Paddy's Got Your 6 Podcast: Recent Episodes
Patrick
Veterans Helping Heroes. We connect veterans with informative experts and other veterans with stories to tell.
Danell Vincenti, owner of The Dancing Horses Theater in Lake Geneva, WI is a patriot. Her family started The Dancing Horses 20+ years ago and it is a sight to see. Beautiful Arabian Horses put on a great show and Danell has an annual event to honor Veterans. This year, the 9th Annual Veteran Appreciation Day is being held on Sunday, June 25th, 2023. It is free for Veterans and only $10 for friends and family of Veterans. The event starts at 11:00 am and is family friendly with a petting zoo and Buffett. The show is at 1:00 and reservations are recommended. You can call 262-728-8200 and check out their Facebook page @The Dancing Horses.
Follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes
We talked with Representative Ralph Norman about his introduction of legislation (HR587) to award Major James Capers Jr the Medal of Honor. We recently interviewed Major Capers Jr and are definitely behind this campaign. We discussed some of the challenges and next steps required to see this through. Please join us in lobbying your political leaders to make this happen, As Rep. Norman said, "there is no one more deserving of the Medal of Honor than Major James Capers Jr".
Follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes
Dennis Gibson, an Army Veteran, has founded an organization called Veterans Helping Heroes Foundation that supports disabled veterans with mobility products such as wheelchairs and electric scooters. He's also an avid Hog and is looking for your vote in the DreamChopper.com contest to win a Harley. You can call him directly at 304-412-8000 to learn more.
Follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes
In the 1970s, he was the face of the Marines. Literally. The first black man to be a part of a Marine recruiting campaign, his photo was plastered on billboards, posters, brochures, and ads. Other Marines stood in the background, all in their dress blues, but James Capers Jr. was the focus.
Here’s what Americans didn’t see. Capers had been injured in Vietnam and struggled to stand up straight during the photo shoot. Another Marine stepped in to help. One man helping another. The way it should be
An 85-year-old veteran with more military honors than the average enlisted man, Major Capers has found himself in the spotlight many times. He has written a book, "Faith Through the Storm", is the focus of a documentary, "Major Capers: The Legend of Team Broadminded", and, of course, is our interview guest today.
Follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes
"As a combat veteran, I know how hard it can be to ask for help and to find a program that works for you, so when I heard about Road Home Program and what they do for Veterans, I had to get involved". Currently, Mathius Carter is the Commander of the Veterans of Foreign War in Cyrstal Lake, IL Post 12014, a member of the American Legion Post 171, Wounded Warrior Alum as well as a member of Team Read White and Blue (RWB). Now Mathius is working as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Road Home Program, a non-profit organization through Rush University Medical Center which helps veterans and their families with the invisible wounds of war. Mathius is also the author of "Instead of Sheep: A Soldiers Way of Explaining PTSD to his Son".
Follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes
"10 Years Late", was the headline covering the 1985 parade in New York City. But as these authors (Roger McGill and Harold Beyne III) and Tom Stack saw it, this parade really was the preface for the main event: the Chicago WELCOME HOME Vietnam Veterans parade on Friday, June 13, 1986. From a parade of 25,000 veterans in New York, this parade grew to a massive Chicago marching crowd of Vietnam Veterans with estimates ranging from 176,000 to more than 200,000. The book, "The Day We Finally Came Back from Vietnam: The Untold Story of Chicago's WELCOME HOME Parade" is available on Amazon on April 20, 2023. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes
Jim McArdle sits on the Board of Directors for the "Lake County Responds for Veterans", a non-profit charity that helps veterans with housing repairs and quality of life housing needs for those that may be on a fixed income, are limited mobility or have other circumstances that need to be addressed. Jim organizes fund raising events for this and many other charities and organizations. An annual luncheon honoring veterans is coming up in early April 2023 - sign up at their website LCResponds.org
Follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes
Charlie Morgan, US Coast Guard Veteran, retired Chicago Police Detective (30 years), and Commander of American Legion Post 171 in Cyrstal Lake, IL talked with us about the programs called "Vets for Veterans & Blue Families" and the "Be the One" campaign run by the Legion. He is passionate about spreading the word about resources available to veterans, first responders and their families, particularly as they relate to PTSD resources.
Follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes
"We will start conversations to let folks know they are not alone" stated Bob Dorn, Senior Vice Commander of American Legion Post 171. National statistics on PTSD among veterans indicate epidemic proportions. And, an average of 22 veterans per day lose their life to suicide in the United States. Bob is on a mission to change that and introduce military families to the many options available to them.
Follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes
Never Mind, We'll Do It Ourselves. The story behind the origins of the Predator Drone Program and the dawn of unmanned warfare. Authors Alec Bierbauer (CEO of Blackrock Strategy) and Colonel Mark Cooter, USAF (retired) are considered the Wright Brothers of the drone program. This is the book the CIA didn't want you to read. It took 39 months to obtain CIA approval before printing. Listen to this fascinating interview with Alec and don't forget to follow us on Facebook at Veterans Helping Heroes.
Chuck Provow, a USMC Korean War Veteran and recipient of the Atomic Commemorative Service medal shared his incredible story with us. Serving on the U.S.S. Curtiss, his mission was to protect assets near the Marshall Islands, which were located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Those assets turned out to be hydrogen bombs capable of much more devastation than those dropped in Japan in 1945. Chuck was one of 100 young Marines hand picked for the mission. Really an incredible story. Share with friends and follow us on Facebook at Veterans Helping Heroes.
The Chicago Botanic Garden and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation have developed a program to support military veterans and their transition to the civilian workforce. Erin Boehm, Veteran Intern Program (VIP) Coordinator at Chicago Botanic Garden discusses this dynamic internship program for military veterans consisting of career exploration and mentoring, employment skills development, and job readiness assistance. Interns work on the beautiful Chicago Botanic Garden grounds in Glencoe, IL, have an opportunity to work and learn with other veterans, make professional connections and explore. Erin's passion for helping veterans and enthusiasm for this program is contagious. You can reach Erin directly with any questions at VIP@ChicagoBotanic.org.
Matt Sawicki, Navy Veteran, Corpsman and Military-affiliated student outreach and program coordinator for the College of Lake County. Matt recognizes the dynamic needs and experiences of military students and provides programs, resources and advocacy on their behalf. He did a great job of explaining the different mindsets between military and academia....very interesting. Have a listen, share with friends and follow us on Facebook @Veterans Helping Heroes. You can contact Matt directly with any questions at msawicki@clcillinois.edu or 847-543-2293.
Dena Young, Senior Counsel at Berger Montague, answers questions about lawsuits relating to the water contamination at Camp LeJeune. This is very informative for veterans and their families who spent time at Camp LeJeune between 1953 and 1987. Congress recently passed legislation allowing for these lawsuits to proceed but, if you're like me, the many commercials from questionable law firms was confusing so I reached out to Dena. She explained the issues and the process and offered to help anyone with additional questions. Please have a listen and share with your fellow veterans - here is how to contact Dena directly.
dyoung@bm.net or 215-875-4691.
Born in Poland in 1935, John Lorenz witnessed the invasion of Poland at the start of World War II as a young boy. John shares his amazing first hand account of the fear and suffering endured as a boy. After moving to America as a young man, John was drafted into the Army and to this day is a proud American. Listen to the interview to hear a number of WWII stories that will give you pause.
Based in Washington D.C., the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 1980 to build a national memorial dedicated to all who served with the US armed forces in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial (commonly referred to as "The Wall") has become one of the most visited memorials in Washington D.C., with an estimated 4.5 million annual visitors. The VVMF continues in their mission to preserve the legacy of The Wall, promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War. Jim is passionate about the importance of teaching future generations about the value and importance of service and ensuring all service members are treated with dignity and respect. Check out the interview and visit their site to learn more about all the great things they are doing: VVMF.org
Many veterans experience unexpected barriers to success. The goal of "Veterans Path to Hope" is to provide them with hope, health and happiness by helping them gain access to basic necessities, housing assistance and many other needs, be they major or minor, emotional or physical. The concept of giving a hand up instead of a hand out is key to the success of the program.
