Podcast appearances and mentions of jerry yellin

Directed by Louisa Merino (Managing to Win: The Story of Strat-O-Matic Baseball) and produced by Melissa Hibbard (The Glass House) and Oscar winner Ed Cunningham (Undefeated), the film tells the remarkable story of a World War II fighter pilot from New Jersey who flew the last combat mission over Japan. On August 14, 1945, fighter pilot Jerry Yellin flew the last combat mission of World War II to attack airfields near Nagoya, Japan, carrying with him instructions to continue the assault unless he heard the word “Utah,” a code signaling the Japanese surrender, which never came. It was Yellin's 19th mission over Japan. Yellin returned home to a dark life of survivor's guilt and daily thoughts of suicide. Married with four sons, he was forced to face his ‘enemy' once again when his youngest son moved to Japan and married the daughter of a Kamikaze pilot. Through deep agonizing and soul-searching reflection, the two fathers eventually open their hearts and their arms to each other. By the time of his passing in 2017, Yellin had become an outspoken advocate for veteran mental health and co-founded Operation Warrior Wellness, a division of the David Lynch Foundation that teaches veterans TM to better cope with the effects of PTSD. Producer Ed Cunningham said: “Jerry's journey from the depths of post-war depression to his late life transformation, which included him tirelessly advocating for peace and Veteran's care, will inspire and resonate with everyone who sees this film. Add in the unbelievable twist of his son marrying a Kamikaze pilot's daughter and the friendship the two fathers developed late in their lives, and this is a story we felt had to be shared.” The movie is being released on home ent platforms this year.

NY Times Article on Ed's Decision to Leave ESPNhttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2017/08/30/sports/espn-ed-cunningham-football-concussions.amp.html Jerry’s Last MissionA documentary about fighter pilot Jerry Yellin who flew the last combat mission of World War II over Japan and returned home a hero, but led a dark life of survivor’s guilt and daily thoughts of suicide. Married with four sons, Yellin was forced to face his enemy once again when his youngest son moved to Japan and married the daughter of a Kamikaze pilot.   -Jerry’s obituary - https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/jerry-yellin-fighter-pilot-in-last-combat-mission-of-world-war-ii-dies-at-93/2017/12/21/cab156be-e6a3-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html -Jerry Yellin is a celebrated and beloved WWII Hero and Pilot with a story that is inspirational and very timely. While directly dealing with PTSD and how difficult Jerry’s life was, especially growing up a Jewish American during the Depression, the film also honors the difficult job Jerry had, and so many Americans have, in fighting wars. In his full journey, Jerry had come to fully embrace and finally speak out about his suffering and choosing peace and reconciliation over war while also remaining a very proud “Military Man” right to the end.  -Veterans and those close to Veterans and their care have been incredibly moved and expressed how much they felt all Vets and their families should see this film during the test screening process. We have connected with multiple non-profit and Gov’t agencies, including the VA, and several Jewish non-profits to align all of Jerry’s goodwill with every level of Vets, the Military, Pilot’s Associations, etc. as Jerry is a rock star in these worlds, and they would all love to help the rest of the world get to know him.   -Jerry is Jewish and suffered from horrible anti-Semitism while growing up, and the test screenings for people in the Jewish community, especially those who have relatives/family tied to WWII or Vets, have been incredibly uplifting. Jerry is a true (Jewish) American Hero who overcame the horrible wreckage of both racism and the ravages war to live an inspiring and meaningful life. -The film sees our war with Japan (in which Jerry fought) ultimately from “both sides” - Jerry’s full journey took him (and the film) back to Japan, where he was able to finally see the Japanese as humans and ultimately bond in a way that is almost too good to be true. They literally became a part of his family.  Director, Writer, Producer - Louisa Merino     Louisa studied Documentary Filmmaking at the New York Film Academy where her thesis film, LIFELINE, attracted subjects that ranged from an Oscar winning writer and director team, to Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe. Her film FAMILIES LIKE MINE was selected as part of Mexico’s Women in Film and Television Showcase for 2013, among other festivals worldwide; and her film LIFELINE was part of the official selection of the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival for 2013. Louisa has been the subject of news articles and several television and radio interviews aired across Mexico and in parts of the US, including CNN. She taught film editing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “Art and Film” course in New York City and has worked as Consultant, Senior Editor and Story Producer for the David Lynch Foundation for over six years.Producer, Writer - Melissa Hibbard                  Melissa’s films have premiered at Venice, Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca, and IDFA film festivals, won international awards and have been televised on networks, including PBS, Sundance Channel, IFC, Channel 4, BBC, DR2, and Al Jazeera. Recently she collaborated on an illustrated translation and adaptation of Persian mythology called SHAHNAMEH: THE EPIC OF THE PERSIAN KINGS (2013) as the Editorial Director, which the Wall Street Journal lauded as a “masterpiece.” From 2013-2015, she was the executive producer of the 75 episode political satire web series POLETIK with a weekly audience of over 1.5 million viewers around the world. Producer, Writer - Ed Cunningham Ed (imdb & wiki) is a former NFL player who has produced the Oscar winning documentary Undefeated, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters – Sports Illustrated movie of the year – and the brand funded TV and web film series H*Commerce: The Business of Hacking You – which won three Effie awards for effective advertising. On air, Cunningham spent over twenty years as a radio host, television reporter and commentator, starting his network career at CBS and recently retiring from ESPN/ABC where he commented on college football. 

