke Hickox wrote an excellent article titled “A Civilian's Military Benefit From a Daughter's Perspective”. She describes growing up as the daughter of a law enforcement officer and Vietnam Veteran; the challenges but also the great way it prepared her for a productive adult life. Charles says it stands as an example of the breadth and diversity of their contributing authors. We wrap up with Frank Pauc's hard hitting article “What it Takes to Bridge the Civ-Mil Divide”. Even with my three decades of supporting military families, this article challenged my ideas about what we as civilians owe military Veterans. I strongly recommend that any civilians seeking to understand the military/first responder communities pay a visit to the Havok Journal.  

Starvation Island is the name the Japanese gave the pacific Island of Guadalcanal. Second only to the Battle of Midway, the capture and retention of Guadalcanal was one of the most significant achievements leading to eventual victory in the Pacific. The price would be high, with brutal combat on the ground, at sea and in the air. A group of mostly green Marine aviators were dispatched to Guadalcanal to assist in the defense. They were lacking in supplies, equipment, fuel and ammunition. These aircrews believed the Marine Corps considered them expendable. Best Selling author John Bruning joins us to tell their story, as recorded in his book “53 Days on Starvation Island; The World War II Battle That Saved Marine Corps Aviation.”  This exceptional book draws upon historical records and personal interviews with some of the men who saw action there. The story of these brave Marine aviators centers upon three men who played key roles in the aerial defense of the island: Major John Smith, who was principally responsible for organizing the air defenses of Guadalcanal. He would end the war with 19 aerial victories. Marion Carl, a farm boy from Oregon who became the Marine Corps' first WWII Ace. Richard Mangrum, a lawyer from Seattle Lawyer who led the bomber group. The book not only does an excellent job of highlighting the depravations suffered by all the Marines on Guadalcanal, but also the disconnect between life on the home front and the brutality of battle during those early stages of the Pacific campaign. Bruning's book describes many of the battles in exceptional detail, capturing the viciousness of air to air combat. By the time it was over, those 31 aircrews could be given credit for helping to save the lives of 20,000 Marines on the island by intercepting further Japanese landings and protecting the critically important Henderson Field from bombing raids. “Remember this fellows – while we are all expendable, we are not so expendable as to take unnecessary chances. Your mission is to sink as many ships as you can. But a still more important mission is for all of you to get back here whole.  This war is young yet – we can die later.” - Dick Mangrum

“Understanding the War” podcast is the latest venture for Special Forces Veteran Mat Tardio. This new podcast is in addition to his already successful “Speak the Truth” podcast. The mission of the “Understanding the War” podcast is to give combat Veterans the chance to tell their stories. “What the hell are we doing to our own people when we don't allow them to be able to speak because somehow their stories aren't valid?” Mat wanted to join the military from an earlier age. His original intent was to pursue a career in the Marine Corps. However, the day before reporting to entrance processing he had gone grouse hunting. This resulted in a slight temporary hearing loss that caused his disqualification with the Marines. He joined the Army instead and served 9 years in the infantry and 7 years with the Green Berets. One of Mat's first assignments was with the 3rd Infantry Regiment “Old Guard”. They conduct funerals at Arlington and ceremonies around the DC area. He shares a powerful story about unloading remains at Dover Air Force Base. As a Green Beret Mat was sent into Ukraine after the first Russian invasion. His team was also sent into Afghanistan to deal with ISIS-K. He shares a little bit about that experience and contrasts the difference between fighting ISIS and the Taliban. The buildup of injuries sustained over the years serving in the Special Forces led to a medical retirement. He briefly served in Law Enforcement, but that “didn't take”. He currently operates Tardio Consulting Group, training law enforcement training on developing proactive defense solutions to active shooter threats. If you have a story that needs to be told on "Understanding the War" podcast, contact Mat: understandingthewarpodcast@gmail.com TAKEAWAY: “I think selection is hard for a reason. I don't want someone on my team who can't suck it up. I don't want someone on my team who is going to leave me hanging up or is going to leave me hanging while they can still move.”

Coast Guard pilot John Whiddon has been awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross medals. But the enemy he faced was not the Viet Cong or Iraqi air defenses. It was 30 foot seas, 70 knot wind gusts and freezing waters off the coast of Alaska. John was born in England and his father served in the Royal Navy.  Having finished college, he had applied for the US Coast Guard but had not received an answer. So he applied to the Royal Navy's helicopter flying program and was accepted. The week before he was set to leave for London, he received word that he had been accepted into the US Coast Guard Officer Candidate School. At the time, John was flying the HH-3F amphibious helicopters. They had a boat hull that would allow the aircraft to land in the water, but only in 8-10 foot seas and 8 knot winds. Following the failed rescue of the “Marine Electric” in 1983, the Coast Guard established their rescue swimmer program. John shares details of the two rescues for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, including the “Bluebird” rescue on December 10, 1987 off the coast of Alaska. A fisherman and his six year old son were in trouble. It was a night mission and weather conditions were terrible; blinding snow and ice, 30 foot seas and wind gusts up to 70 knots. The winds were so strong, several times the helicopter was actually blown backyards and toward the water. At one point their rear rotor came within 3 feet of the water. Because of the size and construction of the boat, placing the rescue basket on the sinking boat was not an option. It would become the first time in Coast Guard history that a rescue swimmer was used in a high seas rescue. After 45 minutes of failing to get the rescue basket to the swimmer and half a dozen near crashes, John and his crew began to recognize the very real possibility that they might crash themselves and, in that case, there was no one coming to rescue them. However, they didn't give up and finally got everyone board. John's interview is part of our partnership with the Distinguished Flying Cross Society and our shared mission to tell the stories of heroism or extraordinary achievement in flight.

Delta Force operator Wade Ishimoto was one of the founding members of the elite unit when it was first formed. The story of his progression from an American of Japanese ancestry born in Hawaii just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor to the Delta Force is told in his book “The Intoku Code”.  Intoku is a Japanese word that means “doing good in secret.” Wade began his Army career as a military policeman and then moved on to counter intelligence and human intelligence. Fourteen of his twenty years in the Army were spent in Special Forces.  He originally wanted to join the Marines, but the recruiter was at lunch. On his way to see the Air Force recruiter, he says the Army recruiter tapped him on the shoulder and “fed him a bunch of lies”. Wade was laser focused on getting into the Special Forces but the path was not an easy one. Eventually he joined the 5th Special Forces group because of a personal recommendation from a Warrant Officer. Terrorism was becoming more common in the 1970's and the US Government realized it did not have the capacity to conduct surgical hostage rescue missions. At the time, Charlie Beckwith had been developing a plan for a unit based upon the British SAS that became the basis for Delta Force. Wade had worked for Beckwith before and wrote him a letter describing how Special Forces could be improved. It obviously made an impression because Beckwith asked him to come on board with Delta Force. The Intoku Code describes numerous challenges involved with standing up Delta Force, including keeping itself secret from other military and government units and some of their training methods. Wade says another challenge was recruiting the “best of the best” from other branches because the commanders didn't want to give up their best personnel. Wade's book provides fascinating insights into the planning of the ill-fated “Operation Eagle Claw”, the mission to rescue hostages being held in Iran.  He was nearly left behind when that mission was aborted. TAKEWAY: Wade's hope is that he will inspire others to do good things in secret. “Be steadfast, be resolute and continue to care for others.”

