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National Vietnam Veterans Day is observed on March 29. March 29, 1973 was the day the  US Military Assistance Command – Vietnam stood down. This year has a bit of added significance; it is the 50th…

National Vietnam Vet…

National Vietnam Veterans Day is observed on March 29. March 29, 1973 was the day the  US Military Assistance Command – Vietnam stood down. This year has a bit of added significance; it is the 50th anniversary of the war. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs estimates there are still 7 million Americans who served on active duty during the Vietnam war still living. Commander Brian Wierzbiki, Chief of Public Engagement for the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration joins us to talk about their initiatives and support programs for the 50th Anniversary. The mission of the Vietnam …

“Brothers After War” is a documentary film directed by Jake Radenmacher in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation. Brothers After War debuted in 140 movie theatres nationwide. I strongly reco…

“Brothers After Wa…

“Brothers After War” is a documentary film directed by Jake Radenmacher in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation. Brothers After War debuted in 140 movie theatres nationwide. I strongly recommend both Veterans and civilians see this film. Between 2005-2007, Jake risked everything, including his life, to tell the story of his brothers serving Iraq. He embedded with multiple units, filmed numerous combat engagements, and interviewed more than forty combat Veterans in the warzone. The result was the award winning “Brothers at War” documentary. In “Brothers After War” Jake recon…

Tax attorney Hubert Johnson is a Navy Veteran and founder of Guardian Tax Law. On this episode of American Warrior Radio, Hubert shares tax tips for Veteran entrepreneurs. While serving in the Navy, h…

Tax attorney Hubert …

Tax attorney Hubert Johnson is a Navy Veteran and founder of Guardian Tax Law. On this episode of American Warrior Radio, Hubert shares tax tips for Veteran entrepreneurs. While serving in the Navy, he injured his spine, resulting in a medical discharge. He was feeling sorry for himself until he reported to the VA pain clinic at the age of 19. Witnessing the situation that the older Veterans were in, he says at that moment “I was going to be all right.” Hubert despised his federal tax class in law school. But “life happened” and he fell into tax law because “I just needed a job and I…

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 …

Nick Padlo was a sop…

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…

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 …

The Van of Valor pro…

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 ta…

“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 …

“Jeep Show; A Trou…

“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…

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…

Terry “Ranger” J…

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…

“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 reti…

“This Troubled Gro…

“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 p…

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 plan…

Mike Croissant, a re…

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 …

“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 so…

“Indochina Hand; T…

“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 month…

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, a…

Dr. Lanny Snodgrass …

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 jus…

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…

The Distinguished Flying Cross is our nation’s the fourth highest award for heroism and the highest award for extraordinary aerial achievement. The fact that Robert Lifsey was awarded four DFC medal…

The Distinguished Fl…

The Distinguished Flying Cross is our nation’s the fourth highest award for heroism and the highest award for extraordinary aerial achievement. The fact that Robert Lifsey was awarded four DFC medals is impressive.  Even more amazing is that the awards were presented over the course of only twelve months in Vietnam, along with a Bronze Star, a Republic of Vietnam Silver Star and four Airmen’s Medals with Valor. After receiving a draft notice, Bob enlisted in the Army. He chose to go to an airborne unit and completed training with the 7th Special Forces (Green Berets). However, orders for …

MARSOC is an abbreviation for Marine Forces Special Operations Command. While the Marines have fielded special operations forces before, (the “Raiders” conducted amphibious light infantry missions…

MARSOC is an abbrevi…

MARSOC is an abbreviation for Marine Forces Special Operations Command. While the Marines have fielded special operations forces before, (the “Raiders” conducted amphibious light infantry missions in World War II) there has always been some resistance within the Corps against establishing an elite unit within what many already consider an elite force. The “Raiders” were disbanded in 1944. However, after the 9/11 attacks, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld directed the Marine Corps to establish a “proof of concept” unit that would report to US Special Operations Command. John A. D…

Militaryfares.com President Scott Lara was working at the Kmart camera department when his supervisor asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Scott replied that he had no idea. His supervisor sa…