For more information visit VeteransPathToHope.org
Chris Acker, a Navy Veteran, has been involved in the jeep community for several years. He recently formed a new jeep club called "Jeeps4Vets" that is orientated around supporting the less fortunate Veterans get back on their feet. Jeeps4Vets focuses on raising money and gathering donations at each event to give back to veterans in need.
Arneson's non-profit organization, "Objective: Veterans' Smile", seeks to make sure all veterans have access to free dental care. Currently, only 100% disabled veterans are offered dental insurance through the VA, which leaves the vast majority of veterans without access to dental care. The program is starting in Wisconsin but sees a need across the country and is currently fund raising in order to expand this great program. We encourage you to listen to the interview. We'll keep you posted as the program grows.
The memoir by William Watson called "Bravo Troop: A Forward Observer's Vietnam Memoir", vividly recounts the 6 months of intense, armored, cavalry combat in Vietnam. Fighting in 15 actions on the Cambodian border in the Boy Loi Woods, the Hobo Woods and the Michelan Rubber Plantation and on the outskirts of Tay Ninh City. The book is available on McFarland Press and they are offering 40% off until Nov 28th and then 25% off thru the holidays - just enter code HOLIDAY22.
Air Methods provides rural America with highly-trained critical care clinicians, experienced in burns, cardiac, pediatrics, respiratory, and trauma. We talked with Chris Myers, Executive VP of Customer Experience about their SOAR Campaign. Veterans and rural Americans are at risk if the US Department of Veterans Affairs proceeds with a plan to slash its reimbursement rate for air ambulances. There is still time to shape this decision by joining SOAR in contacting the VA and your member of congress about this important issue.
Take Action — Save Our Air Medical Resources
We recently lost a fellow veteran, Aaron LaMore. Our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
Danny Garcia, the "walking man" was born and raised in New York's Spanish Harlem. He served as a United States Marine, law enforcement officer and ordained minister. Garcia began his journey as a personal commitment to peace and children and continues to walk and raise funds for charitable organizations. Danny's book, "Marines Don't Cry: Delivering the Message At All Costs", is about success, failure and never giving up. The people he met and his journeys around the world are both fascinating and inspirational.
We had a chance to chat with Tom J. Day, USMC Veteran and Founder of "Bugles Across America". This organization has supported gold star families at over 100,000 funerals for 21 years, by playing "Taps" live at their service. His organization connects thousands of bugle players with military families across the country to honor the fallen with a live version of Taps. Tom Day is a true patriot and an inspiration to us all. For more information visit BuglesAcrossAmerica.org.
We had a chance to chat with John Jennings, Army Vet and author of "Napalm and Filet Mignon". This book consists of a soldier's contrasting journey from an Army combat infantry soldier on patrols and in firefights in the central highlands of Vietnam, to a waiter for the General's Mess Hall. Documented by letters written and sent home to his mother and his sister from 1969 to 1970. Author John Jennings reflects on his time in service and the irony of war.
We had the pleasure of chatting with John "Chickie" Donohue. USMC Veteran, Merchant Marine, Unionist, and author of the book "The Greatest Beer Run Ever". The book was recently made into a movie and Chickie, the main character in the movie, is played by Zac Efron. If you haven't seen the movie yet, we highly recommend it. Chickie travelled from New York to Vietnam to bring his buddies a beer and say thank you from the neighborhood at the height of the war. The movie tells a great story and Chickie is a great guy.
We talked with Sam Vieth, Founder of "Fishing for Good Foundation". What a great guy and a great cause. The concept is simple yet powerful. All Veterans or First Responders can easily sign-up for a free, professionally guided fishing trip and they can bring friends and family with them. Simply go to FishingForGoodFoundation.org and sign up. As Sam says, "For everything you've sacrificed, the least we can do is take you fishing. Thank you for your service!".
We talked with Tony Doukas, a Marine Corps Veteran and Chaplain for the Marine Corps League. Tony has a campaign to make accessing the "Veterans Crisis Line" easier using the simple concept of a wristband that can be worn to remind Veterans that they have help when they need it. It's people like Tony that are helping Veterans from all walks of life in their time of need.
