Podcasts about French Foreign Legion

Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Taylor Cavanaugh's Journey from Demons to Desire Some fall and stay broken. Others build a bridge and rise. Taylor Cavanaugh was a gifted student and elite athlete—but he was also a restless spirit chasing chaos. His journey spirals through addiction, jail, bar fights, and breakdowns. Then, somehow, a way through. He claws his way into the Navy SEALs. Falls again. Reinvents himself through one of the most brutal gauntlets on earth: the French Foreign Legion. In this powerful episode of Chatter That Matters, Taylor shares how he battled his demons, confronted his darkest truths, and rebuilt himself through pain, purpose, and discipline. He speaks candidly about finding meaning not in titles, but in habits. Not in pleasure, but in purpose. Taylor's story is a reminder that no matter how deep the water, you can build a bridge—and cross it.  

What happens when you lose everything that once defined you?Former Navy SEAL Taylor Cavanaugh shares his raw, powerful journey from military elite to rock bottom — addiction, homelessness, and nearly ending his own life — before finding redemption in the most unexpected place: the French Foreign Legion.With nothing but a backpack and a broken spirit, Taylor rebuilt his life from scratch, shedding titles, ego, and identity to rediscover purpose. Today, he's a coach, father, and man of faith helping others face their own battles.This episode is more than a war story — it's about what happens after the uniform comes off.Redemption is real. Purpose is possible. And your identity is more than your past.To follow Taylor on instagram: CLICK HERE!!!To check out what Taylor's got going on and to follow along visit: CLICK HERE!!Support the show!Support the showFollow Wild Chaos on Social Media: Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wild-chaos-podcast/id1732761860Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KFGZ6uABb1sQlfkE2TIoc?si=8ff748aa4fc64331 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildchaospodcastBam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bambam0069Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wildchaospodTikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wildchaosshowMeta (Facebook): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wildchaospodcast

In this week's episode of the Success Formula Podcast, we sit down with Taylor Cavanaugh, an inspiring individual who transformed his life from a troubled youth into a successful entrepreneur. Taylor opens up about his struggles with drugs, time spent in jail, and the turning point that led him to enlist in the military and eventually the prestigious French Foreign Legion. Through hard work and determination, Taylor completely reshaped his life and now runs his own health and fitness company, dedicated to helping others improve their lives and reach their full potential. He also shares exciting insights into his future plans and the strategies he's using to scale his business to new heights.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficial/Website: https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com/Tune in every Tuesday at 8 AM for another inspiring success story, along with the proven formula to help you achieve your own goals. Don't miss out on the insights that could change your life!Listen to our podcast on:Buzzsprout- https://successformulapodcast.buzzsprout.com/Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7aRe06pXIq6yq8GQf62NBMAmazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1393b77c-626a-4a53-bdd5-43ce3b1aa15b/success-formula-podcastApple Podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/success-formula-podcast/id1748704615Our Social Media:Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialSuccessFormulaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsuccessformula/Twitter: https://x.com/_SuccessFormula/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialsuccessformula

In this episode of The Resilient Show, Chad Robichaux is joined by Former United States Navy SEAL & French Foreign Legionnaire, Taylor Cavanaugh. Taylor Cavanaugh's journey is unlike any you've heard before, one marked by failure, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of purpose.Taylor opens up about his troubled youth, addiction, time in jail, and how he defied all odds to become a Navy SEAL and later a Legionnaire. Chad & Taylor talk about near-death moments, the dangers of misplaced identity, and the power of faith, discipline, and second chances.Taylor Cavanaugh is a former Navy SEAL from SEAL Team Seven and the only known Navy SEAL to also serve in the French Foreign Legion. After a turbulent journey marked by addiction, jail time, and personal failure, he turned his life around through discipline, faith, and service. As a SEAL sniper and JTAC with deployments to the Middle East and later as a Legionnaire operating in South America and Eastern Europe, Taylor's story is one of redemption, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of purpose.Learn more about Taylor Cavanaugh: https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com/Follow Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficialhttps://www.youtube.com/@tcavofficialRESILIENT:Join Our Patreon: https://patreon.com/theresilientshowFollow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientshowFollow Us On Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/resilientshowFollow Us On TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@resilientshowFollow Chad:⁠https://www.instagram.com/chadrobo_official⁠https://www.x.com/chadroboSPONSORS:Smith & Wesson: ⁠https://www.smith-wesson.com/⁠Vortex Optics:https://vortexoptics.comGatorz Eyewear: ⁠https://www.gatorz.com/⁠Allied Wealth:https://alliedwealth.comBioPro+: ⁠https://www.bioproteintech.com/⁠BioXCellerator:https://www.bioxcellerator.comThe Holy Waters:https://theholywaters.comGet The Resilient Show x Uncharted Supply Co Bag: https://liveresilient.com/shopTRS is a proud supporter of military & first responder communities in partnership with Mighty Oaks Foundation.

Send us a textWhat happens when a Navy SEAL hits rock bottom and finds clarity in the chaos?In this gripping episode of the Security Halt! Podcast, Deny Caballero sits down with Taylor Cavanaugh, a former Navy SEAL turned French Foreign Legionnaire, to explore his powerful journey through self-sabotage, addiction, identity loss, and ultimate redemption. Taylor shares what it's like to fall apart—and how he rebuilt himself with discipline, decisive action, and purpose.From homelessness to boot camp in the French Foreign Legion, Taylor opens up about how hitting rock bottom forced him to confront himself, rediscover his integrity, and become the man he was meant to be. Whether you're struggling with transition, battling inner demons, or simply looking for motivation—this episode is for you.

Episode 362: We explore chilling events that unfolded at POW Camp 132 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, during World War II. This prisoner-of-war camp, one of many scattered across Canada, became the site of two brutal murders that shocked even hardened veterans and led to Canada's last mass execution. In the summer of 1943, August Plaszek, a former French Foreign Legion soldier forcibly integrated into the German army, met a gruesome end at the hands of Nazi hardliners within the camp. Just over a year later, in September 1944, Karl Lehmann, a university professor turned Luftwaffe interpreter, suffered a similar fate for daring to share news of Germany's failing war effort with his fellow prisoners. These murders, born from the complex dynamics of a “little piece of Germany” transplanted to the Canadian prairies, would set in motion a series of dramatic trials that tested the limits of Canadian justice and international law. Sources: Protected persons: Prisoners of war and detainees | Red Cross Prisoners of war: What you need to know | Red Cross The Geneva Conventions: 160 years of history | Genève internationale Geneva Conventions | International Humanitarian Law, Protections & History | Britannica Prisoners of War - Historical Sheet - Second World War - History - Veterans Affairs Canada Normandy Massacres | Nazi War Crimes, Allied Retaliation & Impact | Britannica Canadian Prisoners of War In Enemy Hands | CM Archive Abbaye d'Ardenne - Veterans Affairs Canada Three survivors on how they endured oppression, cruelty and abuse as prisoners in Japan during WW II Camp 132 – Medicine Hat Illegitimate trials. PoW hangings. A miniature Nazi state on the Prairie. | The Star When was it unjust to kill seven Nazi soldiers? When it happened in Canada | Globe & Mail Hanged in Medicine Hat - Sutherland House Publishing Gestapo PoWs | Legion Magazine Ideological Battles in Medicine Hat By Danial Duda Murders in a Nazi Prisoner-of-War Camp - And Canada's Last Mass Execution | History is Now POW Camp 132 in Medicine Hat, Alberta Camp 132 by Robin Warren Stotz POW and Internment Camps in Alberta: WWII | Alberta Historic Places World War II Prisoner of War Camp in Medicine Hat | Shaw TV Medicine Hat Prisoner of War Camps in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia POWs in Canada Internment Camps Thematic Guides - Internment Camps in Canada during the First and Second World Wars - Library and Archives Canada Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Geneva, 27 July 1929 Name, Rank, and Serial Number: The Legacy of the 1929 Geneva Convention | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver are joined by Taylor Cavanaugh, a former United States Navy SEAL and French Foreign Legionnaire.Taylor's journey is one of incredible highs and devastating lows. After earning his SEAL Trident, he found himself losing control. When his time in the military ended he found himself battling addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts. He nearly ended his life before he threw up a Hail Mary and made a bold move: joining the French Foreign Legion. It was there that he found the discipline and clarity to rebuild his life.Taylor opens up about the road that led him to the SEALs, the mistakes that got him kicked out of the U.S. military, and how the Legion ultimately became his path to redemption.

Taylor Cavanaugh's life reads like a movie script: from jail, to Navy SEAL, back to jail, homeless and suicidal… then straight into the elite and brutal ranks of the French Foreign Legion.Now the only man known to have served in both elite forces, Taylor shares how he found purpose through pain, forged peace through discipline, and turned destruction into a deliberate life.

Join Eric and Kevin in Part 4 of 6 Degrees of Schwarzenegger as we dive into the wild world of Lionheart (1990), a Jean-Claude Van Damme 80s action classic packed with underground street fighting, French Foreign Legion drama, and pure chaos. In this penultimate episode, we break down Leon's brutal racquetball court brawl, the MPs' hilariously bad stakeout, and the emotional family reunion with Elaine and Nicole. From Van Damme's iconic kicks to Joshua's slick suit and Cynthia's villainous schemes, we explore how this cult action flick blends absurdity with heart. Check out the Last of the Action Heroes Podcast Network for more 80s and 90s action movie deep dives, and tune into our 6 Degrees feed for exclusive episodes. Grab a beer and join us for this action-packed breakdown!

