American Warrior Radio

Air Force Intelligence Specialis Emma Przybyslawaki spent much of her career attached to various Special Operations units. She was credited with 1,634 kills. As Co-Founder and CEO of Strike Solutions she is now working to make our forces even more lethal.

Ed Mechenbier had already flown 79 of the 100 required missions over North Vietnam before he could return home. He didn't have to fly that day but volunteered and was shot down on his 80th mission. He would spend nearly 6 years as a POW.

Since it's founding, Combat Hero Bike Build has awarded 43 custom adapted motorcycles to severely injured Veterans and First Responders. President Ken Dugas and motorcycle recipient Bobby Henline join us.

"Sheepdog" is a gritty film about Traumatic Brain Injury, Veteran suicide, Post Traumatic Stress and Post Traumatic Growth.Writer, Director and Lead Actor Steven Grayhm joins us.

Havok Journal owner Scott Faith gives us an update on subjects impacting our military and Veterans.

Bob Wells had a distinguished 30-year Navy career including serving as a White House and National Security Council advisor in the Bush 43 and Clinton administrations. We discuss the current global threats.

Air Force Combat Search and Rescue pilot John Mangan flew more than 200 missions in Afghanistan. He was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor.He wroted "The Three Rings Mindset" to help others apply techniques used by high performers to deal with the stressors or modern day life.

Col. Brandon P. Alford, Commander - US Space Forces Southern joins us to share more about our nation's newest military branch and its mission.

A 2002 USO trip would inspire Darryl Worely to compose and perform the song "Have You Forgotten", a song about the 9/11 attacks. The song spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard country charts. Darryl joins us to describe his latest project.

Diveheart Founder Jim Elliott and Exec. Director Tinamarie Hernandez join us to describe how they are helping Veterans using the equalizing power of scuba diving.

Doug Hegdahl likely had the most unusual capture of any Vietnam POW. But the South Dakota farm boy would become one of the war's most unlikely heroes. Marc Leepson joins us to tell his story.

Bob Breault was one of the first Air Force pilots to be assigned to fly the very dangerous "Wild Weasel" mission in Vietnam. Afer leaving the service, he would go on to become a global leader in the optics industry.

Ryan McDermott is a West Point graduate and earned the Ranger tab. He led an infrantry platoon during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ryan shares his motivation behind wrting " Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet"

Base Camp for Veterans used equine theragpy to help heal Veteran families. Founders Deborah Plum and Theo Windish join us.

Michael Durant flew with the elite 160th SOAR "Night Stalkers". His helicopter would be the second shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu and he spent 11 days in Somali captivity.

The 9/11 attacks forced Navy Chaplain Larry Cripps to finally confront the trauma he had suppressed from his time in combat in Vietnam.

Michael Reyka undertook an 8 year project that culminated in physically retracing his father Steve's journey as he fought his way north through France as part of the 180th Infantry Regiment.

Jennifer Chan is the founder of the Pacific Atrocities organization. She has written several books about atrocities committed in the Pacific-Asia theatre during World War II.We discuss the notorious Unit 731 and the lives of "Comfort Women". 

Our last discussion of the year with Havok Journal owner Charles Faint focuses on leadership.

Command Chief Master Sergeant Kelvin Hatcher discusses the challenges military families face being separated during the holidays.

Brothers William and Phillip Taubman have written an insightful book that sheds new light on Robert Mcnamara, one of the most controversial figures during the Vietnam War. Co-Author of "MacNamara at War" William Taubman joins us for a discussion.

Navy Corpsman Jesse Brewer would be awarded the Silver Star for his actions at Hill 689 in Vietnam.

Michael Becker served in our Air Force for 26 years and nine months. He entered the Air Force as an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician and would eventually be the top ranking enlisted officer for one of our nation's largest Air Force bases.

Ian and Patrick are leading a unique project that will put to music the words of 12 letters sent home from troops. The letters span a period from the Revolutionary War to the Gulf War.

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

Nick Padlo was a sophomore at West Point when the 9/11 attacks occurred. He would go on to serve two tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Armed with an MBA from Stanford University, Padlo made a good transition to the civilian sector, taking a job with a successful business. It seemed he had the world at his feet. But all was not well in his life. He experienced a divorce and along the way he started drinking and experimenting with drugs. The feelings that he was trying to numb became worse because of his addictions. On 2018 he found himself in a Dallas hotel with a half empty bottle of liquor and a gun trying to decide if that would be his last day on earth. Instead, he did a web search for rehab. Padlo clarifies that if someone is asking themselves if they are drinking too much, or if family members suggest it, then there is a 90% certainty that there is a problem. “When you start having negotiations with yourself, you’ve crossed some sort of a line.” He says the main question one should ask is whether the relationship with alcohol is blessing you and your family. Padlo had to do rehab twice before it “took”. Padlo shares three issues that are particular to Veterans that can complicate addiction and recovery. Padlo committed to devote the rest of his career to helping other people dealing with addictions and he founded Sophros Recovery. In mythology “Sophrosyne” describes a well-balanced state that leads to temperance, moderation and prudence.  While Sophros is affiliated with all major insurances, they also have scholarships they can offer. “If we can’t help you we will find someplace that will.” TAKEAWAY: “Nothing changes if nothing changes. If you are hearing this and need some help or know someone who does – do something!"

