Service Before Self: Lessons from Veterans Across Generations

What this episode covers

This special broadcast of Opportunity Awaits — Lead The Way brings together powerful veteran voices across generations to reflect on service, sacrifice, injury, trauma, healing, identity, leadership, and purpose after the uniform.Hosted by Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, President and CEO of Fathers and Families Coalition of America, this episode features Bishop Henry Hearns, Korean War era veteran; Prof. Eric Glaudé, Vietnam War veteran; Doc Bongo, post-Vietnam War veteran; and Lachi Zoutay, Afghanistan/Iraq era veteran, in a deeply meaningful intergenerational conversation.This episode highlights three tremendous elder African-American leaders, joined by a younger African-American veteran voice, whose collective experiences touch the Korean War era, the Vietnam War era, post-Vietnam service, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the continuing journey of veterans who return home carrying both visible and invisible wounds. The framework is Service Before Self.This conversation is not only for veterans. It is for anyone working with families, fathers, mothers, children, caregivers, communities, social workers, educators, faith leaders, and people who continue serving others while carrying the pain of their own.Inside this raw and honest conversation are powerful lessons: service does not end when the uniform comes off; some people hide pain better than they heal pain; and you can do anything when you refuse to quit, ask for help, mentor others, and find another way forward.Learn More About Our Guests Bishop Henry Hearns — 93-Year-Old VeteranClick HereProf. Eric Glaudé, LCSW-R — 82-Year-Old VeteranClick HereDoc Bongo — 70s-Year-Old VeteranClick HereLachi Zoutay — 31-Year-Old VeteranClick Here Learn More and Stay Connected Learn More About the Host, Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSWClick HereLearn More About Opportunity Awaits — Lead The WayClick HereLearn More About Fathers and Families Coalition of AmericaClick HereJoin Authors of Impact and Explore Featured Authors and BooksClick Here Subscribe, share, and walk with us as we continue building conversations around purpose, family, healing, leadership, service, veterans, fathers, communities, and the courage to lead with love. #OpportunityAwaits#OpportunityAwaitsLeadTheWay#ServiceBeforeSelf#LessonsFromVeterans#VeteransAcrossGenerations#HonoringSacrifice#MilitaryServiceAndHealing#VeteransVoices#VeteranLeadership#AfricanAmericanVeterans#BlackVeterans#KoreanWarVeteran#VietnamVeteran#DesertStormVeteran#OperationIraqiFreedom#AfghanistanVeteran#Post911Veterans#MilitaryFamilies#PurposeAfterService#TraumaHealing#HealingAfterService#PostTraumaticGrowth#VeteransMentalHealth#SuicidePrevention#CommunityService#ServantLeadership#LeadershipWithLove#IntergenerationalWisdom#FamilyWellness#FathersAndFamilies#FathersAndFamiliesCoalition#FFCA#HOPE2027#HOPETalks#CompleteNotCompete#PurposeWithin#PurposeWithinRiseOutoftheAshesLikeThePhoenix#AuthorsOfImpact#LeadTheWay

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