On 23 February 1945 the American flag was raised on Mt. Surabachi as seen in Joe Rosenthal’s iconic photograph. We know the battle for the island of Iwo Jima was one of the most brutal and bloodiest of World War II. This week we are going to be looking back at Iwo Jima through the eyes and memories of the some of the children whose fathers fought on those black sand beaches so long ago. Joining host Dale Throneberry, whose father “Bill”was in the Coast Guard, is Joyce Faulkner, author of In the Shadow of Surabachi and daughter of a Marine, Diane Kuebler, daughter of Iwo Jima Navy Seabee veteran AO Kuebler, Michael Yellin, son of Army Air Corp pilot Jerry Yellin and many more including Shayne Jarosz, Executive Director of the Iwo Jima Association of America. 

The Last Fighter Pilot is the account of Captain Jerry Yellin, who flew the last combat mission of WWII on the morning of August 15th out of Iwo Jima. Captain Yellin is a sharp, engaging, 93-year-old veteran whose story is brought to life by New York Times bestselling author Don Brown (Treason).From April to August of 1945, Captain Jerry Yellin and a small group of fellow fighter pilots flew dangerous bombing and strafe missions out of Iwo Jima over Japan. Even days after America dropped the atomic bombs—on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9-the pilots continued to fly. Though Japan had suffered unimaginable devastation, the emperor still refused to surrender. New York Times bestselling author Don Brown (Treason) sits down with Yellin, now ninetythree years old, to tell the incredible true story of the final combat mission of World War II. Nine days after Hiroshima, on the morning of August 15th, Yellin and his wingman 1st Lieutenant Phillip Schlamberg took off from Iwo Jima to bomb Tokyo. By the time Yellin returned to Iwo Jima, the war was officially over— but his young friend Schlamberg would never get to hear the news. The Last Fighter Pilot is a harrowing first-person account of war from one of America’s last living World War II veterans.