Graduation Day.  Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels."You know nothing of what you speak of, Ishara, yet you now feel free to insult us," she simmered."Don't know, don't care. It was all before my time. I care about the 'here-and-now' as well as what we do in the future. What I am asking you is what concrete item or 'thing' can be provided to House Zorja to put this blood feud behind you. Name it and House Ishara will endeavor to procure it for you.""We are not merchants," Jana's eyes narrowed."No. I didn't imply you were. If you want new sandals for everyone in your House, I'll find you new sandals. If you want 100,000 acres of ranchland, I'll find you the land. Name it," I persisted."Our prestige cannot be bought," she 'explained'."No, but a blood feud with House Ishara can be avoided by making a request of us in the same way as expressing your desire to harm my daughter can be expressed by denying my offer," I hardened. "And 'fuck you very much' if you think I won't use every son, daughter, mother, aunt, and uncle of Ishara when I come gunning for House Zorja too.""You wouldn't dare bring outsiders into this," Klavdiya interjected."Why not? The offices of Ishara handed House Zorja the coup of the century ~ the capture of the People's Liberation Army Navy nuclear carrier. A member of House Zorja commanded that task, yet they did so by leading forces marshalled by House Ishara, outsider forces. You may wish to keep playing by old rules concerning who is and isn't part of a House, but I am not so constrained, sisters.""So Klavdiya, if House Meenakshi pursues its blood feud with House Zorja, House Ishara will gleefully join them in the pummeling. And we have Isharans in the 9 Clans, the Khanate and the Illuminati who will gladly help us out in slapping them around like the old-fashion curmudgeons they are showing themselves to be, or, House Zorja may request a gift from House Ishara and we will happily clear accounts between them and House Meenakshi in the name of our daughter, Parvati. Their choice.""You are still on the mats," Elsa reminded me. Sikia coiled protectively next to us."And you said something about a lesson being long overdue," Pamela smirked, "Kitten.""Cáel Ishara," Shawnee said in a soft voice, "perhaps it is germane to the argument: the fault of the blood feud rests with House Zorja, not House Meenakshi."I fell on my back, carrying Tad fi with me. She gasped out in surprise while remaining closely cuddled with me. Her right hand never left my lips."Why does no one tell me this shit?" I moaned."You are hard," Tad fi announced. "Are you ready to have more sex?" She was sounding upbeat about our prospects. She was also ignorant of our surroundings being deaf and blind to the mortal realm."Gossamer Wing," I created a pet name for the augur, "we are lying on the sparring mats of a large combat arena in the central Full-blooded training center for Havenstone with roughly 500 sisters in attendance (the audience had grown). While I am enticed by your scent, words, proximity and sweet memories of what we've shared, I'm probably going to be badly beaten up really soon for a terrific diplomatic snafu.""But then we can have sex?""Yeah. I'm totally up for having sex with you after they release me from Medical," I assured her. I looked around her to a very unhappy Mahdi."Can you find it in your heart to forgive House Zorja? Anything I can,""Yes," she abruptly cut me off.What the fuck?"At this time, my hatred of House Ishara, and you in particular, make any grievance I have with House Zorja pale in comparison. You have bewitched my only daughter. She bares your child, and it will be a wonderful child if the soiled augur you've stuck your cock in is to be believed," she ground out bitterly. "I want to go home. I want to find enemies to kill. And when I do, Cáel Ishara, know each and every one of them will carry your face in my mind."She turned to Jana. "Do you agree that we both hate Ishara enough to put aside our current differences?"Jana studied Mahdi, me, then Mahdi again and agreed. She stood. Mahdi stood. They clasped arms like Amazons, then hugged like sisters."Agreed. He is much worse."My thoughts on the matter. Woot! I was having sex! Oh, and I was making Aya happy by ending a blood feud."My admiration of you continues to increase," Krasimira looked at me. "This diplomacy stuff is harder than it looks yet you pull it off so effortlessly.""Yay me!" I muttered."Keeper, are we done?" Sikia asked Krasimira."I believe so," the older Amazon rose to her feet. Sikia was far faster in rising."Mahdi of Meenakshi, you have insulted me and my augur. Defend yourself," she snarled. If Tad fi hadn't been immediately present, Mahdi wouldn't have even warranted a warning no doubt."Had you done your job," Mahdi flowed into her fighting stance, "you both wouldn't be pregnant.""Whoa now," I struggled to rise while keeping Tad fi close and my body between her and the Meenakshi/Zorja side of the mat. "Sikia, I can't let you fight. You're pregnant too.""Don't be stupid, Cáel Ishara," Sikia retreated off the mat, so she could shed her jacket and footwear. "Amazons have fought pregnant for thousands of years.""Hold on now," NYPD Sgt. Larisa Kutuzov said in English as she moved forward. I was a millisecond too late. Larisa's foot touched down on the mat and Marlene Zorja popped her one, a hand chop to the larynx. The senior cop stumbled forward."Mom!" shouted Nikita. Marlene followed up with a leg sweep, putting Larisa face first on the mats, then a fist strike to the back of the head, knocking her out. Neat and tidy in less than two seconds.Nikita was about to charge in when Chaz stopped her."Footwear," he advised in the tone of voice I had learned to associate with him and imminent violence. The moment he stopped her, he was quickly removing his own socks and shoes. Virginia and Pamela were doing the same. I was allowed freedom of movement because I was holding Tad fi. Krasimira exited because of her unique status. The rest were already barefoot."Gale, could you please stay with Tad fi," I tried to hand her off."No," Gale looked me over. "I will fight." No hint on whose side she would be fighting on. Krasimira came to my rescue."I'll take her.""Tad fi," I told the augur, "I have to go get beaten up now, but I promise I will be back for you directly.""This is not your fight," Krasimira said. "The words and deeds are Sikia's.""A, she carries my child and B, the deeds being called into question are my fault.""You told me once they were the Will of Ishara," Krasimira mused."We are one in the same," I gave a lopsided grin."Be careful," Tad fi pleaded. "Your future is a chaotic jumble, I cannot see,""Eh, I've been very bad. We'll talk about it later. Gotta go," I headed onto the mats.Pamela was giving the ground rules to the 'normals': No 'fair warnings'. No 'fair play'. No 'time outs'. You fought until unconscious, or you surrendered."This is going to suck," Virginia assessed our odds. Two Amazons had removed Larisa from the mats and were tending to her. Nikita was kneeling by her side until she heard Virginia, then came our way.Besides Sikia, we had Pamela, Chaz, Virginia, myself and Nikita. Oneida stepping up was nice. She wasn't a great combatant, but we dearly needed the help. Gale joining us was, unsettling. Amazons don't play fair, so this could be a ruse.Against us were all three Zorja and both Meenakshi ~ I imagined Rhada felt she had something to prove to her mother. They'd picked up ten other Amazons and Rhonwenn Nemain. Klavdiya joined them to counterbalance her baby sister. Eight to seventeen ~ ouch."Damn," a familiar voice from my first days on the job spoke up from behind me, "we almost missed this." I didn't dare look over my shoulder. Desiree stepped between Chaz and Virginia. Rachel came up on my left and Tiger Lily on my right. At the tail end of our line was Mona, Meridian, Brielle and Wiesława. Fifteen to seventeen was looking much better, especially considering Desiree had brought five Security Detail warriors with her, all of whom were moving to further bolster our numbers."Rachel," Elsa looked to her underling, "you have no idea why you are fighting.""It is for Cáel. So it must be for a better tomorrow," Rachel laughed."Very well," Elsa smirked."You!" Mahdi pointed at me, and we both charged. It was a jumbled nightmare of clashing bodies, war cries and flashes of movement all around. Our side had two main advantages -While Chaz was by no means the best hand-to-hand combatant present, he knew the basic Amazon style and most Amazons didn't know his. Added to his overall height and bulk advantages, he bought us time.Of greater importance, Rachel, Tiger Lily and Mona had extensive training working as a team, which none of the opponents had.Elsa was the most dangerous individual on the mat. Pamela was the second most dangerous, so Elsa grabbed a couple of partners and ganged up on her to drive her off the mats. Chaz went next, out-Elsa'ed and beaten unconscious. The issue was, it took her too long to accomplish those two feats. By the time she rounded on me, Rachel and Tiger Lily, our half of the field had wiped out theirs. It was six of us (me, Rachel, Tiger Lily, Gale, Wiesława and Desiree) versus four of them (Elsa, Marlene, Klavdiya and Rhonwenn).Still, I was facing Elsa, so a judicious bit of treachery was required."Gale," I huffed and puffed, "please retire. I don't want you to fight your sister.""What?" Gale snapped. She'd taken a beating, yet remained feisty."No, fighting her sister is okay with me," Desiree scowled. "We are still facing fucking Elsa.""All the other women you have mated with have failed. I remain," Gale trumpeted."Oh, you are right," I half-turned. "All the reason you are more precious to me.""Really?""Of course," I deepened my introspective appreciation of her."Oh," and Klavdiya punched Rhonwenn. That was an 'oh, Cáel Ishara must actually care for my baby sister and not be just a Playa' on Klavdiya's part. Yeah. I'm a horrible fucking person at times.Rachel, Tiger Lily and I rushed Elsa. Marlene pivoted to ward against Klavdiya while Gale and Wiesława stormed in against her. Desiree helped Klavdiya finish drubbing Rhonwenn before they combined to force Marlene off the mats. Elsa chose to go down swinging in a dogpile of bodies. I took an ear-ringing blow to the head which allowed Rachel to apply a chokehold and it was lights out for the Head of SD.After some water bottles went around and those concussed returned to wakefulness, the resolution of the brawl was decided. Mahdi apologized to Sikia. It was short, terse and sparing of any empathy, yet was within the bounds of Amazon etiquette. She departed with Rhada, which left me to pick up the pieces, starting with Nikita's mom."Oh," the older woman moaned then, "Ms. Fredrickson? What are you doing here?""Avenging you, Mother," Nikita fluffed up the truth. "She, Cáel and the others cleaned house on the woman who jumped you and her allies.""Desk Sergeant," Desiree gave a curt nod."This isn't over," Larisa winced as she moved to a sitting position."Mrs. Kutuzov, it is over," I headed off a colossal waste of time. "This is my daily life and part of your daughter's life with JIKIT. You will find scant witnesses and no tape recordings of these events. This craziness is just another day in the life here at Havenstone. You stepped on the mat and thus became fair game to any physical confrontation an opponent cared to mete out. Consider this sovereign soil of an independent nation-state.""We," she looked around. "You kicked their asses?""Definitely," Pamela gave a feral snarl."This is plain nuts," she shook her head, winced in cranial pain, then put her aching head in her hands."One of the reasons we've put our dating in hiatus," Nikita comforted her mother while looking at me, and smiling affectionately.Ah, for fuck sakes! I was engaged to someone else and having a dozen kids by ten different women. How could I still possibly be considered viable dating material? Oh yeah, martial valor, laughing at death, I hung out with truly exceptional cool people and I would always be in need of saving, a plus for a crusader like Nikita.I had so many allies to tend to, but only one who seemed to be making an exit. I swooped down on Tad fi long enough to place her fingers to my lips."I'll be right back, friend of a friend in need," and off I went. I caught Tavi of House Stolgos just outside the door. She wasn't avoiding me. She'd been observing Chaz and he had been otherwise occupied.My British companion had played a pivotal role in the combat and taken his beating like a man. He'd been rendered unconscious. So had many others, so no stigma was attached to his loss. Post-battle, he had chosen to sit on his haunches, knees up, talking to several of the Amazons, both kneeling and standing. A few had been bystanders and a few others foes.He stayed on his ass to reduce his height advantage. Letting Amazons make eye contact while not having to look up at you created definite benefits. His good natured approach to his role in the fight and pummeling earned him positive vibes as well. He made it clear the tussle to him was not macho-personal. He was my 'brother / sister / sibling' spiritually-speaking via Pamela adopting us both as her 'grandsons', so my fights were his fights. Sikia had my (Cáel's) child, so that bond extended to her as well ~ family.Pamela and I had schooled him on Amazon psychology and those lessons were now paying serious dividends. 'The Male' hadn't wanted to fight them ~ 'Amazons are tough' he'd confessed, he knew this because he worked with several every day on JIKIT~ but family was on the line, so he fought. Mahdi had apologized, so the matter was settled. The other Amazons he'd fought? They had fought for their reasons and he was okay with not questioning them about it.Why? He was conscious of his conspicuous status as a 'guest', knew he was in no way an Amazon, and was not privy to what motivated them. He didn't want to be an Amazon. He had his own, much younger, martial tradition he was proud of, yet was eager to learn from the vastly greater Amazon war lore because 'winners' didn't have a gender-bias and no other tradition could compete with the Amazons' 3,000 years.Under normal circumstances, the women around him wouldn't have given credence to his praise. He was a male after all. Through the tiny tear I'd created in their insulating social fabric, Chaz was building upon his own exploits. In the after-battle analysis, the Amazons reflected on the realization Elsa had concentrated on him as her number two objective, second only to Pamela who scared everyone who knew anything about her. That bolstered Chaz's appeal.For the Amazons who thought a male would get all pouty and cry over being beaten up by a girl/girls, Chaz was breaking the mold. He wasn't angry. He was amused. The fight had been a learning experience and he'd felt honored to watch, no matter how briefly, a warrior of Elsa's caliber fight. He'd explained 'I', Cáel Wakko Ishara, considered Elsa one of the top 5 combatants I'd ever seen, which included Ajax the Unconquered. The others were Sakuniyas, reborn Amazon and former Queen of Assyria, Saint Marie, the Golden Mare, and Pamela, the Cliff-walker.More happy Amazons because the list's only non-Amazon was a dead Hero from the Trojan Wars and it was well known I 'got around' (aka dealt with violent outsiders.) Chaz was telling the truth, almost. The 'fifth' person on the list was Alal, but explaining him would be difficult, so Chaz edited him for this particular audience. Good man.In the hallway, "Tavi, a moment," I called out. She slowed down, took a few more steps allowing me to catch up."Yes Ishara?" she gave me her best neutral look. Yep. She was jealous."I beg two favors from you," I quickly went down to one knee in her path. That caught her off guard and left her in the awkward position of me being terribly close and staring up at her."I, I will listen," she muttered."I would like to know if you are pregnant," I asked very softly. Yes, she was, but she didn't want to tell me. She contemplated pushing past me. It would be very easy. "I know I am stepping beyond the boundaries between warriors. Please. My destiny has brought you two together. I am at fault here." 'Fault' was the key word."If I have a son, he will be given to the Queen," Tavi's face was stern and unforgiving. "He will live.""That's not what he's worried about," I shook my head. "He wants to be a father to your daughter, Tavi. He wants to introduce you to his mother and grandmothers, maybe his sisters too, if that can be arranged.""Huh?""He is not like me, Tavi. There is no other in his life, but you.""I, I will not leave my House for him," she protested angrily."He would never ask you. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to remain at your side for years to come. He can be a father to your child and not be a part of House Stolgos in the same way you can be a mother to your child and not be a part of Clan Tomorrow.""Oh," she furrowed her brow. "How would this possibly work?""I have an 'in' with the Queen," I winked. "I'll work out something.""He knows I will never stop being an Amazon," she elucidated intensely."Absolutely. He is an intelligence operative after all. He's figured a few things out for himself.""Why doesn't he tell me these things?""Tavi, he threw his body on top of me to shield me from a bomb blast, so he's undoubtedly brave, but telling you what is in his heart is scary for him. As his brother, I see behind his silence,""Oh, what should I do?" she was vexed."Go back in there, demand to speak with him and tell him the truth," I stood up."The truth?""That you are going to have a little StolgosTomorrow-ite running around sometime next year," I exuded confidential friendliness."Cáel Ishara," she tilted her head slightly, "you don't know much about infants, do you?""Nope," I pseudo-confessed. I actually did know something about newborns. I'd studied up so I could make a move on a cute girl whose free time was eaten up by babysitting, so I 'helped out'. Oink."They aren't 'running around'," she turned to head back into the gym, "until the ninth month at the earliest. Normally, running doesn't happen until the eighteenth month.""My fiancée has a three-year old, so she should be able to help me through some of the hardest parts," I babbled along. Tavi didn't give a crap.In we went. Tavi stormed straight toward the bevy of Amazon babes concentrating on 'her' Chaz."Color Sergeant Tomorrow," she abruptly interrupted. "A moment of your time.""Ladies," Chaz uncoiled himself from the surrounding women. The Amazons were either mildly put off, they thought they were about to get laid, or pissed off, they were sure they were about to get laid, and Tavi was stomping on their happy."Yes, Ms. Gentry," Chaz linked his hands behind his back in a 'rest easy' stance. 'Gentry' was the fake last name Tavi used in the outside world. She motioned toward the windows with her head. Off they went. I couldn't hear what was being said, but my lip reading skills were up to the task.T: (I am pregnant)C: (I love you)T: (Oh) ~ stunned. Go Chaz!C: (Well, I don't imagine the Amazons have a marriage ceremony and an Anglican service would be inappropriate, so perhaps we could research a Scythian ritual which could make both families happy) ~ delivered in the patented smooth Chaz style.T: (Marriage? To you?)C: (I will not submit to being anyone's slave nor would I ever ask you to submit to me. Outside of that, will you be my partner and my partner alone until the cliffs separate us?)T: (Amazons are not monogamous)C: (I am)T: (I will, I mean, can I think about this?)C: (I am not going anywhere, Tavi){Pause}T: (Did you put Ishara, Cáel Ishara up to this?)C: (Yes)T: (Why?)C: (I imagine he explained what I am feeling better than I could)T: (Oh, do you want me to meet your mother and grandmothers?)C: (Absolutely)T: (Okay)C: (Okay ~ you would like to meet my Mother and Grandmothers?)T: (No, yes, I mean, yes I would like to meet them and I am okay with you being with no other woman until the cliffs separate us, and I will do the same, no other males)C: (If I pick you up, hug you and kiss you, will your sisters freak out?)T: (I don't know)So Chaz swept Tavi up until her head was higher than his (a feat, considering their 8" height differential) and kissed her deeply. Mumbled words followed. Tavi wrapped her legs around Chaz's waist and out they went. Around me were angry murmurings of the 'did that Amazon just run off with our man' variety. Not my problem. I had plenty of different Amazons wanting my attention. Hallelujah!{8:00 pmDon't try this at home.I covered my face with a pillow and pressed down hard. I'd already tried breathing exercises, meditation and even contemplated more cranial trauma before thinking up this particular crazy idea. It took some mental effort and accessing some of my Alal-'pain sorting' skills to accomplish, but in the end, I felt myself 'let go'.I sat up."Hello," Tad fi beamed."Hey," I took a deep breath. Since we were talking, I must have passed out. Her eyes wandered over the room."Is this the world as you see it?" she wondered. Oh yeah, I had to be creating the environment for her to enjoy.Sikia was kneeling on the bed a foot away, her gaze moving between the two of us. The 'grayness' of her form suggested she was wholly in reality and not in the 'Ishara-space' the goddess had shown me and I was now sharing with my augur."This is how you see me?" she examined her fingers, her wrists, then some long locks of her hair."You are more beautiful," I answered. The impact of my words crossing over drew her eyes back to me. It was the magic of hearing for the normally deaf girl. I concentrated, peeled back some fantasy and attached a realistic form to Sikia. Tad fi followed my gaze."Your hair," she addressed her guardian, "It is lighter than I imagined."Sikia said something I couldn't understand, muffled as it was by my dreaming."I cannot hear you, but I see you through his eyes," the augur carried on her conversation. They touched. It had to be somewhat bizarre for Sikia. As she reached for Tad fi's hand, her friend intercepted the extended member. Their fingers intertwined before completing the journey to the guardian's lips."Don't cry, no, we couldn't have, no, we shouldn't have knocked him out sooner. I don't think he was aware of this discipline when we first met. Were you, Cáel?""No. Perhaps if I had understood more about the consequences of seeing ghosts, I might have," I tapered off. "Now that we know. I can try this more often.""Your health?" Tad fi worried."I might be immortal," I confessed. I was confessing because I was desperately seeking a way to share some of my genetic quirkiness with her ~ some strength to carry her through this pregnancy and spare her life, Dot Ishara be damned."And you would seek a way to spare me," she graced me with her gentle presence. Lying in the 'spirit' world was a whole lot tougher than in the flesh."Yeah. I've got some arcane lore rattling around in my head, plus I have a few outside sources I can ask for help. I'm not giving up on you.""I have foreseen my death.""Well, un-foresee it," I scolded her. "Dot Ishara told me we see what might happen, though nothing is guaranteed. So even your death isn't an absolute. Since it hasn't happened, I see no reason to let it happen. You are going to live to hold our daughter. If not, my immortality is worthless.""You can never save everyone. Sometimes you must let a few go to save the rest," she advised."If I find someone I'm not attached to, I'll let them go. I promise. Until then, I'm, ugh, I'm fading, and I'm keeping you.""We shall see," she murmured. I fell back into my body and into wakefulness."Now we have sex," Tad fi announced in a melodic voice."He is ready to perform," Sikia agreed. She was fondling my balls with one hand while her breath played across my rod. I sat up to see the augur climbing up the bed between my thighs. She kissed my glans, licked across its top, then kissed it again."I've got it from here," she told Sikia."What?" Sikia was confused. Tad fi's lips began to engulf my sceptre."Sikia, come here," I gently pulled on her arm. She was conflicted yet up some came.We started out with tender kisses on the lips. I kept drawing her toward me. My lips and tongue migrated down her chin and throat to her breasts. When she thought my target was her breasts, she was all onboard. That was a mere stop-off point on my journey, though I played around for a while.At the same time, I had to use subtle movements with my hips and clenches with my gluts to school Tad fi on her fellatio. Thankfully, I was doubly-blessed. This wasn't my first time schooling two girls at once and Tad fi could determine more from such minimal reactions due to her heightened sense of my muscle contractions through her touch than any other woman I'd ever met.When I began running my tongue in large lashes underneath her breasts, I confused Sikia once more. She was resistant as my hands on her hips pulled her higher so that my lips and teeth could tease her taut stomach while I twirled my tongue in her belly button. She giggled.I had been slowly wiggling down the bed, backing Tad fi up, so when it came time to mount Sikia on my face, I had the headboard room. I kept her muscular thighs securely in hand because the moment I had her happy, I pushed her up. She looked down, seeking guidance and I motioned her to turn around. She did the eye-ball math, realized she'd be facing her augur, and hastily obeyed. Of course, her movement on the bed alerted Tad fi through mattress vibrations.Sikia was sitting on my face, leaning down so she could run her hands through Tad fi's hair and along her face and lips (and my phallus). I kept my hands pressed between our bodies. My right made the sojourn to my pubic area to play around and give them both something else to suck on, my fingers. My left loitered around between Sikia's breasts and her clitoris when my lips were otherwise occupied.I could cup her clit with my tongue in a U-shape, rubbing it along my taste buds. Most of my time was taken up with my tongue broad lashing her vulva or tightly-twisted and delving into her cunt and my nose pushing against her brown hole. I could tilt myself up so I could make tongue-intrusions into her back passage as well. The first time, she squealed.Before she could decide if she wanted to make me stop (she did, virtually all first timers always default to asking their partner to stop, so you have to distract them), Tad fi wanted to know what had brought her reaction on. Then came Sikia's troubled revelation of what I was doing, how the augur shouldn't suffer through it, despite the increasing pleasure she was receiving, only to finally be unable to supply the answer as to why Tad fi shouldn't experience it too.Sikia shot me a treasured look of bewilderment. I'd brought her to orgasm with my tongue alone. I was a guy after all."Switch?" I suggested. Tad fi was still administering one of the slowest, most considerate blowjobs I'd ever experienced. She wasn't rushing toward anything. Sure, she was unschooled, but was devoting her incredible sensitivities to my pleasure and taking pleasure in her ability to bring me to such excitement."Change places?" she mused. "Okay." Tad fi's lips slid off me with one final, loud 'pop', then she used her spider-like fingers to climb up my body while Sikia traveled south. She lavished butterfly kisses on my face ~ childish, yet so very appropriate between us ~ and I mirrored the gesture.With some reluctance, she mounted me, facing Sikia. My tongue flicking across her clit on its first exploration brought out a joyous gasp. It only got better from there.The Long Slide Into Domestic Life:"Twins?" Hana snuggled into my arms. We were at her place, naked in bed together after a late late-night unscheduled meeting with some VIPs. Despite the late/early hour, she was alert, tense even. It had been a mentally stimulating late night encounter which had brought me to her bed."Yes. That is what Tad fi predicted," I inserted between raining kisses down on her forehead. Hana liked non-distracting attention when she was in this kind of mood. She was exhausting herself mentally as she was building up to being amorous."Ana-Călina and  rp d?" she worked over the names on her tongue. "They have a special meaning?""Only if you are Hungarian and Romanian," I teased her. She elbowed me slightly. " rp d was the semi-mystical pagan warlord who led the Ten Tribes who became known as the Hungarians ~ the Magyar peoples ~ into the Carpathian Basin, present day Hungary. Ana-Călina was born a Byzantine princess of the storied House of Basarab; she married Radu Negru, thus becoming the first Princess of a free Wallachia ~ the foundation for a free Romania. She was also the great-grandmother of Dracula.""So they are famous names with regional historical significance, did they live long, happy lives?"" Árpád, no one knows for sure. His kids were quarrelsome, but they did manage to found a dynasty at the start of the second millennia which ruled for three centuries.""Ana-Călina, yeah. I think so," I continued. "She lived into her seventies and her eldest son left his country stronger, richer and safer than when he received it. She did out live her husband by over fifty years, and got to see her youngest grandson bury most of his rivals, the kids from her husband's first marriage.""Ah, what?" Hana rose up until we were eye to eye. Since she was naked, her boobs swayed slightly as she did so. My eye flickered. "Eyes forward, Mister," she playfully barked. "What happened to all her other grandsons?""Wallachia in the 15th century was a tad rough and tumble," I evaded."They killed one another?""Mostly they were killed by conspiracies amongst their boyars, nobles of the time.""Why does, Tad fi want to dredge up these names again?" she kept eye contact."Not a clue," I pleaded."But you think it is important?""No. I think you are important. Screw Fate. It can name its own kids. We can chose whatever names make you happy, except 'Up'. Up's been taken.""You've named another of your offspring 'Up'? That's cruel, or does that mean something in another language I'm unaware of?" she shifted her shoulders so her boobs wobbled again. Of course, I broke eye contact. I hadn't had sex in hours and her boobies were right there, damn it!"Actually, Pamela and I named this secret agent in Hungary that, just to fuck with his head," I divulged."Oh. Pamela. I should have known," she slowly smiled. "You are being very well behaved," she added. Woot! She noticed I wasn't throwing her down and pawing her delectable flesh. "One more thing before the nookie.""Name them. Their dead," I pledged."Not necessary," her sigh turned into a giggle. "If I'm going to be having twins, I'm going to be rather big come late March. We need an earlier wedding date."Oh, fuck me!"What do you have in mind?" I tried to keep the creeping dread out of my voice."New Year's Day?" she suggested. I did a quick calculation. That was annihilating 78 days out of what remained of my bachelor life. In 114 days my life would cease having any meaning whatsoever. I'd be a Mr. to someone's Mrs. The end"Sure, I can arrange to be killed before then," stumbled out of my mouth."What was that?" Hana pouted."Nothing Dear. Cosmic psychic intersection with an Al -demon; don't know what came over me," I fibbed."Man up," Hana bit my nose. "Our marriage won't be that bad if we both work at it. It isn't like I'm demanding celibacy from you." Then she mouthed 'yet'."Wait. Did you mean celibacy, as in no fun at all, or monogamy, as in only 'happy time' with you?" I desperately sought clarification."Oh," she pursed her lips. "I meant monogamy. I didn't mean to scare you.""Oh, thank goodness," I sighed."Here," her gaze turned tender. "Let me make it up to you." Hana placed one hand on my shoulder and rose up my body until my face was gently nestled in her bosom. Then she wiggled back and forth, basically because I'm a big baby and easy to please. I was alternating which nipple I was kissing in no time."Mmm," she murmured. "I've missed you." Her other hand's fingernails coasted down my abdomen and found 'Mr. Happy' had risen to attention. Okay, he'd been hopping up and down on my groin since she'd said we were 'going to bed' 30 minutes ago. Hana decided wrap up my shaft with her hand, then applied a few tender strokes. I reciprocated by cupping her left tit in one hand, forming a mound with her areola at the center, and began to twirl from the outside inward to her hardened nipple with just the tip of my tongue.It was 4 a.m. Why was I taking it slow when I had my final work review with Katrina in three hours? Hana deserved this and more. Why was Hana doing it? She was her own boss, plus her life was careening wildly outside of anything she'd imagined before she'd first laid eyes on me. Half of the financial empire she shared with her father was suddenly in the hands of a military dictatorship, her beloved father was dealing with the murder of her hated step-brother and she was marrying a Prince in a European cathedral which required someone high in the Vatican's approval process to use.Yeah, her life had gone nuts. Worse, she loved me. And I wasn't the kind of man she ever thought she'd love. She'd thought she'd never love anyone again after her life with her asshole of an ex-husband and their bitter, contentious divorce. I was barely someone she could classify, and Hana was a terribly ordered and organized person. Saying my life was messy was being generous. I was some mysterious warrior-diplomat-playboy-aristocrat who hung out with people more bizarre than me.Hana picked up her tempo. I switched breasts. Her motor was really starting to hum. Any other night, I could have moved straight to revving her up to an orgasm. I had the time to make it two without any problems. A good one and Hana would be happy and drift off to sleep. Instead, I intuited she wanted more, so we developed our own game of cat and mouse with her climax, and its suspension, being our ultimate goal.My left hand danced down the back of her ribcage like playing keys on a piano. It was a light, teasing gesture. Her hair the color of tarnished gold cascaded down as she began placing her own kisses upon my crown. Each move by one partner evoked a response by the other. Hana ran my glans over her glistening labia, getting it nice and slick. I worked down her waist, cupped her ass, and then glided over her thigh to the back of her knee where I started tickling her. She snickered."You are distracting me," she murmured. I wasn't. I knew these things."I like to get the feel of every inch of your flesh," I responded. More mirthful noises from her. Slowly, her gooey vestibule rubbed against and over the top, until I felt myself entering. There, she hesitated. I propelled my hips an inch up, twisted right then left before falling back down, a micro-fuck."Ah," she emoted her approval. "My turn." Hana's knees spread to the side, making a memorable sound on the silk sheets as she impaled herself. This time she rolled her hips forward, back, then did a slow 360 with me  inside her, letting the slow progress over her spark memories for her to savor. "I never believed sex could be like this," Hana hiccupped."How so?" I knew the answer, but wanted her to put her chaotic passions to words. It would make her happier."Experimenting, silly. Stopping in the middle and doing, this," she reversed her hip rotations this time. "I never imagined a lover having such patience, or,""Yourself as being so openly sexually adventurous?" I finished."Yeah," she huffed. "I really, really owe your college professor, plus you and all your diligence, for this," at the last moment, she encountered the gateway to her G-spot. I knew precisely where that gem was. Previously, Hana had gained a vague idea where it was from the perspective of masturbation and our prior lovemaking. Now I had let Hana rediscover that joy with my cock as her tool to utilize as she wished."You realize pregnant women want even more sex," she hummed. She was vigorously working my cock now. Hana had bridged a huge gap, sexually. Normally, a woman of Hana's quality tried to please her man first with the hope her orgasm would soon follow. I was different. My greatest sexual gratification came from her ecstasy. She was confident in that now. By bringing herself to climax, she was making me excited for what would come next."That's okay," I propped myself up on one elbow now that Hana was riding me cowgirl-style. "I dig big chicks." The open-palm slap to the chest was a given."Hercege, you, you are horrible," she growled around a feral smile. The lip-biting, tongue-sucking kiss was equally vicious, primal and leading Hana to the end of her tether. Not only was Hana's sexual trust in me/us expanding, she was putting extra effort into her physical workout regime too. She might still have a ways to go to compete with an Amazon, but it was still going to be a great night."Hercegn , I am nothing but a twisted shadow of masculine lust whose every contour is cast by your muliebrous glow," I teased. Her eyes twinkled. Yes, definitely still going to be a great night."Okay," Hana yawned, "I give up. What does 'muliebrous' mean?" She'd been holding on to that for an hour and a half. It was five-thirty and I was dressing in my biking clothes before heading into work."From the Latin 'muliebri' which means 'womanly'," I answered. Her sleepy eyes drank in both my response and my physique. I had discovered another thing Hana liked and that was to expand her academic/linguistic frontiers. She was enchanted with the idea that I liked to engage her mind along with her body, sparking on all cylinders.She'd crawled over to my side of the bed, her head resting on my pillow, soaking up my scent as she watched me. I knelt down, kissed her on her ear, cheek and finally the side of her lips. Hana was beat."Have a good day and be careful," she mumbled. Her eyes closed. Her chest rose with one last, waking breath before her sleep rhythms took her."Ditto," I whispered. I snuck into  Annela's room and planted a kiss on her head as well. The craziness of my life had a way of cascading over to the ones I loved. Loved? Oh boy,7:00 am Monday, September 8th, Graduation Day!Brielle and her buddy were humming along as the elevator doors closed. Once more, my 'hellish' schedule demanded I change in the elevator. I'd gone to gun practice with my bike clothes on, so I absolutely had to change into business attire in the magic box, in front of them.Juanita adjusting my tie was a less than subtle attempt to strangle me. I was about to be late to my final 'start of day' meeting as an intern in Executive Services, so her chastisement would have to wait. Who would have thunk it? Juanita would have to wait outside for this ceremony. Paula raced with me to be the last one in, only to have Daphne grace us with the 'news':"The meeting won't start for another fifteen minutes," she grinned. "Katrina is bringing up the 'new hires' for the fall program."I finger-flicked my head. The 84 days as an intern was merely the 'training wheels' period. To really be a member of ES was at least a two year training process. The Amazons around me had started their training for this gig when they were fifteen and were eighteen and nineteen now, their ID's said they were older for legal purposes.In theory, my four years in college was counted as 'preliminary' training and provided things such as acclimation to outsider culture ~ aka 'acting normal'. Logically, I would train under someone like Desiree or Buffy for a year before being a full-fledged member of the service."How many this time?" I asked Daphne since she seemed to be in the know."Twenty," she grinned. "We are getting two."I noticed there was still only my tiny desk in Katrina's office. That meant the new guys would be out in the office pool with everyone else. Probably for the best. The ladies were now used to having a male around, so would be careful in what they did and didn't say. I yawned."Tired," Fabiola smirked."Oh yeah," I stifled another yawn. "Met an emissary from the Pope." Fabiola glowered. "No. Seriously. I met an emissary from Holy See. I let Hana know I wanted to get married in a highly improbable place, a ruined cathedral, so she contacted the Catholic Church and one of their guys wanted to meet with me.""That had to be fun," Tigger grinned. "What does the Cult of the Nazarene think of you and the Goddess Ishara?""We actually discussed polytheism and the place of an omnipotent, omnipresent being in the scope of things," I placed my hands behind my back and rocked back and forth. "It was quite interesting. The guy knew his shit."By that, I meant he was probably with the Pope's Secret Service as well as a Brainiac with a PhD in something. He'd promised to be in touch as soon as he heard back from his superiors. He had this hot chick with him who I suspected was a nun. And if his driver wasn't ex-military, it was because he was still in the service. On the plus side, Hana had been beaming when we left, which assured me the meeting had gone well, so we had sex from 4 AM until 5:30, thus my current fatigued state."Are you going to abandon your faith?" Fabiola taunted me."I don't have faith, Fabiola of Minerva. Faith would imply I don't know there are supernatural entities screwing with our lives. I know they do exist, I've met a few. To satisfy your disingenuous curiosity, we discussed the nature of the Weave and it being the possible manifestation of God's Will.""How did that go?" Paula appeared interested."He strongly suggested I should 'revisit my Catholic roots' soon. By that, I think he meant I'm supposed to start attending church regularly," I shrugged. "The Pope is sending an envoy to the Great Khan too, so odds are good I'm getting married," I pronounced the last bit as the doom-laden prediction it was."Oh, yes," Fabiola reached passed Paula and smacked me in the chest with the back of her hand. "That is for insinuating you and I had intercourse to my Mother and the Council.""Was that chastising me for lying, or for not making it so?" I winked."Ah, no!" she pouted. "Stop lying about me."I looked down at my phone."We've got twelve minutes," I double-pumped my eyebrows. "Want to go to Katrina's bathroom?""What! No!" Fabiola

