Patriot to the Core: Recent Episodes
Thad Forester
What does it mean to sacrifice for someone you’ve never met? In this episode of Patriot to the Core, Thad Forester sits down with his young boys and their friends who completed the Mark Forester JAG 28 Memorial Birthday Walk — a tribute to Senior Airman Mark Forester, who gave his life in Afghanistan on September 29, 2010, earning him the Silver Star.
These kids didn’t grow up knowing Mark. He was killed before they were born. But Thad’s boys have known of their uncle their entire lives — and this year, they laced up their shoes, hit the pavement, and pushed through real physical pain and discomfort to honor his memory. Some walked 25 continuous miles, some 36 miles, and others completed all 45 miles (17 hours) — representing how old Mark would have been this year. In their own words, they share what the JAG 28 Birthday Walk meant to them, how they kept going when it got hard, and what they learned about sacrifice, legacy, and showing up even when it’s tough.
In the second half of the episode, the boys reflect on their recent experience at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day — a place they say every young American should visit.
This is a conversation that will remind you why we remember, why we walk, and why the story of Senior Airman Mark Forester — JAG 28 — lives on, one generation at a time.
Copyright 2026 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Seth Burton (@sethburtonforsenate) joins me in the Our Town studios for this episode of Patriot to the Core podcast. We dive into his run for U.S. Senate, unpacking the issues that matter most to Alabama and the nation—from security and leadership to economic growth and nuclear energy. Seth shares how his military background and command experience on nuclear submarines have shaped his approach to leadership, along with personal stories that define his values.
He may have entered the race late, but make no mistake — his background has uniquely prepared him for this moment, and as a Patriot to the Core, he’s running for one reason: to fight for what’s best for Alabama and America.
Learn more about Seth here.
Copyright 2026 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
In this episode, Colleen Shine, daughter of Air Force Lt. Col. Anthony Shine, shares her decades-long search for answers about her father’s fate after he was shot down and went missing in Vietnam in 1972. At just eight years old, Colleen began a journey that led her from uncertainty and loss to a determined investigation, including traveling to Vietnam to discover her father’s crash site and bringing his remains home in 1996. Colleen reflects on her personal experience as a Gold Star Daughter, the impact of POW/MIA families, and the enduring lessons about honor, family, and the lasting reverberations of war.
Colleen is a member of the board on Sons and Daughters in Touch, committed to uniting the Gold Star sons and daughters of American servicemen who were killed, or who remain missing, as a result of the Vietnam War.
You can read more about Colleen’s quest to get answers in Vietnam here:
What Remains – Winter 2013 – Wellesley CollegeDownloadYou can also watch this interview on YouTube here.
Copyright 2025 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
In part 2 of my interview with Lori Chapman Longfritz, sister of Medal of Honor recipient John Chapman, we discuss John’s final moments at the Battle of Takur Ghar in 2002, his courage as an Air Force Combat Controller, and the delayed recognition and non-recognition of his heroism (from who you ask?? The Navy, his SEAL team, National Medal of Honor Museum). Lori shares personal stories about John’s character, his dedication to family, and the lasting legacy he left behind. We also cover the Medal of Honor journey, the National Medal of Honor Museum, and Lori’s new book First There: The Life and Legacy of American Hero John Chapman.
Listen to Part 1 here: https://www.thadforester.com/lori-chapman-longfritz-122/
What this video of the First Medal of Honor ever recorded, narrated by fellow CCT and co-author of Lori’s first book “Alone at Dawn“, Dan Schilling.
Get Lori’s new book: “First There: The Life and Legacy of American Hero John Chapman“. I read it and ask all my listeners to consider getting it–physical copy or e-book.
Also mentioned in this episode:
Episode 64: Dan Schilling – Alone at Dawn
Episode 102: Darrell Utt – National Medal of Honor Bus. Ops.
The outgoing song, “Sons of War Veteran“, was written by former CCT, and 2-time PTC guest, Dan Schilling.
You can also watch this interview on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/F2IUJCZqKP0
Copyright 2025 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
In this episode, I speak with Lori Chapman Longfritz, sister of Medal of Honor recipient John Chapman, about her brother’s remarkable life and ultimate sacrifice. Lori shares personal stories that reveal John’s character, his commitment to family, and his job as an elite Air Force Combat Controller.
She also reflects on the events that led to his death during the Battle of Takur Ghar in 2002, the recognition of his heroism, and the lasting legacy he left behind. This heartfelt conversation honors John’s memory while offering an intimate look at the man behind the uniform and the man left to fight and die alone on Takur Ghar.
This is Part 1 of our 2 Part interview.
In Part 2 we’ll delve into how John saved the lives of his SEAL team and then another 18 members of a quick reaction force (QRF).
What this video of the First Medal of Honor ever recorded, narrated by fellow CCT and co-author of Lori’s first book “Alone at Dawn“, Dan Schilling.
Read Lori’s new book: “First There: The Life and Legacy of American Hero John Chapman“.
Enjoy the short subtle outro music, “Sons of War Veteran“. This song was written by former CCT, and 2-time PTC guest, Dan Schilling.
Copyright 2025 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
In this episode, I talk with Marc Fitzwater (@i68consultinggroup)—former Army Green Beret, JTAC, and teammate of my brother Mark Forester. Marc shares what it was like serving alongside Mark in combat, the bonds formed with the guys from ODA 7212, the intense responsibility of calling in air support, and how those experiences shaped his life and leadership. Additionally, he talks about the day Mark and Calvin Harrison were killed on the battlefield in 2010. Now the founder of I68 Consulting Group, Marc helps empower others, drawing from the same principles that guided him in Special Forces. This episode is a powerful mix of brotherhood, sacrifice, and living a mission-driven life.
Related episodes:
Ep 60: ODA Team Captain Wes Wilson
Ep 31: Teammate George Earhart, TACP
Copyright 2025 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
In this episode, we unpack the legendary role of the A-10 Warthog in the battlespace, the irreplaceable bond between pilots and JTACs, and the critical missions led by Air Force Combat Controllers. Col. Oaks shares insights from his time in the cockpit, what ordnance the A-10 can carry, when a show of force is necessary, and the lasting legacy of my brother SrA Mark Forester, a Combat Controller who gave his life in Afghanistan while Derek’s squadron was deployed.
Strap in—this one is loud, low, and lethal (maybe exaggerating a little bit).
Topics Covered:
- The mission and legacy of the A-10 Warthog
- Why Close Air Support (CAS) is about more than just firepower
- The intense coordination between A-10 pilots and JTACs (Joint Terminal Attack Controllers)
- 70 rounds of 30mm per second
- The vital role of Combat Controllers in both air and ground ops
- Lessons in leadership, humility, and courage under fire
Learn more about Derek Oaks here:
Derek Oaks – Decisive Leadership
Derek’s book he co-authored with this dad, Gen. Robert Oaks – “Rising Above”
Copyright 2025 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Matthew Roland was killed-in-action in Afghanistan in August 2015 in an insider attack (aka “green on blue”) at an Afghan-led security checkpoint. Killed alongside him was teammate SSgt Forrest Sibley, both Air Force Combat Controllers attached to an Army Special Forces team.
Matthew’s father Mark, shares what happened, how Matthew responded instantly and what his and Forrest’s final moments were like. In addition, we talk about the notification process, grief, healing and the CCT community and support.
Matthew was awarded the Silver Star for his actions that day. You can read the citation here.
Also mentioned in this episode is Danny Sanchez, who was another CCT killed in a green on blue attack. His mother was a guest in episode 99.
Patriot to the Core proud affiliates who support our country and military:
GORUCK. Check out big sales right now.
Freedom Blends, vitamins and supplements.. Use code patriot at checkout for 10% off your order.
Mark Lauren Bodyweight Fitness. I’ve been using since 2016. Use code THAD at checkout for 10% off first year subscription.
You can watch this interview with Mark Roland here: https://youtu.be/XLhUOs8_9JE
Copyright 2024 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Michael Madsen is a Judge Advocate in the US Army. His current full-time job is an Attorney for the Air Force and he’s a JAG in the Army Reserves.
After graduating law school and completing a JD/MBA program, Michael worked in the private sector before joining the Army at the age of 33. He wanted to serve his country and found that the Army gave him the best opportunity, even though he had several injuries, mostly from playing football in college at Brigham Young University.
I’ve always admired Michael b/c he gave up lucrative opportunities in the world of law to join the military. He stands by his grandfather’s wise counsel: “It doesn’t matter where you serve; it matters how you serve.”