Annie Lobert, Brandon Wade, Cory Graff, Tom Kizzia, Jerry Yellin, Rachel Reed, Harlow Giles Unger

Captain Jerry Yellin flew the final combat mission over Japan during WWII in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He flew the P-51 Mustang for the Army Air Forces (the branch's shortly lived name from the early to mid 1940's between being known as the Army Air Corps and the Air Force.) Yellin died this month a year ago, but just a couple of months prior, Brandon Webb had the honor to interview him on The Power of Thought Podcast. It very likely may have been the final interview of his life, and the last time he got to tell his incredible story. Some of you may have heard it, and some of you have not. So I wanted to celebrate the life of Yellin, his remarkable service, and the twist of fate when his son moved to Japan and married a woman he fell in love with there. Your legacy lives on Captain! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Scott Weaver hails from a long line of pilots, starting with his grandfather, Leo Purington, who had a 4-digit pilot certificate number. Scott was immersed in aviation from a young age, but had initially aspired to a career as a professional baseball player. Finally, the flying bug bit him, and he entered the Air Force and attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). Following UPT, he stayed in Air Training Command as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot (FAIP), instructing student pilots. Then it was time for him to get his fighter assignment, and he selected the F-16. Scott continued to fly the F-16 for the rest of his career, including his time in the DC Air Guard. He retired from the Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel. After leaving active duty, Scott hired on with a major airline, and currently flies B777's on international routes. Scott also wrote a book that chronicles the history of Thunderbird Field and his family's role in that history. As part of his research, he met Jerry Yellin, the pilot who flew the last combat mission of World War II, who trained at Thunderbird Field.

We start off the podcast with editor-in-chief Jack Murphy discussing both some of the criticism and praise we've received over SOFREP.com posting footage of the killing of Green Berets in Niger by ISIS. This controversy is by no means something that we take lightly, and Jack wanted to be frank with the audience of why this decision was made. More can be read on this in Jack's post "Why we published the Niger video." Our special guest this show is none other than All That Remains frontman Phil Labonte. ATR is celebrating their 20th year as a band, and many of you loved their video for the song "Madness" featuring Kris Paronto which raised awareness for post-traumatic stress related issues in combat veterans as well as soldier suicide. Phil shares some great stories of coming up touring with bands like Five Finger Death Punch (who he's filled in for on vocals) and Motograter (a name you may remember if you were into the nu-metal scene about 15 years back.) Not only is Phil an accomplished musician though, he's also a former Marine and a gun store owner. He was even at SHOT Show which we discuss, and he recently got some attention for the video on his Youtube channel talking the issue of gun control after the Florida school shooting. After wrapping with Phil we pay our respects to WWII fighter pilot Jerry Yellin, who flew the last combat mission over Japan. We just recently found out of his passing at 93. Brandon Webb however did have the fortune of interviewing Jerry just recently on The Power of Thought (Episode 13) which is very worth checking out. Then, we give out a Throat Punch of the Week for the first time in a while. We appreciate all the well thought out feedback in these past few days, and those that are having a respectful discussion about some very serious issues, we encourage that. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Ten shows back on Episode 321, our friend Steve Balestrieri who's the head writer and editor at SpecialOperations.com told us about his work interviewing combat veterans from some of the older wars.  I wanted to bring him on for an update on that.  I've always loved getting older vets on tell their stories whether it's Jerry Yellin who joined Brandon on The Power of Thought podcast, or Jim Downing who recently left us.  They're all unfortunately leaving us as the years go by, so getting them to open up with their heroic stories on film is something that Steve and the rest of us at Hurricane Group greatly appreciate. SpecialOperations.com for those that don't know is Hurricane Group's site covering the history of our operators.  Steve has been writing some excellent pieces over there that we hope you check out.  These include "Operation Halyard, one of the great rescue stories of WWII," "On this day in 2016, Navy SEAL Edward Byers Awarded Medal of Honor," and "Operation Anaconda, began on this date, March 2-10, 2002 in Afghanistan."  So, head over to that site, and learn your roots! I'd also urge you to head over to The Power of Thought podcast hosted by Brandon Webb to get your audio fix.  We just posted a killer interview with none other than Robert O'Neill, the UBL shooter from DEVGRU/SEAL Team 6. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Part two of Iwo Jima: Nightmare in the Pacific covers the story of the fighting as well as the raising of the first and second flags on Mt. Surabachi, including the stories of the mistaken identities of the flag raisers and that of marine pfc. Ira Hayes. Dedicated to all the men who fought there from all services. We thank you for your service and sacrifice. Veterans Voices: Marine pfc Vaughn Russell Marine pfc Glenn Stroen US Army Capt. Jerry Yellin (pilot)

Captain Jerry Yellin has the unique distinction of flying the first and last combat missions over Japan during the Second World War. He spent the majority of the war with the 78th Fighter Squadron, flying the P-40, P-47, and P-51. Captain Yellin passed away on December 21, 2017. This video is in memoriam to help ensure his legacy lives on. 