Welcome to 6° of Schwarzenegger, where hosts Kevin and Eric take a deep dive into the action-packed world of Lionheart! In this episode, we break down Jean-Claude Van Damme's 1990 cult classic, following Lyon Gaultier's journey from the French Foreign Legion to underground street fights in LA. From his brother's tragic death to epic battles against foes like the Scotsman, we explore the film's 80s and 90s action vibes, Cynthia's relentless seduction attempts, and Joshua's unwavering bromance. Packed with high-waisted jeans, roller-skating bet-takers, and a Pretty Woman-style montage, we dissect the plot, production quirks (same hospital as Hard to Kill!), and Van Damme's signature sad saxophone moments. Plus, we spotlight a young Ashley Johnson and debate the film's Street Fighter-esque flair. Join us for action movie nostalgia, bourbon-fueled banter, and a nod to Arnold's self-aware legacy.

Action movie fans, join Eric and Kevin in this '6° of Schwarzenegger' episode as they dive into Jean-Claude Van Damme's underrated gem, Lionheart! From gritty street fights to Joshua's noble hustle, we break down why this 90s cult classic feels like the Street Fighter movie we never got. Expect nostalgia, martial arts madness, and hilarious tangents about Die Hard, Bloodsport, and Chuck Norris' Sidekicks. We'll recap Leon's escape from the French Foreign Legion, his bare-knuckle brawls in New York, and Cynthia's wild underground fighting ring. Stick around for bourbon-fueled rants and our love for Joshua, the real MVP.