River Rats was the nickname given to aircrews that flew missions over the Red River Valley that runs southeast from Hanoi to the Gulf of Tonkin.  At the time, it was the most heavily defended airspace in the history of aerial combat.  One of every 40 persons who flew these missions never returned. The Red River Valley Association was created to commemorate the inter-service teamwork, strong spirit de corps and the sacrifices made by the air crews flying those dangerous missions over North Vietnam. One of their original missions was to generate awareness of the Prisoners of War and air crews Missing in Action and supporting their families. For this episode, we are joined by two River Rats and members of the Red River Valley Association. Rich Martindell flew 232 combat missions over Vietnam as an F-4 Phantom pilot. Ken Shanke flew 239 combat missions as a “back seater” in F-4 Phantoms. Rich says that some of the first Red River Valley tactical conferences were not just about comradery but also about survival. They were trying to figure out ways to fly “smartly” in North Vietnam without suffering so many losses. Initially, only air crews who had flown at least one mission across the Red River were able to join the organization. Since then the bylaws have been changed to open membership up to any designated flight crew members from any service in any conflict. The Association held “practice” reunions until 1973 when all the POW's were returned. The Association has continued their original mission of family support by awarding more than 1,200 scholarships to children of KIA/MIA military personnel and those killed in non-combat related accidents. To date, the value of those scholarships has exceeded $ 3 million. Their affiliate Air Warrior Courage Foundation has also provided over $7 million in direct support to military families. At 69 years old, Martindell returned as a civilian pilot for General Atomics, flying MQ-9 surveillance drone missions in Africa & the Middle East. His experiences are shared in the book “Game of Drones”.  

Transitioning from military service to the civilian world can be a challenge for many of our Veterans. It is one of the most common themes I have heard in the decade of hosting American Warrior Radio. On this episode we talk with J.C. Glick, CEO of the Commit Foundation. Anne Marie Craig was compelled to establish the Commit Foundation when her husband faced challenges finding a civilian career that was as fulfilling and purposeful as serving in the Army Rangers. J.C. says that this is a common problem. High performing Veterans are seeking a second career that is meaningful and fulfilling rather than just another job. The Commit Foundation caters to high performers who want to make their next chapter as great as their last chapter. J.C says he was a perfect example. “I was in such a hurry to run away from the gun club, it took me five years to realize who I was. I didn't have a community that I could connect with. What my bio doesn't talk about is that I had four suicide attempts.” The Commit Foundation provides a number of programs for both the Veteran and their spouse that emphasize quality over quantity.  Every program is personalized to each client in order to create an environment where the Veteran can pause, asses and gain clarity about what they want their next mission to be. J.C. says that, while Commit Foundation programs are available for everyone, they may not be a match for everyone. Glick served in our military for 20 years, seven of which were with the Army Rangers. He had 11 combat deployments and numerous operational deployments around the world. He participated in the Best Ranger competition twice. After leaving the Army he was a founder and partner in two leadership companies whose clients included Fortune 500 companies, NFL and NBA teams and multiple NCAA programs.

Air Cavalry was a new tactic employed during the Vietnam War. Jack List participated in those early days of air assault, including seeing action in the Ia Drang Valley, made famous in the movie “We Were Soldiers”. Jack served 30 years, 11 months and 25 days in the Army, retiring at the rank of Command Sergeant Major.   Jack was born in Germany and his father served in the German Army during World War II.  During his first tour in Vietnam he was notified by his grandmother that he had been drafted into the German Army! Jack was assigned to the 11th Air Assault “Test” Division that was evaluating the Air Assault concept. Jack would eventually serve as a Crew Chief with the newly minted 1st Air Cavalry. He became responsible for a UH-1 “Huey”.  Jack flew as a door gunner on missions and then had to patch up the aircraft upon return to base. The 1st Air Cavalry was based at Camp Radcliff, An Khe'. At the time it was the largest helicopter base in the world with more than 400 helicopters. On his first mission they launched 110 helicopters to support a Special Forces camp. “The thing that scared me the most was not the enemy shooting at us, it was potential for midair collisions.” The scenes at LZ X-Ray depicted in “We Were Soldiers” were just a small part of the larger Pleiku campaign. At LZ-Albany, further north in the Ia Drang valley, our troops suffered a 50% casualty rate. Jack described one of his missions where 5 of the 10 persons on board were wounded upon approach to the landing zone. He says he has no idea how he completed two tours without being wounded himself. His pilot trained other crew members so they would know the basics in case they had to fly the helicopter. Jack says that Sergeant Major Basil Plumley was an excellent leader and always had his troops well squared away. Col. Hal Moore went back into both LZ X-Ray and LZ Albany to retrieve remains.

Darin Gaub enlisted in the Army as a private and, after a 28 year career retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel. He is often called upon by national media and publications to comment on military and geopolitical issues.  Gaub joins us to provide his perspective on the current status of affairs in the middle and Far East. After finishing his active duty enlistment he joined the National Guard and went to college on an ROTC scholarship. When it came time to select which area to serve in, he was told that no one from his university was ever selected for the Army Aviation Branch. Guab says he would become an Army aviator “on a dare, not a plan.” He had seven deployments to Afghanistan, North Africa, Eastern Europe and the DMZ along North and South Korea. We have a fascinating and insightful discussion about the current situation in the Middle East. “For anyone to try to explain the Middle East is an experiment in trying to make the complicated simple.” He emphasizes that the current war is not between Israel and the Lebanese people but rather against Hezbollah. He is in weekly contact with sources in Beirut and says the Lebanese people would prefer that Hezbollah be gone. He describes Israel's tactics of more of a “water against a bank” strategy rather than “shock and awe.” Gaub believes that their attack against command and control elements has been masterful. Gaub spends some time explaining the “nexus of evil” comprised of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. He cautions that the actions of these actors is not always obvious – strategies that are slowly eroding our nation. We spend some time discussing how we should prepare for future conflicts. He says the current war in Ukraine provides some good examples of how combat has evolved with smaller actors able to challenge larger armies. TAKEAWAY: “The people that are most interested in avoiding war are the ones who have to fight it.”

The Gouge is a term derived from the second World War. Many of the World War II Navy crews were inexperienced. The Gouge developed as a culture where sailors shared important knowledge and proactively trained each other in their duties to prepare to emergency situations. The Gouge philosophy guided Vice Admiral Robert Harward through forty years in the Navy and a successful career as an international corporate executive. Much of Hayward's career was spent with the Navy SEALs.  During his warfighting experiences in Bosnia, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen, he never lost a single man under his command. He also served as Deputy Commander of both US Joint Forces Command and United States Central Command. Harward describes The Gouge as “the contract we all have with humanity –sharing the best of everyone for the collective well-being of all.” A military child, Harward was raised overseas and one summer his father encouraged him to spend the break hitchhiking across Iran and Afghanistan. He says the region was a much different place back then but emphasizes that the world is still generally a safe place and encourages young people to get out and pursue adventure. Harward cites several examples of how The Gouge impacted decisions on missions he commanded. One involved the capture of oil facilities during the initial invasion of Iraq. Harward was convinced it was a potential suicide mission so he checked in with the team members and allowed them to make the final decision. He trusted the combined knowledge of his team and the mission was a success. We also spend some time also discussing how The Gouge can help military members making the transition to civilian life and the scourge of Veteran suicides. Following his retirement, several of his “shipmates' convinced him to put his experiences with The Gouge into a book so that others could benefit from his experiences. The result is “The Gouge! How to be Smarter Than the Situation You Are In” TAKEAWAY: "It is so important for leaders to be proactively involved with their people and supporting them not only when they are in uniform but also out of uniform."