The last combat mission of World War II began Aug. 15, 1945, when fighter pilot Jerry Yellin and his wingman, 19-year-old Philip Schlamberg, took off from Iwo Jima to attack airfields near Nagoya, Japan. The war seemed all but over. Germany had surrendered in May, and much of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were in ruins, decimated by atomic bombs dropped the previous week. If Mr. Yellin heard a code word — “Utah” — Japan’s rumored surrender had occurred, and he was to cancel his mission and return to Iwo Jima, a rocky island that he had helped secure months earlier and that offered a base for American bombers headed north to Japan. Later that day, on what was still Aug. 14 in the United States, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender. For some reason, however, Mr. Yellin and Schlamberg never got the message. Taking on antiaircraft fire in their P-51 Mustangs, they strafed their targets and headed home, passing through a thick bank of clouds. Schlamberg, who had previously admitted a sense of foreboding to Mr. Yellin, saying, “If we go on this mission, I’m not coming back,” never emerged from the haze. Disappearing from Mr. Yellin’s wing, he was presumed dead and considered one of the last Americans to be killed in combat during World War II. Mr. Yellin in 2015. (Lightfinder Public Relations) Mr. Yellin, who landed on Iwo Jima to discover that the war had ended three hours earlier, and who later became an outspoken advocate of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, died Dec. 21 at his son Steven Yellin’s home in Orlando. He was 93 and had lung cancer, his son said. For Mr. Yellin, the war was a hellish necessity, essential for halting the spread of Nazism and Japanese aggression. But he also spoke forthrightly about its costs, including the mental anguish over memories of combat that nearly led him to suicide. He recalled with particular horror the experience of landing on war-torn Iwo Jima for the first time, where “there wasn’t a blade of grass and there were 28,000 bodies rotting in the sun.” “The sights and the sounds and the smells of dead bodies and the sights of Japanese being bulldozed into mass graves absolutely never went away,” he told the Washington Times in August. Mr. Yellin, a captain in the 78th Fighter Squadron of the Army Air Forces, counted 16 downed pilots in his unit during the war, including Schlamberg. For years afterward, he struggled to keep a steady job, moving a dozen times in the United States and Israel (where he settled, at one point, partly in protest of the Vietnam War). He eventually found solace through Transcendental Meditation, a twice-daily technique of silent concentration that his wife introduced him to in 1975 after she saw the practice’s originator, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, on “The Merv Griffin Show.” Mr. Yellin soon began speaking to other veterans who struggled to adapt to civilian life, and in 2010 he co-founded Operation Warrior Wellness, a division of the David Lynch Foundation that helps veterans learn Transcendental Meditation. He said he was inspired to start the group after a friend and Army veteran killed himself that year. Mr. Yellin received support in promotional videos by actress Scarlett Johansson, a grandniece of Schlamberg. “The feeling that one has when a buddy dies? You just can’t emulate that. We have a burden civilians will never understand,” Mr. Yellin told The Washington Post earlier this month, shortly after the release of “The Last Fighter Pilot,” an account of his World War II service written with Don Brown.