Action movie lovers, join Kevin and Eric on 6° of Schwarzenegger as we kick off an epic deep dive into 1991's Lionheart—a Jean-Claude Van Damme cult classic that's way better than it has any right to be! From the French Foreign Legion to underground street fighting, we unpack this 80s and 90s action flick's surprising craftsmanship, snappy dialogue, and standout performances by Van Damme, Harrison Page, and a shockingly good cast. We're talking production design that pops, vintage JCVD kicks, and a plot that actually makes sense—plus, how it outshines flops like Street Fighter. Whether you're a Van Damme fan or new to this hidden gem, hit play and tell us your thoughts below! #ActionMovies #Lionheart #JeanClaudeVanDamme #80sAction #PodcastReview

Last time we spoke about the Great Tokyo Air Raid. Amidst fierce battles, Liversedge's forces captured key hills but faced relentless Japanese machine-gun fire. Despite heavy casualties, the Marines advanced, securing strategic positions. General Kuribayashi recognized their struggle, while the Japanese counterattacks faltered. After 19 grueling days, the last pockets of resistance fell, marking a costly victory for the Americans. Amid the fierce battle of Iwo Jima, General LeMay shifted tactics, launching incendiary raids on Tokyo. On March 9, 1945, 334 B-29s unleashed destruction, igniting widespread fires and devastating neighborhoods. The attack shattered Japanese morale, while LeMay's strategy proved effective, paving the way for further offensives in the Pacific. On March 3, three brigades attacked Meiktila, facing fierce resistance. Tanks overwhelmed Japanese forces, resulting in heavy casualties. As Cowan fortified defenses, Japanese counterattacks intensified. Meanwhile, in Mandalay, British-Indian troops advanced, capturing key positions. Amidst confusion and conflicting orders, the Allies pressed forward, striving for victory in Burma. This episode is the Fall of Mandalay Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  We are first picking up this week with the men fighting over northern Luzon. By March 5, General Clarkson's 33rd Division had advanced to Agoo and Pago while gradually pushing the enemy along Route 11. Meanwhile, Colonel Volckmann's guerrilla force was carrying out limited offensives in the Laoag, Cervantes, and San Fernando regions. Coming into Salacsac Pass from the west, the Villa Verde Trail twists up the wooded western slopes of a steep-sided height known to the 32nd Division as Hill 502. Another peak, bare crested, forming part of the same hill mass and named Hill 503, centers 250 yards northeast of the crest of Hill 502, while a similar distance to the southeast is Hill 504. Winding along the southern slopes of Hills 502 and 504, the trail continues eastward through a low saddle about 500 yards long, climbing again up the forested northwestern side of Hill 505. After crossing that hill, the trail follows a twisting course 600 yards--as the crow flies--eastward, hugging the densely wooded northern slopes of Hills 506A and 506B. Off the northeast corner of Hill 506B the trail turns south for 1000 yards--again a straight-line distance--and traverses the east side of the noses of Hill 507, designated from north to south A, B, C and D. Turning sharply east again near Hill 507D, the trail continues east another 700 yards and then enters a deep wooded saddle between Hill 508 on the south and Hill 515 to the north. After passing through this saddle, which is about 250 yards long east to west, the trail goes on eastward, dominated on the north by Hills 516 and 525. Roughly 1250 yards beyond the saddle the trail twists across the northern slopes of Hill 526, which lying about 500 yards southeast of Hill 525, marks the eastern limits of the Salacsac Pass area. A mile and a quarter of less rugged but still forested and difficult terrain lies between Hill 526 and barrio Imugan, in turn two and a quarter miles west of Santa Fe.  Meanwhile General Mullins' 25th Division had successfully taken control of Puncan and Digdig. Due to this unexpectedly swift progress, General Swift instructed Mullins to continue advancing toward Putlan while the 1st Battalion, 127th Regiment fought for control of Hill 502, which was secured on March 7. In response, Mullins dispatched the 161st Regiment to attack the high ground west of Route 5, the 27th Regiment to advance along and east of the highway, and the 35th Regiment to execute a wide envelopment to the east. Since this last flank approach to Putlan was completely undefended, the 1st Battalion, 35th Regiment quickly occupied Putlan on March 8. The following day, the 27th Regiment also arrived in the area and began clearing Japanese stragglers from the ravines east of Route 5 near the barrio, a task that would not be finished until March 15. Finally, despite facing rough terrain and light resistance, the 161st Regiment reached Putlan on March 10, successfully securing the high ground to the west. To the north, as the 1st Battalion, 127th Regiment struggled to make significant progress eastward after capturing Hill 502, Gill decided to send the 3rd Battalion, 127th Regiment to outflank the Salacsac Pass defenses from the south.  Although the extremely rough, precipitous mountain country of the Salacsac Pass area, averaging 4500 feet above sea level, was covered by dense rainforest, from Hill 506B to Hill 526, there was sufficient open ground throughout to provide the defender with excellent observation. It was not too difficult for the Japanese to find positions whence they could cover with fire every square foot of the Villa Verde Trail through the pass area. The twisting of the trail also provided defense opportunities, for in a given 1000 yards of straight-line distance through the pass, the trail might actually cover a ground distance of 3000 yards. Whatever its shortcomings in other fields, the Japanese Army always had a feel for terrain, exploiting to the full every advantage the ground offered. Thus, as it moved up, the 2nd Tank Division set to work to establish a system of mutually supporting defensive positions in order to control every twist of the Villa Verde Trail and every fold in the ground throughout the pass area. Every knoll and hillock on or near the trail was the site of at least one machine gun emplacement; every wooded draw providing a route for outflanking a position was zeroed in for artillery or mortars. The cave, natural or man-made, came to characterize the defenses. Artillery was employed in quantity and quality not often encountered in engagements against the Japanese, who, as usual, made excellent use of their light and medium mortars. Finally, the 2nd Tank Division was overstocked in automatic weapons, evidently having available many more than the 32nd Division could bring to bear. To the west, following recent successes in patrols, Clarkson opted to establish a new "secure line" stretching from Aringay southeast through Pugo to Route 11 at Twin Peaks. Consequently, patrols quickly secured Aringay and Caba without facing any opposition, then advanced east along the trails to Pugo and Galiano, and north to Bauang, where they continued to encounter minimal enemy presence. As a result of these movements, the Hayashi Detachment was ultimately withdrawn to bolster the main defenses at Sablan, enabling Volckman's 121st Regiment to enter San Fernando on March 14. Additionally, elements of the 19th Division began arriving in the Cervantes area from Baguio and successfully expelled the guerrilla company from the town in early March. The Filipinos recaptured Cervantes on March 13 but soon found themselves targeted by Japanese artillery positioned on elevated ground. Meanwhile, looking south, by March 5, General Patrick's 6th Division had commenced unsuccessful assaults on Mounts Pacawagan and Mataba, while General Hoffman's 2nd Cavalry Brigade struggled to advance toward the Antipolo area. Recognizing that the success of his attack required a concentration of forces along a narrower front, General Griswold decided to focus on the Noguchi Force and the left flank of the Kobayashi Force, as the northern area was heavily fortified. He retained only one battalion as an infantry reserve and directed the remainder of his available forces, all of which were understrength, to push eastward. Alongside the deployment of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, the 103rd Regiment reached Taytay on March 7 to serve as the 1st Cavalry Division Reserve, signaling the upcoming relief of the cavalrymen in preparation for their redeployment to southern Luzon. By March 10, General Wing's 43rd Division had been replaced in the Clark Field area by the 38th Division and was en route to the eastern front.  The 38th Division pushed on into the untracked, ill-explored, and worse-mapped wilderness of the central Zambales Range, its progress slowed more by supply problems than Japanese resistance. In early April the division noted that the last vestiges of any controlled defensive effort had disappeared. Unknown to 11th Corps General Tsukada, on April 6, had given up and had ordered his remaining forces to disperse and continue operations, if possible, as guerrillas. For the Japanese remnants, it was a case of sauve qui peut. Some tried to escape to Luzon's west coast, whence 38th Division troops were already patrolling inland; others tried to make their way north through the mountains, only to be cut down by American patrols working southward from Camp O'Donnell. The 38th Division had killed about 8000 of the scattering Japanese by the time it was relieved by units of the 6th Division on May 3. The losses of the 38th totaled approximately 100 men killed and 500 wounded. The 6th Division, elements of which remained in the Kembu area until June 25, limited its operations to patrolling and setting up trail blocks along Japanese routes of escape. Troops of the 38th Division ultimately returned to the region and remained there until the end of the war. Insofar as US forces were concerned, the mop-up period under 11th Corps control was even more costly than had been the 14th Corps' offensive period. From February 21 to the end of June the various elements of 11th Corps committed to action against the Kembu Group lost approximately 550 men killed and 2200 wounded. The Kembu Group, during the same period, lost 12500 killed or dead from starvation and disease. By the end of the war the original 30000 troops of the Kembu Group were reduced to approximately 1500 sorry survivors, about 1000 of them Army personnel. Another 500 had already been taken prisoner. As a result, General Tsukada ordered his remaining troops to scatter and operate as guerrillas. Meanwhile, Griswold resumed his eastern offensive on March 8. In the south, bolstered by artillery and mortars, the battered 2nd Cavalry Brigade continued to advance slowly under heavy artillery fire, reaching a point 440 yards short of Antipolo along Route 60A and overcoming the enemy cave defenses at Benchmark 11. By March 11, patrols had entered Antipolo, discovering the town was devastated and deserted, yet still under the threat of Japanese artillery and mortars positioned in the hills to the north and northeast. Simultaneously, the 1st Cavalry Brigade made significant strides to the north, also coming within 440 yards of Antipolo while clearing Benchmark 9 Hill and Hills 520 and 740. Abandoning the Montalban-San Mateo area, Patrick instructed the 1st and 20th Regiments to advance toward Mounts Baytangan and Yabang. Facing unexpectedly light resistance, the 1st Regiment advanced a mile and a half east by March 11 and secured Benchmark 8 Hill to the south despite encountering stubborn opposition. Recognizing the need to capitalize on this success, Patrick then ordered the 20th Regiment to move through the 1st and attack north toward Wawa Dam while the latter continued its eastward assault. On March 11, the 103rd Regiment took over from the 2nd Cavalry Brigade and quickly began planning to outflank General Noguchi's defenses located southeast of Antipolo. However, due to concerns over American advances, General Yokoyama ordered the Noguchi Force to retreat to secondary defensive positions while preparing for a three-pronged counterattack set for March 12. The primary effort involved four reserve battalions from the Kobayashi Force, which launched an attack southward from Mount Mataba toward Marikina but were quickly halted by intense air and artillery fire, falling far short of their target. Additionally, the 182nd Independent Battalion attempted a counterattack toward Benchmark 8 but was unsuccessful, while the majority of the Kawashima Force advanced south from the Ipo Dam area to assault the rear installations of the 6th Division west of the Marikina River, where they were easily repelled by March 15. During this so-called counterattack, Griswold continued his offensive, with the 103rd Regiment swiftly advancing through the deserted Antipolo to Benchmark 7 Hill, and the 20th Regiment moving over a mile north to secure a position on a grassy ridge less than a mile southeast of Mount Mataba's summit. On March 14, the 1st Regiment resumed its eastern assault, successfully advancing north to a bare peak about a mile southwest of Mount Baytangan, despite facing strong resistance that caused heavy casualties, including the loss of General Patrick, who was succeeded by Brigadier-General Charles Hurdis as commander of the 6th Division. Simultaneously, Wing initiated a coordinated offensive with two regiments toward Mounts Yabang, Caymayuman, and Tanauan, aiming to flank the Shimbu Group's left. Although the 103rd and 179th Regiments achieved significant progress that day, Noguchi's determined defenders managed to maintain control of Benchmark 7. Looking further south, Griswold was preparing to launch a two-pronged offensive in southern Luzon. General Swing's 511th Parachute Regiment and the 187th Glider Regiment were set to advance towards Lipa from the north and northwest, while the 158th Regiment gathered near Nasugbu to attack southeast along Route 17 toward Balayan Bay. In response, Colonel Fujishige's Fuji Force had established several small positions in the area to prevent American forces from flanking the Shimbu Group's main defenses by rounding the eastern shore of Laguna de Bay. Swing's offensive commenced on March 7, with the 187th Glider Regiment descending the steep southern slopes of Tagaytay Ridge to the northern shore of Lake Taal, ultimately stopping at a hill two miles west of Tanauan due to strong resistance. The 511th Parachute Regiment moved out from Real, reaching within a mile of Santo Tomas while launching unsuccessful frontal assaults on Mount Bijiang. Meanwhile, the 158th Regiment advanced from Nasugbu, quickly securing Balayan before pushing eastward with little opposition toward Batangas, which fell on March 11. On its eastward path, the regiment bypassed significant elements of the 2nd Surface Raiding Base Force on the Calumpan Peninsula, necessitating that a battalion clear that area by March 16. At the same time, other units of the 158th Regiment encountered robust Japanese defenses blocking Route 417 at Mount Macolod, where their advance came to a halt. Concurrently, General Eichelberger continued his offensive against the central islands of the Visayan Passages, with reinforced companies from the 1st Battalion, 19th Regiment successfully landing on Romblon and Simara islands on March 11 and 12, respectively. Most importantly for Eichelberger, he was about to initiate his Visayas Campaign. To disrupt Japanese communication lines across the South China Sea, the 8th Army needed to quickly capture airfields that would allow the Allied Air Forces to project land-based air power over the waters west of the Philippines more effectively than from Clark Field or Mindoro. Consequently, the first target chosen was Palawan, which was defended by only two reinforced companies from the 102nd Division. Additionally, MacArthur's strategy included the eventual reoccupation of the East Indies, starting with the capture of Japanese-controlled oil resources in northern Borneo as soon as land-based air support was available. The Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago were identified as the second targets, although these areas were defended by stronger garrisons from the 54th and 55th Independent Mixed Brigades. Despite this, Eichelberger tasked Major-General Jens Doe's 41st Division with executing these invasions. For the Palawan invasion, codenamed Operation Victor III, Brigadier-General Harold Haney was appointed to lead a force primarily composed of the 186th Regiment, which would be transported to the island by Admiral Fechteler's Task Group 78.2. The convoy departed from Mindoro on February 26, escorted by Rear-Admiral Ralph Riggs' cruisers and destroyers. Following a naval bombardment, Haney's Palawan Force successfully landed at Puerto Princesa on February 28 without encountering any opposition. They quickly secured the town and the two airstrips to the east, advancing to the western and southern shores of the harbor by late afternoon to establish a defensive perimeter. As the first day progressed, it became clear to the American troops that the Japanese troops would not put up a fight at Puerto Princesa and had withdrawn into the hills to the northwest. More disturbing was the revelation of a massacre of approximately 140 American prisoners of war the previous December. The presence of a passing Allied convoy made the alarmed Japanese believe that an invasion was imminent and had herded their prisoners into air-raid shelters, subsequently setting the shelters afire and shooting prisoners who tried to escape. Only 11 American prisoners of war miraculously survived immolation and escaped the shooting. Sheltered by natives until the Americans landed, they emerged during the battle to tell their horrifying tale, which only hardened American resolve to end Japanese rule over the island. By March 1, the 186th Regiment had successfully taken control of Irahuan and Tagburos. In the following week, American forces would eliminate two or three heavily defended strongholds located ten miles north-northwest of Puerto Princesa, where the enemy garrison was ultimately defeated. The Palawan Force also conducted reconnaissance of several offshore islets, discovering no Japanese presence on some and swiftly clearing others. However, due to the poorly compacted soil, the new airfield on the island would not be operational until March 20, which was too late for any aircraft based in Palawan to assist with the Zamboanga landings. Consequently, on March 8, two reinforced companies from the 21st Regiment were flown to the airstrip at Dipolog, which had been secured by Colonel Hipolito Garma's guerrilla 105th Division. On the same day, sixteen Marine Corsairs arrived to provide air support for the invasion of Zamboanga, codenamed Operation Victor IV. For this operation, Doe assigned the remainder of his division, which was to be transported by Rear-Admiral Forrest Royal's Task Group 78.1. After three days of pre-assault bombardments and minesweeping, the convoy finally set sail southward and entered Basilan Strait from the west early on March 10. Troops from the 162nd Regiment landed almost without opposition around 09:15 near barrio San Mateo and quickly secured Wolfe Field, while the 163rd Regiment was also landing. Doe's two regiments then began to advance inland, facing minimal resistance as they established a night perimeter. With the Japanese having withdrawn, the 162nd and 163rd Regiments easily secured Zamboanga City, San Roque Airfield, and the rest of the coastal plain by dusk on March 11, with one company extending further to Caldera Bay to the west. To drive the Japanese forces from the elevated positions overlooking the airfield, Doe dispatched the 162nd Regiment towards Mount Capisan and the 163rd Regiment towards Mount Pulungbata. Additionally, the guerrilla 121st Regiment was tasked with blocking the east coast road in the Belong area. Supported by continuous artillery fire and close air support from Marine Corps planes, the two regiments of the 41st Division faced arduous tasks. General Hojo's troops held excellent defenses in depth across a front 5 miles wide, some portions of the line being 3 miles deep. All installations were protected by barbed wire; abandoned ground was thoroughly booby-trapped; mine fields, some of them of the remote-control type, abounded; and at least initially the 54th Independent Mixed Brigade had an ample supply of automatic weapons and mortars. While Japanese morale on the Zamboanga Peninsula was not on a par with that of 14th Area Army troops on Luzon, most of the 54th Independent Mixed Brigade and attached units had sufficient spirit to put up a strong fight as long as they held prepared positions, and Hojo was able to find men to conduct harassing counterattacks night after night. Finally, the terrain through which the 41st Division had to attack was rough and overgrown, giving way on the north to the rain forests of the partially unexplored mountain range forming the backbone of the Zamboanga Peninsula. Only poor trails existed in most of the area held by the Japanese, and the 41st Division had to limit its advance to the pace of bulldozers, which laboriously constructed supply and evacuation roads. Once the American troops entered the peninsula's foothills, tanks could not operate off the bulldozed roads. The next day, the 186th Regiment was deployed to relieve the fatigued 163rd Regiment on the eastern front. By the end of the month, it had expanded the front eastward and northward against diminishing resistance, ultimately forcing Hojo's forces to retreat into the rugged interior of the peninsula. For now, however, we will shift our focus from the Philippines to Burma to continue our coverage of the Chinese-British-Indian offensives. As we last observed, General Stopford's 33rd Corps was aggressively advancing into Mandalay against a weakened 15th Army, while General Cowan's 17th Indian Division had successfully captured Meiktila and was preparing to withstand the combined assaults of the 18th and 49th Divisions. Cowan's forces conducted a robust defense, managing to delay the arrival of the 49th Division until March 18 and successfully repelling General Naka's initial attacks on Meiktila's main airfield. Furthermore, with the reserve 5th Indian Division moving closer to the front in preparation for an advance towards Rangoon, General Slim decided to airlift the 9th Brigade to reinforce Cowan's troops, which landed on Meiktila's main airfield under enemy fire between March 15 and 17. Due to the slow progress on this front and General Katamura's preoccupation with the battles along the Irrawaddy, he was unable to manage the southern units simultaneously. Consequently, General Kimura decided to assign the 33rd Army to take over the fighting in Meiktila. General Honda promptly moved to Hlaingdet, where he was tasked with overseeing the 18th, 49th, and 53rd Divisions. On March 18, he ordered the 18th Division to secure the northern line of Meiktila and neutralize enemy airfields. He instructed the 49th Division to advance along the Pyawbwe-Meiktila road and directed the 53rd Division to regroup near Pyawbwe. However, on that same day, Cowan launched a counterattack by sending two tank-infantry columns to disrupt Japanese preparations along the Mahlaing road and in the villages of Kandaingbauk and Shawbyugan. They faced heavy resistance at Shawbyugan and ultimately had to withdraw. The relentless air assaults also compelled the Japanese to operate primarily at night, limiting their ability to respond with similar force to British offensives. On the night of March 20, Naka decided to initiate a significant attack on Meiktila's main airfield. However, with the 119th Regiment delayed at Shawbyugan, the 55th Regiment had to proceed alone, supported by some tanks, against the defenses of the 99th Brigade around Kyigon. Heavy artillery and mortar fire ultimately disrupted their assault. Meanwhile, as the 49th Division was consolidating its forces to the southeast, Cowan opted to send two tank-infantry columns to eliminate enemy concentrations at Nyaungbintha and Kinlu. Although the initial sweeps met little resistance, the 48th Brigade encountered strong Japanese positions at Shwepadaing on March 21. The next day, Cowan dispatched two tank-infantry columns to secure the Shwepadaing and Tamongan regions, but the British-Indian forces still struggled to eliminate the enemy defenders. That night, Lieutenant-General Takehara Saburo initiated his first significant assault, with the majority of the 106th Regiment targeting the defensive positions of the 48th Brigade in southeastern Meiktila. Despite the fierce and relentless attacks from the Japanese throughout the night, they were ultimately repelled by artillery and machine-gun fire, suffering heavy casualties. On March 23, Cowan sent another tank-infantry column to chase the retreating Japanese forces; however, the reformed 169th Regiment at Kinde successfully defended against this advance. Meanwhile, on the night of March 24, Naka launched another major offensive with the 55th and 119th Regiments, managing to capture Meiktila's main airfield. In response, Cowan quickly dispatched a tank-infantry column to clear the Mandalay road, successfully securing the area northeast of Kyigon by March 26. At this time, Honda had relocated his headquarters to Thazi to better coordinate the battle, although his troops had already suffered significant losses. For the next three days, Cowan's tanks and infantry continued to advance along the Mandalay road while the 63rd and 99th Brigades worked to eliminate Naka's artillery units south of Myindawgan Lake. By mid-March, Stopford's relentless pressure had forced the 31st and 33rd Divisions to retreat in chaos. On March 20, organized resistance in Mandalay was finally shattered as the 2nd British Division linked up with the 19th Indian Division. Consequently, the beleaguered Japanese units had no option but to withdraw in disarray towards the Shan Hills to the east. Following the collapse of the 15th Army front, the 33rd Army received orders on March 28 to hold its current positions only long enough to facilitate the withdrawal of the 15th Army. Consequently, while Cowan's units cleared the region north of Meiktila, Honda halted all offensive actions and promptly directed the 18th Division to secure the Thazi-Hlaingdet area. Additionally, the weakened 214th Regiment was tasked with moving to Yozon to support the withdrawal of the 33rd Division, while the 49th and 53rd Divisions were assigned to contain Meiktila to the south. As the battles for Mandalay and Meiktila unfolded, the reinforced 7th Indian Division at Nyaungu faced several intense assaults from General Yamamoto's 72nd Independent Mixed Brigade throughout March, ultimately advancing to Taungtha and clearing the route to Meiktila by the month's end. Meanwhile, in northern Burma, the 36th British Division advanced toward Mogok, which fell on March 19, while the 50th Chinese Division approached the Hsipaw area. Interestingly, the Japanese abandoned Hsipaw without resistance but launched a fierce counterattack between March 17 and 20. Ultimately, General Matsuyama had no option but to prepare for a withdrawal south toward Lawksawk and Laihka. At this stage, the 38th Chinese Division resumed its advance to Hsipaw; however, facing strong opposition along the route, they did not arrive until March 24, when the entire Burma Road was finally secured. General Sultan believed this was his final maneuver and recommended relocating the Chinese forces back to the Myitkyina area for air transport back to China, except for those needed to secure the Lashio-Hsipaw region. Additionally, the 36th Division continued its eastward push and eventually linked up with the 50th Division in the Kyaukme area by the end of the month before being reassigned to Slim's 14th Army. Looking south, the 74th Indian Brigade and West African forces advanced toward Kolan, while the 26th Indian Division established a new beachhead in the Letpan-Mae region. The 154th Regiment maintained its position near the Dalet River, preventing the remainder of the 82nd West African Division from joining the offensive. On March 23, General Miyazaki decided to launch an attack on Kolan. Although the assault achieved moderate success, Miyazaki soon recognized that he was outnumbered and opted to begin a final withdrawal toward the An Pass, completing this by the end of the month.   Meanwhile, on March 17, the 121st Regiment sent its 3rd Battalion to engage the enemy in the Sabyin area and hold their position along the Tanlwe River for as long as possible. Despite strong resistance from the Japanese, British-Indian forces managed to cross the Tanlwe by March 27 and successfully captured Hill 815 two days later. By March 30, the 22nd East African Brigade had also reached Letpan when High Command decided to relieve the units of the 26th Division and return them to India. In a related development, tensions were rising in French Indochina, where the local government refused to permit a Japanese defense of the colony. By early March, Japanese forces began redeploying around the main French garrison towns in Indochina. The Japanese envoy in Saigon Ambassador Shunichi Matsumoto declared to Governor Admiral Jean Decoux that since an Allied landing in Indochina was inevitable, Tokyo command wished to put into place a "common defence" of Indochina. Decoux however resisted stating that this would be a catalyst for an Allied invasion but suggested that Japanese control would be accepted if they actually invaded. This was not enough and Tsuchihashi accused Decoux of playing for time. On 9 March, after more stalling by Decoux, Tsuchihashi delivered an ultimatum for French troops to disarm. Decoux sent a messenger to Matsumoto urging further negotiations but the message arrived at the wrong building. Tsuchihashi, assuming that Decoux had rejected the ultimatum, immediately ordered commencement of the coup. The 11th R.I.C. (régiment d'infanterie coloniale) based at the Martin de Pallieres barracks in Saigon were surrounded and disarmed after their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Moreau, was arrested. In Hue there was sporadic fighting; the Garde Indochinoise, who provided security for the résident supérieur, fought for 19 hours against the Japanese before their barracks was overrun and destroyed. Three hundred men, one third of them French, managed to elude the Japanese and escape to the A Sầu Valley. However, over the next three days, they succumbed to hunger, disease and betrayals - many surrendered while others fought their way into Laos where only a handful survived. Meanwhile, General Eugène Mordant led opposition by the garrison of Hanoi for several hours but was forced to capitulate, with 292 dead on the French side and 212 Japanese. An attempt to disarm a Vietnamese garrison ended badly for the Japanese when 600 of them marched into Quảng Ngãi. The Vietnamese nationalists had been armed with automatic weapons supplied by the OSS parachuted nearby at Kontum. The Japanese had been led to believe that these men would readily defect but the Vietnamese ambushed the Japanese. Losing only three killed and seventeen wounded they inflicted 143 killed and another 205 wounded on the Japanese before they too were overcome. A much larger force of Japanese came the next day but they found the garrison empty. In Annam and Cochinchina only token resistance was offered and most garrisons, small as they were, surrendered. Further north the French had the sympathy of many indigenous peoples. Several hundred Laotians volunteered to be armed as guerrillas against the Japanese; French officers organized them into detachments but turned away those they did not have weapons for. In Haiphong the Japanese assaulted the Bouet barracks: headquarters of Colonel Henry Lapierre's 1st Tonkin Brigade. Using heavy mortar and machine gun fire, one position was taken after another before the barracks fell and Lapierre ordered a ceasefire. Lapierre refused to sign surrender messages for the remaining garrisons in the area. Codebooks had also been burnt which meant the Japanese then had to deal with the other garrisons by force. In Laos, Vientiane, Thakhek and Luang Prabang were taken by the Japanese without much resistance. In Cambodia the Japanese with 8,000 men seized Phnom Penh and all major towns in the same manner. All French personnel in the cities on both regions were either interned or in some cases executed. The Japanese strikes at the French in the Northern Frontier in general saw the heaviest fighting. One of the first places they needed to take and where they amassed the 22nd division was at Lang Son, a strategic fort near the Chinese border. The defences of Lang Son consisted of a series of fort complexes built by the French to defend against a Chinese invasion. The main fortress was the Fort Brière de l'Isle. Inside was a French garrison of nearly 4000 men, many of them Tonkinese, with units of the French Foreign Legion. Once the Japanese had cut off all communications to the forts they invited General Émile Lemonnier, the commander of the border region, to a banquet at the headquarters of the Japanese 22nd Division. Lemonnier declined to attend the event, but allowed some of his staff to go in his place. They were then taken prisoner and soon after the Japanese bombarded Fort Brière de l'Isle, attacking with infantry and tanks. The small forts outside had to defend themselves in isolation; they did so for a time, proving impenetrable, and the Japanese were repelled with some loss. They tried again the next day and succeeded in taking the outer positions. Finally, the main fortress of Brière de l'Isle was overrun after heavy fighting. Lemonnier was subsequently taken prisoner himself and ordered by a Japanese general to sign a document formally surrendering the forces under his command. Lemonnier refused to sign the documents. As a result, the Japanese took him outside where they forced him to dig a grave along with French Resident-superior (Résident-général) Camille Auphelle. Lemonnier again was ordered to sign the surrender documents and again refused. The Japanese subsequently beheaded him. The Japanese then machine-gunned some of the prisoners and either beheaded or bayoneted the wounded survivors. Lang Son experienced particularly intense fighting, with the 22nd Division relentlessly assaulting the 4,000-strong garrison for two days until the main fortress was captured. The Japanese then advanced further north to the border town of Dong Dang, which fell by March 15. The battle of Lạng Sơn cost the French heavy casualties and their force on the border was effectively destroyed. European losses were 544 killed, of which 387 had been executed after capture. In addition 1,832 Tonkinese colonial troops were killed (including 103 who were executed) while another 1,000 were taken prisoner. On 12 March planes of the US Fourteenth Air Force flying in support of the French, mistook a column of Tonkinese prisoners for Japanese and bombed and strafed them. Reportedly between 400 and 600 of the prisoners were killed or wounded.  Nonetheless, the coup was highly successful, with the Japanese subsequently encouraging declarations of independence from traditional rulers in various regions. On 11 March 1945, Emperor Bảo Đại was permitted to announce the Vietnamese "independence"; this declaration had been prepared by Yokoyama Seiko, Minister for Economic Affairs of the Japanese diplomatic mission in Indochina and later advisor to Bao Dai. Bảo Đại complied in Vietnam where they set up a puppet government headed by Tran Trong Kim and which collaborated with the Japanese. King Norodom Sihanouk also obeyed, but the Japanese did not trust the Francophile monarch. Nationalist leader Son Ngoc Thanh, who had been exiled in Japan and was considered a more trustworthy ally than Sihanouk, returned to Cambodia and became Minister of foreign affairs in May and then Prime Minister in August. In Laos however, King Sisavang Vong of Luang Phrabang, who favoured French rule, refused to declare independence, finding himself at odds with his Prime Minister, Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa, but eventually acceded on 8 April. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. March 1945, saw US forces advance in Luzon, overcoming Japanese defenses through strategic maneuvers, while guerrilla activities intensified amid challenging terrain and heavy resistance. Meanwhile, in Burma, British-Indian forces advanced against Japanese troops, capturing key locations and in French Indochina the Japanese unleashed a brutal coup d'etat ushering in independence movements.