The Van of Valor program is the brainchild of Kevin and Lauren Wallace. Their mission is to travel to all of the lower 48 states and record the stories of at least 100 Purple Heart recipients or Gold Star families. Kevin had served in the Air Force for seven years when the opportunity came up to become a Combat Photographer. On April 3, 2011 Kevin was attached to a team of 12 cavalry scouts tasked with establishing an observation post in a set of ruins in Northwest Afghanistan. Kevin sensed that something was amiss when their meeting with the village elders was less than cordial. They began taking fire while exiting the village but were able to make it back to the ruins. Kevin and his 11 comrades were engaged on three sides by more than 100 Taliban fighters, some of whom were using women and children as shields. During the attack, an RPG came so close to Kevin that it singed his beard. It exploded behind him, peppering Kevin, four of the scouts and their working dog with shrapnel. He would be awarded the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star w/ Valor for that battle. The couple had discussed traveling the lower states and bought a used Fed-X van with 300,000 miles, converting it to a travel van. Lauren says she was inspired start the Van of Valor project after personally witnessing the impact that shared trauma has among Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families. If anyone knows of a Purple Heart story that needs to be told, please check the Van of Valor website to see if your community is along their planned route. You can also track their progress at the website. Kevin and Laura are accepting donations to offset the costs of the journey. TAKEAWAY: “We are asking people to dig up a lot from their past and make people uncomfortable so that the grander public can understand the sacrifice that Gold Star families and those who see combat suffer from.”

“Jeep Show; A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge” is a fictional work by author Robert B. O’Connor that sheds light on a unique and little know effort during World War II. Military Occupational Specialist Code 442 was assigned to some names you may recognize; Mickey Rooney, Sammy Davis Jr, Mel Brooks and Red Buttons. They were part of a special morale initiative to provide entertainment to troops on the front lines in areas deemed too dangerous for USO tours. Jeep Show units consisted of 3 soldiers who would provide the equivalent of a traveling vaudeville show. Because front line troops were constantly on the move, these contingents would conduct several performances a day. Robert B. O’Connor first became aware of this unique program when he was an executive with Proctor & Gamble. He was researching a failed marketing scheme led by Jim Hetzer called “The Oxydol Circus.” Hetzer’s family informed O’Connor that their father was involved with Jeep Shows during WWII. Hezter would become the basis for the fictional main character in O’Connor’s novel. Interestingly, he chose to also place the REAL Mickey Rooney in the novel. We spend some time discussing Rooney’s career and his possible motivation for volunteering during World War II. Rooney was awarded a Bronze Star for his role with the Jeep Shows. O’Connor chose to involve his main character in the Battle of Bulge, not only because it was a significant part of the war in Europe but also because it highlighted the often unrecognized role of “Team SNAFU” during that clash. Team SNAFU described the role of traditionally non-combat personnel like clerks, supply and medical personnel who were forced to take up arms in the protection of Bastogne. Jeep Show is a delightful and compelling novel that puts readers right on the front lines and introduces us to the often unheralded contributions of support troops like those who carried the 442 MOS.

Terry “Ranger” Johnson’s path toward fulfilling his dreams was a rocky one. His “comeback” story is one of resiliency, commitment to one’s goals and is full of messages that should inspire every one of us. Terry grew up off of a dirt road five miles outside of a tiny town in east Texas. While Terry is a dedicated patriot, he admits he joined for the money and to get out of that small town. While serving at his first duty station he encountered some Rangers and decided that would be his next career goal. There was one big problem though. Terry did not know how to swim and he flunked the pool test. We all have fears, and Terry admits that the toughest thing he ever had to do in life was getting over his fear of water. He concentrated on swimming lessons and earned his Ranger tab seven years later. He says that getting past that swim test imbued him with confidence and a “stay in in the fight” mind set.  He had to take the ASVAB test FIVE times before he qualified to join the Green Berets. Terry served for 20 years but adds “If I hadn’t hurt my back earlier in my career I would have done 30 years. I loved the Army..there wasn’t no LIKE about it. I loved it. I thrived in it.” Upon retiring Terry “Ranger” Johnson dedicated himself to helping and motivating others. He has published a series of books including “Stay In The Fight” and “Train Like You Fight”.  We discuss some of the inspirational lessons in his books In addition to his motivational speaking business, Terry and his son Gino also ventured into the entrepreneurship arena with Champions for Veterans, which helps Veterans reclaim their earned VA benefits. TAKEAWAY: “Even when you are down and out you can do more – you’ve GOT more. When you show that grit it empowers others to believe they can as well.”

“This Troubled Ground” by  is part memoir/part fiction. Les served our nation for 28 years, beginning with four years in the active duty Air Force and the remainder in the National Guard. He retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel in 2013. Dover Air Force Base is often the first domestic stop for the remains of the fallen coming from overseas. During the height of the Afghanistan War, President Obama changed the policies to allow families to have media presence if they wished. This required a public affairs team to be present on the ramp for the dignified transfer.  Les was one of the first public affairs officers to arrive following the policy change and estimates he oversaw over 100 dignified transfers.  He also participated in the dignified transfer of the team of CIA officers. Les emphasizes that “the job is NOT for everyone. You are going to witness some of the hardest things in your life.” His publisher calls “This Troubled Ground” an autobiographical novel. Les says it was the product of a combination of his experiences at Dover and his deployments to Afghanistan. While deployed he was attached to the International Security Assistance Force, facilitating interactions between our foreign allies and the Afghan media. He says for the most part he was privileged to work with some amazing leaders. An overriding theme of “This Troubled Ground” is the question of whether “Afghanistan was worth it?” The book takes us from a family member asking that question on the ramp at Dover to the second time Les deployed to Afghanistan. Even though he swore he would never go back, Les DID volunteer for a second deployment and suggests it was because he might have been searching for the answer to that question. Though “This Troubled Ground” is a fictional story, one of the families he met on the ramp at Dover specifically asked him to use the real name of their fallen son so that he wouldn’t be forgotten.