Militaryfares.com Pr…

Militaryfares.com President Scott Lara was working at the Kmart camera department when his supervisor asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Scott replied that he had no idea. His supervisor said “Well, join the Navy and see the world!” Scott DID enlist, serving from 1979 to 1988 as a radar man. Scott never traveled much as a young man but the Navy took him to Spain, Italy and France and would infect him with the travel bug. He says he loved every minute of this time in the Navy but decided to leave because it was really tough on his wife and young children. When he left the Navy, h…

The 299th Combat Engineer Battalion was the only combat engineer unit to land on both Omaha and Utah beaches during the D-Day invasion. Some of the engineers landed before any other allied soldiers se…

The 299th Combat Eng…

The 299th Combat Engineer Battalion was the only combat engineer unit to land on both Omaha and Utah beaches during the D-Day invasion. Some of the engineers landed before any other allied soldiers set foot on the beaches earning them the nickname “First on Omaha”. Chief Warrant Officer James W. Tucker was among them. His daughter Jean joins us to share more about the “Famous 299th”. James commanded a group of eight armored tractors whose mission was to clear obstacles and open paths off the Normandy beaches. One third of the Combat Engineer Battalion that landed on Omaha beach was kil…

“In Strange Company” author Ronald Tiso, Jr. highlights the role played by allied partners in Iraq. Iraq is often thought of as “America’s longest war”, but troops from dozens of other count…

“In Strange Compan…

“In Strange Company” author Ronald Tiso, Jr. highlights the role played by allied partners in Iraq. Iraq is often thought of as “America’s longest war”, but troops from dozens of other countries made up the coalition forces. Colonel Tiso served as a war planner at US Central Command, and as Senior Military Advisor of the Arab Peninsula Shield Force and the Polish-led multinational division. He was also Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Coalition military assistance Training Team tasked with developing the new Iraqi Army. Col. Tiso documents the challenges…

“Rough men” is a phrase used to describe the brave warriors who volunteer to stand the watch and do what is necessary to protect our nation, freedoms and families. It is drawn from the quote “Pe…

“Rough men” is a…

“Rough men” is a phrase used to describe the brave warriors who volunteer to stand the watch and do what is necessary to protect our nation, freedoms and families. It is drawn from the quote “People Sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”  Sergeant Major Charles Ritter certainly qualifies. Ritter is preparing to retire after a 26 year career in the military, a majority of it spent with the elite Green Berets. He has had 17 deployments, twelve of which were combat deployments. He has been awarded the Silver Star, Bronz…

Jeff Nelligan is an Army Veteran that is recognized as one of the foremost commentators in the world of American Parenting. His book “Four Lessons from My Three Sons; How You Can Raise Resilient Kid…

Jeff Nelligan is an …

Jeff Nelligan is an Army Veteran that is recognized as one of the foremost commentators in the world of American Parenting. His book “Four Lessons from My Three Sons; How You Can Raise Resilient Kids” spent four months on the Amazon Parenting Best Seller’s List. His works have also been cited in numerous parenting magazines. In addition to his Army Service, he formerly worked for three members of our US Congress and was twice a Presidential appointee. He currently works as a Senior Public Affairs executive in Washington, DC Jeff shares a shocking statistic. Seventy five percent of the ti…

Code Name Nemo was the name eventually given to one of the most daring and audacious missions of World War II – the effort to capture a German submarine intact. Charles Lachman joins us to share thi…

Code Name Nemo was t…

Code Name Nemo was the name eventually given to one of the most daring and audacious missions of World War II – the effort to capture a German submarine intact. Charles Lachman joins us to share this fascinating and still little known story. The capture of U-505 was the first time since the War of 1812 that an enemy vessel was boarded and captured. Lachman is the Executive Producer of the nationally syndicated news program “Inside Edition” and the author of four books. In Code Name Nemo, Lachman uses archival documents and taped interviews with actual crewmembers to give the reader a dee…

Alex Kershaw is one of the foremost authors writing on World War II subject matter, having written multiple best sellers.  He was born in York, England and taught history before becoming a journalist…