Joel Struthers spent six years as a legionnaire (and more specifically as a member of the elite Group Commando Parachutistes). The French Foreign Legion, a branch of the French army, is one of the most famous military organizations in the world. Joel is the author of Appel, A Canadian in the French Foreign Legion, which details his time with the Legion, his experiences, the selection and recruitment process, and combat deployments to Africa. Joel is also a helicopter pilot and a partner in a Canadian risk mitigation firm that solves difficult problems in challenging environments Today's Sponsors: Black Rifle Coffee- https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/ BetterHelp- This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/CLEAREDHOT and get on your way to being your best self.

Hello and welcome to the 136th episode of Film Freakz, the podcast about movies! In this episode we talk about the movie The Mummy from 1999. This podcast features YemmytheFerret (Yemmy), RaeofPositivity (Rae), Taymation Studios (Tay), and GreedyWaffle (Nick). This movie was recommended by Yemmy who was traumatized by the scarabs when he was a kid. At an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hamunaptra, an American serving in the French Foreign Legion accidentally awakens a mummy who begins to wreak havoc as he searches for the reincarnation of his long-lost love. Directed by Stephen Sommers. Thanks for listening on all platforms! We want YOUR recommendations for the FAN VOTE! Send them in by commenting on the YouTube version, messaging us on our social medias, or sending us an email! Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/yemmytheferret Twitter: https://twitter.com/YemmyTheFerret Join my Discord: https://discord.gg/b9NaNgp

I sat down with one of my South African Professional Hunters, Johan Seyffert, at the Dallas Safari Club convention and recorded a short interview about how he got started in this line of work and some funny and noteworthy experiences he has had over the years, like how he went from serving in the French Foreign Legion to floating in a rowboat surrounded by crocodiles. We also talk about misconceptions people have about hunting Africa, common mistakes visiting hunters make, and how to make the most out of a hunt in Africa. Subscribe to The Big Game Hunting Podcast on YouTube here Sponsor: Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams come true on a hunt with Johan or Kobus in South Africa. We offer outstanding hunting safaris, simplified hunt logistics, assistance with many of the pain points associated with a hunt, and up front pricing with no extra fees. We are full for 2025 and June/July 2026, but still have some openings remaining otherwise next year. Visit bestsafarihunt.com or email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com to learn more. 