FREEDOM COFFEE COMPANY Freedom Coffee Company was born out of tragedy. Hope Harrison's husband Dustin was killed by terrorists while operating an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance drone for the Department of Defense in Kenya. Hope and Dustin had just started a family and had agreed that this would be Dustin's the last overseas assignment so he could spend more time with his family. He was killed nine days before being scheduled to come home. Like many Gold Star widows, the news devastated Hopes' world. She knew something was amiss when Dustin didn't reply to her daily text. That morning she also read a news story stating that his base had been attacked and there were casualties. The agony was confounded by the fact that they owned two homes in different cities and officials had trouble locating Hope to make the notification. They say that people are never truly forgotten as long as we repeat their names. Hope and Dustin shared an abiding love for coffee, so she decided to create Freedom Coffee Company. Every bag of Freedom coffee features the names and photos of fallen heroes on each bag of coffee. Hope describes it as “coffee with a hero every morning.” The fallen featured on each bag of coffee will be rotated each year. NO KINGS, NO KOOKS Thomas Sarnicola conducted over 1,000 criminal background checks as a Special Agent for the Department of Defense. There are roughly 4 million federal employees, including the military. About 1 million of those require security clearances. Some of the unique situations he encountered while doing these investigations are compiled in his book “No Kings, No Kooks; Confessions of National Security Agent". Thomas describes the job as similar to a “gumshoe” detective, requiring a great deal of field work in addition to researching various publicly available databases. One or two blemishes may not be sufficient to disqualify a person. Thomas was looking for “consistencies of character.” He was a fact collector but did not make final decisions. In order to maintain objectivity, he was never informed of the eventual outcome of each case. In his book, Thomas shares some of the most unique experiences he encountered. He says the biggest challenge was being empathetic while maintaining a professional distance from the investigation subject. He emphasizes it gives him hope that the majority of the cases had no issues.

Custom Jacks was founded by Veterans Andy Lynam and Scottie Stephens. Andy served in the US Coast Guard for four years and Scottie served five years with the US Marine Corps. Custom Jacks produces stunning works of art that feature the American Flag and can be customized with a logo or other image. What makes their works unique is they are cut to present a three dimensional product that makes the flag appear to be fluttering in the breeze. The company name was derived from the Union Jacks that fly on the bow of our ships. Scottie was doing wood working part time and the idea for the Custom Jacks 3-D design literally came to him in a dream one night. Like so many Veteran entrepreneur origin stories, Scottie began crafting them in his garage. Andy lived nearby and when Scottie showed him one of the jacks, Andy immediately asked if he could buy it. Not long thereafter they decided to turn Scottie's labor of love hobby into a business. Scottie describes their products a dual patriotic symbol. “The left side of the jack, the American Flag, should be your first passion. The right side of the jack represents your second passion.” Every one of their jacks is custom finished by hand and includes a certificate of authenticity. They have filed patents for some of their processes. Like many start-ups, the self-funded their start up. The company was founded in January of 2019 and they had a rough period during COVID, when they had to shut production down for five months. Over 50% of their employees are Veterans or have family members in the military.  Andy says this leads to a “mission first” focus and different work ethic. They have produced Custom Jacks from sports teams, corporations and even a radio host or two. Their products are also featured in all the Buc-ees restaurants across America.  They also work with various non-profits to provide Custom Jacks for fundraisers. TAKEAWAY: “Incorporate all your workers in the process, treat them like family.”

The “Mighty Moo” was the nickname given by the crew to the light aircraft carrier USS Cowpens. At the time carriers were named after battles. While the Battle of Cowpens is a rather obscure revolutionary war battle, a postcard from a local pharmacist convinced President Roosevelt to do so. The story of this scrappy little aircraft carrier is told in the book “The Mighty Moo; The USS Cowpens and Her Epic Journey from Jinx Ship to the Navy's First Carrier into Tokyo Bay.” The book was written by professional intelligence analyst Nathan Canestaro as a tribute to his grandfather, who served as a tail gunner on a torpedo bomber flying off of the Mighty Moo. Nathan's book is a great read and he does a great job in introducing us to many of the characters among the men who served aboard her. The Cowpens was a ship that the Navy didn't really want. However, the losses of heavy aircraft carries in the Pacific spurred President Roosevelt to order the Navy to convert a series of light cruisers to aircraft carriers. The “Independence” class of carriers had several disadvantages. As converted cruisers, they were very top heavy, the flight deck was much narrower than a traditional carrier, and the ship had a perpetual list. Nathan tells us more about the incidents that brought many to believe that the USS Cowpens was a jinxed ship. However, despite participating in almost every major battle in the Pacific, the Mighty Moo was never hit by enemy fire. Japanese ships and planes weren't the only threat. The USS Cowpens survived sailing through a typhoon that sank three destroyers and damaged 27 other ships. Following the Japanese surrender, the USS Cowpens was selected to be the only aircraft carrier to sail into Tokyo Bay for the formal surrender ceremonies. Nathan shares his theory on why the Mighty Moo was selected. The town of Cowpens, South Carolina still hosts an annual “Mighty Moo” Festival to honor the World War II aircraft character and her crew.

Never Home - Rich Sherman More than 521,000 Americans died fighting against tyranny and oppression during World War I and World War II.  About 207,000 of them never made it home – even in death.  Their remains rest in 23 cemeteries spread across 8 countries on 3 continents. Cover of "Never Home: Remembering the Military Heroes Who Never Returned" Retired Navy Intelligence Officer now professional photographer Rich Sherman traveled to all 23 of these cemeteries over the course of six years. He has documented their final resting place in his book “Never Home; Remembering the Military Heroes Who Never Returned”. The book also tells the stories of select service members whose graves he documented. Rich believes photos are the perfect medium for sharing the heroism, glory and magnitude of the loses from these wars. “Photography is a language until itself and sometimes it is able to describe things for which we have no words” The Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation - Pat Dailey The Tun Tavern was a Philadelphia brew house built in 1685. When the Continental Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two battalions of Marines on November 10, 1775, he went directly to the Tun Tavern and appointed its proprietor as the Marine Corps' first recruiter. The Tun fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1781. The original site is now buried under an interstate freeway. Many of the members of the Continental Congress enjoyed the hospitality of the Tun after their sessions. After being appointed to lead US forces in the Revolutionary War, George Washington held his celebratory dinner there.  It was also the very first documented Masonic Lodge in North America, with Benjamin Franklin serving as one of the early Grand Masters and even printing their menus. Marine Corps Veteran Pat Dailey leads the non-profit Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation. Their mission is to recreate the Tun Tavern as it originally was on a location only a block away from where the first tavern stood.  Pat says securing the site was one of the greater challenges of the project. The estimated cost of the project is $20 million. The Tavern will continue to be operated as a non-profit with all of the revenues over costs benefiting military and Masonic charities. The site will also include a small museum.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) just returned from a momentous nine month deployment in the Middle East during which they were engaged in one of the longest sustained sea combat periods for a US aircraft carrier since World War II. Their commanding officer, Captain Christopher “Chowdah” Hill joins us to share how he maintained motivation and morale in the face of two extended deployment periods. Chowdah became a social media celebrity for his posts during the deployment. His original intent was just for family members back home to see their sailors. Things really “flexed” when Houthi rebels began posting that they had successful attacked and even sunk the Eisenhower. Chowdah replied by posting photos of his galley baking cookies and life progressing as normal aboard the ship.  Of course, he adds that he had to be very careful about what he posted because they were in a threat combat environment. Chowdah shares some of the ways they maintained morale and motivation during the deployment. This included “Captain Demo”, a dog whose goal and mission was simply to reduce stress. Demo rapidly became part of the crew and was even received requests to visit some of the other ships in the task force. The Eisenhower also had a licensed clinical social worker and five chaplains. The ship's complement also included both a “Life Boss” and “Talk Boss”, two civilian professionals who helped with stress management. He adds that having Wifi so sailors could reach back home was a game changer. Captain Hill also shares his philosophy “The Way of the Warrior Sailor”. This twenty page document focuses on how to improve and maintain morale. TAKEWAY: “Morale will lead to combat success if you do it right. To do it you must love and value everybody. You've GOT to show it.”