Mike Croissant, a retired CIA officer, set out on a mission to learn more about his uncle. His uncle was an a bomber crewman that survived World War II without of scratch but was then killed in a plane crash shortly after returning home. Drawing from his uncle’s letters home, along with dozens of interviews with surviving Veterans, Mike produced “Bombing Hitler’s Hometown; The Untold Story of the Last Mass Bombing Raid of World War II in Europe." It describes the April 25, 1944 mission to bomb Linz, Austria. Hitler spent many of his early life in Linz, Austria. He intended to make it the cultural capital of Europe after the war. Strategically, it was also a key location for Nazi Germany. As a transportation hub, tons of war materials flowed through the rail yards. It was also defended by more than 164 anti-aircraft batteries, one of the most intense defensive concentrations in 1944. Given the fact that Russian troops had already entered Berlin on April 16th, we discuss whether this risky mission was even necessary. Hitler committed suicide on April 30th. Mike’s book puts the readers right in the cabin with the aviators that flew B-24 and B-17 bombers on the April 1, 1944 mission. Readers will experience the cold, the terror of flying through the flak barrages and the heartbreak of seeing fellow aircrews get shot down. He also does an excellent job of taking us through the experiences of the crews who were shot down and some of the residents on the ground that captured or helped them. Croissant tells us about one crew member was captured by Russian troops who, despite being our allies, tortured him for several days after accusing him of being a German spy. In one bizarre incident, an Austrian Commandant tried to draft crew members into joining a guerilla war against the Nazis. TAKEAWAY: “I did it for the men because they deserve it and I did it for their kids. Their kids need to know, and indeed, all Americans need to know what those men did for us right at the very end of the most destructive conflict in human history.”

“Indochina Hand; Tales of a CIA Case Officer” by Barry Broman features a compilation stories about situations encountered during a 25 year career with the agency. He can attest to the fact that sometimes truth IS stranger than fiction. Barry was first approached by the CIA while in graduate school. The recruiter said Barry was precisely the “kind of guy we are looking for”. However, when Barry informed him that he was commissioned in the Marine Corps and was headed to Vietnam. The recruiter handed him a business card and said “Here’s my card. If you live, call this number six months before you get out of the Corps.”  Barry eventually did call that number and it was fifteen days between the Marine Corps and the CIA. We begin with some stories from his time serving in Vietnam. He describes the role of the “Combined Action Marines” who interacted with local militias. He also shares the story of how one of his friends almost lost his life do a drunk South Vietnamese soldier just days before he was scheduled to return home. One of the more compelling stories involved John Gunthner Dean, the Ambassador to Cambodia. Barry, Dean and some others were the last to get out of the country just ahead of the Khmer Rouge. The fate of those left behind still weighs heavy on Barry. Indochina was one of his favorite postings. Barry recruited 41 agents during his career and shares the delicate line one walks while performing those actions. If the recruitment fails, the CIA agent may only be ejected from the country. But the existing foreign assets exposed by the failure were likely to lose their lives. Contrary to popular belief, Barry says that many of the foreign agents were not in it for the money. It was usually the American traitors that were primarily motivated by greed.

Dr. Lanny Snodgrass completed basic training at the age of 63, perhaps a new record. He has wanted to serve in the military much earlier in life but a football injury made him ineligible.  However, as a VA psychiatrist, he witnessed the trauma of Veterans and the desire to serve in uniform became more intense. When he was sixty a friend suggested he try to join up again. He signed the paperwork, passed the physical and took the oath. Two months later he received a phone call from Army headquarters saying he was too old. It took three more years before he was finally accepted.  The US had just entered the Iraq war and psychiatrists were in short supply. Snodgrass says it is likely that had something to do with his eventual acceptance. He shares some of the challenges completing Officer’s basic training with a heart condition. But he knew he would never get another chance. One of the more shocking moments he relates was when one of the training officers declared to the class that he “Would NEVER send one of his soldiers to a psychiatrist.” His experience serving in the field with young soldiers led him to challenge conventional wisdom surrounding age norms in the military. Snodgrass shares these theories in his book “The Ageless Call to Serve – Rethinking Military Service for a Changing World.” While he supports the current enlistment age, he feels strongly that teenagers should allowed a period of maturation before being sent into combat.  Snodgrass also makes a very compelling case for addressing the current recruiting challenges by allowing more mature individuals to serve.  Today’s technologies mean there are many categories of service that do not require the physical stamina of younger adults. I love the idea that this flips the current blueprint on its head; persons can spend a career in the private sector developing advanced technical skills and education and THEN start a career in the military.