Taylor Cavanaugh, a former Navy SEAL, brings us into his life which feels straight out of an action movie at times. From battling ISIS in the deserts of the Middle East to surviving grueling SEAL training and joining the legendary French Foreign Legion, Taylor shares his incredible journey of resilience, transformation, and redemption. He dives into the details of being discharged by the SEALs and what life is really like for a mercenary. Go Support Taylor! Website: https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficial/ YouTube: @tcavofficial This Episode Is #Sponsored By MINT MOBILE! Support the show and get your new 3-month premium wireless plan for just $15 a month at https://mintmobile.com/connect Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Juan Pablo Quiñonez, winner of the ninth season of the survival TV series 'Alone,' shares his unique approach to wilderness survival, resilience, and embracing adversity. Raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, and trained with the French Foreign Legion, Juan Pablo discusses his journey from a love for nature to surviving solo for 78 days in the subarctic lands of Labrador. The conversation delves into his strategic decisions during the show, such as fasting and drinking unboiled water, and the broader philosophies of resilience, leadership, and the interconnectedness of life. Juan Pablo also talks about his current project, starting a homestead, and his upcoming book that explores the meta-crisis facing our civilization. Episode Highlights: 07:03 Survival Challenges and Strategies 32:12 The Illusion of Goals and Fulfillment 33:43 The Importance of Process Over Goals 41:28 Compassion and Empathy in Survival 50:18 Navigating Complex Problems with Love Juan Pablo Quiñonez is a survival specialist and outdoor professional with over 10 years of experience in outdoor recreation and survival. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership. His outdoor and survival experiences include backpacking the entire Pacific Crest Trail (2650 mi) in 99 days; paddling over 1,500 miles during numerous whitewater and flatwater trips (including the Hayes River to Hudson Bay); living for six months in the wild with his partner, Jennifer Ford, foraging to complement their semi-starvation rations; and spending 100 days foraging in solitude during the boreal winter (supported only by small rations); and being a participant in Season 9 of the hit survival series Alone. He is the author of Thrive: Long-Term Wilderness Survival Guide You can learn more here: https://jpquinonez.com/ Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the depths of despair to unparalleled heights of personal redemption. This week, Marcus and Melanie meet with Taylor Cavanaugh, whose story is one of grit, resilience, and transformation. A former Navy SEAL turned French Foreign Legionnaire, Taylor is the only person to hold this unique distinction. His journey has taken him from jail cells to homelessness and even suicidal thoughts, only to find salvation through discipline and a clear sense of purpose. In this episode, you'll hear firsthand about Taylor's turbulent path from becoming a Navy SEAL to being kicked out of the U.S. military; How a spiral of pleasure-chasing and lack of purpose led to hitting rock bottom; The life-changing moment of clarity that led him to France and the French Foreign Legion; The rigorous discipline and mental fortification that helped him rebuild his life, and practical insights on how to unlearn self-sabotaging behaviors, cultivate inner peace, and align daily habits with your long-term vision. Taylor is committed to teaching others how to reclaim their lives by building a strong body, mind, and spirit. He shares actionable strategies to create a beautiful life through discipline, mindfulness, and purposeful choices. His story is a powerful reminder that no matter how far you've fallen, redemption is possible through perseverance, discipline, and self-reflection. In This Episode You Will Hear: • I remember the day and the moment I wanted to be a SEAL. I was 7, and I was on the hill at Point Loma, and I go “Hey dad, what's that?” “Those are SEALS training in the bay. From that point on, I was in the library and Blockbuster getting the VHS tapes. I couldn't get enough of it. (10:41) • I was really good on the field with all that training, but the minute I got off the field, I lost my discipline. (11:50) • If anybody's aware of how BUDS is, it's like a living organism. (21:48) • I hit a guy in a bar – one time. That one punch changed the trajectory of my life, because I broke his orbital eye socket. (29:32) • I'm no victim. I knew it was against the rules. I did it, and I brought heat on myself. That's why the commanding officer at Team 7 gave me a general discharge. (34:03) • I started stacking some bad habits. Without building my self-worth. No alignment with God. I had lost my identity. (35:41) • Nobody could tell me anything, because “Hey look at all the external stuff,” but internally I was in chaos. (36:09) • You can't bend reality that long. (36:51) • I was just tired of trying. Then I had this moment. Reset man… It was that moment where I said “Fuck it. I'm going to the French Foreign Legion.” (37:36) • If you serve your time, you can get French citizenship. (39:01) • It was psychologically challenging. You're also alone. I lost my life. (43:30) • They gave me a fake French passport with a fake name: Trent Clayson. (43:47) • 150 nations are represented in the foreign legion. (47:54) • If they hear you speaking English, they're gonna reprimand you. Give you a little extra love. (50:53) • I started ratcheting up my discipline. Getting up at 3:30 in the morning. Training. Doing my macros. Reading the scripture. Really started going internal with it. I stated to feel better. (69:50) • I'm a conduit. I gotta hold myself to a higher standard. (71:10) • I didn't expect to do Rambo shit. I want to use it as a vehicle for self-development. (72:32) • We have rear view mirrors, to glance back to situational awareness, but that's why it's a lot smaller. (75:55) • Even professional athletes have coaches. (78:31) Socials: - Website: https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com/ - IG: https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficial - Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tcavofficial - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org           - GoodRX.com/TNQ   -  kalshi.com/TNQ    - PXG.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]

Sometimes a list is much more than a list. Happy reading.Blaise Cendrars (1887–1961) was the pseudonym of Frédéric Sauser, the Swiss son of a French Anabaptist father and a Scottish mother. As a young man he traveled widely, from St. Petersburg to New York and beyond, and these wanderings proved the inspiration of much of his later poetry and prose. Settled in Paris in 1912, Cendrars published two long poems, “Easter in New York” and “The Transsiberian,” which made him a major figure in the poetic avant-garde. At the outset of World War I, he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, losing an arm in the battle of the Marnes. A prolific poet, Cendrars was also an exceptional novelist, the author of Moravagine, Gold, Rhum, and The Confessions of Dan Yack, among many other books.-bio via New York Review of Books Get full access to The Daily Poem Podcast at dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Day Dollar Zero, Will Grimes and Eli Schmidt sit down with Taylor Cavanaugh, whose life sounds like it's straight from a movie. From serving as a Navy SEAL to joining the French Foreign Legion, Taylor's journey is filled with incredible highs and humbling lows. The conversation covers everything from the realities of military life to the challenges of starting over after leaving it all behind. Taylor opens up about the lessons he's learned along the way, including why mastering the fundamentals is crucial, how to build resilience in the face of adversity, and the power of living with intention. He also shares how he transitioned from elite military units to becoming a performance coach, helping others build structure and self-discipline in their lives. It's an honest, unfiltered look at grit, growth, and the mindset needed to overcome life's toughest challenges. This is one episode you won't want to skip. Chapters [4:20] - Taylor's introduction and the journey from Navy SEALs to the French Foreign Legion. [12:35] - The camaraderie and culture differences between military units and civilian life. [20:15] - Facing rock-bottom moments and the pivotal decision to rebuild from nothing. [32:50] - Insights into the French Foreign Legion's structure and purpose. [45:30] - Transitioning from military life to civilian entrepreneurship and coaching. [1:02:10] - The importance of mastering fundamentals and fostering deliberate habits. [1:15:45] - Taylor's coaching philosophy: building structure and fostering self-discipline. [1:30:20] - The power of resilience and perspective in overcoming adversity. Website: https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com Instagram:   @tcavofficial   YouTube:   @tcavofficial  

From the Navy SEALs, to Delta Force, Marines, and the French Foreign Legion—this Veteran's Day, we're honoring all America's warriors with five unforgettable stories from former Mike Drop guests. Every November 11th, America celebrates its service men and women, reflecting on the heroism of those who have selflessly served our great nation. For some this is a day of gratitude, and for others, a day of regret. Each veteran featured has a unique journey, from moments of courage and sacrifice to powerful experiences that helped shape them into the men they are today. USMC Veteran Ryan Rogers reflects on the times he was made to be a man of his word in Afghanistan, while Delta Force operator Tom Satterly recounts the intense Battle of Mogadishu—more commonly known as Black Hawk Down. Navy SEAL and French Foreign Legionnaire Taylor Cavanaugh opens up about his battle with addiction and redemption in France; Navy SEAL Zack Ferguson speaks on family, duty, and devastation; and the Sheriff of Baghdad, John 'Shrek' McPhee, shares remarkable solo missions, including his role in bringing down Saddam Hussein's sons.  It's been an honor sharing the stage with such remarkable men and having the opportunity to share their stories with our listeners. A sincere and heartfelt thank you to those who have served, and the family and citizens that support their efforts. Happy Veteran's Day. Subscribe to the Mike Drop Patreon Page to see Ad-Free Episodes Early + Bonus Content at https://www.patreon.com/mikedrop  ---------- Support Ryan Rogers -  Full Mike Drop Episode 172: https://youtu.be/wBEe7A6hlRQ Website: https://choicesnotchancespodcast.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsqcmxKqaR4dIFFpaJxhtrQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choicesnotchancespodcast Support Tom Satterly - Full Mike Drop Episode 153: https://youtu.be/-wDcQqiOpqQ Website: https://www.tomsatterly.com Podcast: All Secure with Tom & Jen: https://allsecure.buzzsprout.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomsatterly Support Taylor Cavanaugh -  Full Mike Drop Episode 165: https://youtu.be/JhFOHZ9CbRo Website: https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tcavofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficial Support Zack Ferguson -  Full Mike Drop Episode 192: https://youtu.be/WVEPGjBgBPw Website: https://zackkferg.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zackkferg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zackkferg Support John McPhee -  Full Mike Drop Episode 195: https://youtu.be/NGmxiQXYXlc Website: https://sobtactical.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sobtactical Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sobtactical ---------- Sponsors:  Beam Take advantage of Beam's biggest sale of the year and get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to https://www.shopbeam.com/MIKEDROP and use promo code MIKEDROP at checkout! ---------- SLNT Go SILENT Today at https://slnt.com/mikedrop to save 15% plus FREE SHIPPING on qualifying orders. Stay ahead of what's coming and help secure your privacy today at https://slnt.com/mikedrop!  ---------- TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS Be Your Dog's Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog's health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise. https://www.teamdog.shop  TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike's bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog.  https://www.teamdog.pet  SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS  Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog https://shop.mikeritland.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you think you are in the wrong place, you probably are.In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand.Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected..“Believing in yourself is not enough. You must impress that belief upon the Universe.”(Monday)My pain was legendary. Fine, my pain was epic. Okay, my pain was really bad, only exacerbated by a busy weekend. Sunday had started out fine. The girls hadn't minded being cooped up in my place for half of the day. We all worked out in the morning, which Nikita found odd. Then the young ladies explored a 'man pad', which was totally new.Loraine and Nikita developed a complex relationship. Nikita was martial enough, older and far more worldly. They conflicted over me; Loraine wouldn't accept that she'd never conquer me and Nikita was stymied by the Amazon creed involving men. Europa bonded with Timothy in all kinds of odd ways including the exploration of the world of tattooing.Aya discovered a new favorite position. I had lain belly-down on the sofa while Nikita gave me a back rub. Right after she was done, Aya climbed on top of me, laid her stomach on my back and relaxed, soaking up my scent and warmth. Only when we got them home did Loraine whisper to me that she'd never seen Aya that calm and at peace for such a continuous amount of time.That warm fuzzy, along with Nikita being downright sympathetic and attentive for the rest of her stay rolled right into Timothy's and my date Sunday night. That ended up in a 'bizarre unless you are me' frolic late Sunday night. Timothy was a fun time for Nadia, Ulyssa's older sister, then finished up their date by pretending to pass out back at their place.I'd seen Timothy drink steadily for four hours with barely a buzz. Still, that ended up with Ulyssa, Nadia and I in a three-way until one in the morning. That was when Timothy pretended to wake up and call out my name. The ladies and I wrapped up the sex session quickly and 'us' guys departed because, ya know, we had work in a few hours.Timothy even changed my bandages again. I gave him a few bills to up our medical supplies. He took a few more from my wallet because he prophesied me being wounded would be a common occurrence. He followed that up by giving me a bear hug and a kiss on the cheek."You are a lifesaver, Bro," he sighed. "My break-up left me really down and you've restored my faith in life and love. Keep it up." Then we both went to bed.I followed that up with an early wake-up call from Katrina telling me to show up thirty minutes early and report to the Medical Division. That led me to biking, one legged, through the city (Nikita and I had retrieved my bike Sunday afternoon) by dawn's early light and reporting to the witchdoctors at Havenstone. Thus my legendary, epic, really bad pain.The Doctor at Doebridge had practiced traditional Amazon healing methods. The cute chick who escorted me into the Medical Division had actually heard we were in the 21st century. She sat me on a gurney in what passed for a modern Emergency Room and had me take off my pants. Then she asked me if I wanted pain-killers, or a local anesthetic."No, I'm a man," I bragged. I saw the bewilderment in her eyes. Was I saying 'no', or was I claiming to be a weak, frail male? "It is too late for your people to be nice to me now," I clarified. "You are monsters and I accept that, so let's get this over with so we can get back to our jobs.""What are you talking about?" she tried to be disarming. Could it be she wasn't a full-blooded Amazon?#To ease my pain, show me your bountiful bosom# I said in Old Kingdom Hittite. The nice, young doctor blinked. She knew of the lingo, but not the speech itself."No on the anesthetic," I sighed. "Please work professionally and quickly so we may return to our duties, Doctor.""Of course. I'll be right back," she nodded then headed off to 'get some supplies'; in other words 'call Security'. They showed up lickety-split, doctor in tow. I recognized one from the Armory. To be polite, I let her know I recalled her."Oh, it is the Kindergarten graduate," I grinned. "Who is your lesbian playmate?""Oh goodie," Kindergarten snarled. "I get another crack at you.""Wait," the buddy cautioned her. "Shouldn't we investigate the claim that he knows an unknown tongue?" She looked to me. "Well?""The Doctor needs to leave the room," I stated."You don't tell us what to do, male," Kindy snapped."Okay, how can you verify I speak your Mother Tongue without violating some protocol if she is still in the room?" I sounded bored. Home-schooled and not in a good way."I say we beat it out of you," Kindy kept being stupid. Come on, like she was going to stumble upon a conspiracy in her lowly position, armed with her limited intellect."Bring it, Kitten," I smirked. "It's not like I'm going anywhere." The two security types drew their Tasers. I reclined onto the gurney and folded my arms over my chest."Sit up, damn you," Kindy's partner demanded."Why? So when you stun me I fall to the floor? I think I'd rather flop around on the gurney, thank you," I mused.Our conversation brought attention. A few women were starting to gather around when one pressed through. I didn't know her, but she had some familiar features."Cáel Nyilas, I am Traska Maza, Violet's sister. Come to my side," she ordered. Okay now, I didn't HAVE to obey that. Once more, a nice lady was giving me an out and I took it.I swung slowly off the gurney and hobbled to her side."Kneel," and I knelt with a grimace. "Now what is your problem with our breeding male?" she added the last part in Amazon."Wait," I blurted out. "I'm no one's breeding male yet!" In Amazon/Hittite. The crowd stirred."True and you are making it a truly glorious hunt, but we will take you as our prize in the end, Male," Traska smiled down at me while petting my hair while speaking in Amazon. Sex."He speaks the; Tongue?" the Doctor stammered."Of course he does," Traska nodded. "Otherwise it would have been quite difficult for him to refuse Hayden breeding rights on Saturday.""He refused Hayden," Kindy gawked."It is against corporate policy," I explained. "Being a good boy is getting the crap kicked out of me as it is. Heaven help me if I actually broke a rule." They chuckled; psycho bitches."Cáel, rise," so I struggled to my feet. "Go to the gurney and let the doctor tend to your battle scar," Traska commanded. As I staggered back from whence I came, the term 'battle scar' resonated to both me and the women."This does not settle the crime of him speaking our language," Kindy kept blathering."Did it occur to you to contact Elsa, or Katrina, or even the office of Hayden to gather information on what was going on," Traska sighed, "before racing to attack a wounded male in the middle of this vast structure we control? What was he going to do? Hobble over to a hurricane-proof window?""Even if he managed to somehow break one, he would be throwing himself down four floors to the sidewalk below? Admittedly, if he did accomplish all that and escape, he would be a threat. I'd still want to breed with him for that would be one tough, determined male," Traska chuckled. She walked off, the guards stood around uselessly and the doctor tended my wounds.I called Katrina, updating my situation, she called someone else, who probably called someone else, who called off the guards."So, who do you think you will be breeding with?" the doctor hinted. Seriously, I could pick up a girl in a war zone. A lonely female doctor in an ER that only treats women wasn't even a contest."Actually, no one," I winked. "I'm gay. I can't get it up around women." Recall, I had no pants on and my cockhead had a mind of its own, which didn't bother me. What did bother me was its mind being more dominant than the one on top of my shoulders. The doctor patted my package. My cock was pleading 'we haven't had sex in six hours; we are dying over here'. Lying bastard."Oh really," she teased."This is not fair," I groaned. "Your ass is so finely sculpted and tight," I couldn't see most of it because of her lab coat, but hey, "and your lips look like they could suck a golf ball through a garden hose." Be careful with the last line. Make sure your target likes fellatio first.The Doctor pursed her lips and gave me a wink. Was I lining up another prospective Havenstone woman as part of some grand master plan? No. I'm an idiot with an out of control libido. I am always hitting on women. I can't help it, thus my numerous scars and colorful stories."I can, you know," she purred. Golf ball; garden hose; feels so good.You know you are making an impact on the workplace when this happens: after leaving the doctor, I was taking the elevator up to my floor. The door opened and two women stepped in, suddenly disappointed."Oh; you are already dressed," Brielle sighed. Her companion was equally peeved."Arrow wound," I informed them. "I had to go to medical. They stripped me there.""Damn it," her companion snapped her fingers. "Maybe we should tag his itinerary?""I think Katrina would frown on that," Brielle shook her head."Well, can you take off your clothes really quick?" the companion turned to me.The door opened on my floor."Sorry. No. Gotta go to work. Have a nice day now," I retreated to the safety of the office.I'm an idiot. On all the desks in the sizable office space housing the heart of Executive Services was a long box; from Nerf. Oh, Sweet God; Buffy was out to make me cry.How did I know it was Buffy? If Desiree wanted to know something about me, she'd slap me around until I answered. Buffy was far more insidious. She'd spy on me. To give her credit, I had a box as well. I too could get that wonderful feeling that Custer's last trooper felt as the Sioux and Cheyenne closed in. Sure I could shoot back, but it wouldn't do any good.Katrina had already unboxed her toy. It was loaded, resting on her desk. It was a six shooter."Honestly Cáel, is your problem with my native tongue, an inability to tell time, or an unwillingness to follow common sense instructions?" Katrina gave me a warm, maternal look. She was referring to me engaging in strenuous activity in the first 48 hours after having been wounded."After this afternoon I do not have any other dates planned so I can take it easy," I promised."As long as you understand that many of us are risking our lives to help you keep yours," Katrina pointed out. "What did Elsa want Saturday night?" The look of shame on my face was probably what Katrina expected though not what she wanted to see. "Tell me," she groaned."Oh; okay; she kissed me once but I stopped her; against policy," I started."Yes?" Katrina muttered. She knew this was bad."Oh; then I vigorously sucked and bit on her, while fingering until she arrived; hard," I confessed. Katrina put her elbow in her desk, forearm uplifted then planted her forehead on her palm."By the Goddesses, you could walk blindfolded through a minefield only to trip over a cricket," Katrina mumbled. Katrina sensed my confusion."Elsa's and Rhada's/Madi's families are in a blood feud. They would kill you for looking amorously at the other," she explained."Whoops; I didn't make either one like me," I pleaded."I believe you, Cáel," Katrina looked up and smiled. "If I didn't, I would have Desiree toss you down an elevator shaft; from the thirtieth floor.""It wouldn't work," I grinned at her. "I'm part flying squirrel. I've got those little underarm flaps and everything.""Patagium," Katrina defined that bit of anatomy for me."Stop being smarter than me," I furrowed my brow. "It is unattractive in a female." Wack; Nerf hit. Right then Daphne and Tigger walked in and took in the situation."Can we all take shots at Cáel?" Daphne inquired. Oh hell no!"I'm actually recruiting a Rebel Alliance," I offered."What's in it for us?" Tigger asked."Dubious glory, improbable hope, an unfamiliar future and the unique experience of pitting your defiance into the Eye of the Abyss before the End," I promised in Old Kingdom Hittite.