“Thank you for your service.” Those five words were a point of redemption in Beth Macy's life. Beth was teaching math but was looking for something more. Her father was an airline pilot so Beth explored the Air Force. Their quota was full, so she joined the Navy. She enlisted in 1976 while the Vietnam War was still fresh in everyone's mind and military members were still unduly scorned. At the time, women in the Military still faced great challenges. A British officer took her aside and warned her that she would have to perform three times better than her male counterparts in order to make it. While still in the service, Beth chose to return to college for her Master's Degree. One day she was running late and didn't have time to change out of her uniform. She was shocked at the treatment she received from her fellow students including being called a “baby killer” and having food thrown at her in the cafeteria. Beth chose to leave the Navy in 1980. Beth could never shake the hostility shown by her fellow graduate students. She also found a degree of apathy toward military service upon entering the private sector.  For decades Beth consciously chose to suppress her military service and wrote off that portion of her life. One thing Beth did do was put Veteran plates on her vehicle. A couple of years ago, she was approached in a store parking lot. Beth says he looked like someone who would have been a Vietnam War protestor and prepared for the worst. Instead, he thanked her for her service. Beth says she broke down and cried on the spot. Beth feels that many female Veterans from the Cold War era suffered from “imposter syndrome”. But that simple “Thank you for your service” from a stranger spurred her to once again take pride in her service. “I even park in Veteran reserved parking spots now!” Beth draws upon her experience working on top secret projects for her “Moscow Nights” book series.

Havok Journal owner Charles Faint joins us for an update. Havok Journal is my “go-to” website for all discussion military and first responder. We do a deep dive into three poignant (and somewhat related) articles by former Army Ranger now law enforcement officer Jake Smith and Mike Warnock, Editor in Chief of the Havok Journal. In “Half Staff Flags”, Smith discusses his changed perspective on seeing flags flying at half staff. Where he once saw them as symbols of those fallen in war or civil servants lost, as a law enforcement officer he gained a new perspective. What he sees not is a symbol innocents lost to yet another incident of mass violence. Charles and I discuss the parallels I found in the articles "My Funeral: Let Whatever Pain Caused by My Loss Not Whitewash My Life" by Smith and "The Moment I Knew Why There Were Suicide Bombers" by Mike Warnock. Both articles provide moving insights and a different perspective not often heard by civilians. We have a little fun with a humorous article "Nonners" by Dave Chamberlain. Chamberlain introduces us to the term for airmen who never fix, load or service aircraft. Apparently this is the Air Force equivalent of the Army's POGS (persons other than grunts). We wrap up with Charles sharing his experiences as a volunteer deputy with a local law enforcement agency.

“The Unvanquished” is the latest offering from military historian and multiple bestselling author Patrick K. O'Donnell.  He is recognized as a leading expert on America's elite and special operations units. All of his 13 books are based on this subject matter and his book “We Were One; Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah” is required reading for all Marines. Patrick says his topics “find him” and his latest is no different. While traveling he found a rusted old sign noting the location of the “Grapewood Farm Engagement”, a battle fought by Mosby's Rangers. Another encounter was with a marker for the final resting place of Jessie Scout Jack Sterry. These two "discoveries" led him to write this fascinating book. In “The Unvanquished”, Patrick introduces us to the Special Forces deployed during the US Civil War; The Jessie Scouts, Mosby's Rangers and the Confederate Secret Service. He states that these groups were 100 years ahead of their time and operated in ways our modern special forces still do. The Jessie Scouts were union forces that donned Confederate uniforms and conducted commando and deception operations behind enemy lines.  Over twenty five percent of Jessie Scouts never made it home. Its members would be awarded seven Medals of Honor. John Mosby was a lawyer by trade and not a very imposing figure.  Jeb Stuart gave Mosby six men to begin with and the Rangers would grow to nearly a thousand by the end of the war. Mosby and his Rangers had many close calls but escaped by employing a strategy of “when all else fails, resort to overwhelming violence.” Mosby was never captured and eventually would become one of the campaign managers for Ulysses Grant. The Confederate Secret Service had a department dedicated to special gadgets much like James Bond. They also engaged in campaigns to control the press and influence northern elections on behalf of those supporting an armistice. Patrick states that the Confederacy was an insurgency and “insurgencies don't have to win, they just have to survive.” Patrick volunteered to be embedded with Marine Rifle Company Lima 3/1 and was with them during the Battle of Falllujah. He pulled a mortally wounded Marine to cover while under fire.

The Distinguished Flying Cross is our nation's the fourth highest award for heroism and the highest award for extraordinary aerial achievement. The fact that Robert Lifsey was awarded four DFC medals is impressive.  Even more amazing is that the awards were presented over the course of only twelve months in Vietnam, along with a Bronze Star, a Republic of Vietnam Silver Star and four Airmen's Medals with Valor. After receiving a draft notice, Bob enlisted in the Army. He chose to go to an airborne unit and completed training with the 7th Special Forces (Green Berets). However, orders for flight school came right as he completed Special Forces training so he “Never tucked my trousers in my boots again.” Bob was assigned to the 191st Helicopter Assault Company in January of 1969. His unit flew UH-1 “Huey” C model gunships. He describes the UH-1's weapons systems and shares his great respect for the bravery of crew chiefs and door gunners who hung out the side doors attached to the helicopter with only a waist strap. The 191st Assault Helicopters nickname was “The Boomerangs”, a reference to the fact that they would always come back for their own.  A common theme in Bob's award citations was his unwillingness to leave any troops behind even though he was taking significant enemy fire. Bob walks us through one particular dangerous mission that still gives him nightmares. His helicopters were called to neutralize enemy bunkers that could not be attacked with artillery because they were too close to a village. Fire from the bunkers was causing significant casualties to Navy units on the river. Bob climbed to altitude and dove directly at the bunker to fire his rockets. Secondary explosions from the bunker knocked out the copter's nose bubble turning the aircraft into a wind tunnel.  Flying concrete and other bunker fragments killed both his crew chief and door gunner.  “I've asked the lord many times. I don't know if I had target fixation or not but if it hadn't been for those secondary explosions, I may have flown right into that target.” Bob's brother was a Naval Academy graduate who flew A-4's in Vietnam at the same time Bob did. The mission of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society is to honor, preserve and teach the legacy of heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight for which the DFC is awarded.

MARSOC is an abbreviation for Marine Forces Special Operations Command. While the Marines have fielded special operations forces before, (the “Raiders” conducted amphibious light infantry missions in World War II) there has always been some resistance within the Corps against establishing an elite unit within what many already consider an elite force. The “Raiders” were disbanded in 1944. However, after the 9/11 attacks, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld directed the Marine Corps to establish a "proof of concept" unit that would report to US Special Operations Command. John A. Dailey was one of four team leaders selected to form the 1st Reconnaissance Company – Det. 1 for short. His Commander only gave him one prerequisite for the 86 men who would form the unit; “They must be tough rugged bastards with strong backs and hard feet”. “Tough Rugged Bastards” would become the title for John's memoir of life in a Marine Special Operations Unit. Dailey and his fellow Marines started from scratch, training for unknown missions in unknown locations. When they deployed to Iraq they adopted the name “Task Force Raider” in tribute to their WWII lineage.  John shares some of the missions they conducted in Iraq. He emphasizes that their role providing personal security for high profile Iraqi elected officials was probably their most important mission. Det. 1 quickly won over the naysayers who doubted the Marine's ability to operate successfully in the fluid and unconventional special operations environment.  John says the toughest moment was when Det. 1 was disbanded but recognizes the necessity of that in order for the operations to be “built to scale” and create MARSOC. John knew he wanted to become a Marine at seven years old when he saw one in his dress blues at a Fourth of July parade.  His story of how he came to be a Marine sniper due to a clerical error is quite humorous. TAKEAWAY: “Leaders should give guidance that is as specific as necessary but as broad as possible. This stirs creativity and engenders ownership of the task.”