Starvation Island is the name the Japanese gave the pacific Island of Guadalcanal. Second only to the Battle of Midway, the capture and retention of Guadalcanal was one of the most significant achievements leading to eventual victory in the Pacific. The price would be high, with brutal combat on the ground, at sea and in the air. A group of mostly green Marine aviators were dispatched to Guadalcanal to assist in the defense. They were lacking in supplies, equipment, fuel and ammunition. These aircrews believed the Marine Corps considered them expendable. Best Selling author John Bruning joins us to tell their story, as recorded in his book “53 Days on Starvation Island; The World War II Battle That Saved Marine Corps Aviation.”  This exceptional book draws upon historical records and personal interviews with some of the men who saw action there. The story of these brave Marine aviators centers upon three men who played key roles in the aerial defense of the island: Major John Smith, who was principally responsible for organizing the air defenses of Guadalcanal. He would end the war with 19 aerial victories. Marion Carl, a farm boy from Oregon who became the Marine Corps’ first WWII Ace. Richard Mangrum, a lawyer from Seattle Lawyer who led the bomber group. The book not only does an excellent job of highlighting the depravations suffered by all the Marines on Guadalcanal, but also the disconnect between life on the home front and the brutality of battle during those early stages of the Pacific campaign. Bruning’s book describes many of the battles in exceptional detail, capturing the viciousness of air to air combat. By the time it was over, those 31 aircrews could be given credit for helping to save the lives of 20,000 Marines on the island by intercepting further Japanese landings and protecting the critically important Henderson Field from bombing raids. “Remember this fellows – while we are all expendable, we are not so expendable as to take unnecessary chances. Your mission is to sink as many ships as you can. But a still more important mission is for all of you to get back here whole.  This war is young yet – we can die later.” - Dick Mangrum

Havok Journal owner Charles Faint joins us for the last update of 2024. Charles is a retired Army Intelligence Officer who teaches at West Point military academy. Charles shares his “second favorite” event at West Point; “Branch Night”. Branch Night is the evening when the cadets learn what branch they will be assigned.  They are handed a sealed envelope and, after some formalities and a keynote speaker, they all tear open their envelopes to learn where they will start their Army career.  Generally, there is great excitement. However, on occasion, some cadets are disappointed.  Charles explains that “Some of the best things that happened to me in life happened because I didn’t get what I wanted at the moment.” He would expect any Army 2nd Lieutenant to just commit to doing the best job they can wherever they are assigned. Next, we discuss Dave Chamberlain’s article about transitioning to civilian life.  Dave served in our military for 38 years.  His article makes a great comparison between leaving the service and “phantom limb pain”. Dave describes his first “phantom pain” came when his unit deployed shortly after retiring. Vincent Johnson’s article “Friends Lost in the Sandbox” describes his challenges in dealing with the loss of comrades and survivors guilt. Charles shares his personal experiences in the same vein. Brooke Hickox wrote an excellent article titled “A Civilian’s Military Benefit From a Daughter’s Perspective”. She describes growing up as the daughter of a law enforcement officer and Vietnam Veteran; the challenges but also the great way it prepared her for a productive adult life. Charles says it stands as an example of the breadth and diversity of their contributing authors. We wrap up with Frank Pauc’s hard hitting article “What it Takes to Bridge the Civ-Mil Divide”. Even with my three decades of supporting military families, this article challenged my ideas about what we as civilians owe military Veterans. I strongly recommend that any civilians seeking to understand the military/first responder communities pay a visit to the Havok Journal.  

“Understanding the War” podcast is the latest venture for Special Forces Veteran Mat Tardio. This new podcast is in addition to his already successful “Speak the Truth” podcast. The mission of the “Understanding the War” podcast is to give combat Veterans the chance to tell their stories. “What the hell are we doing to our own people when we don’t allow them to be able to speak because somehow their stories aren’t valid?” Mat wanted to join the military from an earlier age. His original intent was to pursue a career in the Marine Corps. However, the day before reporting to entrance processing he had gone grouse hunting. This resulted in a slight temporary hearing loss that caused his disqualification with the Marines. He joined the Army instead and served 9 years in the infantry and 7 years with the Green Berets. One of Mat’s first assignments was with the 3rd Infantry Regiment “Old Guard”. They conduct funerals at Arlington and ceremonies around the DC area. He shares a powerful story about unloading remains at Dover Air Force Base. As a Green Beret Mat was sent into Ukraine after the first Russian invasion. His team was also sent into Afghanistan to deal with ISIS-K. He shares a little bit about that experience and contrasts the difference between fighting ISIS and the Taliban. The buildup of injuries sustained over the years serving in the Special Forces led to a medical retirement. He briefly served in Law Enforcement, but that “didn’t take”. He currently operates Tardio Consulting Group, training law enforcement training on developing proactive defense solutions to active shooter threats. If you have a story that needs to be told on "Understanding the War" podcast, contact Mat: [email protected] TAKEAWAY: “I think selection is hard for a reason. I don’t want someone on my team who can’t suck it up. I don’t want someone on my team who is going to leave me hanging up or is going to leave me hanging while they can still move.”