Madsen comes from a line of American Patriots. His grandfather is Ezra Taft Benson, who was the Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower, and was the 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In early 2020, Michael was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We discuss in great detail how this affected his family (his wife and 4 young kids), and how he’s doing today with the multitude of side effects from this disease, treatments and his bone marrow transplant (thanks to his sister). In addition, how his faith, the faith of his family and those around him, continue to strengthen him and his family.
Also mentioned in this episode:
Jupiter Patch Boards
Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/wBBNyEwei7I
Copyright 2024 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
CW4 Matthew Longanacre (Matthew on Facebook) was an AH-64D Apache Pilot with 1-101 Aviation Regiment “Expect No Mercy”. He was the Pilot-In-Command of one of the two Apaches that were overhead when Mark and Calvin were killed on 29 September 2010.
Printed in Mark’s book, My Brother in Arms, Matthew wrote to our family: “We pride ourselves on doing whatever it takes to protect these gifted warriors on the battlefield. This is why the loss of Mark has hit me harder than any in the past. I was overhead that day and unable to prevent this tragedy. I just hope that his family and friends can find some small measure of comfort in knowing that he took the fight to the enemy right until the end. Very few in this world can say the same…”
Longanacre joined me today while we walked 28 miles for the Mark Forester JAG 28 Memorial Birthday Walk/Ruck. Therefore, the audio isn’t stellar, but the best this low-tech guy can do. We were moving the entire time in mist rain.
My family and I appreciate Matthew keeping in touch, making the effort to visit and support. He developed a friendship with Mark, all over the radio, while they slew the enemy!
Enjoy the outro music, “Sons of War Veteran“. This short clip was written by former AF CCT, and 2-time PTC guest, Dan Schilling. You can hear the full version here:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5iujSF8UmN4VyvWB42UfLa
Freedom Blends, supplements and vitamins for men and women: use discount code PATRIOT at checkout.
Copyright 2024 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Eric Moutsos (@ericmoutsos) is a small business owner and creator of Freedom Blends, a supplement company based on the principles of Freedom and Liberty.
A former Salt Lake City Police Officer, Moutsos loved the job but quickly started being outspoken about disturbing practices (aka quotas) and discrimination within the department. In the end, Eric lost his badge and gun when, for religious reasons, he asked to trade into a security assignment instead of being in the celebration of the Utah Pride Parade for the LGBTQ community. When the story made national news, Eric decided to resign from the department and go into the private sector.
Today Eric tells us why he’s no longer a police officer and how he created the Utah Business Revival during Covid to help save small businesses. Part of this was organizing what was probably the first music concert in America during the lockdown.
If you want to try Freedom Blends, go to: https://freedomblends.myshopify.com/?ref=patriot
and use code PATRIOT at checkout to get 10% off. I’ve been taking Freedom Fuel w/ energy and 1st Amendment Men’s multivitamin since mid-April. So far, I approve. I get up early to work and/or workout almost every day. I have 3 active young boys and we are always playing sports, in the woods, rucking…. just staying active. I used to be very tired every day. I feel much better while taking these vitamins and supplements.
Freedom Blends: use discount code PATRIOT at checkout.
Watch Eric’s documentary “Non Essential” here: https://www.ericmoutsos.com/non-essential-the-full-documentary/
Watch this interview on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/ow8SnRUratI
Copyright 2024 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Brian Jodice (@brianjodice) of Pick Up The Six Productions and NGBN TV is back to promote this new network for men in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
Discussed in this episode:
-why focus on this demographic?
-men’s mental health
-Biblical application
-best athletic gear and brands for outdoor workouts (specifically F3 and GORUCK events)
-prison ministering
-oldest man to play Division 1 football
-other random topics that may or may not offend
You can also watch this interview on YouTube here.
If you’d like to support Patriot to the Core podcast with a very small regular donation, visit my Patreon page here.
Brian Jodice was also on PTC in Episode 95.
Use code PUT6 at Mudgear.com for a discount, compliments of Brian.
Enjoy the outro music. This short song clip was written by former Air Force CCT, and 2-time PTC guest, Dan Schilling. You can learn the history of this song here. Dan’s goal is for it to be something that urges people to turn up the volume when they play the track!
Copyright 2024 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Within weeks of the 9/11 attacks, Air Force Combat Controller Joe O’Keefe was in Afghanistan working with the CIA and other special operations units.
Joe and his small team made their way into the mountains of Tora Bora with the help of the Northern Alliance. Armed with the element of surprise, he was able to start calling in close air support against hundreds, if not a thousand enemy fighters.
What was initially thought to be an overnight observance, turned into 5 days with only 1 hour of sleep the entire period. The CIA station chief told his team to drop bombs for as long as possible because the President was getting sit-reps on it minute by minute.
He and his team ended up killing hundreds of people. “They had chosen their course, we had chosen ours, that’s the nature of it.”
You can read an excellent article about this mission in Task and Purpose here:
Task and Purpose – Air Force Commando
You can also watch this interview on YouTube at the link below:
YouTube
Other CCT interviews mentioned in this episode:
Ep. 91 – Will Markham
Ep. 88 – Kyle Stanbro and Michael Lamonica
Copyright 2024 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
The late Woody Williams will never forget the odor of burning human remains.
“There are some things about that 4 hours that have bothered me my whole life… I can’t remember going back and getting the other 5 flamethrowers. It was so horrific, I didn’t want to remember.”
I was introduced to death by flamethrower after learning of Mr. Williams. He went thru 5 – 70 lb flamethrowers in a 4-hour battle on Iwo Jima. Two of the Marines assigned to him were killed that day protecting his life. At the time of this interview in 2017, he was the last surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor from that battle, and the last surviving Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for heroism in World War II. Mr. Williams died in 2022.
I asked Woody, “What did you know about Iwo Jima before you got there?” His response, “Not a thing!” Later he saw the flag raised on Mount Suribachi, but didn’t consider the significance at that time. He had a job to do and wasn’t reveling in the moment.
His story is remarkable. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by Pres. Truman, but admits being more nervous to meet the Commandant of the Marine Corp than the President. He shares with us what both these men told him regarding the medal. He didn’t know anything about the MOH beforehand. Even the day he received it he didn’t know what it was about.
Awesome interview. You should read his medal citation below and learn more about him at these links:
Read his Medal of Honor Citation
Learn about his foundation:
Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation
*originally published Oct 30, 2017
Copyright 2024 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Mark Schmitz’s son, LCpl Jared Schmitz, was one of the 13 Americans murdered at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, on 26 August 2021 during the evacuation from Afghanistan.
He was just 20 years old. He was there on a humanitarian mission working the infamous Abbey Gate. When Afghans made it past the Taliban checkpoints, they were desperate to get on a flight out of Afghanistan. Jared and his fellow Marines, and others, were there among crowds so large and compact that he said if your arms were at your side, you couldn’t raise the above your head.
We discuss how this suicide bomber made it to the bottlenecked gate and was able to kill so many. Why the sniper wasn’t given permission to kill him beforehand. And, what has been the government’s response since. Note: this bomb also killed over 100 Afghan civilians.
He has also created The Freedom 13.org that supports the veterans still with us. They have big plans for retreats in each state so that Veteran’s and their families can stay for free, much like and Airbnb, but with land, shooting, fishing, riding, etc. Learn about their upcoming events, including how to donate or volunteer, by visiting here: https://thefreedom13.org/pages/events
If you’re listening on Apple Music or Spotify, please rate the podcast with 5-stars and subscribe or follow. I’m tired of average podcasts with lame topics getting more listens than mine. Please help spread the word!
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Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
https://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Don Stevens is one of those rare operators who retrained into the Air Force combat control (CCT) pipeline at the age of 32, after being in security forces. This required uncommon humility since leadership said, “What are we gonna do with a MSgt. who doesn’t know squat (many different strong words could be inserted here)?”
Even though I’ve had several CCT’s on this show, we haven’t talked much about their humanitarian roles. Don tells us how he got a team ready to deploy to Haiti in less than 4 hours, when the earthquake in 2010 happened.
Stevens provides advice to new guys entering the CCT pipeline, why PTSD doesn’t have to be a big deal, and shared the scariest thing he’s ever done. Hint, it wasn’t in Afghanistan or Africa.
You can also learn more about Don as the co-founder of FoxTrot 3.
Mentioned in this episode:
Thai Soccer Team Rescue
If you’re listening on Apple Music or Spotify, please rate the podcast with 5-stars and subscribe or follow. I’m tired of average podcasts with lame topics getting more listens than this one. Please help spread the word!