Militaryfares.com President Scott Lara was working at the Kmart camera department when his supervisor asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Scott replied that he had no idea. His supervisor said “Well, join the Navy and see the world!” Scott DID enlist, serving from 1979 to 1988 as a radar man. Scott never traveled much as a young man but the Navy took him to Spain, Italy and France and would infect him with the travel bug. He says he loved every minute of this time in the Navy but decided to leave because it was really tough on his wife and young children. When he left the Navy, he took a job as a healthcare industry lobbyist. His boss also owned a travel agency. When the travel agent left Scott said “put me in coach”. He won a flip phone and in the early days of YouTube he began posting videos of cruises he was taking with his family. His channel exploded to over 1.2 million views. Scott also provides “insider” advice through his website Cruisegenius.com Last year, Scott was hired as President of Militaryfares.com – his “dream job”. Militaryfares.com was founded in 2002 by military members and their families. It is now the leading travel agency for active and retired service members. Military families and Veterans can view domestic and international options at their website. They work with over 650 airlines and 300,000 hotels to secure discount travel for active duty military members and Veterans. Scott says they are also able to help military members who need to book last minute flights due to a change of station or deployment. His advice to other Veterans making the transition to the civilian world is “Sometimes you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. You HAVE to be a self-promoter.” He also highly recommends taking advantage of LinkedIn's free one year premium business subscription for Veterans.  

The 299th Combat Engineer Battalion was the only combat engineer unit to land on both Omaha and Utah beaches during the D-Day invasion. Some of the engineers landed before any other allied soldiers set foot on the beaches earning them the nickname “First on Omaha”. Chief Warrant Officer James W. Tucker was among them. His daughter Jean joins us to share more about the “Famous 299th”. James commanded a group of eight armored tractors whose mission was to clear obstacles and open paths off the Normandy beaches. One third of the Combat Engineer Battalion that landed on Omaha beach was killed missing or wounded. For their heroic efforts that day, they would be awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Tucker was also assigned the somber job of creating the first American cemetery in Normandy. There were so many bodies on the beaches that the equipment could not land without driving over the bodies of their fellow soldiers. Tucker used a bulldozer to dig a mass grave while still under fire and he and his comrades “stacked the bodies like cordwood.” These remains were eventually relocated. Members of the 299th would fight and build their way across Europe to the heart of Germany. Jean was so inspired by her father's stories she has become a passionate advocate for their history. She single handedly manages their website and is continuously tracking down photos and stories from the families of members of the 299th Combat Engineers.  Family or living members of the Battalion are encouraged to contact Jean through their website. Jean and I also spend a great deal of time discussing the importance of recording these stories and history of generations that are rapidly passing away. She also regularly interacts with the “descendants” of this famous group – the 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion currently headquartered at Fort Carson, Colorado. Jean also shares an intriguing story of the “spat” between the Army and the Navy over who should have responsibility for clearing obstacles on the landing beaches. They eventually agreed that any obstacles that were visible at high tide they would be the Army's responsibility.

“In Strange Company” author Ronald Tiso, Jr. highlights the role played by allied partners in Iraq. Iraq is often thought of as “America's longest war”, but troops from dozens of other countries made up the coalition forces. Colonel Tiso served as a war planner at US Central Command, and as Senior Military Advisor of the Arab Peninsula Shield Force and the Polish-led multinational division. He was also Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Coalition military assistance Training Team tasked with developing the new Iraqi Army. Col. Tiso documents the challenges of planning the Iraqi campaign and coordinating multi-national forces. “In Strange Company” provides a unique perspective of the way that war was prosecuted. One of the greatest issues faced by the coalition forces were varying degrees of serviceable equipment and differing rules of engagement as dictated by each nation's politics. This often led to heated conflicts with commanders who considered their troops as peacekeeping forces. However, Col. Tiso says that the multi-national forces he directly coordinated with were often “pound for pound some of the best soldiers I ever served with.” He reserved particularly high praise for the Poles and Ukrainians. He described the Ukrainians as “true Spartans”. The “de-Bathification” program created severe problems. Coalition forces were prohibited from engaging any former Iraqi officer above the rank of Major. Iraqi soldiers who found themselves unemployed naturally sought out other methods of earning a living including smuggling and joining the insurgency. Colonel Tiso is very frustrated that the number of forces deployed to manage the situation after the initial victory was only a third of what the plans called for.  He firmly believes that if the elements of the initial plan had been followed, American forces could have been pulled out of Iraq much sooner.

“Rough men” is a phrase used to describe the brave warriors who volunteer to stand the watch and do what is necessary to protect our nation, freedoms and families. It is drawn from the quote “People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”  Sergeant Major Charles Ritter certainly qualifies. Ritter is preparing to retire after a 26 year career in the military, a majority of it spent with the elite Green Berets. He has had 17 deployments, twelve of which were combat deployments. He has been awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor, the Army Commendation Meal with Valor and three Purple Heart medals. He just completed his thirty first surgery as a result of wounds received in combat. His first Purple Heart was awarded after a 500 pound IED exploded near his vehicle, tossing it like toy car. It killed two soldiers instantly and caused a third to leave the Army due to his injuries.  His second Purple Heart was awarded when Ritter was shot three times will rescuing an allied commando. He would also be awarded the Silver Star for is actions that day. Ritter walks us through the mission when he was awarded the Bronze Star and another Purple Heart.  Three groups of forces were pinned down under heavy enemy fire. Ritter's team was tasked with flying into the gunfight, which he says “..sounded like a really dumb idea, but we're Green Berets, that's what we do.” We spend a segment discussing the importance of mindset. Ritter shares some great thoughts on how adversity can provide experiences for learning and building resiliency. He says humility is important - there is a fine line between being competent and being cocky. TAKEAWAY: “If you truly believe in your mind that you are an unstoppable force of nature, then everything is something for you to dominate and conquer. If you aren't failing you aren't working hard enough.”

Jeff Nelligan is an Army Veteran that is recognized as one of the foremost commentators in the world of American Parenting. His book “Four Lessons from My Three Sons; How You Can Raise Resilient Kids” spent four months on the Amazon Parenting Best Seller's List. His works have also been cited in numerous parenting magazines. In addition to his Army Service, he formerly worked for three members of our US Congress and was twice a Presidential appointee. He currently works as a Senior Public Affairs executive in Washington, DC Jeff shares a shocking statistic. Seventy five percent of the time you will spend in your children's lives will take place before the time they reach 12 years old. He emphasizes that raising resilient children must be an INTENTIONAL strategy.  The four elements of his strategy is based upon four eternal military values; courtesy, confidence, ambition & resilience in adversity.  We discuss several examples of the techniques and exercises he would conduct on a daily basis with his three sons.  He started at a young age and often made the “tests” fun so that they would more easily get engaged.  It is important to teach a child the importance of building relationships with the real world early in life. They will then have the “muscle memory” to face challenges that will inevitably arise. All of Jeff's sons have now embarked on military careers of their own. They still use “key phrases” they learned from those early life lessons taught by their father. I cannot recall the last time I found so much value in only 140 pages. I highly recommend “Four Lessons from My Three Sons; How You Can Raise Resilient Kids”.  The book would also make an excellent gift for new parents. TAKEAWAY:  “If you don't have a strategy for raising your kids, society will do it for you – and that may not be something you want.

Code Name Nemo was the name eventually given to one of the most daring and audacious missions of World War II – the effort to capture a German submarine intact. Charles Lachman joins us to share this fascinating and still little known story. The capture of U-505 was the first time since the War of 1812 that an enemy vessel was boarded and captured. Lachman is the Executive Producer of the nationally syndicated news program “Inside Edition” and the author of four books. In Code Name Nemo, Lachman uses archival documents and taped interviews with actual crewmembers to give the reader a deep familiarity with the sailors involved in this mission. They include the maverick Navy Captain Daniel Galley, who first dreamed up the plan as well as one of the ill-fated German U-Boat Commander who committed suicide on board during a depth charge attack. Lt. Albert David led the boarding party and would eventually be awarded the Medal of Honor. Also key to the mission was ship's mechanic Earl Trosino and Ewald Felix, a defecting German crew member who helped keep the U-505 stabilized and afloat so that it could be towed to an allied port. Critical to Galley's plan was for his antisubmarine task force to do sufficient damage to the enemy submarine to get her to surface and force the crew to abandon ship without destroying the vessel. Between engaging in a shootout with any German sailors remaining on board the sub sinking from any demolition charges left behind, the brave sailors who comprised the boarding crew knew they were likely on a suicide mission. The capture of U-505 was an intelligence coup. However, the captured crew would have to be segregated and the submarine disguised so the Nazi's would never realize it was captured. Renaming the ship “Nemo” in all communications was a key part of this strategy. We also discuss the sometimes difficult decisions that have to be made in war, including the many violations of the Geneva Conventions that resulted from this secret plan. The U-505 is on display at the at the Griffin Museum of Science and History in Chicago.