Coast Guard pilot John Whiddon has been awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross medals. But the enemy he faced was not the Viet Cong or Iraqi air defenses. It was 30 foot seas, 70 knot wind gusts and freezing waters off the coast of Alaska. John was born in England and his father served in the Royal Navy.  Having finished college, he had applied for the US Coast Guard but had not received an answer. So he applied to the Royal Navy’s helicopter flying program and was accepted. The week before he was set to leave for London, he received word that he had been accepted into the US Coast Guard Officer Candidate School. At the time, John was flying the HH-3F amphibious helicopters. They had a boat hull that would allow the aircraft to land in the water, but only in 8-10 foot seas and 8 knot winds. Following the failed rescue of the “Marine Electric” in 1983, the Coast Guard established their rescue swimmer program. John shares details of the two rescues for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, including the “Bluebird” rescue on December 10, 1987 off the coast of Alaska. A fisherman and his six year old son were in trouble. It was a night mission and weather conditions were terrible; blinding snow and ice, 30 foot seas and wind gusts up to 70 knots. The winds were so strong, several times the helicopter was actually blown backyards and toward the water. At one point their rear rotor came within 3 feet of the water. Because of the size and construction of the boat, placing the rescue basket on the sinking boat was not an option. It would become the first time in Coast Guard history that a rescue swimmer was used in a high seas rescue. After 45 minutes of failing to get the rescue basket to the swimmer and half a dozen near crashes, John and his crew began to recognize the very real possibility that they might crash themselves and, in that case, there was no one coming to rescue them. However, they didn’t give up and finally got everyone board. John’s interview is part of our partnership with the Distinguished Flying Cross Society and our shared mission to tell the stories of heroism or extraordinary achievement in flight.

Delta Force operator Wade Ishimoto was one of the founding members of the elite unit when it was first formed. The story of his progression from an American of Japanese ancestry born in Hawaii just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor to the Delta Force is told in his book “The Intoku Code”.  Intoku is a Japanese word that means “doing good in secret.” Wade began his Army career as a military policeman and then moved on to counter intelligence and human intelligence. Fourteen of his twenty years in the Army were spent in Special Forces.  He originally wanted to join the Marines, but the recruiter was at lunch. On his way to see the Air Force recruiter, he says the Army recruiter tapped him on the shoulder and “fed him a bunch of lies”. Wade was laser focused on getting into the Special Forces but the path was not an easy one. Eventually he joined the 5th Special Forces group because of a personal recommendation from a Warrant Officer. Terrorism was becoming more common in the 1970’s and the US Government realized it did not have the capacity to conduct surgical hostage rescue missions. At the time, Charlie Beckwith had been developing a plan for a unit based upon the British SAS that became the basis for Delta Force. Wade had worked for Beckwith before and wrote him a letter describing how Special Forces could be improved. It obviously made an impression because Beckwith asked him to come on board with Delta Force. The Intoku Code describes numerous challenges involved with standing up Delta Force, including keeping itself secret from other military and government units and some of their training methods. Wade says another challenge was recruiting the “best of the best” from other branches because the commanders didn’t want to give up their best personnel. Wade’s book provides fascinating insights into the planning of the ill-fated “Operation Eagle Claw”, the mission to rescue hostages being held in Iran.  He was nearly left behind when that mission was aborted. TAKEWAY: Wade’s hope is that he will inspire others to do good things in secret. “Be steadfast, be resolute and continue to care for others.”

River Rats was the nickname given to aircrews that flew missions over the Red River Valley that runs southeast from Hanoi to the Gulf of Tonkin.  At the time, it was the most heavily defended airspace in the history of aerial combat.  One of every 40 persons who flew these missions never returned. The Red River Valley Association was created to commemorate the inter-service teamwork, strong spirit de corps and the sacrifices made by the air crews flying those dangerous missions over North Vietnam. One of their original missions was to generate awareness of the Prisoners of War and air crews Missing in Action and supporting their families. For this episode, we are joined by two River Rats and members of the Red River Valley Association. Rich Martindell flew 232 combat missions over Vietnam as an F-4 Phantom pilot. Ken Shanke flew 239 combat missions as a “back seater” in F-4 Phantoms. Rich says that some of the first Red River Valley tactical conferences were not just about comradery but also about survival. They were trying to figure out ways to fly “smartly” in North Vietnam without suffering so many losses. Initially, only air crews who had flown at least one mission across the Red River were able to join the organization. Since then the bylaws have been changed to open membership up to any designated flight crew members from any service in any conflict. The Association held “practice” reunions until 1973 when all the POW’s were returned. The Association has continued their original mission of family support by awarding more than 1,200 scholarships to children of KIA/MIA military personnel and those killed in non-combat related accidents. To date, the value of those scholarships has exceeded $ 3 million. Their affiliate Air Warrior Courage Foundation has also provided over $7 million in direct support to military families. At 69 years old, Martindell returned as a civilian pilot for General Atomics, flying MQ-9 surveillance drone missions in Africa & the Middle East. His experiences are shared in the book “Game of Drones”.  

Transitioning from military service to the civilian world can be a challenge for many of our Veterans. It is one of the most common themes I have heard in the decade of hosting American Warrior Radio. On this episode we talk with J.C. Glick, CEO of the Commit Foundation. Anne Marie Craig was compelled to establish the Commit Foundation when her husband faced challenges finding a civilian career that was as fulfilling and purposeful as serving in the Army Rangers. J.C. says that this is a common problem. High performing Veterans are seeking a second career that is meaningful and fulfilling rather than just another job. The Commit Foundation caters to high performers who want to make their next chapter as great as their last chapter. J.C says he was a perfect example. “I was in such a hurry to run away from the gun club, it took me five years to realize who I was. I didn’t have a community that I could connect with. What my bio doesn’t talk about is that I had four suicide attempts.” The Commit Foundation provides a number of programs for both the Veteran and their spouse that emphasize quality over quantity.  Every program is personalized to each client in order to create an environment where the Veteran can pause, asses and gain clarity about what they want their next mission to be. J.C. says that, while Commit Foundation programs are available for everyone, they may not be a match for everyone. Glick served in our military for 20 years, seven of which were with the Army Rangers. He had 11 combat deployments and numerous operational deployments around the world. He participated in the Best Ranger competition twice. After leaving the Army he was a founder and partner in two leadership companies whose clients included Fortune 500 companies, NFL and NBA teams and multiple NCAA programs.