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Amazon Music
Listen on Google Podcasts
Watch on YouTube
I’m a proud affiliate of GORUCK. Please use this link if you want to check out their workout, rucking, running, apparel and other equipment. It doesn’t cost you any add’l money, but allows me to get a small commission to help this podcast reach larger audiences:
https://www.thadforester.com/gr-affiliate
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
https://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
On this 13th anniversary of the death of my brother, SrA Mark Forester, I have the opportunity to talk with Kenny Alicea who was the Senior Weapons Sergeant for his Army Special Forces team (ODA 7212) where Mark was attached.
Kenny contacted me a few weeks ago and told me he was on that final mission when Mark and Calvin were killed. He was a few hundred meters away with the mounted element, but he heard the radio calls and helped clear the area after their deaths. He helps piece together a few more details about Mark’s final moments.
In addition, Alicea told me about some initial disagreements and arguments he and Mark had and how they resolved those and worked together to bring destruction to terrorists and protect their teams. Hint: both of them said they own the airspace. Once they started working together, he said Mark was phenomenal at his job.
You can connect with Kenny on his YouTube Channel that helps vets in the private security contracting field: https://www.youtube.com/@VetsToPSC
For those watching the YouTube version, I hope you enjoy the slideshow at the very end of the interview.
Mentioned in this episode:
Ep 60: Captain Wes Wilson – Ken’s team captain gives lots of detail on that battle too
Ep 38: Bobby Bonello – Mark’s good friend escorting him home to Dover AFB – Angel Flight
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
https://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Watch this interview on YouTube
Nic McKinley is an entrepreneur, former Air Force Pararescueman, and ex-CIA operative who founded DeliverFund, the only donor-funded solution to human trafficking that delivers proprietary data and technology to law enforcement, allowing them to take down human traffickers effectively.
With 30 combat deployments under his belt in both Special Operations and the CIA, Nic experienced the power of technology during the Global War on Terror and set out to use his skills and training with that experience to combat modern slavery.
On September 1, 2023, DeliverFund launched an app to combat human trafficking. Nic discusses this in-depth and drives home how effective and life saving this app can be. You can download it here.
By gaining access to DeliverFund’s immense digital database of potential human trafficking activity, we all have the ability to take proactive measures to ensure our safety. We can work collectively to build safer, stronger communities.
I loved talking with Nic. He also gave unique perspective how his life as an Air Force PJ prepared him for the CIA and for launching DeliverFund. He also shares some thoughts on “til Valhalla” meaning and why we should seek for something better.
Mentioned in this episode:
Nic on Episode 68 of Patriot to the Core
Nic on Cleared Hot Podcast
Nic McKinley – The Real Jack Ryan
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
https://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Watch this interview on YouTube
Retired U. S. Marine and former Policeman, bouncer, Corrections Officer and more Rich Brown (@american_warrior_society) is back on the show so I can dig into his new Memoir “On Violence & Varietals“. We cover many areas of his life: fighting as a boy, the Gulf War, sleeping with one eye open, interacting with prisoners as […]
The Mark Forester Foundation’s annual golf tournament will be held Friday August 11, 2023 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Muscle Shoals, AL. In this episode, I chat with Doug Cole and Jay Stubbs who are long time participants and supporters. We talk about the course, the value of the entry fee, prizes, experiences and why they […]
T. C. Fuller joined the FBI after an 11-year career in the Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer. Then he joined the FBI and became a Special Agent, serving for 20 years. During his time in the FBI he held many assignments, including: Principal Firearms Instructor, Joint Terrorism Task Force – Domestic and International, […]
Gary Michael Rose (Mike) joins me in person to share what happened in Laos during Operation Tailwind in 1970. During these 4 days, Sergeant Rose exposed himself to the enemy many times in order to treat the wounded. And then, the helicopter carrying Rose and others crashed further injuring him and the other wounded on board.
Despite his numerous wounds from the past three days, Mike Rose continued to pull and carry unconscious and wounded personnel out of the burning wreckage and continued to administer aid to the wounded until another extraction helicopter arrived.
It’s a remarkable story of selflessness where Rose said “we should not have survived.”
“I really take pride in the fact that I can go to my grave knowing that at least one person- I did something one day that caused him to live another 42 years,” Rose said.
This Special Forces Medic is credited with saving numerous lives over that 4 day period. You can read his Medal of Honor Citation here.
I loved having him in studio to talk in person. You can also watch this interview on YouTube here.
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
The post Ep 105 | Medal of Honor Recipient Mike Rose – Vietnam appeared first on .
Dan Skidmore (@danskidmore11) is the Director of Specialized Training at GORUCK. He’s back on PTC as to talk initially about the upcoming Mark Forester JAG 28 Memorial Birthday Walk/Ruck. This is our annual event honoring my brother Mark Forester who was KIA 2010, where we walk 28 continuous miles. Dan will be joining us for the first time (in person) on May 20, 2023 in Haleyville, AL.
I pick his brain about how to toughen up your feet, break in shoes and prevent injury (especially lower body).
We also discuss the benefits of compression therapy and his own business, Bulletproof Bands. He provided a huge discount on his site by using JAG28 promo code at checkout.
You’ll want to hear why he suggests peeing on your feet too – I’m not sure I can even physically do that. And what is the max weight you should carry for this event.
I look forward to Dan joining our walk this year and leading us in Memorial Pushups. Come join us. We want you to be part of our tribe on May 20, 2023 in Haleyville, AL. Read more and sign up here:
Mentioned in this episode:
Ballistic Trainers shoes
MACV-1 Rucking Boots that Dan will be wearing for this event
Bullet Rucker
Sandbags
Sand Kettlebells
Dan’s hotel in ancient Medina, Marrakesh, Morocco
Sorry for the audio issues on this one. My wifi has been oddly off recently, so you will notice some cut-outs.
You can also find Dan on YouTube and Facebook
And you can listen to our first interview on episode 75.
Remember, for a big discount on Bulletproof Bands, use promo code JAG28* at checkout. Dan’s business is showing support for The Mark Forester Foundation.
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
The post Ep 104 | Dan Skidmore, aka Cadre DS – Getting Ready for the JAG 28 Birthday Walk appeared first on .
Chris Sprayberry and Troy Bye join me to talk about the upcoming JAG 28 Birthday Walk on May 20, 2023.
Chris (@https://www.instagram.com/sprayberry_77/) has done the walk every year since we started in 2011. Troy’s (@https://www.instagram.com/ourtownpodcast/) first time was last year. After learning the hard way, he can’t wait to do it again while being more prepared.
Today we talk about how they prepare, gear they use, tricks, injuries, misperceptions, mistakes, best memories from years past, and all kinds of stuff related to my brother’s annual memorial walk.
You’ll definitely want to hear how Chris prepares each year. It’s pretty impressive.
We enjoyed the banter together as we hung out in the Our Town Podcast Studio. Please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I want your feedback.
You can also watch us do this interview via YouTube here.
Mentioned in this episode:
How to Train for the Mark Forester JAG 28 Birthday Walk / Ruck – 12 Years of Practice
Joe Carlucci – 2023 Pizza Maker of the Year
Learn more about the JAG Birthday Walk and Register Here
Outro music by Spent Brass: Sons of War / Veteran
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
The post Ep 103 | Tips and Thoughts on the Mark Forester JAG 28 Birthday Walk/Ruck appeared first on .
MSG Darrell Utt retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces in January of 2017 after 26.5 years in the Army.
For this episode, he joins me in person and we have a great time covering the purpose of the National Medal of Honor Museum being constructed in Arlington, TX and why TX was chosen over Colorado. It seems Jerry Jones had something to do with it too.
He shares some Medal of Honor recipients who most resonate with him and what the Medal of Honor recipients want this museum to actually be–focus on courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship and patriotism.
We also discuss his time in Iraq in 2006 with Operation Parliament. He and his team were able to rescue a hostage unharmed after letting the kidnappers know in no uncertain terms that it would be in their best interest to release her to avoid further action against them.
In addition, we cover his favorite books, IEDs, his Alive Day of April 17, 2006–how 1″ made the difference, leadership lessons from Iraq, control what you can control, can’t fake preparation, calm breeds calm and more. Thanks for visiting me in Huntsville Darrell!
Mentioned in this podcast:
Burn the Boats book
Darrell on Combat Story podcast
Where the Red Fern Grows book
Last Out – Elegy of a Green Beret by Scott Mann
*Big thanks to M. Troy Bye at Our Town Podcast for hosting us in his studio.
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
The post Ep 102 | Darrell Utt – Army Special Forces (Ret.) and National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Chief of Bus. Ops appeared first on .
Matthew Reed started his military career in the Marines. After being honorably discharged in 2007, he joined the Army and became an Interrogator and a Military Intelligence NCO, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Then from 2012 through 2022, Matt worked as an Intelligence Contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense, with roughly six years in the Balkans Region of Europe, where his mission was to root out hostile penetrations of our HUMINT Source pool.
