Dodging the USS Stark, a Minefield in the Persian Gulf & Sharks Under a Flipped Zodiac | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Bryan Huggett | Ep. 61

A last-minute decision to re-enlist and go home to get married kept Bryan Huggett off the USS Stark—just months before it was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles.In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Bryan shares 20 years of service split between the U.S. Navy and the Michigan Army National Guard: flying tanker escorts through Persian Gulf minefields during the Iran-Iraq War, rescuing a flipped Zodiac while sharks circled below, and later trading Navy wings for a decade as a Huey crew chief fighting wildfires and training Navy SEALs for Afghanistan.In this episode:The twist of fate that kept him off the USS Stark before it was hit by two Exocet missilesFlying tanker escort missions through Persian Gulf minefields during the Iran-Iraq WarThe night the USS Samuel B. Roberts hit a mine—and locking and loading on one of his ownRescuing a flipped Zodiac in the Atlantic, circled by sharksTrading Navy wings for a decade as a Huey crew chief in the Michigan Army National GuardTraining Navy SEAL Team 1 ahead of their deployment into AfghanistanTwo branches, two decades, and one calm head no matter what got thrown at him.👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories.CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 61So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: [email protected] more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:Twitter: https://x.com/briancdickinson/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinsonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinsonCalm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers#RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #USSStark #PersianGulf #IranIraqWar #USSSamuelBRoberts #NavalAviation #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #MichiganNationalGuard #ArmyNationalGuard #HueyCrewChief #SearchAndRescue #SAR #SEALTeam #NeverForget #SoOthersMayLive #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #ResiliencePodcast #ServiceAndSacrifice #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast #HonorTheFallen