Air Cavalry was a new tactic employed during the Vietnam War. Jack List participated in those early days of air assault, including seeing action in the Ia Drang Valley, made famous in the movie “We Were Soldiers”. Jack served 30 years, 11 months and 25 days in the Army, retiring at the rank of Command Sergeant Major.   Jack was born in Germany and his father served in the German Army during World War II.  During his first tour in Vietnam he was notified by his grandmother that he had been drafted into the German Army! Jack was assigned to the 11th Air Assault “Test” Division that was evaluating the Air Assault concept. Jack would eventually serve as a Crew Chief with the newly minted 1st Air Cavalry. He became responsible for a UH-1 “Huey”.  Jack flew as a door gunner on missions and then had to patch up the aircraft upon return to base. The 1st Air Cavalry was based at Camp Radcliff, An Khe'. At the time it was the largest helicopter base in the world with more than 400 helicopters. On his first mission they launched 110 helicopters to support a Special Forces camp. “The thing that scared me the most was not the enemy shooting at us, it was potential for midair collisions.” The scenes at LZ X-Ray depicted in “We Were Soldiers” were just a small part of the larger Pleiku campaign. At LZ-Albany, further north in the Ia Drang valley, our troops suffered a 50% casualty rate. Jack described one of his missions where 5 of the 10 persons on board were wounded upon approach to the landing zone. He says he has no idea how he completed two tours without being wounded himself. His pilot trained other crew members so they would know the basics in case they had to fly the helicopter. Jack says that Sergeant Major Basil Plumley was an excellent leader and always had his troops well squared away. Col. Hal Moore went back into both LZ X-Ray and LZ Albany to retrieve remains.

Darin Gaub enlisted in the Army as a private and, after a 28 year career retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel. He is often called upon by national media and publications to comment on military and geopolitical issues.  Gaub joins us to provide his perspective on the current status of affairs in the middle and Far East. After finishing his active duty enlistment he joined the National Guard and went to college on an ROTC scholarship. When it came time to select which area to serve in, he was told that no one from his university was ever selected for the Army Aviation Branch. Guab says he would become an Army aviator “on a dare, not a plan.” He had seven deployments to Afghanistan, North Africa, Eastern Europe and the DMZ along North and South Korea. We have a fascinating and insightful discussion about the current situation in the Middle East. “For anyone to try to explain the Middle East is an experiment in trying to make the complicated simple.” He emphasizes that the current war is not between Israel and the Lebanese people but rather against Hezbollah. He is in weekly contact with sources in Beirut and says the Lebanese people would prefer that Hezbollah be gone. He describes Israel’s tactics of more of a “water against a bank” strategy rather than “shock and awe.” Gaub believes that their attack against command and control elements has been masterful. Gaub spends some time explaining the “nexus of evil” comprised of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. He cautions that the actions of these actors is not always obvious – strategies that are slowly eroding our nation. We spend some time discussing how we should prepare for future conflicts. He says the current war in Ukraine provides some good examples of how combat has evolved with smaller actors able to challenge larger armies. TAKEAWAY: “The people that are most interested in avoiding war are the ones who have to fight it.”

The Gouge is a term derived from the second World War. Many of the World War II Navy crews were inexperienced. The Gouge developed as a culture where sailors shared important knowledge and proactively trained each other in their duties to prepare to emergency situations. The Gouge philosophy guided Vice Admiral Robert Harward through forty years in the Navy and a successful career as an international corporate executive. Much of Hayward’s career was spent with the Navy SEALs.  During his warfighting experiences in Bosnia, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen, he never lost a single man under his command. He also served as Deputy Commander of both US Joint Forces Command and United States Central Command. Harward describes The Gouge as “the contract we all have with humanity –sharing the best of everyone for the collective well-being of all.” A military child, Harward was raised overseas and one summer his father encouraged him to spend the break hitchhiking across Iran and Afghanistan. He says the region was a much different place back then but emphasizes that the world is still generally a safe place and encourages young people to get out and pursue adventure. Harward cites several examples of how The Gouge impacted decisions on missions he commanded. One involved the capture of oil facilities during the initial invasion of Iraq. Harward was convinced it was a potential suicide mission so he checked in with the team members and allowed them to make the final decision. He trusted the combined knowledge of his team and the mission was a success. We also spend some time also discussing how The Gouge can help military members making the transition to civilian life and the scourge of Veteran suicides. Following his retirement, several of his “shipmates’ convinced him to put his experiences with The Gouge into a book so that others could benefit from his experiences. The result is “The Gouge! How to be Smarter Than the Situation You Are In” TAKEAWAY: "It is so important for leaders to be proactively involved with their people and supporting them not only when they are in uniform but also out of uniform."