Matthew and I have an interesting discussion on the Chinese surveillance balloons and why China should be very concerned by what the U.S. thinks of them, the global effects of the war in Ukraine, the humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan, interrogation tactics and the importance of studying the Roman Empire.
We close by learning about his books, based on his real life growing up in Houston, and from his career in the military.
Mentioned in this podcast:
Matthew on Cleared Hot Podcast w/ Andy Stumpf
Purchase Matthew’s books here:
The Houston Thriller Series
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
The post Ep 101 | Matthew Reed – Military Intelligence, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia and China appeared first on .
Michael Blout joins me to talk about the battle from 2012 where he was awarded the Silver Star. As a former Flight Superintendent, Combat Dive Course Superintendent, and Superintendent over the Department of Training, Special Warfare Preparatory Course and more, we talk much about preparation, mindset, leading, integrating into a team and never quitting. During the CCT pipeline, Blout was smoked many times by one of his instructors, Mark Lauren (aka Klinganator or Cyborg). Mark is also a former guest on this show.
He also shared how to keep the sharks away while scuba training and threw in some surprises about dolphins.
Mike is another Air Force Combat Controller who is a silent professional. He’s sacrificed his body and family to fight evil and to serve in other various ways throughout the world. “Take care of your people and they will take care of you.”
I hope you enjoy the intro music and full song at the end of this interview. It was written by former Air Force CCT, and 2-time PTC guest, Dan Schilling. You can learn the history of this song here. Dan’s goal is for it to be something that urges people to turn up the volume when they play the track!
“My hope was that this song rocks enough that guys I wrote it for will enjoy it and powerful enough to leave an indelible emotional impact crater,” Schilling said, “one you want to revisit over and over again.”
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
The post Ep 100 | Michael Blout – Combat Controller, Silver Star Recipient appeared first on .
On Sept 16, 2010, Yvette’s son, Daniel Ray Sanchez (Danny) was killed in Afghanistan by an insurgent who infiltrated the Afghanistan partner force.
Today, Danny’s mom tells us why this “ball of energy” was made for Combat Control and what happened on his first deployment – how was an insurgent able to get on the helicopter with Danny and his team and then kill Danny when they landed. Fortunately, that guy was killed immediately, but only after injuring others, and of course killing one of America’s bravest.
Yvette started the SrA Danny Ray Sanchez Foundation and holds an annual race on Labor Day weekend to raise money to provide scholarships to Montwood High School graduates, and hopefully to other schools in the district soon.
Yvette and I have become friends since 2010. We’ve mourned together and attended several events together. I loved finally getting to have her on Patriot to the Core. Listen to this mother’s love of her son as she shares how she was notified and how she’s handled his loss since. We also discuss how Danny’s death affected her youngest son, Dakota, since he’s no longer being duct-taped to the door or being hung on the door knob by his underwear, compliments of his big brother.
You can also watch this interview on YouTube here.
Mentioned in this episode:
Memorial 3 Gun
Combat Control Foundation
Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
The post Ep 099 | Yvette Sierra – Gold Star Mother to SrA Danny Sanchez appeared first on .
On this special Christmas Day episode, we hear from a legend from WWII – Gail (Hal) Halvorsen. He has many names: Uncle Wiggly Wings, The Berlin Candy Bomber and The Chocolate Flier. He became popular for dropping candy from his plane to the children of Berlin, from 1948-49.
His efforts gained support from many back in the states. School children packaged candy in boxes with parachutes, and candy companies like Wrigley and Hershey’s donated items. Thanks to his efforts he and his team had dropped 23 tons of candy by Christmas 1949.
Today we talk of “Operation Little Viddles”, how he became a pilot, how to overcome trials and depression, freedom vs. communism and the importance of serving others. This is an uplifting episode that you don’t want to miss. He shares that these children in Berlin taught him about freedom more than anything else. It’s amazing what 2 sticks of gum turned in to!
Learn more about Mr. Halvorsen here:
http://wigglywings.weebly.com/
His book, “The Berlin Candy Bomber” here: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/088290616X
Special with Tom Brokaw: https://youtu.be/QWbISrde2mQ
Note: Mr. Halvorsen passed away in February of 2022 at the age of 101. This is an interview I did with him back in 2016.
Copyright 2022 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
The post Ep 098 | Christmas from Heaven – Gail Halvorsen appeared first on .
Scott’s younger brother, Steven, was killed-in-action in Afghanistan in Aug. 2010 at the same time that Scott was deployed just miles away. Not only did Scott (@scottdeluzio) have to receive the news of Steven’s death while Scott and his unit were outside the wire, his teammates had to engage in combat until he could get […]
The post Ep 097 | Scott DeLuzio – Surviving Son appeared first on .
Today, September 29, 2022, mark’s 12 years since my little brother, Mark Forester’s death in Afghanistan. Mark’s close friend and roommate, Doug Cole (@dcoleii), spends some time telling us what life was like living with Mark and watching him transform from a narrow-shouldered, pudgy, college student to a solid, chiseled man. No matter how serious […]
The post Ep 096 | Special: Doug Cole on the Impact of Mark Forester appeared first on .
Today, September 29, 2022, mark’s 12 years since my little brother, Mark Forester’s death in Afghanistan. Mark’s close friend and roommate, Doug Cole (@dcoleii), spends some time telling us what life was like living with Mark and watching him transform from a narrow-shouldered, pudgy, college student to a solid, chiseled man. No matter how serious […]
The post Ep 096 | Special: Doug Cole on the Impact of Mark Forester appeared first on .
Brian Jodice is the owner and host of Pick up the Six Productions and Podcast, where he shares stories about the men and women among us who go above-and-beyond to PICK UP THE SIX through SERVICE, PURPOSE and IMPACT. He recalls many impactful interviews he’s done in the last few years, among them was the […]
The post Ep 095 | Brian Jodice – Pick Up the Six Podcast appeared first on .
Brian Jodice is the owner and host of Pick up the Six Productions and Podcast, where he shares stories about the men and women among us who go above-and-beyond to PICK UP THE SIX through SERVICE, PURPOSE and IMPACT. He recalls many impactful interviews he’s done in the last few years, among them was the […]
The post Ep 095 | Brian Jodice – Pick Up the Six Podcast appeared first on .
Ish Villegas is one of three people who have received the Silver Star twice, since 9/11. Today he walks us thru the battle in 2009 where he got his first Silver Star. It was a 16 hour fight that resulted in at least 32 enemy insurgents killed. During this fight, Ish ran 200 feet across […]
The post Ep 094 | Ish Villegas – 2-time Silver Star Recipient appeared first on .
Ish Villegas is one of three people who have received the Silver Star twice, since 9/11. Today he walks us thru the battle in 2009 where he got his first Silver Star. It was a 16 hour fight that resulted in at least 32 enemy insurgents killed. During this fight, Ish ran 200 feet across […]
The post Ep 094 | Ish Villegas – 2-time Silver Star Recipient appeared first on .
“Good judgment comes through experience, which comes from bad judgment.” Brig. Gen. Robert (Gwyn) Armfield and Lt. Gen. Bruce Fister, both USAF, retired are on the show to talk about their new book “Lead to Serve and Serve to Lead.” They use their experience from extensive military careers and now consulting with companies–from non-profits, to […]
The post Ep 093 | Leading Well in Turbulent Times appeared first on .
Former Army Chaplain Justin Roberts (@justindroberts) has been in Ukraine since April 2022 recording a documentary film series to highlight people who are doing good in Ukraine–helping with aid, managing donated money effectively and honestly, and just serving their fellow man. I wanted to know what it’s like in the war where he’s been. How […]
The post Ep 092 | Justin Roberts – On the Ground in Ukraine appeared first on .
Retired Chief Master Sergeant William Markham spent 30 years in the Air Force, was inducted in the 2021 Air Commando Hall of Fame and in the 2022 USSOCOM Hall of Heroes. I know him personally because he was the chief of my brother Mark’s squadron (21st STS out of Pope Field, NC). I never met […]
The post Ep 091 | William Markham – One Veteran at a Time appeared first on .
M. Troy Bye, is an Executive Director with ManTech and has spent much of his career managing large IT programs for customers within the Intelligence Community in the Washington D.C. area. ManTech has a long history of supporting the FBI. Now, with the FBI’s transition of many of their cyber programs to Huntsville, AL, Troy […]
The post Ep 090 | Troy Bye – The Long Road to Cyber Security, Insider Threat & Intelligence appeared first on .