Alex Kershaw is one of the foremost authors writing on World War II subject matter, having written multiple best sellers.  He was born in York, England and taught history before becoming a journalist. He has written for various publications including the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Sunday Times and the New York Times. His 2002 book “The Bedford Boys” became his first New York Times best seller. It tell the story of Bedford, Virginia, a small town that lost 21 of her sons during World War II, nineteen of them during the first minutes of D-Day.  His book “The Liberator” recounts the amazing story of maverick officer Felix Sparks who spent an amazing 500 straight days in combat. “The Liberator” was made into a Netflix four part series. Approaching the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, Kershaw shares the stories of some of the key warriors who landed first on D-Day. (As featured in his book “The First Wave”) Examples include Bill MIllin, the only man to land on D-Day wearing a kilt, playing the bagpipes no less. He emphasizes that there was “no plan B for D-Day”. Kershaw prefers to “write about faces rather than numbers.” His books do a great job of introducing us to individuals and their role in the larger scenario. Kershaw also gives us a preview of his latest work “Patton's Prayer”. He believes that General Patton was an extremely complex individual and one of the most underrated officers of World War II. The book focuses on what Kershaw believes were some of Patton's finest hours during the Battle of the Bulge. Kershaw also conducts regular guided tours of the Normandy battlefields as part of his role with The Friends of National World War II Memorial. TAKEAWAY: “Freedom is not free. Democracy is a very precious commodity. It's messy, it's conflictual, it's never going to be perfect but it is the best system we will never have.”

Belleau Wood is the site of one of the most storied battles in US Marine Corps lore. Marine Veteran Jason Angell gathered up his family and made a “pilgrimage” to this famous World War I battlefield. His experience is recounted in the Havok Journal article “A Pilgrimage to Belleau Wood”. Jason is a ten year Marine Corps Veteran with three deployments to Iraq. He and his wife felt strongly that their teen aged children should be exposed to the sacrifices made by two generations of Americans on their behalf. Following a visit to the American cemeteries in Normandy, they traveled to the Belleau Wood. Photo Credit: US Marine Corps The battle took place June 1 – 26, 1918. Germany had just achieved victory on the Eastern Front and shifted a large number of forces to the Western front in hopes of gaining ground before the recently arrived American troops could gain a foothold. The overpowering German advance rolled over French defenders and led to one of the most famous quotes of the war. When retreating French soldiers encountered the newly arrived US troops, they encouraged them to flee for their lives. Marine Captain Lloyd Williams' response was “Retreat Hell! We just got here!” On the first day of fighting, the Marines suffered more men killed in combat that in the entire history of the Corps up to that point in time. Belleau Wood proved a hard won battle, often involving hand the hand combat to gain yards at a time.  Of the 9,500 Marines who entered the fray, over a thousand were killed and 4,000 wounded. Their victory in the Belleau Wood secured Marines reputation as one of the world's most fearsome fighting forces. Jason and his two sons conducted an “unauthorized reconnaissance mission” when a gated fence interrupted their path to the “Iron Mike” Marine Memorial. He describes what it was like walking on the hallowed ground where so many Marines shed their blood. “It was odd how peaceful it seemed but it belied what really happened there over one hundred and five years ago. “ On Memorial Day, he reminds all of us that “There is a hole in somebody's heart for all these men & women who died. Whether it was at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan or Belleau Wood and it is important to remember them.” Jason will soon publish “Running Towards Gunfire”, an account of his role with Task Force Dark Eagle and their fight against insurgents in Ramadi.

The Hazard Ground podcast was created by Mark Zinno to allow members of our military to share their stories of combat & survival and deliver inspirational stories about resilience. Mark was studying communications at Loyola University and joined the ROTC to help pay for his tuition. His original intent was to simply complete his four year commitment to Army and then 9/11 happened. He now has twenty five years of service in both the active duty and the National Guard, and currently holds the rank of Colonel in the Army Reserve. He had two deployments to Iraq. Mark also has over twenty years of experience as both a radio and television sports broadcaster. While on drill at the local center, Mark noticed paintings that highlighted famous battles. One commemorated the battle of Takur Ghar.  He researched it and immediately wondered why more people didn't know about this epic battle. He connected with a longtime friend who was familiar with the “backend” aspects of podcasting and the Hazard Ground podcast was born. We discuss that advantage of being a Veteran interviewing other Veterans.  Often the conversation can be more in depth because he has “been there, there done that”. He feels HIS job is to “translate” these stories for the civilian population. We also briefly discuss the risks of “stolen valor” guests. As both a Veteran and a professional in the sports broadcasting industry, Mark has some pretty strong feelings about how sports team sometimes “use” Veterans to make money. “If you walked up to your friend and said I just put five dollars in the Salvation Army bucket, what do you think of me? You would look ridiculous and sound ridiculous.” Mark is also involved in the Merging Vets and Players organization. MVP is a wonderful organization that connects Veterans and Professional athletes to help each other dealing with the transition “when the uniform comes off.” TAKEAWAY: Mark is proud that his podcast is chronicling history from a first person perspective. “When the child of one of our guests asks their parent what they did in the war, they can direct them to their Hazard Ground podcast.”

Fueled by the Fallen founder Kevyn Major Howard never served in the military. He has 31 film and television acting credits and is perhaps most recognized for his role as combat photographer “Rafterman” in the iconic Stanley Kubrick Vietnam war film “Full Metal Jacket”. We spend some time discussing the films production and the experience of working with greats like Kubrick and R. Lee Ermey. Because of his role in Full Metal Jacket, Kevyn was invited to visit the Twenty Nine Palms Marine Base. During a tour of the base, he was drawn to a memorial for Lance Corporal Torrey L. Gray. Gray threw himself on a grenade to save his fellow Marines. When Kevyn returned home, he felt compelled to do something to assure that he and other Americans never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. He decided to adorn his 1963 Chevy Nova race car with the rank and name of every Marine killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He then produced additional cars for all the other branches as well. He specifically chose the canvas of automobiles because “With a race car you can attract the attention of a two year old on up to a ninety two year old.” Kevyn was then moved to create five Camaro “Angel Cars” to memorialize all the victims of the 9/11 attacks. The Angel Cars have done three cross country awareness tours and even been placed at the feet of the Statue of Liberty. In addition to raising awareness all across the country, his Fueled by the Fallen Foundation also grants scholarships to children of the fallen. Kevyn is known as the “King of the Hollywood Head Shot” and specializes in producing head shots for aspiring actors when he is not acting himself. He is currently working on producing a television series that will honor various military heroes and tell their stories TAKEAWAY: “My family does not take lightly what the cost of freedom is.”