FREEDOM COFFEE COMPANY Freedom Coffee Company was born out of tragedy. Hope Harrison’s husband Dustin was killed by terrorists while operating an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance drone for the Department of Defense in Kenya. Hope and Dustin had just started a family and had agreed that this would be Dustin’s the last overseas assignment so he could spend more time with his family. He was killed nine days before being scheduled to come home. Like many Gold Star widows, the news devastated Hopes’ world. She knew something was amiss when Dustin didn’t reply to her daily text. That morning she also read a news story stating that his base had been attacked and there were casualties. The agony was confounded by the fact that they owned two homes in different cities and officials had trouble locating Hope to make the notification. They say that people are never truly forgotten as long as we repeat their names. Hope and Dustin shared an abiding love for coffee, so she decided to create Freedom Coffee Company. Every bag of Freedom coffee features the names and photos of fallen heroes on each bag of coffee. Hope describes it as “coffee with a hero every morning.” The fallen featured on each bag of coffee will be rotated each year. NO KINGS, NO KOOKS Thomas Sarnicola conducted over 1,000 criminal background checks as a Special Agent for the Department of Defense. There are roughly 4 million federal employees, including the military. About 1 million of those require security clearances. Some of the unique situations he encountered while doing these investigations are compiled in his book “No Kings, No Kooks; Confessions of National Security Agent". Thomas describes the job as similar to a “gumshoe” detective, requiring a great deal of field work in addition to researching various publicly available databases. One or two blemishes may not be sufficient to disqualify a person. Thomas was looking for “consistencies of character.” He was a fact collector but did not make final decisions. In order to maintain objectivity, he was never informed of the eventual outcome of each case. In his book, Thomas shares some of the most unique experiences he encountered. He says the biggest challenge was being empathetic while maintaining a professional distance from the investigation subject. He emphasizes it gives him hope that the majority of the cases had no issues.

Custom Jacks was founded by Veterans Andy Lynam and Scottie Stephens. Andy served in the US Coast Guard for four years and Scottie served five years with the US Marine Corps. Custom Jacks produces stunning works of art that feature the American Flag and can be customized with a logo or other image. What makes their works unique is they are cut to present a three dimensional product that makes the flag appear to be fluttering in the breeze. The company name was derived from the Union Jacks that fly on the bow of our ships. Scottie was doing wood working part time and the idea for the Custom Jacks 3-D design literally came to him in a dream one night. Like so many Veteran entrepreneur origin stories, Scottie began crafting them in his garage. Andy lived nearby and when Scottie showed him one of the jacks, Andy immediately asked if he could buy it. Not long thereafter they decided to turn Scottie’s labor of love hobby into a business. Scottie describes their products a dual patriotic symbol. “The left side of the jack, the American Flag, should be your first passion. The right side of the jack represents your second passion.” Every one of their jacks is custom finished by hand and includes a certificate of authenticity. They have filed patents for some of their processes. Like many start-ups, the self-funded their start up. The company was founded in January of 2019 and they had a rough period during COVID, when they had to shut production down for five months. Over 50% of their employees are Veterans or have family members in the military.  Andy says this leads to a “mission first” focus and different work ethic. They have produced Custom Jacks from sports teams, corporations and even a radio host or two. Their products are also featured in all the Buc-ees restaurants across America.  They also work with various non-profits to provide Custom Jacks for fundraisers. TAKEAWAY: “Incorporate all your workers in the process, treat them like family.”

The “Mighty Moo” was the nickname given by the crew to the light aircraft carrier USS Cowpens. At the time carriers were named after battles. While the Battle of Cowpens is a rather obscure revolutionary war battle, a postcard from a local pharmacist convinced President Roosevelt to do so. The story of this scrappy little aircraft carrier is told in the book “The Mighty Moo; The USS Cowpens and Her Epic Journey from Jinx Ship to the Navy’s First Carrier into Tokyo Bay.” The book was written by professional intelligence analyst Nathan Canestaro as a tribute to his grandfather, who served as a tail gunner on a torpedo bomber flying off of the Mighty Moo. Nathan’s book is a great read and he does a great job in introducing us to many of the characters among the men who served aboard her. The Cowpens was a ship that the Navy didn’t really want. However, the losses of heavy aircraft carries in the Pacific spurred President Roosevelt to order the Navy to convert a series of light cruisers to aircraft carriers. The “Independence” class of carriers had several disadvantages. As converted cruisers, they were very top heavy, the flight deck was much narrower than a traditional carrier, and the ship had a perpetual list. Nathan tells us more about the incidents that brought many to believe that the USS Cowpens was a jinxed ship. However, despite participating in almost every major battle in the Pacific, the Mighty Moo was never hit by enemy fire. Japanese ships and planes weren’t the only threat. The USS Cowpens survived sailing through a typhoon that sank three destroyers and damaged 27 other ships. Following the Japanese surrender, the USS Cowpens was selected to be the only aircraft carrier to sail into Tokyo Bay for the formal surrender ceremonies. Nathan shares his theory on why the Mighty Moo was selected. The town of Cowpens, South Carolina still hosts an annual “Mighty Moo” Festival to honor the World War II aircraft character and her crew.