Jennie Taylor was taking a much needed break by spending the weekend with friends from college, therefore she wasn’t home when the “knock” came at her door. In January of 2018, her husband, Major Brent Taylor left his position as Mayor of North Ogden, UT and deployed to Afghanistan with the US Army for what […]
The post Ep 089 | Jennie Taylor – Gold Star Wife and Mother of 7 appeared first on .
CMSgt (retired) Michael Lamonica and MSG (retired) Kyle Stanbro, both retired Air Force combat controllers join us to break down what CCT’s do and their roles in the war on terror, Afghanistan withdrawal, and humanitarian missions throughout the world. And, why CCTs are arguably the deadliest force to ever walk the planet. With each of […]
The post Ep 088 | Combat Controllers – Small Force, Big Impact appeared first on .
To end the year, I’m playing my all-time most downloaded episode. Right after high school graduation, Kyle Defoor @defoorproformanceshooting left for boot camp in Orlando. A few months later, he was in Coronado going thru BUD/S as an 18-year-old kid. We talk about growing up together in the small town of Haleyville, AL. And since […]
The post Ep 087 | Kyle Defoor – Former SEAL, Sniper and current Firearms Instructor appeared first on .
Retired Air Force Combat Controller Gene Adcock joins me to talk about his new book, “Combat Control Team History“. Since joining the Air Force in 1955 and retiring in 1977, Mr. Adcock has continued to contribute to the CCT career field. This book is another example with its estimated 800 pages and weight of 10 […]
The post Ep 086 | Gene Adcock – Combat Control Team History appeared first on .
As this episode goes live, Bobby Weismiller @lionscreedfitness is awaiting his job status with the federal government. Will he still be employed at the end of November? Like millions of others, the executive order could affect his and his family’s livelihood. Bobby outlines his health history, yet the federal government still denied his waiver request. […]
The post Ep 085 | Bobby Weismiller – Vaccine mandate, liberty and breaking the cycle appeared first on .
Afghanistan. What can I say? Well, I have a lot to say, but I’m not unloading my feelings here–much. We lost 13 American lives. At least 18 are injured, last I read (trying to get correct #). My heart goes out to their families. These heroes haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. Now that our […]
The post Ep 084 | Zach Asmus and Cress Clippard on Afghanistan and SIV’s appeared first on .
Mark Lauren (@mark_lauren_training) started as a USAF Combat Controller. After his active duty service, he went on to use his experience as an operator and instructor to write the bestselling book You Are Your Own Gym; the Bible of Bodyweight Exercises, which has sold 1.5 million copies worldwide. Mark now uses his 30+ years of training […]
The post Ep 083 | Mark Lauren – Move Better, Feel Better appeared first on .
I last spoke with Dan Schilling in episode 64 about his NY Times Best-Selling book “Alone at Dawn”. Today, he has a new book, The Power of Awareness. Schilling uses his personal experience from conducting combat and covert missions around the world, founded and then commanded two special operations squadrons – the second being one […]
The post Ep 082 | Dan Schilling – The Power of Awareness appeared first on .
Michael Andrew (Michael the Maven) is back on the show to discuss why he’s in Indonesia and why UPS asked him to help them with logistical challenges in delivering vaccines. If you don’t follow Michael, I encourage you to check out all his adventures–both as an entrepreneur and as a volunteer throughout the world. Today […]
The post Ep 081 | Michael Andrew in Indonesia | Covid Vaccine Distribution appeared first on .
In 2010, Beau and Ben Wise buried their big brother Jeremy. Two years later, Beau buried his brother Ben. He went from the youngest son to the only son. Their parents are the only known U.S. military family to lose two sons in Afghanistan during the 19+ year war. In this interview, I’m privileged to […]
The post Ep 080 – Three Wise Men appeared first on .
Rhonda Jimmerson’s brother, Major Troy “Trojan” Gilbert was an F-16 pilot with over 1000 flying hours. On November, 27, 2006, his plane crashed in Iraq while he was protecting Americans whose helicopter had crashed. His body was ejected from the plane upon impact and immediately found and taken by al Qaeda–rolled up in a carpet […]
The post Ep 079 | Rhonda Jimmerson – The Fight to Bring Her Brother Home appeared first on .
Please enjoy this replay that originally aired in Feb of 2017. J. Stanford (Stan) Staheli was only 18 years old when drafted. One year later he was a member of Patton’s Third Army, 4th Armored Division, liberating France from the Nazi’s. It was here that he was captured in 1944 during a German counter-attack near […]
The post Ep 078 | Stan Staheli, Patton’s Third Army, WWII POW – Replay appeared first on .
Throwback to my interview with Mick Gillispie and Ryan Fowler on “The Game” radio show in February 2012. Mick has been a big supporter of The Mark Forester Foundation since its inception. And in this interview we cover many topics surrounding Mark’s education, time in military, final battle, The American Fallen Soldiers Project, fundraisers and […]
The post Ep 077 | My Interview on “The Game” | Throwback from 2012 appeared first on .
Sept 29, 2020 is the 10th anniversary of Mark Forester’s death in Afghanistan. The picture in this post is Mark’s body being taken from the C-17 at Dover AFB for the Dignified Transfer. My guest is General Robert Armfield who was Mark’s group commander in 2010. Armfield was also at Dover when Mark’s body arrived, […]
The post Ep 076 – Special: Brig. Gen. Gwyn Armfield | Behind the scenes of our Next-of-Kin notifications appeared first on .
Dan Skidmore spent nine years as an Air Force combat controller. As a member of this elite group, he deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other locations across the globe. He is a member of Force Blue , which unites the community of Special Operations veterans with the world of marine conservation for the betterment […]
The post Ep 075 – Dan Skidmore | Former CCT, GORUCK Dir. of Training appeared first on .
Today Mark’s friend and teammate tells us what it was like to get the news of Mark’s death, how he got a risky flight out of his FOB and met up with Mark so he could escort his buddy back to the states as part of the Angel Flight. This episode is solely about Bobby […]
The post Ep 074 – Memorial Day Special: Bobby Bonello Escorting Mark’s Body to Dover – The Angel Flight appeared first on .
It seemed Linda Ambard was the last person to find out about her husband, Maj. Philip Ambard’s death. The media knew, her co-workers knew and even some of her children found out via social media. Linda shares why her late husband immigrated to the United States, learned English, along with 7 other languages, and then […]
The post Ep 073 – Linda Ambard | Courageously Alive appeared first on .
I know I’m not the only one who is getting an increased amount of target marketing on alternatives to gyms. Our current situation that has caused gyms to close didn’t change my routine at all b/c I don’t rely on one. The reason; my exercise strategy changed when I began following Mark Lauren’s programs in […]
The post Ep 072 – Mark Lauren | Bodyweight Master & Best-selling Fitness Author appeared first on .
Most of you have heard of Chris Kyle or seen the movie “American Sniper“, directed by Clint Eastwood. It was a very popular book and movie. But I always wondered about his brother Jeff. What made him serve in the military? How close were he and Chris and how did Chris’ death affect him? Today […]
The post Ep 071 – Jeff Kyle: Marine & Gold Star brother appeared first on .
“Cowardice and courage; both are infectious. The Hong Kongers are showing a lot of courage.” Michael Yon (Instagram Michael_yon_world) is back on the show to discuss what’s going on it Hong Kong. We get into some deep history on China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as talk its comparison to Poland in the 80’s. […]
The post Ep 070 – Michael Yon | Insurgency in Hong Kong appeared first on .
Woody Williams will never forget the odor of burning human remains. “There are some things about that 4 hours that have bothered me my whole life… I can’t remember going back and getting the other 5 flamethrowers. It was so horrific, I didn’t want to remember.” I was introduced to death by flamethrower after learning […]
The post Ep 069 – Hershel “Woody” Williams | Medal of Honor Recipient appeared first on .
Nic is a former Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) and Country Chief for a special unit within the CIA. During his career he witnessed the epidemic of child trafficking within illegal markets and recognized the opportunity to apply his training to influence this global crisis. How do he and his organization, DeliverFund, do this? By equipping, […]
The post Ep 068 – Nic McKinley | Unleashing the Warriors on Child Trafficking appeared first on .
On this 9th anniversary of the death of Mark Forester, I talk with our dad and sister. Obviously this is more of a personal episode where we talk about Mark at various stages in life and Dad and Terri’s relationship with him. You may not know it by pictures or only knowing Mark as an […]
The post Ep 067 – Special: Mark Forester – Hammerhead appeared first on .