In this episode of The Rewatch Party, Nick, Anthony, Manny, Dan, and Elise take on the classic Jean-Claude Van Damme action film Lionheart, exploring its unique appeal and rewatchability. Known for its intense fight sequences and Van Damme's signature charisma, the film follows a former French Foreign Legion soldier, Lyon, as he fights his way through an underground fighting circuit in Los Angeles to help his family. Nick starts off by sharing his appreciation for Van Damme's dedication to action roles that combine physical prowess with a touch of heart, making him one of the most memorable action stars of the '90s. As they dive into the plot, Dan comments on the film's emotional underpinnings, pointing out how Lionheart differs from other Van Damme films by giving Lyon a noble motivation beyond pure revenge. Elise adds that the story's focus on family and loyalty adds depth, giving viewers a reason to root for Lyon outside of the fight scenes. Manny chimes in with his thoughts on the street-fighting scenes, remarking how they showcase a range of fighting styles and are choreographed to highlight Van Damme's incredible athleticism, making the film's action sequences truly memorable. Anthony and Nick discuss Van Damme's undeniable screen presence, with Nick praising his blend of intensity and compassion, which sets him apart from other action heroes of the time. Anthony notes that Lionheart is an interesting mix of grit and camp, reflecting the era's action movie trends while also appealing to viewers on an emotional level. The group debates whether the film's impact on audiences then holds up today, with Manny advocating for its rewatchability due to the unique mix of hard-hitting action and touching story beats. In the end, the hosts agree that Lionheart is more than just a typical '90s action movie; it's a film with heart that makes you want to come back for another round. Nick points out that Van Damme's performance as Lyon solidifies his status as both an action icon and a relatable character. The crew wraps up by celebrating Lionheart as a rewatchable classic that perfectly balances intense action with emotional storytelling, making it a standout Van Damme film that keeps audiences coming back.   https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100029/

Kiffin Rockwell believed that America owed France a debt for its support during the American Revolutionary War. He was 21 years old when World War I began, and he immediately sailed to France to volunteer to fight. He initially joined the French Foreign Legion, and then joined the Escadrille Americaine (later renamed the Lafayette Escadrille). He was credited with being the first American in the Escadrille Americaine to shoot down an enemy plane. He flew dozens of patrols and saw frequent combat before being killed in action on September 23, 1916. To discuss Rockwell's life and legacy, the World War I Podcast hosted Mark Trapp, author of A Destiny of Undying Greatness: Kiffin Rockwell and the Boys Who Remembered Lafayette. Have a comment about this episode? Send us a text message! (Note: we can read texts, but we cannot respond.) Follow us: Twitter: @MacArthur1880 Amanda Williams on Twitter: @AEWilliamsClark Facebook/Instagram: @MacArthurMemorial www.macarthurmemorial.org

THE CELLAR MS4 EP3: DEATH HOLDS THE POST RATED PG For depictions of war and murder. LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED. Welcome to the fourth miniseries of The Cellar! This is the third of five planned episodes of this long-running series, and in our humble opinion, the plays keep getting better and better.  Episode 3, Death Holds the Post is set in mid-20th-century Algeria. A remote outpost of the French Foreign Legion has a squadron missing, and they're hearing reports of a German scientist in the area, who has escaped from a sanitarium. Adapted from a short story by August Derleth and Mark Schorer, and directed/produced by Pete Lutz. CAST: CADAVERA QUIVRY (Host): Angela Young ANNOUNCER: Trevor Rines CRANE: Mark Kalita RADIOMAN: Nick Wommack PRAGEUR: Les Marsden GASPARRI: Tony Semczuk OURLET: Andy Hartson-Bowyer PRETTWEG: Jason D. Johnson VOICES OF SOLDIERS: Pete Lutz "The Cellar" theme by Tom Rory Parsons Additional music by Dr. Ross Bernhardt

THE CELLAR MS4 EP3: DEATH HOLDS THE POST RATED PG For depictions of war and murder. LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED. Welcome to the fourth miniseries of The Cellar! This is the third of five planned episodes of this long-running series, and in our humble opinion, the plays keep getting better and better.  Episode 3, Death Holds the Post is set in mid-20th-century Algeria. A remote outpost of the French Foreign Legion has a squadron missing, and they're hearing reports of a German scientist in the area, who has escaped from a sanitarium. Adapted from a short story by August Derleth and Mark Schorer, and directed/produced by Pete Lutz. CAST: CADAVERA QUIVRY (Host): Angela Young ANNOUNCER: Trevor Rines CRANE: Mark Kalita RADIOMAN: Nick Wommack PRAGEUR: Les Marsden GASPARRI: Tony Semczuk OURLET: Andy Hartson-Bowyer PRETTWEG: Jason D. Johnson VOICES OF SOLDIERS: Pete Lutz "The Cellar" theme by Tom Rory Parsons Additional music by Dr. Ross Bernhardt

Seamus Malekafzali returns to the show to talk to us about a report into the BBC's reporting by a law firm that alleges the organisation is not sympathetic enough to Israel… but don't worry about the report being biased, they used ChatGPT! Also, we talk about Elon Musk's blanketing South Memphis in methane gas, and look at executive misbehaviour at Neom (which, wouldn't you know it, is a kind of French Foreign Legion for senior businesspeople who are unhireable anywhere else). Get the full episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/112015355 *MILO ALERT* Check out Milo's UK Tour Here: https://miloedwards.co.uk/live-shows Trashfuture are: Riley (@raaleh), Milo (@Milo_Edwards), Hussein (@HKesvani), Nate (@inthesedeserts), and November (@postoctobrist)

In this episode of the Red Eye Report, we discuss the French Foreign Legion. How unique is this military group and how did they start? Interesting stuff. Also in the show, Oracle shows off his pumpkin bits and Ashtray does it by hand. Download the Red Eye Report wherever you get your podcasts. theredeyereport.com facebook.com/redeyereport

As a military veteran or first responder, you need to be planning and implementing strategies to prepare for your transition into civilian life. In this episode of the Transition Drill Podcast, dive head first into the extraordinary life of Taylor Cavanaugh, a man who went from arrests and jail to Navy SEAL for 7 years, to again facing jail time, then the darkest moments of his life, and a refresh with the French Foreign Legion. Cavanaugh shares his unfiltered story of resilience, chronicling his early struggles, legal battles, and how he ultimately found redemption. From overcoming the chaos of his youth to thriving as a Navy SEAL, and later confronting his demons in the Foreign Legion, this episode is a raw exploration of transformation. Now a mentor and coach, Cavanaugh reveals how he uses his hard-earned lessons to guide veterans and first responders through their own battles, offering insights on leadership, mental health, and finding purpose after the uniform. This episode is a must-listen for those seeking inspiration, especially veterans and first responders navigating life's toughest challenges. SPONSORS: Trident Coffee Get 15% off your purchase Link: https://tridentcoffee.com Promo Code: TDP15 SOFLETE Get 20% off your purchase Web: https://soflete.com Promo Code: TDP20 CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST: IG: https://www.instagram.com/paulpantani/ WEB: https://www.transitiondrillpodcast.com QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: paul@transitiondrillpodcast.com CONNECT WITH TAYLOR: WEB: https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficial/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tcavofficial

In this episode of "The Rewatch Party," hosts Nick, Anthony, and Elise come together to discuss the rewatchability of the 1998 action-adventure film "Legionnaire," starring Nick's favorite, Jean-Claude Van Damme. The episode kicks off with Nick enthusiastically sharing why Van Damme holds a special place in his heart and what makes "Legionnaire" a unique entry in the actor's filmography. His passion sets the stage for a lively and nostalgic exploration of the film. As the discussion unfolds, the hosts delve into the elements that make "Legionnaire" a compelling watch. They analyze the film's historical setting, rich cinematography, and gripping storyline, which follows Van Damme's character, Alain Lefevre, as he escapes to the French Foreign Legion to avoid a deadly fate. Nick, Anthony, and Elise discuss how the film's blend of action, drama, and historical context creates a captivating narrative that holds up on repeated viewings. The chemistry between the hosts adds depth to their conversation as they share their favorite scenes and moments. Throughout the episode, the hosts explore the film's production quality and Van Damme's performance, highlighting how "Legionnaire" differs from his typical martial arts-focused roles. They discuss the movie's attention to detail in portraying the harsh realities of the Legionnaire experience and how this contributes to its rewatchability. The hosts also touch on the film's reception at the time of its release and its standing among Van Damme's other works, considering whether it deserves more recognition in the action genre. Whether you're a die-hard Jean-Claude Van Damme fan or curious about "Legionnaire," this episode of "The Rewatch Party" offers an engaging and insightful examination of its lasting appeal. Nick, Anthony, and Elise celebrate the film's unique qualities and its ability to entertain and captivate audiences, making a case for why "Legionnaire" is worth revisiting. Their thoughtful discussion highlights the film's strengths and showcases why it remains a favorite for fans of Van Damme and action-adventure cinema alike.   https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126388/

Malcolm Nance is a former career US Naval Intelligence officer specializing in counter-terrorism, intelligence and violent extremism. He has been an advisor to the US government's law enforcement, Homeland Security and Intelligence agencies. As an Arabic-speaking special intelligence collections operator, field interrogator he provided top secret anti and counter-terrorism support to national intelligence agencies while on numerous reconnaissance and combat operations in the Balkans, Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. On April 18, 2022, Nance revealed that he had joined the Ukrainian Foreign Legion in March 2022. In an interview with Michael Harriot of The Guardian, Nance alluded to African-American military aviator Eugene Bullard's service in the French Foreign Legion to his service in Ukraine, hoping to inspire "African Americans and young Americans who have been in the military" and describing the International Legion as "the pantheon of the defense of democracy in the defense of Ukraine". ---------- LINKS: https://x.com/MalcolmNance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Nance https://www.linkedin.com/in/malcolmnance/ https://www.spymuseum.org/host-an-event/spy-speaker-series/malcolm-nance/ https://us.macmillan.com/author/malcolmnance ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Send us a Text Message.Taylor Cavanaugh went from jail, to Navy SEAL, back to jail, suicidal, to French Foreign Legionnaire. Learning to self-actualize his divine design via a correct system of life disciplines. Now he is on a mission to show others how to re-align their lives to experience peace and clarity by training the mind deliberately as well as the body. Showing others how to get their fire for life backA graduate of University of California Santa Cruz, Taylor enlisted in the Navy in 2010, becoming a SEAL assigned to SEAL Team SEVEN. Deployed multiple times to the Middle East as a sniper, JTAC, and Advent Laden specialist.  Kicked out of the United States military for violation of Navy policy after seven years, then spending two years in the civilian world battling demons, poor habits, and lack of purpose, Taylor then flew to France and entered into the French Foreign Legion. Becoming the only SEAL/Legionnaire on record.  Deploying to the South American jungle as well as East Europe with NATO as a Fire Team leader.  During this brutal time establishing disciplined systems and daily practices that cracked the code on experiencing consistent mental clarity and inner peace which is now his mission to share.Find TaylorInstagramYoutubeFind The Suffering PodcastThe Suffering Podcast InstagramKevin Donaldson InstagramMike Failace InstagramApple PodcastSpotifyYouTubeThe Suffering Podcast FamilySherri AllsupToyota of HackensackPoPl Discount code TSP20Cubita CafeSupport the Show.The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram TikTok YouTube

Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 55 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by Editor-In-Chief of InSession Film Dave Giannini to discuss the latest film in their Tony Scott series, Man on Fire (2004). Back in 1980, when Tony Scott was trying to make his first film, he grew fond of a book series written by author A. J. Quinnell about an American-born former member of the French Foreign Legion. He wanted to make it as his follow-up to The Hunger, but studios didn't think he had enough experience to make this movie work. Twenty years later, Scott finally got the chance to make his passion project, and alongside his frequent collaborator Denzel Washington, set out and made one of the defining films of their careers and one of the great action films of the 21st century. Updating the story for the protagonist John Creasy, we see a one-man death machine reborn looking for closure and peace after the abduction of the young girl he was in charge of is kidnapped. In doing this, Scott creates a cathartic, violent, uniquely visual experience very rarely found in modern cinema. Ryan, Jay, and Dave break down the film, the film's visual style, Denzel Washington's performance and where is ranks in his career, the emotionally beautiful ending, why Rotten Tomatoes is frustrating, if Creasy earns his redemption, and the complicated shout out to the country of Mexico in the end credits of Man on Fire. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 2h27m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Tony Scott with a review of his next film, Domino. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

Taylor Cavanaugh's life is a rollercoaster of highs and lows that would put most action movies to shame. This San Diego kid dreamed of becoming a Navy SEAL from age seven, but his path was far from straightforward. Despite multiple arrests, fights with police, and faced several years in prison!Taylor somehow made it into the elite SEALs. But the drama didn't stop there. After getting kicked out for steroid use, he hit rock bottom, living in his car. In a twist no one saw coming, Taylor then became the first - and so far only - former Navy SEAL to enlist in the French Foreign Legion.This week's Urban Valor episode pulls no punches, diving into Taylor's wild ride from troublemaker to elite warrior to homeless vet, and finally to a groundbreaking role in another legendary fighting force. It's a raw, real-life tale of grit, mistakes, and unexpected comebacks that you won't want to miss.Video Chapters: 00:38 Early Life29:38 Learning to Be A Seal 36:16 Fortune & Misfortune54:00 New Beginnings