“Chamber Divers”, a new book by Rachel Lance, uses recently declassified documents to recount the story of a somewhat ragtag group of scientist who forever changed special operations. Lance is a biological engineer and blast injury specialist who works as a researcher on military diving projects. She spent several years working with the US Navy building specialized diving equipment for our Special Forces. The need for better methods of scouting enemy beaches was apparent during the disastrous Dieppe Raid in 1942. The mission was intended as a test of the feasibility of large scale amphibious landings in France. However, due much to the inability to conduct accurate scouting of the beach conditions, 3,623 of the 6,086 men who landed were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. A group of researchers led by JBS Haldane conducted 611 experiments upon themselves, often risking their own lives, to find a solution. One of their greatest nemeses was nitrogen, which Rachel describes as “the boring neighbor in the cul-de-sac who turns out to be a serial killer.” Haldane and his team spent the equivalent of 284 days inside a pressurized dive chamber.  They even went so far as “getting stoned” in an effort to find a way to clear pressure in their ears. Some of the equipment developed to address the challenge left something to be desired. The “diving skirt” used by the British frogmen was the adult equivalent of a child's “onesie” pajama soaked in grease.  While X-Craft mini submarines initially had limited success, all of the D-Day beaches scouted by the early frogmen deployed from X-Craft were hit exactly on target. This saved many lives as the troops landed in between the guns rather than in front of them. The “rebreather” closed system used by Special Forces, equipment used by scuba divers and escape trunks used on modern day submarines all evolved from the work of these World War II researchers. TAKEAWAY: In many ways, Rachel is continuing the work of those “Chamber Divers” scientists by developing underwater solutions for our modern day forces.

Air America pilot Neil Graham Hansen's livelihood began in a manner that might portend what the rest of his career would be like. At age 23 he was the a private pilot for Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa. When I became apparent that Hoffa would be taking a “Federal Vacation”, Neil began looking for a new job. He responded to a newspaper ad seeking pilots to fly in Southeast Asia. He submitted an application but was told “we're not hiring”. He was in a Chicago airport when he was paged to the manager's office for a phone call. The man on the line asked Neil if he was a good pilot and whether he drank a lot. He was hired after that two question interview. His story is recounted in the book “Flight: An Air America Pilot's Story of Adventure, Descent and Redemption.” He was asked to report to his new job in two weeks. Neil suspected something might be up when he went to get a passport and was told it would take 30-45 days.  When he informed them he was going to fly for Air America, his passport was ready in 4 days. He would fly for Air America for more than a decade.  Neil had his “golden bb” moment when his aircraft was hit and he and his crew had to bail out. The first rescue helicopter damaged their tail rotor and had to land & shut down. The second rescue helicopter landed several hundred meters away because Neil and his crew were standing in a mine field. They took the wounded told Neil he would have to wait for another bird. The third rescue helicopter ran out of fuel and had to crash land. Neil eventually got to safety. After the fall of Vietnam, Neil was flying out of Cambodia and was sitting on the ramp when he got word that the Khmer Rouge was taking over the country. Neil decided to fly himself and his crew to Bangkok. He later learned he flew the last plane out of Cambodia. The emotion in his voice is apparent when he recalls those who didn't get out. TAKEAWAY: The Mel Gibson film “Air America” is based upon Neil's story.

“Bobbie the Weather Girl” may have been the most popular celebrity of the Vietnam War, eclipsing even Adrian Cronauer of “Good Morning Vietnam” fame. Her real name is Barbara Keith. Barbara grew up a military “brat”. Her father served in WWII, Korea & Vietnam and her mother was a Navy Nurse during WWII. She believes that “If you don't do something for your country, don't call yourself an American.” As an adventurous 19 year old, she was looking for her opportunity to serve. However, military structure did not appeal to her so she joined US AID serving in Vietnam. She says that US AID's mission was to “win hearts and minds”. Life in Saigon was surreal, including dining in a rooftop restaurant while tracer fire lit up the skies. One evening she and her co-workers were at a bar when a military officer commented that Barbara looked like a weather girl. At first she thought it to be an awkward pickup line but then learned that the Armed Forces Vietnam Network was indeed looking to recruit a “Weather Girl.” Barbara auditioned and won the part. Every evening for two years she brought a sense of normalcy to the troops, sharing the weather in their hometowns or popular R&R destinations. She believes part of the reason for her popularity was that she reminded the troops of their kid sister or their girlfriend back home. She made hundreds of visits to troops in the field, sometimes even dodging rocket attacks. Barbara had to take a several yearlong “sanity sabbatical” to decompress from what she witnessed in Vietnam. Disgusted with the way returning troops were being treated in the US, she took an overseas job with the State Department, beginning a 30 year career. She continues to support Veteran causes to this day. TAKEAWAY: “If for one second you can bring a touch of home into a grim situation, you've done your job. If you wore White Shoulders perfume and that reminded someone of their girlfriend or of home – to be remembered for that is one of the greatest compliments you can receive.” Barbara is looking to reconnect with some of those she served with or impacted her time in Vietnam. If you are one of those, please send a message to bbg@americanwarriorradio.com and we will put you in touch.

Al “Hollywood” Billings developed a reputation as a Maverick while flying for the Sea Wolves.  The Sea Wolves (Helicopter Attack Squadron Light 3) were formed specifically to support Navy Special Warfare and Mobile Riverine Forces during the Vietnam War. They would become the most decorated Navy squadron of the war. We talk to Billings as part of our educational partnership with the Distinguished Flying Cross Society. He enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet program. “If you made it through you got your wings and commission on the same day. If you didn't you were on a ship in the Pacific somewhere chipping paint.”  He flew four tours of duty in Vietnam. On October 8th 1968 he was approached by the SEALs for support on a mission but only one aircraft was available. The Officer in Charge told him he was not going. Squadron policy was to never send out a single ship on a mission. Billings says he thinks the OIC knew he was going to ignore that order and go anyway. They received an alert that the SEALs had three wounded and were cut off from their insertion boats. Billings and his crew provided air to ground support, returned to base, refueled & rearmored for another flight. By that time the medevac helicopters were on station and Billings and his crew suppressed the enemy such that they were able to retrieve the SEALs.  Before he could be reprimanded for disobeying orders, the SEAL Commander had called his CO. Billings would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for that mission. Thirty days later on November 8th two river patrol boats on an extraction mission were ambushed. One boat was disabled with several crew members wounded. Because of the intensity of the enemy fire, Billings was ordered to not go in.  He once again disobeyed orders – he was NOT going to let anyone to die on his watch. He actually rested his helicopter's skid on the disabled boat allowing his crew to extract the wounded crew members. He was so close that river water began to collect in the nose of is helicopter. Once again, instead of taking his wings for disobeying orders, he was awarded the Silver Star. You can find more on Billings' career here. TAKEAWAY: “We were the meanest guys in the land and went out looking for trouble sometimes.”

Sam Mackey admits he isn't always the smartest or strongest guy in the room but he puts in the work.  His philosophy is “To find something that I can do better than everybody else and take enough responsibility where I can't be replaced and do it the best that I can.” Mackey served 20 years in the military including time with the elite Navy SEALs. He never thought he would be an entrepreneur but is now the CEO of Outsider, an outdoor lifestyle brand. Mackey's entry into the military was rather un-auspicious. He had gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd.  His parole officer suggested joining the military in order to get off probation. He was injured during his first BUDS class and failed the timed run. He was rolled back but was placed in the immediate next class. Due to his injury he failed again and washed out. Mackey would not give up. He worked his way through the arduous re-application process and eventually returned and graduated. Mackey secured a sniper spot with the teams. His “15 minutes of fame” came while deployed with a Lithuanian Special Forces team. During that mission, he NEARLY recorded the longest kill shot on record; at a distance of nearly 1.5 miles. However, review showed that his shot was so close it caused the target to reposition, allowing another sniper to finish him off. He disagreed with the proposition that the days of the sniper are numbered. “There always needs to be a human behind the rifle.” Mackey met NFL stand out quarterback Jay Cutler when he was asked to come speak to some NFL players.  They became friends and discovered that they both shared a love of the outdoors. When Jay offered him a position with Outsider, Mackey jumped in with both feet, eventually rising to the position of CEO. They currently sell drinkware and apparel, including a patented rotating handle cup that fits in any holder. TAKEAWAY: Mackey believes that because of the adaptability and innovation required while serving in Special Forces, it is the ideal “breeding ground” for entrepreneurs.