When Lauren Sisler’s phone rang at 3 am, she never expected her father to say that her mother had died. When her plane landed in Virginia that same day, all she wanted was a big hug from her dad, only he wasn’t there. In those few hours, he had died too. Today, this ESPN and […]
The post Ep 066 – Lauren Sisler | Firsthand Effects of Addiction and Overcoming Tragedy appeared first on .
Renee Nickell’s brother, Major Samuel Griffith, was killed-in-action in Dec, 2011. Since then, she’s gone thru many dark valleys and has found healing by writing a book: “Always My Hero” about her older brother and best friend. With her appearance last week on Home and Family, and her radio, podcast and TV tour this past […]
The post Ep 065 – Memorial Day: Renee Nickell | Her Brother was Always Her Hero appeared first on .
In the predawn hours of March 4, 2002, just below the 10,000-foot peak of a mountain in Afghanistan, a fierce battle raged. Outnumbered by Al Qaeda fighters, Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman and a handful of SEALs struggled to take the summit in a desperate bid to find a lost teammate. Chapman, leading the […]
The post Ep 064 – Dan Schilling | Alone at Dawn appeared first on .
If you search for Justin Carroll on the web, you will find very little about him–and good luck finding a picture of his face. This former Marine is now a security and privacy consultant. Carroll stresses that it’s not about hiding anything, but protecting our information. In his early days he transitioned from Force Recon […]
The post Ep 063 – Justin Carroll | Online Security and Privacy appeared first on .
Sammy Davis joined the Army because he loved his daddy. He wanted to make him and his grandads proud. He was just a kid out of high school. If he hadn’t joined the Army, he wanted to be a member of Hell’s Angels. Regarding war protestors at SFO I asked, “Did […]
The post Ep 062 – Sammy L. Davis | Medal of Honor Recipient – Vietnam appeared first on .
“Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.” (spoken by the sheepdogs; the warriors). What do you ask the expert in the study of the psychology of killing? Among the many things we discuss today are the differences between sheep, wolves and sheepdogs. […]
The post Ep 061 – Lt. Col. Dave Grossman: Killology 101 appeared first on .
Today is 8 years since Mark was killed in Afghanistan. Although we were notified in person by his teammates and leadership, there were still many unanswered questions–details no one who wasn’t there could personally share. Major Wes Wilson was the ODA Detachment Commander when Mark was killed. Their team had split up and Wes was […]
The post Ep. 060 – SPECIAL: MAJ Wes Wilson – The Aftermath of Mark’s death in Shah Mashad appeared first on .
“If we don’t try to rescue the boys, we’ll be giving them a death sentence.” On June 23, 2018, a team of 12 boys — who were all between the ages of 11 and 16 — had just finished a weekly soccer practice and went to explore a cave with their coach. But after they’d […]
The post Ep 059 – Inside the Thai Soccer Team Rescue w/ Maj Charles Hodges appeared first on .
Back on the show is former Air Force combat controller (CCT) Mark Lauren. In episode 40, we discussed his early life, time in military and how he implemented his workouts in the CCT pipeline. Now, we’re talking a little more about how he observed that the fitness industry at large was backward, ineffective, and […]
The post Ep 058 – Mark Lauren | Bodyweight Master appeared first on .
“As a senior AH-64D Longbow Apache aviator rated as Pilot in Command and qualified as Air Mission Commander, I have never witnessed such an act of heroism in my three years of fighting in combat…. My only regret is that I was unable to prevent Jag 28’s death. I will carry that burden indefinitely. Jag […]
The post Ep 057 – “I’ve Got a Man Down!” | Memorial Day 2018 appeared first on .
Since The Mark Forester Foundation’s annual race and 28-mile birthday walk is May 19, I wanted to have family friend and race director Lauren Tinker on the show. Lauren shares why she wants to lead the races each year and what Mark Forester means to her. She and her family dedicate countless hours throughout the […]
The post Ep 056 – Lauren Tinker | Price of Freedom Race: Behind the Scenes appeared first on .
I first learned of Brant Ireland in an ESPN interview prior to the 2017 Warrior Games. That’s when I knew he needed to be on the show. Here he is sharing how he made it thru the grueling pipeline to become a Green Beret, then loosing his leg in a bazaar accident in Afghanistan in 2013. Ireland […]
The post Ep 055 – Brant Ireland | One-Legged Beast appeared first on .
Ever wondered if your deceased father received any awards for valor while serving in the military? Ever been told a relative received a medal, but you’ve never seen it? Or, do you feel someone is flat-out lying to you about their service accomplishments? My guest today is helping answer all those questions. Doug Sterner has created a […]
The post Ep 054 – Doug Sterner | Military Times Hall of Valor appeared first on .
Justin Roberts is our first Chaplain on the show. I thought we were going to mainly talk about his new movie, “No Greater Love“, but I also got educated on the emotional roller coaster roles of an Army Chaplain. Roberts, the director and producer of No Greater Love, has experienced the reality of war and its aftermath […]
The post Ep 053 – Chaplain Justin Roberts – Director of No Greater Love movie appeared first on .
Matt Larsen is the most successful hand-to-hand combat trainer and program developer in history. Regarded as the father of the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP), Larsen overhauled the Army’s hand-to-hand combat doctrine by rewriting the Combatives field manual in 2002 and updated the manual in 2009. Larsen shared with me his background and why the Combatives Field […]
The post Ep 052 – Matt Larsen – Father of Modern Army Combatives appeared first on .
In addition to being a Marine, Rich Brown is my first law enforcement officer on the show. He’s proven to live a life of service–to his country, to his community and to immigrants looking for work and better ways of life in the US. Speaking of immigrants, we have a great discussion about President Trump’s […]
The post Ep 051 – Rich Brown of American Warrior Society appeared first on .
The Most Effective Self-Protection Training in the World Here in part 2, Tim goes into more detail about how to protect yourself and he provides real-world examples both by his students and by other random acts of violence. Then you’ll understand why it’s absolutely crucial to know how to survive the most critical 5 seconds of […]
The post Ep 050 – Tim Larkin | Sometimes Violence is the Answer – Part 2 appeared first on .
The Most Effective Self-Protection Training in the World If you don’t know the name Tim Larkin (@TFTTimLarkin), that’s probably a good thing. Why? Because most civilians who come to him have already had a violent encounter and been a victim. Tim Larkin is the founder & creator of Target Focus Training, the world leader in […]
The post Ep 050 – Tim Larkin | Sometimes Violence is the Answer – Part 1 appeared first on .
Israel Del Toro (aka DT) was angry that he wasn’t left to die on the battlefield. Later when he saw his face in the hospital, he went thru his darkest hour. After losing his parents as a young boy, DT joined the Air Force and became a Tactical Air Control Party member. Then, in 2005, […]
The post Ep 049 – MSGT Israel Del Toro | Man on Fire appeared first on .
With the release of “12 Strong“, I’m replaying my interview with Bart Decker (Episode 008). He and his Special Operations team were some of the first men inserted into Afghanistan after 9/11. They arrived by helicopter and then realized horseback was the only way to move to their target location since many of the […]
The post Episode 048 – Bart Decker | Original Horse Soldier in Afghanistan appeared first on .
What would a fire on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier that’s miles from land be like? You have nowhere to go and it’s up to you (the crew, especially those trained) to handle it. There have only been 5 major flight deck fires in our history and fortunately Darren Sapp never experienced one, […]
The post Episode 047 – Darren Sapp | Fire on the Flight Deck appeared first on .
Roger Long was living the American dream in his 30’s–good, stable job with very profitable company, home like they’d always wanted, 2 healthy boys and married to the love of his life. Then, Young onset Parkinson’s disease attacked and changed his life forever. He gained a lot of weight, walked with a cane and medically […]
The post Episode 046 – Roger Long – From Cane to Conquering Kilimanjaro appeared first on .
I’m taking this week off to enjoy Christmas with my family. This means eating too much sugar and wrestling with the boys. Got some very interesting guests coming up – I’ll describe them in the audio of this one. If you’re looking for some Christmas cheer, here is the link to last year’s episode on […]
The post Week off for Christmas, Upcoming Guests appeared first on .
After being in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands for over 3-1/2 months, Michael Andrew is sitting at the airport saying “Service is the ultimate drug with no negative side effects.” This was an early morning call while Michael was at the airport waiting to fly back to the states after “leaving it […]
The post Ep 045 – BONUS: Michael Andrew Finally Leaving Puerto Rico appeared first on .
A few weeks after the attacks of 9/11, Will quit his finance job in Midtown Manhattan to join the military. Turns out quitting his job may have been premature since it took about a year to get in the Army. This Princeton graduate entered basic training 10 years older than most and knew what he wanted […]
The post Episode 044 – Will Bardenwerper | Saddam Hussein: Psychological Exploration appeared first on .
