What can we help you find?

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…

Havok Journal owner …

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.  Cha…

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 achieve…

Starvation Island is…

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 …

“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…

“Understanding the…

“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 …

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 f…

Coast Guard pilot Jo…

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 Of…

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 pr…

Delta Force operator…

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 t…

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 airspac…

River Rats was the n…

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 …

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.…

Transitioning from m…

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 rath…

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 …

Air Cavalry was a ne…

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 wa…

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 geopo…

Darin Gaub enlisted …

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 b…

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…

The Gouge is a term …

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 …

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 …

FREEDOM COFFEE COMPA…

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.…

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 stu…

Custom Jacks was fou…

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 Ja…

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 revolu…

The “Mighty Moo”…

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 ser…

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.�…

Never Home – Rich …

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…

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…

The USS Dwight D. Ei…

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 Ho…

“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 …

“Thank you for you…

“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 …

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 r…

Havok Journal owner …

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 …

“The Unvanquished” is the latest offering from military historian and multiple bestselling author Patrick K. O’Donnell.  He is recognized as a leading expert on America’s elite and special op…

“The Unvanquished�…

“The Unvanquished” is the latest offering from military historian and multiple bestselling author Patrick K. O’Donnell.  He is recognized as a leading expert on America’s elite and special operations units. All of his 13 books are based on this subject matter and his book “We Were One; Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah” is required reading for all Marines. Patrick says his topics “find him” and his latest is no different. While traveling he found a rusted old sign noting the location of the “Grapewood Farm Engagement”, a battle fought by Mosby’s Ran…