Navy Seal Gets Arrested, Joins The French Foreign Legion, & Escapes Death | Taylor Cavanaugh --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mattcox/support

A popular topic of films has been the French Foreign Legion.  The French Foreign Legion was supposed to be an organization where someone could get a new identity and a new start on life, even if they were criminals.  They were often stationed in hot, desolate places, where they served out their tour of duty before starting a new life.  But how much of the legend surrounding the French Foreign Legion story is really true?? Learn more about the French Foreign Legion, how it was formed and how it works on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Available nationally, look for a bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond at your local store. Find out more at heavenhilldistillery.com/hh-bottled-in-bond.php Sign up today at butcherbox.com/daily and use code daily to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Visit BetterHelp.com/everywhere today to get 10% off your first month. Use the code EverythingEverywhere for a 20% discount on a subscription at Newspapers.com. Visit meminto.com and get 15% off with code EED15.  Listen to Expedition Unknown wherever you get your podcasts.  Get started with a $13 trial set for just $3 at harrys.com/EVERYTHING. Subscribe to the podcast!  https://link.chtbl.com/EverythingEverywhere?sid=ShowNotes -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Ben Long & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

//The Wire//2030Z May 30, 2024////ROUTINE////BLUF: TENSIONS CONTINUE IN NORTH KOREA. FRANCE CONTINUES CONSIDERING UKRAINE DEPLOYMENT.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Far East: Tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue as North Korean forces conduct GPS jamming operations near the border. Reportedly aircraft arriving and departing from Inchon International Airport in Seoul were affected by the jamming. Overnight, North Korean forces also launched approximately 10x SRBMs into the Sea of Japan.France: Reports continue to mount that France either has, or is about to, deploy troops to Ukraine in some manner. Following the French Foreign Legion fiasco a few weeks ago, a few days ago General Oleksandr Syrsky, the Commander in Chief of the AFU stated that French troops would soon be arriving in Kiev. Later on, Syrsky retracted these claims, stating that talks are still ongoing with regards to a potential French deployment.-HomeFront-New York: The verdict for the latest Trump trial is expected soon, which may result in localized demonstrations and/or more substantial federal activities with regards to the restriction of transportation. AC: Mass civil unrest is unlikely, however due to the historic nature of this latest political development, increased situational awareness is recommended.  -----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: It is overwhelmingly likely that France is trying to slowly walk towards openly deploying soldiers in Ukraine, and probably already has taken steps in that direction. With regards to special operations, when a politician of any nation suggests sending forces to a location openly, behind closed doors those forces have probably already been there for some time….the “secret” deployment of special forces from every NATO member to Ukraine has been the most open secret of the entire war (though most of these troops likely have been in more of an “advisory role”, to varying degrees). As such, France (and other NATO members) continuing to call for escalation of the war, either by sending troops or by encouraging Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia, the end result is unlikely to change much.Analyst: S2A1//END REPORT//

Send us a Text Message.Join us, with Actor/Writer/Director/Puppeteer/FAMILY (family...) member Ben Burris, as we dive into the annals for a deep inspection of "The Mummy," (Dir. Stephen Sommers 1999) Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and Arnold Vosloo. Enjoy this whopping 2hr 25min MOTHER OF ALL EPISODES! Really, it's mostly just special effects talk, Mr. T rapping, and a drop in from a very special guest. Happy Mother's Day!Plot: At an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hamunaptra, an American serving in the French Foreign Legion accidentally awakens a mummy who begins to wreak havoc as he searches for the reincarnation of his long-lost love.Recorded 5/232hr 25mins**All episodes contain explicit language**Artwork - Ben McFaddenReview Review Intro/Outro Theme - Jamie Henwood"What Are We Watching" Theme - Matthew Fosket"Fun Facts" Theme - Chris Olds/Paul RootLead-Ins Edited/Conceptualized by - Ben McFaddenProduced by - Ben McFadden & Paul RootConcept - Paul Root

//The Wire//1800Z May 06, 2024////ROUTINE////BLUF: ISRAEL/GAZA PEACE TALKS FAIL. FRANCE DEPLOYS FOREIGN LEGION TO UKRAINE. PROTESTS ESCALATE IN IRELAND.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Europe: France begins deploying French Foreign Legion soldiers to frontline combat service in Ukraine. Approximately 1,500 troops will be sent to Ukraine at first, beginning with a few hundred artillery spotters and intelligence personnel.Middle East: Following the collapse of the latest peace talks in Cairo, Israeli forces have reportedly begun the final phases of the operation to invade Rafah. Locals report mass evacuations have begun as IDF troops stage to take the city. AC: Israel has been planning this operation for weeks, and likely did not fully commit to peace talks as a method of providing a solution to this conflict.Ireland: Counter-immigration protests continue to grow in size and number following months of building tensions resulting from governmental policies. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Dublin this morning to protest against immigration, as well as a variety of other issues. Protesters demonstrating against the escalation of the Ukrainian War (and against providing support for Ukraine) were also observed taking part in the overall demonstrations. AC: So far, these are some of the largest demonstrations seen in Ireland in many years. Consequently, various counter-protests (and counter-counter-protests) have begun as well, encompassing a wide variety of unrelated issues.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. – Saturday night a man rammed his vehicle into a security barricade at the White House. The man, who has not yet been identified, was discovered to be deceased inside the vehicle. AC: At this time, it is not clear as to if the man was killed in the crash, or if he died prior to the crash. It is also not clear as to if this was a deliberate attack, or an accident.Pennsylvania: A gunman attempted to murder a local pastor at the Jesus' Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock during a livestream of services on Sunday. The assailant's firearm suffered a malfunction during the attack, resulting in it failing to fire. After the weapon failed, the assailant was apprehended by churchgoers. The assailant has been identified as Bernard Junior Polite. AC: This attack appears to possibly be the result of a mental health incident, however the assailant did admit that the church was selected as a target of opportunity. As such, constant and overwhelming vigilance and situational awareness continues to be strongly recommended, particularly at religious institutions.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The deployment of the French Foreign Legion, while a serious escalation of the war, is also one which is politically safe for Macron. As Foreign Legion soldiers are not French citizens, there will likely be little backlash against this escalation in France (whereas deploying actual French Army soldiers would cause outrage). Russia's response to this announcement is not clear, but operationally Russia will almost certainly seek to target the Legion deliberately, simply to make a point.Analyst: S2A1//END REPORT//

I talk to Craig Harrison, former British Army sniper turned mental health advocate and survival instructor. Known globally for holding the world record for the longest confirmed sniper kill, Craig's story doesn't just end with his military prowess. Today, we explore his life beyond the battlefield, discussing not only his remarkable military achievements but also his battles with PTSD, his transition into civilian life, and how he has turned his struggles into a source of strength and teaching. Craig opens up about his initial motives for joining the army and his long-standing physical and psychological battles following 23 years of service. Find out how Craig went AWOL from the Army, joined the French Foreign Legion, and fell into bare-knuckle boxing. Hear how the press leaked the story of his sniper kills in Afghanistan and had to live for three years in a safe house with his wife. We'll hear how writing his bestselling book "The Longest Kill" served as a therapeutic process and led him to establish The Maverick Survival School. But not before a car was found kitted out with explosive devices - and a picture of Craig in it. Craig also shares intimate details of how nature and his wife have been vital in his ongoing battle with daily thoughts of suicide and his message to fellow veterans on how to make the army work for you. Join us on this conversation that not only highlights a journey of incredible survival and resilience but also sheds light on the importance of mental health support for veterans. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/alex-chisnall2/message

Joel Struthers is a former Legionnaire, or member of the French Foreign Legion, a helicopter pilot, and the author of the books Appel, about his time in the Legion and Civil, about his life as a private military contractor after the Legion.  He's now a commercial helicopter pilot and the managing partner of Ravenhill Risk Control, a Canadian risk mitigation firm that solves complex problems in challenging environments.Joel also owns LegionEngineered.com, which publishes historical nonfiction books about the military. His third book, Finex, was just released, and you can find it, as well as Appel and Joel's other books, at Legion Engineered.  The best way to learn more about Joel or the French Foreign Legion is to read his book Appel, which is available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audio formats.You can also connect with Joel on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-struthersAnd he's on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joelastruthers/Timestamps:00:00:22 Intro to Joel Struthers00:01:00 Career Overview00:03:36 French Foreign Legion and the Military00:06:15 Who Can Join the Legion?00:08:30 Pay Scale for the Legion00:09:19 New Passports/Legion Name Changes00:10:00 French Foreign Legion Pay Scale00:10:56 French Foreign Legion's Brutal Training Reputation00:12:52 Legion Career Training Stages 00:17:03 Learning French During Legionnaire Training00:19:27 FIltering Out People Joining for the Wrong Reasons00:23:27 Building the Elite Sidenote00:24:55 Mix of Backgrounds of Recruits00:26:48 Areas Where Joel Struggled in the Legion00:27:54 Lack of Time Off During Training00:29:42 Training Daily Routines/Living Conditions00:34:38 French Foreign Legion Common Myths00:36:58 What Did You Learn About Yourself in Training?00:38:53 What is Deployment Like?00:41:50 Struthers Years of Service00:50:15 Operators From Different Countries00:55:38 Follower Questions      - 00:55:55 Would You Encourage Your Children to Join the Legion?      - 00:57:06 Dealing With the Legion as Regular Officer      - 00:58:56 Transitioning Into a New Culture      - 01:00:17 Chance of Dying Perceived on the Job      - 01:01:14 Mental Fortitude Development      - 01:02:26 Most Interesting Skill Learned01:04:02 Learn More About Joel Struthers01:05:24 Outro

This week in the studio, an extraordinary individual whose life's journey transcends the boundaries of adversity, resilience, and redemption. From a turbulent past marked by brushes with the law, the U.S. Navy SEALs, and subsequent turmoil that led to a downward spiral, His story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for transformation. After hitting rock bottom and grappling with homelessness and despair, a pivotal moment guided him across the Atlantic to the French Foreign Legion. It was here, amidst discipline and self-restraint, that he discovered redemption, inner peace, and the profound fortification of mind and body. My guest stands as the sole individual to have walked the path of both a United States Navy SEAL and a French Foreign Legionnaire, embodying a remarkable narrative of personal evolution and triumph. With a guiding mantra of "Training the body and mind for the divine design," he inspires others to commence their journey towards realizing their dreams despite life's most formidable obstacles.

The summer of 2020 was a hinge point in American history. The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police inspired racial justice demonstrations nationwide. At the time, the FBI was convinced that extreme Black political activists could cross the line into domestic terrorism – a theory federal agents had first termed “Black identity extremism.” That summer, Mickey Windecker approached the FBI. He drove a silver hearse, claimed to have been a volunteer fighter for the French Foreign Legion and the Peshmerga in Iraq, and had arrest records in four states that included convictions for misdemeanor sexual assault and menacing with a weapon, a felony. He claimed to the FBI that he had heard racial justice activists speak vaguely of training and violent revolution in Denver.  The FBI enlisted Windecker as a paid informant, gave him a recording device and instructed him to infiltrate Denver's growing Black Lives Matter movement. For months, Windecker spied on activists and attempted to recruit two Black men into an FBI-engineered plot to assassinate the state's attorney general. Windecker's undercover work is the first documented case of FBI efforts to infiltrate the 2020 racial justice movement. Journalist Trevor Aaronson obtained over a dozen hours of Windecker's secret recordings and more than 300 pages of internal FBI reports for season 1 of the podcast series Alphabet Boys.  This episode of Reveal is a partnership with Alphabet Boys and production company Western Sound.  This is an update of an episode that originally aired in September 2023. Support Reveal's journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/newsletter Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

The French Foreign Legion - a unique corps of the French Army that, unlike nearly any other army in the world, allows foregin nationals to enlist at will. It's a diverse fighting force, deploying all over the world into any conditions necessary. They're also the home of Taylor Cavanaugh, a former U.S. Navy Vet that enlisted just a few years ago. But Taylor's not just any veteran - he's a former U.S. Navy SEAL from SEAL Team Seven.  Safe to say there's a lot of questions to ask here - why's Taylor living in France? What made him leave the United States to fight for another country? And how exactly did he come to join - and then ultimately depart from - the Tip of the Spear? One thing's for sure - when Taylor's at the wheel, it's gonna be a wild ride.  ---------- Support Taylor Cavanaugh - Website: https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tcavofficial ---------- Sponsors:  American Financing American Financing's salary-based mortgage consultants will help you consolidate uour debt into one payment. Make the call today. Call American Financing at 866-890-9313 or visit https://www.americanfinancing.net. ---------- ZBiotics This holiday season, give your friends and family a gift they will actually want and use with ZBiotics. Go to zbiotics.com/MIKEDROP to get 15% off your first order when you use MIKEDROP at checkout. ZBiotics is backed with 100% money back guarantee so if you're unsatisfied for any reason, they'll refund your money, no questions asked. Remember to head to https://www.zbiotics.com/mikedrop and use the code MIKEDROP at checkout for 15% off. Thank you ZBiotics for sponsoring this episode and our good times. ---------- WileyX Whether it is the great outdoors, hunting, fishing, shooting, working around the house, or putting in an honest day's work on the job, Wiley X has you covered. Protect what matters… Stock up this Holiday season at https://www.wileyx.com ---------- Manscaped Get 20% off + free shipping with the code MikeDrop at https://www.manscaped.com. That's 20% off + free shipping with the code MikeDrop at https://www.manscaped.com. I can promise you've never seen a ball trimmer look like a spaceship. Get yours today from our folks at MANSCAPED™. ---------- MUD/WTR Go to https://www.mudwtr.com/mike to support the show and use code MIKEMUD for 15% off! ---------- Fueled by TeamDog | www.mikeritlandco.com | @Teamdog.pet ALL THINGS MIKE RITLAND: SHOP for Fueled By Team Dog Performance Dog Food, Treats, Apparel, Accessories, and Protection dogs - MikeRitlandCo.com - https://www.MikeRitlandCo.com Team Dog Online dog training - TeamDog.pet - https://www.TeamDog.pet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does a Danish ex-con wind up as a secret agent dealing arms in North Korea? Jim Latrache (aka Mr. James from The Mole) reveals all here! What We Discuss with Jim Latrache: What compels a poor Danish kid like Jim Latrache to join the French Foreign Legion, and was it everything he expected it to be? How did Jim get wrapped up in the cocaine trafficking business, what rationalizations allowed him to carry on guilt-free, and what lessons did he learn along the way? What put Jim's drug dealing empire in the crosshairs of the police, and how did he spend his 5.5-year prison sentence once the law caught up with him? Why was Jim seen as an ideal candidate for gathering intelligence in North Korea despite being an obvious outsider, what dangers did he face once there, and how did his years of risk pay off? As remarkable as Jim's story is, it shows how even the most unlikely people can make a difference in the world. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/916 This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course! Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

The summer of 2020 was a hinge point in American history. The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police inspired racial justice demonstrations nationwide. At the time, the FBI was convinced that extreme Black political activists could cross the line into domestic terrorism – a theory federal agents had first termed “Black identity extremism.” That summer, Mickey Windecker approached the FBI. He drove a silver hearse, claimed to have been a volunteer fighter for the French Foreign Legion and the Peshmerga in Iraq, and had arrest records in four states that included convictions for misdemeanor sexual assault and menacing with a weapon, a felony. He claimed to the FBI that he had heard racial justice activists speak vaguely of training and violent revolution in Denver.  The FBI enlisted Windecker as a paid informant, gave him a recording device and instructed him to infiltrate Denver's growing Black Lives Matter movement. For months, Windecker spied on activists and attempted to recruit two Black men into an FBI-engineered plot to assassinate the state's attorney general. Windecker's undercover work is the first documented case of FBI efforts to infiltrate the 2020 racial justice movement. Journalist Trevor Aaronson obtained over a dozen hours of Windecker's secret recordings and more than 300 pages of internal FBI reports for season 1 of the podcast series Alphabet Boys.  This episode of Reveal is a partnership with Alphabet Boys and production company Western Sound. Support Reveal's journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/newsletter Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram