Hazard Ground: Recent Episodes
PodcastOne
Servicemembers from across the military, sharing their accounts of combat and survival. Hosted by sports talk radio host and Army veteran, Mark Zinno, this podcast brings you firsthand accounts of war, with a perspective you only get from someone who has lived through it. From WWII to Vietnam, Somalia, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, hear inspirational stories of service and resiliency from those who have fought on and off the battlefield!
Richard 'Dick' Stroud joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 during World War II, and he continued his service through the Korean War. Richard served as a U.S. Naval Aviator with seven years active duty plus ten years of service in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was selected to be a member of the U.S. Blue Angels – the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron — in 1951 after the Korean War but was released to inactive duty in August of 1951 because the Navy temporarily canceled the Blue Angels due to budget cuts by the U.S. Department of Defense. Richard began his career at the then-Lockheed Georgia Company in 1952 and retired at age 88 years young in 2015 (62 years and 4 months). At Richard’s retirement party, Shan Cooper (then the Marietta site vice president and general manager) said she was willing to tear up his resignation letter because of Richard’s commitment to excellence, honor, and respect – all of which had been shown and proven over and over throughout his years of service with the company.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Richard Stroud
Michael Cataldi joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January of 2003 and would go on to serve in the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as a Light Armored Vehicle Repairman from August of 2003 to February of 2007. When vehicles weren't broken, Michael deployed as a Dismount Scout (Infantry), Vehicle Driver, Vehicle Commander, and a Designated Marksman. Michael was honorably discharged in February 2007 as a Corporal.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Hazard Ground
Jason Roncoroni graduated from West Point and spent over 20 years in the United States Army reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served in multiple high level roles including battalion command, brigade executive officer and deputy director for strategic plans and policy. Jason also deployed his battalion to Afghanistan along with several other deployments in his career. It was those deployments that led Jason down a dark path that he knew he needed help to change course. Once he found the help he needed, he dedicated the next chapter of his life to helping others and preventing suicide in the veteran population. Jason eventually founded his own organization called “Ordinary Hero Coaching.” As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation, he provides executive coaching for current and future executive leaders. His specialty includes transition coaching for senior leaders and members of the special operations community and executive development for leaders in the corporate world. He is the best-selling author of the book Beyond the Military: A Leader's Handbook for Warrior Reintegration, and he has also created innovative, award winning programs designed to reframe the process of military transition to help leaders achieve a more empowering life beyond the military.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Jason Roncoroni
JJ Leonard was born in Dallas, Texas in 1972. JJ received a nomination to the US Naval Academy in 1991, and began his college career there on Induction Day. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1995. He then served as an intelligence officer in the US Marine Corps for five years, specializing in aviation intelligence and strategic targeting. Currently, J.J. is the managing director of the Dallas division at Stream Realty Partners and has more than 18 years of commercial real estate experience. J.J. serves on Carry The Load’s Operation Committee and lives in the Dallas area.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: JJ Leonard
Pamela Zembiec is the Gold Star Spouse of Major Douglas Zembiec, a.k.a. “The Lion of Fallujah.” Major Zembiec served in “the Ground Branch of the CIA's Special Activities Division in Iraq when he was killed by small arms fire while leading a raid in Sadr City, a neighborhood of Baghdad, on May 11, 2007. Zembiec was leading a unit of Iraqi forces he had helped train. Reports from fellow service members that were present when he was killed indicate that he had warned his troops to get down before doing so himself and was hit by enemy fire. The initial radio report indicated "five wounded and one martyred" with Zembiec having been killed and his men saved by his warning. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his actions that day. Pamela's first book, 'Selfless Beyond Service, A Story about the Husband, Son, and Father Behind the Lion of Fallujah', is a brutally honest account of her journey through her life, love, and loss with Major Zembiec. This book has since been adapted into a screenplay for development into a major motion picture. She is working on her second book, 'The Shattering, Why We Still Suffer Years After Their Death'.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Pamela Zembiec
This week's guest is Barclay Murphy, the wife of late Army Major, Ed Murphy. Ed spent 16 years in the U.S. Army; his last assignment was in Afghanistan in 2005. He was killed in a helicopter accident on April 6th, 2005. Since her husband's passing, Barclay has worked extensively with The Gold Star Wives of America to change laws that were written many years ago for survivors' benefits and spouses' benefits after their spouse was killed in combat. Barclay sits down with Mark to share Ed's story and her story, and the sacrifice of her family.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Barclay Murphy
Peter Strzok spent four years on active duty in the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Peter served in the FBI from 1996 to 2018, rising to the deputy of its Counterintelligence Division. During his career, Mr. Strzok worked around the world against national security threats. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J Trump, and co-host of the Cleanup On Aisle 45 podcast. Strzok is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, from which he holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in international affairs.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Pete Strzok
Chris Irwin is a retired Navy SEAL Commander who suffered from severe mental and physical chronic illness after his time in the military. Through an extensive journey of self-discovery, he overcame these conditions and now teaches mind fitness through his brand, RARE SENSE. He publishes content through Substack, including weekly training, monthly articles, and podcast episodes. His work is changing the paradigm and stigma around mental health and human performance. Chris is also a singer/songwriter whose original works include the score and song “Sacrifice” from the film Murph: The Protector about Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient Michael Murphy. Both made the shortlist for the 86th (2013) Annual Academy Awards in the categories of “Best Original Score” and “Best Original Song,” respectively.