After 33 years as an Army officer, Vinny Boles is getting paid to travel the globe to speak on topics he loves- leadership and supply chain. This 2-star General shed some light on how to lead in a crisis (which applies to any profession) and how do you take bad news. The later is the […]
The post Episode 043 – MAJ GEN Vinny Boles | Is your Best Getting Better? appeared first on .
On George’s 9th deployment in 2010, his Humvee rolled over on him a few times, which shattered his hip, broke bones in his back and screwed up his shoulder. He woke up on his way to Walter Reed where he’d spend the next seven months. We talk in person about his recovery – not physical, […]
The post Episode 042 – TACP “George” on Healing, Forgiving, and Resiliency appeared first on .
Woody Williams will never forget the odor of burning human remains. “There are some things about that 4 hours that have bothered me my whole life… I can’t remember going back and getting the other 5 flamethrowers. It was so horrific, I didn’t want to remember.” Today’s guest is our first Medal of Honor recipient […]
The post Episode 041 – Hershel “Woody” Williams, Medal of Honor Recipient from Iwo Jima appeared first on .
Mark Lauren is a bodyweight expert. His fitness method is for “real men and women with real lives … giving the ability to train alone anywhere, any time, without the crutch of personal trainers and gyms.” Mark honed the programs and myriad exercises in his book, “You Are Your Own Gym“, while preparing hundreds of […]
The post Episode 040 – CCT Mark Lauren | You Are Your Own Gym appeared first on .
“You wanna be a leader? It starts at home.” When I say Noah Galloway quit college to join the Army after the attacks of 9/11, he literally didn’t go back to class and joined officially in October of 2001. He was in shape and felt impressed to do his part by taking the fight to […]
The post Episode 039 – Noah Galloway | Living with No Excuses appeared first on .
Today Mark’s friend and teammate tells us what it was like to get the news of Mark’s death, how he got a risky flight out of his FOB and met up with Mark so he could escort back to the states as part of the Angel Flight. September 29, 2017 makes seven years since Mark […]
The post Episode 038 – SPECIAL: Bobby Bonello Escorting Mark’s Body to Dover – Angel Flight appeared first on .
In my second interview with someone on the ground, in the action, helping with hurricane relief, Michael Andrew talks with me from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands following the destruction of Hurricane Irma. This is the kind of work he was made for. Michael thrives in these environments. He arrived there Wednesday via charter […]
The post SPECIAL: Michael Andrew on the ground in US Virgin Islands | Hurricane Irma appeared first on .
Terry Dailey could possibly have the baddest Harleys around. When he rides “Old Glory” or “The Eagle” he gets lots of attention. Additionally, strangers start talking to him about their service or their bikes. It kind of gave others permission to talk to him about almost anything. In my first “in person” interview, Terry and I […]
The post Episode 037 – Terry Dailey of Project Patriot Bikes, Vietnam vet appeared first on .
When this 5’3″ tall airman was denied a waiver to be a pilot, along with women and a male gymnast, he had to figure out something else to do. 23 years later, he retired from the Air Force’s elite Special Tactics community as a combat controller. Kurt Buller said he has “the energy of a […]
The post Episode 036 – CCT Kurt Buller | I Will Run Thru the Brick Wall First appeared first on .
Since seeing all the good happening in the Houston area among so much devastation that Harvey brought, I had to talk to someone who was there – boots on the ground. Johnnie Yellock II is a medically retired veteran, and still a man of action. He posted this week that he was going to drive […]
The post SPECIAL: Johnnie Yellock II on the Ground in Houston appeared first on .
In 2005, George Lutz opened his door to two uniformed Army officers who spoke these five devastating words: “We regret to inform you…” His son Tony had been KIA on 12/29 at just 25 years old. A short time later, Honor and Remember was born. Since starting Honor and Remember, George’s goal has been to […]
The post Episode 035 – Creating a National Symbol of Remembrance | George Lutz appeared first on .
Jack Fanning was a combat controller training for a new team when a night time HAHO training jump went terribly wrong. When he jumped from the aircraft, he was at the pinnacle of physical shape, with hundreds of jumps under his belt. However, Fanning ended up hitting the ground at 35 knots (~40 mph) which caused his C3 […]
The post Episode 034 – “Bring it on”, with Jack Fanning, CCT, Quadriplegic appeared first on .
“If you think you can’t memorize something, you’re wrong. You can remember 10-20 times more data than you think.” 2-time USA Memory Champion Ron White, aka Brain Athlete, gives us some insights on what he’s been doing. We start out with the Afghanistan Memory Wall, where he memorized the rank, first and last name of […]
The post Episode 033 – Ron White: Brain Athlete-Memory Expert appeared first on .
“Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.” (spoken by the sheepdogs; the warriors). What do you ask the expert in the study of the psychology of killing? Dave Grossman is the country’s #1 trainer of military and law enforcement who helps those […]
The post Episode 032 – Lt. Col. Dave Grossman: Killology 101 appeared first on .
Here is a 1-minute clip of my interview with Dave Grossman. He is the country’s expert trainer of military and law enforcement who helps those who have to kill overcome the natural resistance to killing. In this short clip he starts on the difference between sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Our full interview will air July 10, […]
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Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) member George is with us to share how his desire to serve others resulted in joining the JROTC in high school, then enlisting in the Air Force after graduating. 17 years later, his body is worn and at times his heart, soul and body were broken. On his 9th deployment […]
The post Episode 031 – Air Force TACP, “George” appeared first on .
I asked Benjamin Brandt how deploying to a war zone prepared him to be a financial planner. He said in the military they learned to act without thinking. In his profession now, it’s important to think without acting. He was a member of Task Force Trailblazer where he was a combat engineer. Their mission was […]
The post Episode 030 – Iraq veteran and financial planner Benjamin Brandt appeared first on .
For this Memorial Day show, we are privileged to have the Gold Star parents of Adam Brown, fallen SEAL Team 6 operator. Larry and Janice’s son Adam was killed in action on March 17, 2010 in Afghanistan. He died a hero, putting himself in harm’s way to help save his team. They share with us […]
The post Episode 029 – Larry and Janice Brown, parents of fallen SEAL Adam Brown appeared first on .
Mark’s ebook in the Kindle version will be on sale the next 4 days. Today you’ll see it start out at $0.99 (at 10 am central) and then will go up by $2.00 every 27 hours for the next 4 days. This is a very cheap option to read about an American Hero, especially as […]
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If you’ve read my book: “My Brother in Arms”, you’ve seen Matthew Glencoe’s name on the front cover. After I’d been working on the book for about a year, I realized help was needed if the book was ever going to be finished in reasonable time. As he helped organize the book, Matt and I […]
The post Episode 028 – Matthew Glencoe: The Makings of a Hero appeared first on .
Carter Henry’s new book “The Hero Workouts” features 100 hero WODs (workout of the day), with background on each fallen hero featured. Hero WODs are common in the Crossfit community. They typically add a level of difficulty that isn’t already there with normal WODs. If you’ve participated in a Hero WOD at a Crossfit box, […]
The post Episode 027 – Carter Henry, author of The Hero Workouts appeared first on .
“I would do BUD/S again,” Kyle Defoor told me today. I’ve been looking forward to this one a long time. Right after high school graduation, Kyle left for boot camp in Orlando. A few months later, he was in Coronado going thru BUD/S as an 18-year-old kid. We talk about growing up together in the […]
The post Episode 026 – former SEAL, sniper, Kyle Defoor appeared first on .
Blayne Smith is the Executive Director of Team RWB (red, white and blue), a nonprofit that has become one the nation’s fastest growing veteran service organizations by “enriching the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.” In this episode, Blayne discusses his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan […]
The post Episode 025 – Blayne Smith, Executive Director of Team RWB appeared first on .
Today we have the privilege to hear from one of the legends in the Combat Control field, Mr. Wayne Norrad. Many listeners probably never heard of Combat Control (CCT) before Patriot to the Core. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you’ll learn from Wayne that they are an integral part in most, if not all, […]
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Frank Jones married his high school sweetheart two weeks before WWII broke out. He felt he should do his part to serve our country, so he joined the Air Force. After washing out of pilot school for making six spins instead of two with his instructor, he became a bombardier. One year after being married, […]
The post Episode 023 – Frank Jones, B-17 Bombardier, POW appeared first on .
Dan Sheehan was fully prepared for combat. He’d been an officer in the Marines for six years. His father was a Navy pilot; his brother was a Marine. This is what he was meant to do. When it came to killing the enemy; no problem. If they pose a threat, kill them. If they try to […]
The post Episode 022 – Dan Sheehan, Marine, Cobra Pilot, author of After Action appeared first on .