Alex Kershaw is one …

Alex Kershaw is one of the foremost authors writing on World War II subject matter, having written multiple best sellers.  He was born in York, England and taught history before becoming a journalist. He has written for various publications including the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Sunday Times and the New York Times. His 2002 book “The Bedford Boys” became his first New York Times best seller. It tell the story of Bedford, Virginia, a small town that lost 21 of her sons during World War II, nineteen of them during the first minutes of D-Day.  His book “The Liberator” reco…

Belleau Wood is the site of one of the most storied battles in US Marine Corps lore. Marine Veteran Jason Angell gathered up his family and made a “pilgrimage” to this famous World War I battlefie…

Belleau Wood is the …

Belleau Wood is the site of one of the most storied battles in US Marine Corps lore. Marine Veteran Jason Angell gathered up his family and made a “pilgrimage” to this famous World War I battlefield. His experience is recounted in the Havok Journal article “A Pilgrimage to Belleau Wood”. Jason is a ten year Marine Corps Veteran with three deployments to Iraq. He and his wife felt strongly that their teen aged children should be exposed to the sacrifices made by two generations of Americans on their behalf. Following a visit to the American cemeteries in Normandy, they traveled to the B…

The Hazard Ground podcast was created by Mark Zinno to allow members of our military to share their stories of combat & survival and deliver inspirational stories about resilience. Mark was studyi…

The Hazard Ground po…

The Hazard Ground podcast was created by Mark Zinno to allow members of our military to share their stories of combat & survival and deliver inspirational stories about resilience. Mark was studying communications at Loyola University and joined the ROTC to help pay for his tuition. His original intent was to simply complete his four year commitment to Army and then 9/11 happened. He now has twenty five years of service in both the active duty and the National Guard, and currently holds the rank of Colonel in the Army Reserve. He had two deployments to Iraq. Mark also has over twenty years…

Fueled by the Fallen founder Kevyn Major Howard never served in the military. He has 31 film and television acting credits and is perhaps most recognized for his role as combat photographer “Rafterm…

Fueled by the Fallen…

Fueled by the Fallen founder Kevyn Major Howard never served in the military. He has 31 film and television acting credits and is perhaps most recognized for his role as combat photographer “Rafterman” in the iconic Stanley Kubrick Vietnam war film “Full Metal Jacket”. We spend some time discussing the films production and the experience of working with greats like Kubrick and R. Lee Ermey. Because of his role in Full Metal Jacket, Kevyn was invited to visit the Twenty Nine Palms Marine Base. During a tour of the base, he was drawn to a memorial for Lance Corporal Torrey L. Gray. Gray …

“Chamber Divers”, a new book by Rachel Lance, uses recently declassified documents to recount the story of a somewhat ragtag group of scientist who forever changed special operations. Lance is a b…

“Chamber Divers”…

“Chamber Divers”, a new book by Rachel Lance, uses recently declassified documents to recount the story of a somewhat ragtag group of scientist who forever changed special operations. Lance is a biological engineer and blast injury specialist who works as a researcher on military diving projects. She spent several years working with the US Navy building specialized diving equipment for our Special Forces. The need for better methods of scouting enemy beaches was apparent during the disastrous Dieppe Raid in 1942. The mission was intended as a test of the feasibility of large scale amphibio…

Air America pilot Neil Graham Hansen’s livelihood began in a manner that might portend what the rest of his career would be like. At age 23 he was the a private pilot for Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa.…

Air America pilot Ne…

Air America pilot Neil Graham Hansen’s livelihood began in a manner that might portend what the rest of his career would be like. At age 23 he was the a private pilot for Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa. When I became apparent that Hoffa would be taking a “Federal Vacation”, Neil began looking for a new job. He responded to a newspaper ad seeking pilots to fly in Southeast Asia. He submitted an application but was told “we’re not hiring”. He was in a Chicago airport when he was paged to the manager’s office for a phone call. The man on the line asked Neil if he was a good pilot and wh…

“Bobbie the Weather Girl” may have been the most popular celebrity of the Vietnam War, eclipsing even Adrian Cronauer of “Good Morning Vietnam” fame. Her real name is Barbara Keith. Barbara gr…