"Homefront Stories" is a collection of fictional short stories written by Victoria Kelly inspired by her life as a military spouse.  Her 2015 work, “When Men Go Off to War” is a collection of poems written while her husband was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and captures the hopes, anxieties and intimacies of the military spouse during times of war. “Prayers of an American Wife” is a collection of poems that highlights the displacement women experience when their husbands deploy and the battles fought by those left at home Victoria graduated Summa Cum Laude from Harvard University and initially planned to attend law school. However, she had always wanted to write and chose that path instead. She met her future husband while attending a conference at the Naval Academy. She says her Ivy League friends expressed some surprise that she became a military spouse, mostly based upon their own misconceptions about the military. During her husband's first deployment, Victoria had been working on a novel but became frustrated. She turned to poetry as a way of dealing with the emotions she experienced during that deployment. Victoria shares her poem “When Men Go off to War” which beautifully captures the lives of military families. Victoria did not have much exposure to the military growing up. We spend some time discussing her learning curve as a military spouse and some of issues that civilians may not understand. These include learning to read rank and why it is not a good idea to wear high heels on an aircraft carrier. Being the spouse of a Navy officer added extra pressures. She emphasizes that the all the pieces in “Homefront Stories” are completely fictional and none were inspired by actual events she experienced. You can find Victoria's works here. TAKEAWAY: “I loved being a military spouse..all except for the uncertainty about where we might be living.”

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has the principle responsibility to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and our nation. It was created in January of 2015 by merging the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command along with several functions of the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory. DPAA Media Relation Chief for Outreach and Communications Sean Everette joins us to describe the agency's functions. We are also joined by Clark Baldwin, the nephew of World War II soldier Clifford Strickland, whose remains were just recently identified and returned to the US. There are an estimated 81,000 personnel still missing from conflicts between World War II through the present day. These include 72,115 from World War II, 7,482 from Korea, 1,577 in Vietnam, 126 from the Cold War, 5 from the Gulf Wars and 1 in Libya. DPAA staff is comprised of both members of the various military branches and civilian specialists. One could describe their role and “cold case file” detectives using a variety of resources to accomplish their tasks.  Once remains are identified, the recovery themselves can be complicated and dangerous; from 16,000 foot mountain peaks to remote jungle sites. Clifford Strickland was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines. After surviving the Bataan Death March, he died on July 29, 1942 in the Cabanatuan POW Camp.  The dead from this camp were buried as “unknowns” in a common grave.  Clark says that although his uncle died before he was born, his family kept his memory alive with stories. Eventually they gave up hope that his remains would ever be found. However, Clark's cousin began attending DPAA outreach events. In 2015 they received notice that they may be able to identify Clifford's remains. Clifford's remains were positively identified on December 20, 2023. A key element in the process is having family members submit DNA samples for use in final identification. Listeners with family members still missing can find more information about how to start the process by visiting the DPAA website. TAKEAWAY: “It makes me proud that I am an American and that the DPAA works so hard to fulfill our nation's promise that we will never leave a man behind.”

Stephen Paul Campos surmised it would be better to volunteer and choose his military specialty rather than be drafted during the Vietnam War. The recruiter asked what he wanted to do and Campos replied “I don't know what I WANT to do but I know I DON'T want to be infantry.” Based upon his intake evaluations the recruiter told him he could be sent to Germany or Hawaii. Immediately upon graduation he was assigned to the infantry and soon after sent to Vietnam. Campos shares that the environment was just as much a threat as the enemy. As if the torrential rains weren't bad enough, there were things slithering in the water that could kill you. Campos survived more than a couple friendly fire incidents and malaria almost killed him.  As a radio operator he had the unique experience of relaying his Lieutenant's refusal to obey orders. That Lt. was replaced the next day and “it was a good thing because that guy was going to get us killed.” Campos recalled being met by war protestors upon his return stateside and many lifelong friends didn't want to talk about the war. Campos fell into a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol. Upon hitting rock bottom, he had a spiritual awakening that he says literally transformed his life. He now owns and operates “Senor Campos Salsa”, a successful online food service business. Campos never wanted to talk about his experiences in Vietnam until he was interviewed by a reporter during a visit to the Vietnam War Memorial. His wife suggested he begin writing about his experiences. He has now published several books including “Charlie Doesn't Live Here Anymore”. TAKEAWAY:  The whole time Campos was in combat he prayed for God to keep him safe. He also prayed that he would not have to kill anyone.

“Service to CEO” podcast creator Kristen Costlow left a promising military career to pursue her dream.  She served as an air traffic controller in the Navy and was rising fast in rank.  She soon found herself supervising sailors 10 years her senior. The day after she notified her supervisor of her plans to leave the military, she was promoted to Chief Petty Officer – quite the accomplishment for someone of her age. Kristen joined the Navy right out of high school and says there were no specific issues that caused her to leave mid-way to a full military retirement. She was just experiencing severe burnout and didn't want to be one of those persons who looked back and had regrets about not pursuing her dreams. She wanted to be a wedding photographer. Kristen received her business license in March of 2021, in the middle of the COVID pandemic. While many weddings were postponed during the pandemic, she says there was a huge rebound surge in 2022.  When a wedding “boom” comparable to the days following World War II came along, K Nicole Photography was ready for them. The Small Business Administration estimates that the average small business fails in 3-5 years. Although Kristen's photography business is right in the middle of that window, she says she no longer wakes up terrified. “Every day I just have to wake up and know that I have to do the work, and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so.” Based upon her transition experiences, Kristen decided to start the Service to CEO Podcast to provide a platform for other women Veteran entrepreneurs to share the story of their journeys. She hopes to inspire other women in their “second lives”.  The Service to CEO podcast can be found on all major platforms. TAKEAWAY: “That one day I might decide to leave early on a Friday is the one day that a client won't wait until Monday. In my business one bad review can be really damaging.”

Blackwater Security Company developed quite a reputation. Morgan Lerette was a contractor with Blackwater in Iraq for 18 months from 2004-2005. His sometimes funny, sometimes tragic experience is documented in his book “Guns, Girls & Greed: I was a Blackwater Mercenary in Iraq” Morgan joined the Air National Guard right out of high school in order to escape his small town. He became an Air Force Security Forces member and had been serving for two years when 9/11 happened. Despite having deployed to Iraq, Morgan says he felt much like other military members at the time – he never really got to experience “his war”. Some friends suggested joining Blackwater shortly after some of their contractors had been hung from a bridge in Fallujah. However, being paid $550 per day and a chance to experience “his war” sounded good to Morgan. While many may believe that all Blackwater contractors are special operations Veterans, at that time there was a huge demand to fulfill government contracts. Morgan says they were recruiting anyone who could “shoot, move, communicate and get security clearance.”  After a brief two week training course, Morgan found himself in Iraq.  His say his mission mainly consisted of driving a “very important person from the safe area to the dangerous area and back.” Morgan's book unabashedly describes what can happen when highly paid men with no rules and no consequences are deployed to a foreign country. I would describe his book as a modern day version of “Catch 22”. There are numerous examples in his book that highlight the hopeless absurdity of our efforts to rebuild Iraq. It wasn't long before Morgan lost faith in the idea of helping the Iraqis & just became numb to it all. Upon his return home, he had trouble finding a “normal life”. There are no support systems for independent contractors. Morgan eventually finished his college degree and returned to Iraq as an Army Intelligence Officer with “half the pay and twice the restrictions”. It is estimated that as many as 160,000 private military contractors were active in Iraq. We spend some time discussing whether organizations like Blackwater are a necessary evil in modern combat. TAKEWAY: Morgan describes private military contractors like a disposable Starbucks cup. They use you and then toss you away.