https://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Chris Irwin
Matt Payne spent over 9 years in the United States Air Force as a Combat Controller and is now the Founder of Inner Circle Solutions. He is a Global Leader with 30 years of experience identifying and managing security risks for Fortune 500 companies. Matt is keenly interested in emerging trends in the corporate sector and seeks to find and implement innovative processes, controls, and tools to help reduce risk for companies. Career highlights include being a retired USAF 24th Special Tactics Squadron (Joint Special Operations Command) Combat Controller, Retired Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer, and Former Chief Security Officer (financial, technology, entertainment, and engineering).
https://1innercircle.com/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Matt Payne
After graduating high school in 1990, Darrell Utt joined the U.S. Army. During his service, Darrell was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with 'Valor' for heroic actions and leadership during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq in 2006. He was also awarded four Bronze Star Medals for achievement and service in Iraq. As a Special Forces Team Sergeant, his Operational Detachment Alpha was recognized and awarded the 2006 Larry Thorne Award for best Operational Detachment in 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Master Sergeant Darrell Utt retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces in January of 2017. In February 2022, the President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation selected Darrell Utt to be the Chief of Business Operations.
https://mohmuseum.org/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Darrell Utt
James Bruton is a former U.S. Army Green Beret, retired Lieutenant Colonel, who spent 28 years in the Army between Active Duty and Reserves. James has multiple deployments to Southeast Asia, including a two year stint in Vietnam, as well into Thailand and worked a secret covert mission in Laos with the Lao Army, training and advising them.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: James Bruton
Byron Rodgers is a dedicated Executive Protection Agent, Video Blogger, Published Author, and Veteran with a decade of private security experience across over 60 countries. A former US Marine Corps infantry Squad Leader with two deployments to Iraq, Byron transitioned seamlessly to civilian life, becoming an Executive Protection Agent and authoring "Finding Meaning After the Military." Byron serves as CEO of Bravo Research Group, a boutique private security firm, and founded Protector Nation, a training company for first responders, private security professionals, and civilians. He operates The League of Executive Protection Specialists, an executive protection school and training organization, and consults for high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Byron Rodgers
Mark “Matz” Matzeldelaflor grew up exploring the wilderness in the backwoods of New Hampshire, camping, hiking through the mountains, and climbing trees until the weekend after high school graduation when he joined the Navy to become a SEAL. He served in combat deployments to Baghdad and Ramadi, Iraq, and trained the West Coast SEAL Teams in combat skills before leaving active duty service in 2009. Mark would go on to co-found a fintech startup in the foreign currency space, earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from San Diego State University, and founded Guardian Grange in October of 2020.
https://www.guardiangrange.org/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Mark Matzeldelaflor
Former Green Beret Nate Boyer returns this week to the podcast with a specific purpose: to discuss the film that he wrote, directed and starred in titled "MVP." Boyer co-founded his non-profit MVP (Merging Vets & Players) with Jay Glazer of FOX Sports to bring together combat veterans and former professional athletes as they both share a bond of the tough transition when the uniform comes off. The movie takes us through the story of how Merging Vets & Players got started and is based on factual events. The most poignant part of the film are the emotions that many vets are struggling with when it comes to mental health and PTSD. Boyer and his team really do a great job bringing those feelings to life and making them real for the audience. "MVP" is now available on most streaming platforms including Amazon Prime and Hulu. Nate Boyer has lived anything but an ordinary life. Primarily because he’s a man who knows how to set goals and achieve them. Not just any goals either; we’re talking big goals. In early 2005, after working as a volunteer at refugee camps in Africa, he came back to the US and joined the Army, becoming a Green Beret in 2006. After serving in combat as a Green Beret, he decided to work toward achieving another dream of his: playing professional football. An unlikely candidate, Nate made the University of Texas Longhorn football team as a walk-on safety. Following graduation, he then went on to join the Seattle Seahawks as a long snapper. Nate Boyer knows what it means to follow your dreams, even if that means swimming against the current. He knows what it means to rise up to a challenge and ultimately succeed. And now, he’s using his own experiences to help other dreamers do the same!
https://vetsandplayers.org/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Nate Boyer
David Truesdale has worked very closely with military members and military units, spending about 27 years in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. David had combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as deployments around the world; working in Counter Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. At certain points in his career, David was in charge of military troops and military units. David is also the co-founder of the Warrior Spirit Project, which provides trauma-informed yoga and meditation to Veterans and First Responders.
https://warriorspiritproject.org/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: David Truesdale
Tomas Cruz served in the U.S. Army for over 25 years and deployed to Kosovo in 1999 as well as to Iraq and Jordan over his military career. Tomas claims he was a soldier that thought he could take care of everything on his own and had all the answers until it all came crashing down on November 3rd 2010, the day that changed his life. He felt he could not handle the pressure of doing everything on his own and "One" person stopped him from not being able to tell his story today. Now, Tomas focuses on being the "One" for someone else to help others not go through what he went through. He now works with incarcerated Veterans and Civilians to help get their lives back on track after they come out of prison.
https://onecommunityusa.org/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Tomas Cruz
Mary Tobin is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the New York Institute of Technology. Mary is a proud combat Veteran, having served 10 years in the United States Army as a communications officer, including two combat tours in Iraq. She currently serves in the Biden-Harris administration as the Senior Advisor for Wounded Warrior, Veteran, and Military Family Initiatives at AmeriCorps.
https://americorps.gov/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Mary Tobin
Keith Parry is a native of Palmerton, Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1989, spending 30 years in the military. Keith spent the latter half of his career in the special operations community within the Marine Corps. He has seven deployments in the War on Terror and four additional deployments, all overseas. Keith currently works for the state of Texas and is an ambassador on The Honor Foundation.
honor.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Keith Parry
Amy Forsythe started her military career as an enlisted Marine Combat Correspondent working as a military journalist while on active duty and in the Marines Reserves before becoming a Navy Reserve Public Officer in 2010. Amy served five combat tours over the past 20 years and won many awards for her reporting while deployed as she covered combat operations and military exercises in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Guam, Sri Lanka, Malaysia Romania, and Poland. She recently released her first book titled, "Heroes Live Here: A Tribute to Camp Pendleton Marines Since 9/11" that chronicles the rich history of the sprawling base and showcases the tributes honoring those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. heroeslivehere.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: shoutoutsocal.com
Earl Porter joined the military at the age of 17 as a 4-year Army ROTC scholar and would go on to spend 10 total years in the military. Earl is a former Army captain and was also a Ranger, spending time in both active duty and the guard. During his service, Earl had deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Post-military career, Earl got his law degree, works in commercial real estate and also established a non-profit organization called 'Something Outta Nothing', a project of the non-profit toughest kids to help raise support and create awareness about veteran suicide.
https://www.son.vet/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Earl Porter
Jaime Martinez spent 26 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a Lt. Colonel, spending time on both the enlisted and the officer side. Jaime had multiple combat deployments including Panama, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He was also part of the federal force called up to the L.A. riots in the early 90s. Jaime also worked on the personal staff of both Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Jaime is also a double cancer survivor and is currently an environmental law attorney. Lastly, Jaime has been putting together veteran advocacy groups that involve alpacas.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Jaime Martinez
Fred Galvin served twenty-seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps, beginning as a seventeen-year-old who rose from the enlisted ranks to become an officer. During his time in the Marines, Fred served overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. Following his retirement, he became a business entrepreneur, nonprofit executive director aiding families of service members killed in action, and a consultant to the Marine Corps, coordinating activities in the areas of cyberspace, electronic warfare, and psychological operations. Fred is also the author of A Few Bad Men, a story about how his unit in Afghanistan was ambushed and then accused of killing Afghan civilians. He was eventually exonerated but still ran into trouble with the Marine Corps moving forward.
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Few-Bad-Men/Fred-Galvin-USMC-(Ret-)/9781637584132
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Post Hill Press
Jim McDonough spent 26 years in the United States Army and retired as a Colonel. Jim was originally commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, Class 1-82 on March 11th, 1982. He had combat deployments in both the Gulf War and the invasion in Iraq. In Jim's post military career, he was the Chief Executive Officer of the Veteran's Outreach Center and he is currently the CEO of The Headstrong Project, one of the most notable veteran organizations around.
theheadstrongproject.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Jim McDonough
Sergeant Major (ret) Sarita Dyer served in the U.S. Army for nearly three decades of faithful service to our country. Sarita served in a multitude of leadership positions across the globe in a productive and exciting military career. She is a two-time Bronze Star Award combat veteran and achieved the highest enlisted rank of Sergeant Major with culminating assignments serving as a Congressional Fellow for U.S. Senator of New York, SEN Kristin Gillibrand and a Legislative Liaison for Secretary of the U.S. Army. Sarita currently resides with her husband, CSM (ret) Kerry Dyer, in south metropolitan Atlanta, GA where she continues to serve her community as a General Election 2022 Nominated Candidate for County Commissioner.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Sarita Dyer
Alan C. Mack is a Master Aviator with more than 6700 hours of flight time, of which over 3200 were flown with Night Vision Goggles. Alan C. Mack's desire to see the world as a U.S. Army helicopter mechanic took him to West Texas, the Republic of Korea, and the Federal Republic of Germany before attending Warrant Officer flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Alan took part in Operation Desert Shield as a co-pilot and several months later, he flew combat missions in the lead aircraft penetrating deep into Iraq. Alan's adventure includes becoming a Pilot-in-command, a role as the Night Vision Goggle Unit Trainer, and a call into the special operations community as an MH-47 pilot. With his military career approaching thirty-six years, Alan elected to retire and join public service.
https://alancmack.com/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Alan Mack
Jaymes Poling grew up in Warren, Ohio and enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina as an infantryman. During his eight years with the division, he spent three years fighting in Afghanistan as a Machine Gunner and Squad Leader. In May 2018, Jaymes earned a finance degree at John Carroll University. He would go on to draw upon that knowledge and his experience in the armed forces in managing Modern Warrior's nonprofit operations and business planning. His focus now: sharing his journey with members of the military community and partnering with organizations to help veterans find their own peace after war.
https://www.modernwarriorlive.org/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Jaymes Poling
After graduating college in 2004, Jason Wood was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and served seven years of active duty. During that time, he completed three combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2011, Jason completed his service in the Army and began working as a Department of Defense contractor. After his military service, Jason discovered that signing up for endurance challenges gave him specific goals to plan for and noticed that his confidence in building physical and mental fitness were translating into every area of his life.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Jason Wood
LTC (R) Dave Taylor enlisted in 1992 and served 24 years in the U.S. Army while deploying eight times in support of the Global War of Terror. After graduating from West Virginia University, Dave received his commission as an Infantry Officer spending most of his career with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Special Operations Command, and finished his career with what he calls one of the most humbling and honorable assignments with The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. After retiring from the Army, Dave completed his master's degree in Leadership from Georgetown University and is currently the CEO and Co-Owner of LDR Leadership.
https://www.ldrleadership.com/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Dave Taylor
Aaron Futrell is a retired Army Staff Sergeant who joined the U.S. Army right after high school in 2000 where he attended basic training in Fort Jackson, SC. Aaron spent over 22 years both in active duty and in the Ohio National Guard. He has three total deployments overseas including his final deployment to Iraq in January 2020 where he sustained a traumatic brain injury during the Iranin's ballistic missile strike on Al Asad Airbase.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Aaron Futrell
A Junior in high school on 9/11, Josiah Guthland made the decision to join the military in the weeks following the attacks on his country. Josiah enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2003, spent 6 years in the Army, and served 2 combat deployments in Iraq as a Combat Engineer. He is currently the Director of Veteran and Military Services at the University of Baltimore.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Josiah Guthland
Alex Plitsas spent eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves, in a post-9/11 world. Alex had three different deployments overseas as a soldier, a contractor, and as a DA civilian. He spent time working with the Secretary of Defense and also helped evacuate Afghans from Afghanistan as part of Digital Dunkirk. Alex currently works in the tech industry in the civilian sector.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Alex Plitsas
Tim Fedrick spent 31 years in the U.S. Navy with 28 of those years inside the U.S. Navy SEALs and inside Naval special warfare. Tim retired from service as a Lieutenant Commander and he is now an Executive Producer and Host for JUL-TV "Veterans in Transition". Tim is also the ambassador of the organization, Warriors & Whiskey Club.
https://warriorsandwhiskey.com/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Tim Fedrick
Stephanie Gattas is a United States Navy Veteran who served two overseas tours on the USS Simon Lake. Stephanie is both a Gulf War and Post 911 Veteran. After service, Stephanie followed her passion of giving back to the military community and its veterans and founded The Pink Berets in 2015. The Pink Berets is an organization that assists women of the U.S. Armed Forces who struggle with the invisible wounds of war such as PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma.
https://thepinkberets.org/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Stephanie Gattas
Jason Kander is a former U.S. Army Captain who spent a little over 8 years in the military and had one deployment in the Military intelligence field overseas. Following his military service, Jason turned to American politics and was on his way to becoming Mayor of his hometown of Kansas City. Jason pulled out of the race right before the election to seek help for his PTSD. Focusing on his PTSD and mental health, Jason Kander has written the book, Invisible Storm: A Soldier's Memoir of Politics and PTSD. Invisible Storm is now available on Amazon, Google, Apple, B&N, Books-A-Million, Bookshop, and more!
For more information on how and where to purchase the book, please visit: jasonkander.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Jason Kander
MAJ Tony Mayne served 21 years in the U.S. Army and deployed eight times in support of the Global War of Terror. After graduating from The Ohio State University in 1998, Tony enlisted as an infantryman and as a member of the 3rd Ranger Battalion, he participated in the initial combat airborne operation into Afghanistan on October 19th, 2001. Of Tony's awards and decorations, none is more important to him than his 3rd Ranger Battalion combat unit patch and the Ranger tab. Tony is the CEO and Founder of Ranger for Life.
https://rangerforlife.com/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Tony Mayne
Samir Patel is a West Point Graduate who served as an Army officer with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is currently a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve. Sami Patel is also the owner of various real estate assets including hotels, multifamily, and SFR. He bought his first hotel at the age of 19 years old. Samir is a Managing Partner of Trophy Point Investment Group LLC as he leads a team of five people, including two equity partners.
www.TrophyPointInvestment.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Samir Patel
Mark Franklin is a retired U.S. Army Colonel with 30 years of service that included multiple stations and deployments overseas, including Pakistan. After service, Mark became a Veteran advocate for ZERO - The End of Prostate Cancer as he was diagnosed with cancer shortly before he retired from the Army. He speaks about his experiences with prostate cancer and helps raise awareness among the Veteran population. Early detection of prostate cancer saves lives.
ZeroCancer.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Mark Franklin
Jake Harriman graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy and served seven and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Platoon Commander in both the Infantry and Force Recon. During his military service, Jake led four operational deployments, including two combat tours in Iraq. Following his service, Jake enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, founded Nuru International, and founded More Perfect Union where he also serves as the CEO.
www.mpu.us
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Jake Harriman
Dario DiBattista served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 2001 to 2007 with a couple of deployments overseas. Dario would later become a distinguished graduate of the John Hopkins University M.A. in Writing Program. He is the editor of the anthology 'Retire the Colors: Veterans & Civilians on Iraq & Afghanistan'. His work has appeared in the Washingtonian, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and many other publications. Dario is currently working on a screenplay about a Marine's return home from war.
http://www.dariodibattista.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Dario DiBattista
Lucy Del Gaudio served in the US Army from 1990 to 1998, including service in support of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. Lucy is currently the Chief Operations Officer for the Pink Berets, an organization that specializes in bringing counseling, treatment, and resources to female veterans suffering from PTSD and military sexual trauma. Lucy is one of the grassroots individuals that opened up the investigation into the death of Specialist Vanessa Guillen at Fort Hood.
https://thepinkberets.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Lucy Del Gaudio
Noel Huerta served in the United States Marine Corps from 2007 to 2011. Noel was deployed twice during Operation Freedom and was awarded the Purple Heart and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Award after being wounded in combat. After his military service, Noel attended a private education institution and earned both his Bachelors in Computer Science and Masters in Business Administration. Noel was instrumental in the formation of MVP and is currently the Chief Operating Officer of MVP.
https://vetsandplayers.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Noel Huerta
Denton Knapp is a Wyoming native with pioneer roots dating back four-generations in Campbell County. He grew up in Gillette, graduated from Campbell County High School in 1983, and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point. He graduated in 1987 and was commissioned as an Army Infantry Officer. He deployed to combat 3 times for Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq 2002-3 and 2005-6) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan 2012-13) and was awarded the Legion of Merit and two Bronze Star Medals (one with Valor). Knapp led programs at the highest levels of the Army, US Special Operations Command, the Pentagon and NATO in a multi-national command. He retired honorably as a Colonel in 2017, serving active duty for over three decades. Since then, Knapp has been involved in a number of endeavors including running for House of Representatives for Wyoming.
https://dentonknapp.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Denton Knapp
Brynt Parmeter served nearly 25 years as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army rising to the rank of colonel. During his time in uniform, he served in a wide variety of operational positions to include 39 months in Iraq between 2004 and 2009 where he earned the Combat Infantry Badge and three bronze star medals. After leaving the Army, Brynt co-founded Call Sign Coffee with his wife Lisa, an e-commerce coffee roasting company in San Jose, CA. Brynt currently is Walmart's Military and Veteran Affairs Director and has built an innovative platform called "Find a Future". He also serves the Secretary of the Army as a Civilian Aide, first as the CASA for Silicon Valley and now for NW Arkansas.
Wal-Mar's Find a Future Program - https://walmartfindafuture.com Call Sign Coffee Company - https://callsigncoffee.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Brynt Parmeter
At 17 Wendell Affield joined the U.S. Navy and was sent to Vietnam. A lot happened in a 3 year time span, but that the end of that period, he was injured during an ambush while driving a river patrol boat. He was medevaced home and ventured into other projects. He detailed his military experience in a memoir, "Muddy Jungle Rivers." As an author, researcher, and memoirist, Wendell writes historical narratives that offer an honest yet sympathetic view of what life was like for those suffering from mental illness, abuse, alcoholism, and undiagnosed PTSD.
https://www.amazon.com/Muddy-Jungle-Rivers-Wendell-Affield-ebook/dp/B007NLMIF4
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Wendell Affield
Larry was an Army combat veteran who had the unique experience of serving with the Ranger Regiment. He was involved in an operation in Somalia which has been documented in print and film as, "Black Hawk Down". Since transitioning out of the Army, he has taken on more projects working with Ranger heroes and also enjoys his time at Three Rangers Whiskey.
https://threerangers.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Larry Moores
Will Huff served for over 23 years in the U.S. Army as an Army Officer. He achieved the rank of Colonel and served fifty-four months deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to his military accolades, Will is a graduate of Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and the National War College in Washington, D.C. Following his Army career, Will worked in the Towson University Athletic Department and spent the last three years as Deputy Athletic Director-External Operations. Will joined Soldiers to Sidelines in June 2020 and is now the Director of Partnership for the 501c.3 supporting Veterans, Service Members, and Military Spouses into sport coaching.
https://soldierstosidelines.org/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Will Huff
Phyllis Wilson served 37 years in the U.S. Army as Military Intelligence traveling the globe. She served with Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to her military accolades, Wilson is also a Registered Nurse and holds two Masters degrees. After retiring from the military, she has continued to be a pillar of strength for women, both in and out of the military. She currently serves as President of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation that sits in front of Arlington National Cemetery – the only major national memorial honoring the 3 Million women who have defended America from the Revolutionary War to today.
www.womensmemorial.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Phyllis Wilson
Andi Ward joined the military after a year in college in an effort to turn her life around and escape a troubled childhood. She became a construction electrician with the US Navy Seabees. Less than a month after completing 'A' school, Andi was deployed to join her battalion NMCB 3 in Ramadi, Iraq. In 2009 Andi deployed to Djibouti, Africa, to assist with humanitarian missions in the region. She was part of Operation Natural Fire which brought together five African Nations for training exercises in Uganda. Andi had a rough transition out of the military, which led her to her current path as the Director of Training and Resources for the nonprofit Merging Vets and Players. MVP is a nonprofit that brings together Combat Veterans and Former Professional Athletes to assist with transition and give them a team again after the uniform comes off.
https://vetsandplayers.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Andi Ward
Tom Young served in the Air National Guard for more than 20 years. During that time, he served in Afghanistan and Iraq and also flew in combat missions to Bosnia and Kosovo to name a couple. He flew to almost 40 countries and logged nearly five thousand hours as a flight engineer on the C-5 Galaxy and the C-130 Hercules. Young retired in 2013 and has spent nearly the last ten years continuing his passion for writing for the Associated Press as well as penning several novels. His latest novel Red Burning Sky is a historical spy thriller based on the real-life mission Operation Halyard and is available now!
tomyoungbooks.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Tom Young
When Denver Morris was just in 7th grade, his grandfather expressed his wish that Denver join the Marine and let them make a man out of him. Two months after turning 18, he started the process. Although he knew he would honor his grandfather's wish, Denver's path to the Marines was a bumpy one as he was often getting in trouble in high school. This carried over to his military service. After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, he was more interested in partying than being given instructions. He received an Honorable Discharge, but the problems continued. Denver shares his story of identity struggles and forgiveness.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Denver Morris
Jason Riley enlisted in the U.S. Army right out of high school, going to the 82nd Airborne Division. His first tour to Korea lasted longer than expected due to the Gulf War. When he returned, he only had a limited time left on his contract, so he became a gunner on a UH-60. He left the Army to go to school in Ohio, but in 1993 enlisted in the New Mexico National Guard where he served 20 more years. For more than a decade, Riley has been addressing the issue of the award process and equalizing the treatment of the Guard.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Jason Riley
John Pray's father was a career Army officer who served during WWII where he survived the Bataan Death March and three and a half years as a POW. John's father later reflected on how hard it must have been on his mother during all of his years of service. His example and sentiment were driving forces in John's future. Pray joined the United States Air Force and retired after serving 27 years in a variety of roles including Director of the White House Situation Room. After retirement, Pray didn't stop serving military families. In May 2015, he is the acting President/CEO of Operation Homefront whose mission is to help build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive, not simply struggle to get by, in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.
https://operationhomefront.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: John Pray
Bradley Walker is a self- suggestion through our website coming on to tell his journey to the military. He grew up in a small town playing football. In his high school years, he realized he was headed in the wrong direction with the wrong crowd and needed to make a change. He turned to the military even though he didn't have any family members in the military or much support in his decision. Although his initial training had him second guessing his decision, he made it through training, became a CAV scout and later deployed to Iraq.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Bradley Walker
Patrick Dossett is a graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy and SEAL training where he later became an officer. He spent 9 years in service before leaving the military and taking on the Wharton School of Business where he became a Tillman Scholar. Afterwards, Dossett spent some time at Google and also co-founded the Tip of the Spear foundation, a non-profit that serves the special operations community. His current position is the President/CEO of Madefor, a company that offers learning tools curated by experts in the fields of neuroscience, positive psychology and health and wellness. Madefor is free to the military community and helps all learn how to live better.
https://getmadefor.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Patrick Dossett
Jason Gardner knew from the early age of 7 that he would enter the military. That journey took him to the U.S. Navy where he spent nearly three decades with the SEAL team with nine deployments across the globe. Gardner brings perspective from all aspects of leadership from the front lines as a SEAL sniper to a SEAL Team Five Command Master Chief and now, in retirement, he serves as a leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor at Echelon Front.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Jason Gardner
Michael Denehy served in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret and deployed 7 times. The first face he encountered off the plane of his first deployment was none other than Mark Zinno. Denehy retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2017 and went into small business ownership. He owned Chattabrewchee brewery that won several awards. Although Denehy owned the brewery, he doesn't drink alcohol anymore and is very open about his personal struggles to overcome alcoholism. Currently, he serves as Director of Communications for the National Infantry Museum Foundation, which was named USA Today's Best Free Museum of 2020.
