American Warrior Radio

We discuss the critical role played by the National Guard and Reserves with retired Arizona Air National Guard Commander Major General Ted Maxwell.

During the Vietnam War, Major Robert Lodge was the foremost expert on “Combat Tree”. The top secret program gave our fighters and advantage over the North Vietnamese MIGs.  After his aircraft was disabled in an aerial dogfight, Lodge told his weapons officer to eject. Knowing his own capture on potential revelation of the top secret knowledge he kept could endanger others, Lodge went down with his plane. His friend and fellow Vietnam combat pilot Leonard “Lucky” Eckman is working to have Lodge awared the Medal of Honor.

During post partum depression, Lt. Col. Angelina Stephens began experiencing suicidal ideations. Despite potential risks to her career, she went very public with her story in order to help others.

Charles Faint joins us for another interesting discussion of topics featured on the Havok Journal.

Producer Chris Meek and Director Michael Gier join us to discuss a new 9/11 documentary set to release on the 25th Anniversary of the attacks.

Major General (US Army Retired) Clayton Hutmacher served in the Army for forty years – much of it in the Special Operations Community. He now leads the Special Operations Warrior Foundation which provides support for Spec. Ops families who have a loved one killed or severely injured.

After 14 months in the jungles of Vietnam, Dennis Nickel had a difficult time adjusting; drugs, alchohol and violent outburst plagued his life before PTSD was officially recognized. He and his wife Diana had their bumps and bruises for 40 years before unconditional love put them on a new path,

James R. Lyda served in our Air Force for 30 years and was a Wing Command Chief twice. During his last assignment before retirement he was responsible for 55,000 personnel. After retirement he founded Guidon Leadership – a full service firm that helps companies develop better leaders, managers and people.

The HBO Film “Taking Chance” chronicles Lt. Col. Michael Strobl’s experiences while escorting the remains of Private Chance Phelps to his hometown. It was once of HBO’s most watched original films and received numerous awards. Mike Strobl joins us to share his first hand account.

Scott Neil was a member of one of the special Green Beret units inserted behind enemy lines in Afghanistan shortly after the 9/11 attacks. He and a couple of friends created “Horse Soldier” bourbon to honor the legacy of the men who rode into battle on horse back against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

The after effects of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the subject of an interesting documentary co-produced by Kelly and Tanabe. Their predecessors fought on opposite sides during WWII. “Atomic Echoes” features interviews with Japanese bombing survivors and US military members who entered the zones shortly after the bombings.

Quang Pham and most of his family escaped Vietnam just before the fall of Saigon. He would go on to be the first American of Vietnamese descent to become a Marine Corps Aviator and the first to take and IPO public on NASDAQ.

Carlos Ruiz is the 20th person to hold the title of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. We talk leadership, motivation and what makes Marines different.

Peter Singer is nationally recognized as on of the premier futurists in the national-security environment. We discuss was future wars may look like.

Ayman Kafel has more than 20 years serving in the military and law enforcement. After founding Project Sapient, he has been researching the various sciences that can better help law enforcement officers deal with the stress and trauma of their profession.

HER Campaign Co-Founder Britney Higgs and retired DEA agent Stacy Zinn talk about the scourge of human trafficking in the US and what the HER campaign does to help victims safely transition.

It has been considered by many to be our US Marine Corps greatest peacetime loss of life. But many have never heard of it.  Chas Henry joins us to describe the Fuji Fire that took place on Oct. 19, 1979.

Paratrooper Andrew Bragg wrote “The Devil’s Playground” as a tribute to his comrades from Charlie Company's 2nd Platoon and their 2009-2010 deployment to the Arghandab River valley in Afghanistan. His platoon would suffer 50% casualties and 6 KIA during the deployment.

Havok Journal owner and 27 year Army Intelligence Veteran Charles Faint discusses some of the topics recently featured on their website. We do some deep dives into the threats/weakenesses of China and also how the wars in Ukraine and Gaza are causing a re-examination of modern war doctrines.

Major League broadcaster and Vietnam Veteran Bill Brown has written an excellent book called “Wartime Athletes; Stories of Sports Stars Who Joined the US Team.”  He shares some compelling and inspiring stories.

“Grit To Glory” recounts Green Beret Darrell Utt’s journey from the back woods of West Virginia to his leadership role with ODA 043 in Baghdad during some of the most intense fighting.

On this episode we talk with two organizations in the farming battlespace. Farm 2 Veteran uses a network of farms in 9 states to provide healthy, quality food to Veterans experiencing food instability. The Land At Home Project has a mission to train Veterans to get involved in sustainable agriculture.

Erik Knowles quickly discovered that the Marine Corps is no place for a jokester. He now uses comedy as a way to help other Veterans deal with their trauma.

Dave Chamberlain served a combined 38 years in the US Air Force and Air National Guard. We discuss some interesting insgights from some of his Havok Journal articles, including why he feels the current command structure in our military is outmoded.

Ethan Brown served as an Air Force Tactical Air Control Party specialists for 11 years and was deployed six times to various combat zones. He shares how this role and technology have changed the way we do battle.

Robert Boyd served with the New York Police Department for 35 years – his last four as Chief of Detectives.  He now hosts “New York Homicide” which airs Saturday evenings on the Oxygen Channel True Crime Network.

“The Houdini Club” describes the formation of the 1st, 3rd & 4th Ranger battalions during WWII and follows their combat through North Africa, Sicily and eventually Italy, where two of the three battalions were wiped out by the Germans. Mir served with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Mir has written numerous books on military history and co-wrote and produced the award-winning independent motion picture “Soldier of God”.

Actor, musician and humanitarian Gary Sinise returns to American Warrior Radio to provide updates on his Foundation’s programming in support of military and first responder families. We also discuss Gary’s son Mac who lost his battle against a rare form of cancer in 2024. Mac was a very talented composer and musician and he left his music behind as a legacy for all of us to enjoy. All proceeds from sales of the “Resurrection and Revival” albums benefit the Gary Sinise Foundation’s programs.

The story of how the venerable Jeep came to be is an intriguing one full of twists and turns. The company that actually produced the first Jeep was NOT who many people would think. Paul Bruno is the foremost expert on the development of the Jeep.

The Modern War Institute is a program at West Point that provides an astounding amont of research via publications, podcasts and special events.

CIA linguist David Tyson was a member of “Team Alpha”, one of the first group of Americans inserted into Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. He would be embroiled in the uprising at Qala-i-Jangi prison during which CIA paramilitary officer Mike Spann would become the first American killed in Afghanistan.

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.  

Commander Brian Wierzbiki, Chief of Public Engagment for the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration joins us to discuss how they are supporting events all across the US in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

“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."

“Brothers After War” is a documentary by Jake Radenmacher. In the film he checks back in with several of the service members he was embedded with for this “Brothers At War” award winning documentary. I highly recommend both Veterans and civilians watch this film. There is healing here…

Navy Veteran and tax law attorney Hubert Johnson shares tips for military members and Veteran entreprenuers.

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”.