I had the extraordinary pleasure to talk with Captain Jerry Yellin, a 93-year-old World War Two vet who flew the final combat mission in World War Two's Pacific Theatre. Yellin piloted for the 78th Fighter Squadron and was part of the 1945 bombing campaigns that ultimately triggered Japan's surrender. From April to August of 1945, Yellin and a small group of fellow fighter pilots flew dangerous bombing and strafe missions out of Iwo Jima over Japan. Even days after America dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9, the pilots continued to fly. Though Japan had suffered unimaginable devastation, the emperor still refused to surrender. Nine days after Hiroshima, on the morning of August 14th, Yellin and his wingman 1st Lieutenant Phillip Schlamberg took off from Iwo Jima to bomb Tokyo. By the time Yellin returned to Iwo Jima, the war was officially over—but his young friend Schlamberg would never get to hear the news. Yellin joined the war efforts when he was 19 and jumped directly into action. The stench of death, the rain of bullets, and the minute-to-minute fight for survival faced young Captain Jerry Yellin when he landed on Iwo Jima in in 1945. Little did Capt. Yellin know that his life would be turned upside down during a routine flight, which turned out to be the last combat mission of WWII. Flanked by his devoted comrades, Yellin was a flight leader in the final fight for freedom—a mission that will forever leave its mark on the history of the world.   TO HELP OUT THE SHOW Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher

Captain Jerry Yellin enlisted in the Army Air Corps on his 18th birthday, two months after the Pearl Harbor attack. He became a fighter pilot, flying P-40s, P-47s and P-51s. He flew 19 ultra-long P-51 missions from Iwo Jima to Japan on bomber escort and interdiction missions, and was the last pilot in WWII to engage in aerial combat. Following the war, he suffered from undiagnosed PTSD for 30 years, until ultimately finding a cure through Transcendental Meditation. In 1982, he reluctantly went to Japan on a business trip and fell in love with the country and people he had hated for 40 years. In his book Of Wars and Weddings he recounts his transformation and the marriage of his son to the daughter of a Japanese fighter pilot, and how the two enemies became family. He has now authored four books, with one translated into Japanese. His website is www.captainjerryyellin.com. At 92 years of age, he now travels around the world, speaking about his journey.

Jerry Yellin, a distinguished veteran of World War II, is the author of "The Resilient Warrior," and co-chair of the David Lynch Foundation's new program, Operation Warrior Wellness, which offers Transcendental Meditation to veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Jerry is also the author of “Of War and Weddings,” published in 1995, which has been published in English and Japanese. As both the CEO of MilitaryConnection.com and the founder of the Veteran and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA), Debbie Gregory covers all the bases when it comes to serving the needs of Military and Veteran Communities. MilitaryConnection.com, one of the most popular websites on the Internet for active military, veterans and their families, is referred to as The Go to Site for jobs, benefits, news, and information regarding education benefits. For more, visit www.MilitaryConnection.com

Jerry Yellin, a distinguished veteran of World War II, is the author of "The Resilient Warrior," and co-chair of the David Lynch Foundation's new program, Operation Warrior Wellness, which offers Transcendental Meditation to veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Jerry is also the author of “Of War and Weddings,” published in 1995, which has been published in English and Japanese. As both the CEO of MilitaryConnection.com and the founder of the Veteran and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA), Debbie Gregory covers all the bases when it comes to serving the needs of Military and Veteran Communities. MilitaryConnection.com, one of the most popular websites on the Internet for active military, veterans and their families, is referred to as The Go to Site for jobs, benefits, news, and information regarding education benefits. For more, visit www.MilitaryConnection.com

Jerry Yellin enlisted in the Army Air Corps on his 18th birthday.  He was in combat in the Pacific Theater and Iwo Jima with the 78th Fighter Squadron and participated in the first land based fighter mission over Japan on April 7, 1945 and the last mission of the war on August 14, 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf cluster and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf clusters. He is the author of The Resilient Warrior, Healing the Hidden Wounds of War  

Are we taking care of our veterans as we should? Is there a simple solution? World War II veteran Jerry Yellin coped with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for more than 30 years. Listen to his incredible story of how he overcame his lack of connection with the world to become the inspiration for filmmaker David Lynch’s Foundation to launch a … Read more about this episode...