We talked with Roger McGill, a Cavalry Scouts 11D10 story, from 1964 to 1966. His book titled "Before, During and After Vietnam" is his story about his experience before his service, during his service and after returning home plus his involvement to this day in Veteran's issues. He was the Program Chairman for the Chicago Vietnam Veteran's Welcome Home Parade on June 13, 1986, a long overdue recognition.
We talked with John Crawley, a United States Marine Corps Veteran and Author of the book "The Yank: The True Story of a Former US Marine in the Irish Republican Army". John was a young Irish-American man who joined an elite US military marine unit to get the most intensive training possible...then joined the Irish Republican Army. His powerful memoir is a thoughtful account of the "Troubles" of Northern Ireland. It was an informative and insightful interview.
We talked with Brian Andersen, Navy Veteran and Training Coordinator for Plumbers Local 130 about the "Helmets to Hardhats" program for veterans. He shared some interesting observations about the advantages of a blue collar career VS traditional college. Interesting guy who demonstrates that the value of a good work ethic is critical to any career choice.
We talked with Steve Blais, Master Sergeant Army Veteran and American Legion member, about his efforts to restore the M47 Patton tank on display in front of the American Legion Post 771 in Gurnee, Illinois. The teamwork and dedication to preserve and honor our history is impressive. Steve represents the best of members you can meet at any legion across the country, Check out the Legion Post 771 in Gurnee - it is open to the public. Five star salute to Steve and his crew for a job well done.
We talked with former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn about the naming rights for Soldier Field and the upcoming referendum on Feb 28, 2023. We also discussed "Portrait of a Soldier" featuring artist Cameron Schilling's collection of portraits of Illinois soldiers lost in the line of duty. This collection can be seen at Mount Greenwood Library in Chicago through Sept 21st. Finally, we covered outstanding programs like "Hero Miles" and "Fischer House Foundation".
We had a chance to talk with Austin Nicholl, Author of "Smile on Your Brother: A Family Still Hears the Echoes of Vietnam". It tells the story of Timothy Fitzmaurice, a 20 year old Marine from Chicago, IL who was killed in Vietnam on May 9, 1968 and how his life continues to inspire his family and friends more than 45 years later. Highly recommend this book.
Chris is a dear friend of ours. A hard working, hard charging Marine Veteran. He shares his experience using the GI Bill to obtain two degrees and set him up for a career with the State Department. He has nothing but praise for the GI Bill and the opportunities it offers.
If you're from Chicago, you know him. Fellow Marine, most trusted man in Journalism and world-renowned broadcaster, Bill Kurtis. What an interesting man and fun to be with. We covered a lot of topics including his time in the military, his father Brigadier General Kurtis, and of course a number of famous documentaries. Bill also shared some of his personal experiences during the difficult and dangerous times of the 60's and was able to confirm some interesting urban legends about him. We will definitely have him back again. Stay classy.
We talked w/Gary Penrith, an Army Veteran and retired FBI Agent. He's been involved in so many interesting and famous cases over the years including DB Cooper, Patty Hearst, and the terrible story about an Exxon executive who was kidnapped and murdered. Gary also provides great advice for veterans interested in getting into law enforcement.
Please share the podcast with friends and family and be sure to sign up to receive email updates when new interviews are available.
Medal of Honor Recipient, Allan James Lynch, joined us for an interview - what an honor.
Mr. Lynch talked about his book, "Zero to Hero" as well as his Foundation (https://ajlynchfoundation.org/). We also heard about when he received his medal from President Nixon and learned about his experience with "pogey bait".
We talked with Al Seyler about the mission of the Marine Corps League and some of the more notable accomplishments of the League including, restoring a memorial to Roger Taylor, the first Marine from Lake County killed in action in WW2 at Iwo Jima. We also discussed Al's time as a veteran and his love for the Marine Corps.
Interview with American Legion Post 771 (Gurnee, IL) Commander Peter Mocapetris. Peter covers info about the American Legion as well as his own experience as a Navy Veteran on the USS Belknap Guided Missile Cruiser which collided with the USS John F. Kennedy (aka The Can Opener) in 1975. You may recognize the date of Nov 22, 1975 as being the 12th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
This is our intro to the podcasting world - it's less than an hour but fun. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes including interviews with VA experts and Veterans with stories to tell.