Never Home - Rich Sherman More than 521,000 Americans died fighting against tyranny and oppression during World War I and World War II.  About 207,000 of them never made it home – even in death.  Their remains rest in 23 cemeteries spread across 8 countries on 3 continents. Cover of "Never Home: Remembering the Military Heroes Who Never Returned" Retired Navy Intelligence Officer now professional photographer Rich Sherman traveled to all 23 of these cemeteries over the course of six years. He has documented their final resting place in his book “Never Home; Remembering the Military Heroes Who Never Returned”. The book also tells the stories of select service members whose graves he documented. Rich believes photos are the perfect medium for sharing the heroism, glory and magnitude of the loses from these wars. “Photography is a language until itself and sometimes it is able to describe things for which we have no words” The Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation - Pat Dailey The Tun Tavern was a Philadelphia brew house built in 1685. When the Continental Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two battalions of Marines on November 10, 1775, he went directly to the Tun Tavern and appointed its proprietor as the Marine Corps’ first recruiter. The Tun fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1781. The original site is now buried under an interstate freeway. Many of the members of the Continental Congress enjoyed the hospitality of the Tun after their sessions. After being appointed to lead US forces in the Revolutionary War, George Washington held his celebratory dinner there.  It was also the very first documented Masonic Lodge in North America, with Benjamin Franklin serving as one of the early Grand Masters and even printing their menus. Marine Corps Veteran Pat Dailey leads the non-profit Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation. Their mission is to recreate the Tun Tavern as it originally was on a location only a block away from where the first tavern stood.  Pat says securing the site was one of the greater challenges of the project. The estimated cost of the project is $20 million. The Tavern will continue to be operated as a non-profit with all of the revenues over costs benefiting military and Masonic charities. The site will also include a small museum.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) just returned from a momentous nine month deployment in the Middle East during which they were engaged in one of the longest sustained sea combat periods for a US aircraft carrier since World War II. Their commanding officer, Captain Christopher “Chowdah” Hill joins us to share how he maintained motivation and morale in the face of two extended deployment periods. Chowdah became a social media celebrity for his posts during the deployment. His original intent was just for family members back home to see their sailors. Things really “flexed” when Houthi rebels began posting that they had successful attacked and even sunk the Eisenhower. Chowdah replied by posting photos of his galley baking cookies and life progressing as normal aboard the ship.  Of course, he adds that he had to be very careful about what he posted because they were in a threat combat environment. Chowdah shares some of the ways they maintained morale and motivation during the deployment. This included “Captain Demo”, a dog whose goal and mission was simply to reduce stress. Demo rapidly became part of the crew and was even received requests to visit some of the other ships in the task force. The Eisenhower also had a licensed clinical social worker and five chaplains. The ship’s complement also included both a “Life Boss” and “Talk Boss”, two civilian professionals who helped with stress management. He adds that having Wifi so sailors could reach back home was a game changer. Captain Hill also shares his philosophy “The Way of the Warrior Sailor”. This twenty page document focuses on how to improve and maintain morale. TAKEWAY: “Morale will lead to combat success if you do it right. To do it you must love and value everybody. You’ve GOT to show it.”

“Thank you for your service.” Those five words were a point of redemption in Beth Macy’s life. Beth was teaching math but was looking for something more. Her father was an airline pilot so Beth explored the Air Force. Their quota was full, so she joined the Navy. She enlisted in 1976 while the Vietnam War was still fresh in everyone’s mind and military members were still unduly scorned. At the time, women in the Military still faced great challenges. A British officer took her aside and warned her that she would have to perform three times better than her male counterparts in order to make it. While still in the service, Beth chose to return to college for her Master’s Degree. One day she was running late and didn’t have time to change out of her uniform. She was shocked at the treatment she received from her fellow students including being called a “baby killer” and having food thrown at her in the cafeteria. Beth chose to leave the Navy in 1980. Beth could never shake the hostility shown by her fellow graduate students. She also found a degree of apathy toward military service upon entering the private sector.  For decades Beth consciously chose to suppress her military service and wrote off that portion of her life. One thing Beth did do was put Veteran plates on her vehicle. A couple of years ago, she was approached in a store parking lot. Beth says he looked like someone who would have been a Vietnam War protestor and prepared for the worst. Instead, he thanked her for her service. Beth says she broke down and cried on the spot. Beth feels that many female Veterans from the Cold War era suffered from “imposter syndrome”. But that simple “Thank you for your service” from a stranger spurred her to once again take pride in her service. “I even park in Veteran reserved parking spots now!” Beth draws upon her experience working on top secret projects for her “Moscow Nights” book series.

Havok Journal owner Charles Faint joins us for an update. Havok Journal is my “go-to” website for all discussion military and first responder. We do a deep dive into three poignant (and somewhat related) articles by former Army Ranger now law enforcement officer Jake Smith and Mike Warnock, Editor in Chief of the Havok Journal. In “Half Staff Flags”, Smith discusses his changed perspective on seeing flags flying at half staff. Where he once saw them as symbols of those fallen in war or civil servants lost, as a law enforcement officer he gained a new perspective. What he sees not is a symbol innocents lost to yet another incident of mass violence. Charles and I discuss the parallels I found in the articles "My Funeral: Let Whatever Pain Caused by My Loss Not Whitewash My Life" by Smith and "The Moment I Knew Why There Were Suicide Bombers" by Mike Warnock. Both articles provide moving insights and a different perspective not often heard by civilians. We have a little fun with a humorous article "Nonners" by Dave Chamberlain. Chamberlain introduces us to the term for airmen who never fix, load or service aircraft. Apparently this is the Air Force equivalent of the Army's POGS (persons other than grunts). We wrap up with Charles sharing his experiences as a volunteer deputy with a local law enforcement agency.