“Bobbie the Weathe…

“Bobbie the Weather Girl” may have been the most popular celebrity of the Vietnam War, eclipsing even Adrian Cronauer of “Good Morning Vietnam” fame. Her real name is Barbara Keith. Barbara grew up a military “brat”. Her father served in WWII, Korea & Vietnam and her mother was a Navy Nurse during WWII. She believes that “If you don’t do something for your country, don’t call yourself an American.” As an adventurous 19 year old, she was looking for her opportunity to serve. However, military structure did not appeal to her so she joined US AID serving in Vietnam. She sa…

Al “Hollywood” Billings developed a reputation as a Maverick while flying for the Sea Wolves.  The Sea Wolves (Helicopter Attack Squadron Light 3) were formed specifically to support Navy Special…

Al “Hollywood” B…

Al “Hollywood” Billings developed a reputation as a Maverick while flying for the Sea Wolves.  The Sea Wolves (Helicopter Attack Squadron Light 3) were formed specifically to support Navy Special Warfare and Mobile Riverine Forces during the Vietnam War. They would become the most decorated Navy squadron of the war. We talk to Billings as part of our educational partnership with the Distinguished Flying Cross Society. He enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet program. “If you made it through you got your wings and commission on the same day. If you didn’t you were on a ship in the Pacif…

Sam Mackey admits he isn’t always the smartest or strongest guy in the room but he puts in the work.  His philosophy is “To find something that I can do better than everybody else and take enough…

Sam Mackey admits he…

Sam Mackey admits he isn’t always the smartest or strongest guy in the room but he puts in the work.  His philosophy is “To find something that I can do better than everybody else and take enough responsibility where I can’t be replaced and do it the best that I can.” Mackey served 20 years in the military including time with the elite Navy SEALs. He never thought he would be an entrepreneur but is now the CEO of Outsider, an outdoor Lifestyle brand. Mackey’s entry into the military was rather un-auspicious. He had gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd.  His parole officer suggested…

“Homefront Stories” is a collection of fictional short stories written by Victoria Kelly inspired by her life as a military spouse.  Her 2015 work, “When Men Go Off to War” is a collection of…

“Homefront Stories…

“Homefront Stories” is a collection of fictional short stories written by Victoria Kelly inspired by her life as a military spouse.  Her 2015 work, “When Men Go Off to War” is a collection of poems written while her husband was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and captures the hopes, anxieties and intimacies of the military spouse during times of war. “Prayers of an American Wife” is a collection of poems that highlights the displacement women experience when their husbands deploy and the battles fought by those left at home Victoria graduated Summa Cum Laude from Harvard Universi…

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has the principle responsibility to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and our nation. It was created in J…

The Defense POW/MIA …

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has the principle responsibility to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and our nation. It was created in January of 2015 by merging the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command along with several functions of the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory. DPAA Media Relation Chief for Outreach and Communications Sean Everette joins us to describe the agency’s functions. We are also joined by Clark Baldwin, the nephew of World War II soldier Clifford Strickland…

Stephen Paul Campos surmised it would be better to volunteer and choose his military specialty rather than be drafted during the Vietnam War. The recruiter asked what he wanted to do and Campos replie…

Stephen Paul Campos …

Stephen Paul Campos surmised it would be better to volunteer and choose his military specialty rather than be drafted during the Vietnam War. The recruiter asked what he wanted to do and Campos replied “I don’t know what I WANT to do but I know I DON’T want to be infantry.” Based upon his intake evaluations the recruiter told him he could be sent to Germany or Hawaii. Immediately upon graduation he was assigned to the infantry and soon after sent to Vietnam. Campos shares that the environment was just as much a threat as the enemy. As if the torrential rains weren’t bad enough, ther…

“Service to CEO” podcast creator Kristen Costlow left a promising military career to pursue her dream.  She served as an air traffic controller in the Navy and was rising fast in rank.  She soon…

“Service to CEO”…

“Service to CEO” podcast creator Kristen Costlow left a promising military career to pursue her dream.  She served as an air traffic controller in the Navy and was rising fast in rank.  She soon found herself supervising sailors 10 years her senior. The day after she notified her supervisor of her plans to leave the military, she was promoted to Chief Petty Officer – quite the accomplishment for someone of her age. Kristen joined the Navy right out of high school and says there were no specific issues that caused her to leave mid-way to a full military Retirement. She was just experien…