J. Stanford (Stan) Staheli was only 18 years old when drafted. One year later he was a member of Patton’s Third Army, 4th Armored Division, liberating France from the Nazi’s. It was here that he was captured in 1944 during a German counter-attack near Rimsdorf, France. The Germans immediately said “The war’s over for you.” […]
The post Episode 021 – Stan Staheli, Patton’s Third Army, WWII POW appeared first on .
Here in Part 2 we find out more about Mike Spann’s final moments in Qala-i-Jangi fortress. At one point, Mike was interviewing American traitor John Walker Lindh. Lindh knew of the uprising that was planned and could have saved Mike’s life, but he never said a word. Instead, when questioned, he remained silent, leading to Spann being overrun […]
The post Episode 020, Part 2 – Johnny Spann, Father of Mike Spann – first American killed in combat in US invasion of Afghanistan appeared first on .
As a CIA officer, Mike Spann (Johnny Micheal) was in the fortress of Qala-i-Jangi, where Taliban prisoners were being held and questioned. Although these captives had given themselves up, their pledge of surrender was a lie. Mike was interviewing a group of extremists when hundreds of prisoners revolted in a planned uprising. Just before he was […]
The post Episode 020, Part 1 – Johnny Spann, Father of Mike Spann – first American killed in combat in US invasion of Afghanistan appeared first on .
In 1993, Larry Moores was leading a convoy to capture two Somali leaders when two Blackhawks were shot down. Then the mission turned into a desperate search and rescue mission. In what is known as “Black Hawk Down”, Larry describes his role in the battle that left 18 killed, over 80 wounded, and one missing […]
The post Episode 019 – Larry Moores, Army Ranger, Platoon Ldr in Battle of Mogadishu appeared first on .
On this special Christmas Day episode, we hear from a legend from WWII – Gail (Hal) Halvorsen. He has many names: Uncle Wiggly Wings, The Berlin Candy Bomber and The Chocolate Flier. He became popular for dropping candy from his plane to the children of Berlin, from 1948-49. His efforts gained support from many back […]
The post Episode 018 – Christmas from Heaven: Gail Halvorsen, The Candy Bomber appeared first on .
Will Thomas was 12 when the EXTORTION 17 tragedy helped him see that our freedom to compete in athletics and pursue other passions is made possible by the sacrifices of heroes. Grateful for their gift, Will began honoring America’s special operations community through a mission called Operation Hawkeye. Will is now a senior at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., and Operation Hawkeye has grown […]
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Marc Esposito’s vehicle was hit by an IED when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. After being in a wheelchair for almost five months, he was finally able to stand. By 2011, he competed in the Warrior Games and won Gold in pistol shooting. Shortly thereafter, rode his bike across the country, from the […]
The post Episode 016 – Marc Esposito, Wounded Warrior, CCT, biked across CA with Robin Williams appeared first on .
If you want to hear from someone who is a great example of the American Dream, this is it. Ronnie Rains grew up poor, was drafted to serve in Vietnam, and later in life started businesses that have allowed him to be very generous to many people today – specifically our military and their families. […]
The post Episode 015 – Ronnie Rains, owner of Granite Ranch, host of numerous Wounded Warrior Retreats appeared first on .
At age 56, Dan Hammond qualified for the US National Team to compete in the Duathlon World Championship in Aviles, Spain. He shares how he overcame injuries to quality for team and then found motivation to finish the big race, despite his body telling him to quit shortly after starting. He also started “American Profile” […]
The post Episode 014 – Dan Hammond, US Duathlon Team, Adventure Racer, Entrepreneur appeared first on .
Dennis Miller called Michael Yon the “Premier Combat Journalist”. You want captivating?? This is it. We cover topics from hand-to-hand combat, North Korean’s kidnapping Japanese and presumably Americans, the United States’ biggest threat, pedophilia among our mid-east enemies, WWII 442nd Infantry Regiment, war crimes, and much more. After getting out of the Army Special Forces, […]
The post Episode 013 – Michael Yon, War Correspondent, author appeared first on .
It’s been 10 years since Justin was shot in the head by a sniper in Iraq. The bullet entered behind his ear and exited thru his mouth. You can imagine the destruction that caused. Since his injury, Justin has continued his education, married his sweetheart (who took care of him during his recovery), written a […]
The post Episode 012 – Justin Constantine, Marine (ret), Attorney, Wounded Warrior, Author, Motivator appeared first on .
Today is six years since Mark Forester was killed by a terrorist in Afghanistan. This episode is just two brothers talking about the notification of Mark’s death, the Angel Flight, the Patriot Guard Riders, near death experiences, and life since. We also reminiscence about our little brother and why he was the warrior he became. […]
The post Episode 011 – SPECIAL: Joseph Forester on 6th Anniversary of Mark Forester’s death appeared first on .
This week Ryan introduces us to her brother Travis and why he inspired the creation and growth of their foundation. He was a 2004 graduate of the US Naval Academy and was KIA 29 April 2007. By following the mantra “If not, me then who…”, they’ve created an organization that empowers veterans and families of […]
The post Episode 010 – Ryan Manion Borek, President of the Travis Manion Foundation, Gold Star Sister appeared first on .
Rob is one of those guys who was angered by the attacks on 9/11 and quit his job and joined the military THAT DAY. Unfortunately, he couldn’t pass the swim test for CCT initially, but he kept working and got accepted. Even though his employer laughed at him for wanting to join, Rob has had […]
The post Episode 009 – Rob Gutierrez, Air Force Cross recipient, CCT, aka “The Combat Chassis” appeared first on .
I’ve been wanting to talk to Bart for a long time. He and his Special Operations team were some of the first men inserted into Afghanistan after 9/11. They were covert operators named Task Force Dagger that joined up with the Northern Alliance to defeat the Taliban. They rode on horseback to capture the city […]
The post Episode 008 – Bart Decker, Air Force CCT (ret), original Horse Soldier in Afghanistan appeared first on .
Bill and Evonne Williams have created a powerful memorial for fallen heroes since 9/11. Its legacy will be that these men and women will never be forgotten and that their names will be remembered and spoken. Their original exhibit has traveled around the state of Nebraska every week since 2011. In cooperation with Bellevue University, […]
The post Episode 007 – Bill Williams, creator of Remembering our Fallen and founder of Patriotic Productions appeared first on .
As a college baseball player, Will was mentally tough and physically strong. After graduating college, he joined the Army and became a member of Special Forces (aka Green Beret). He shares the challenges of going through the pipeline and how the Army gave him much more than he ever gave it. On his third deployment, […]
The post Episode 006 – Maj Will Lyles, US Army (ret), Green Beret, bilateral amputee, OIF & OEF Veteran appeared first on .
Melanie got into the publishing business after sharing copies of her journal to help people deal with grief and hardship. This was because she documented her trial of losing her seven-month old baby girl Brynn to SIDS. Seeing the hope it gave so many, she turned these writings into a book called “The Triumph Book”, […]
The post Episode 005 – Melanie Davis, author, founder of Triumph Press and Love Your Veterans appeared first on .
Phil has always been an artist and worked with many actors and entertainers in Hollywood and in the music business. But, after painting a portrait for a fallen friend’s dad, Phil realized how much healing it provided for those left behind to grieve. He realized his calling was to paint portraits of fallen heroes, so he […]
The post Episode 004 – Artist Phil Taylor of The American Fallen Soldiers Project appeared first on .
Mike Dillman has spent his life in service to our country and his fellow veterans. While flying home from Vietnam, Pres Nixon gave an order to remove their uniform because they were returning to a divided nation. Once in California and on his way to Oakland, his bus was literally stopped and rocked by protesters […]
The post Episode 003 – Pastor Mike Dillman, Vietnam veteran (Army), organizer of largest Memorial Day event on the west coast appeared first on .
This week I talk with my good friend Mike about his volunteer work. He’s a photography instructor by profession, but his most rewarding work is traveling the globe when massive natural disasters occur. He shares why this work is so fulfilling despite his life being threatened multiple times, details about his extended stays in Haiti, […]
The post Episode 002 – Michael Andrew, founder of Red Lightning, author, and natural disaster volunteer appeared first on .
In July 2011 Johnnie was 10 days into his second deployment to Afghanistan when his vehicle hit an IED. After applying two tourniquets to his legs and calling for air support and medical evacuation, he was eventually transferred to Brooks Army Medical Center for more surgeries, rehab and recovery. He’s now had 30 limb-salvaging surgeries […]
The post Episode 001 – Johnnie Yellock II, Air Force Combat Controller (ret), Operation Enduring Freedom veteran, wounded warrior appeared first on .