Nationalinfantrymuseum.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Michael Denehy
Daniel Kearney grew up as an Army brat but now calls Georgia home. After earning a Marketing degree, Kearney commissioned in 2002 as a Second Lieutenant. In his 19 years of service, he has 13 combat deployments including one in the well-known Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. Colonel Kearney continues his service and, at the time of this recording, serves as the Director of Future Operations an AI-Enabled Corps efforts known as PROJECT RIDGWAY.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Colonel Daniel Kearney
John Wayne Troxell enlisted in the U.S. Army as an armored reconnaissance specialist in 1982 and later served on 5 combat deployments including 2 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Troxell capped off his military career by serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Trump administration. Although his 37 years of service ended in 2020, he's continued to share his stories and experiences.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: U.S. Army/ John Troxell
Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson both served in the U.S. Navy, Andrews on a fast-attack submarine and Wilson as a Combat Surgeon with the U.S. Marines and Navy SEALs through multiple deployments. After serving, both have moved on to writing military thrillers. Their latest endeavor, Sons of Valor, is the first book in their new Tier One series, a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Best-selling series. https://www.andrews-wilson.com/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Colonel John "Coke" Blocher received his commission from the Air Force Academy in 1999. He is a senior pilot with more than 1500 flying hours in the A/OA-10 "Warthog" and the AT-38 as an instructor pilot. Blocher was on the ground with the U.S. Army on March 20th as they breached the berm into Iraq, fought battles in Tallil, Al Kifl, Karbala and Baghdad. Just one month later for Operation Monty, Blocher's story intersects with our guests from Ep. 218, Greg "Billy Bob" Thornton and Raymond "Donk" Strasburger. While Billy Bob and Donk were fighter pilots in the air, Coke was the one on the ground yelling through the radio. Talking about his experience now only further lends itself to the resiliency he's shown throughout his career.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: John Blocher
Command Chief Master Sergeant William Markham had a 30 year career in the Air Force starting in 1986. During that time he directed several airstrikes and in 2001, he was the first Airman in Afghanistan as a Combat Controller attached to "Triple Nickel" which he later received a silver star for actions of gallantry. After his retirement, Markham continued to serve his community first with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and then later co-founded Project OVAT (One Vet @ a Time) that consists of a nationwide network of representatives that help Veterans with anything their needs.
https://projectovat.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Ryan Robicheaux grew up in Arkansas where he earned his Pilot's license in high school. After witnessing the tragedy of 9/11, Robicheaux enlisted in the Army National Guard and after college became Army active duty where he attended Warrant Officer Candidate School. He was awarded a slot to fly the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. Robicheaux deployed twice to Afghanistan and has translated his experiences into "Scouts Out!", his memoir.
https://www.scoutsoutbook.com/
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: https://www.ScoutsOutBook.com
Gregg F. Martin, PhD, Major General, US Army (Retired), served on active duty for 36 years, until May 2015. He is a combat veteran, Bipolar Survivor, Airborne-Ranger-Engineer qualified soldier, and Army Strategist. He commanded an engineer company, battalion, the 130th Engineer Brigade in combat during the first year of the Iraq War in 2003-04, including the attack from Kuwait, up the Euphrates River Valley, to Baghdad and beyond. Martin is a strong advocate for destigmatizing seeking help for mental illness, and supporting more scientific research around bi-polar disorder and other mental illnesses.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: U.S. Army
Kevin Haley joined the Army at 21-years-old as Military Police. His position quickly escalated to Protective Services Detachment (PSD). His work included guarding USAREUR HQ and the USAREUR 4 Star General's house. In addition, Haley was asked by General David McKiernan to deploy to Afghanistan as his PSD mission leader from 2008 to 2009.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
veterans #army #afghanistan #inspiration #militarypolice #PTSD #history #service #hazardground #podcast
Timothy Grovenburg is a U.S. Army Veteran who joined the Army in 2017 and became part of the 101st Airborne Division. He relatively quickly deployed to Erbil, Iraq for a 9-month tour where he experienced moments of uncertainty. All of that time encouraged him to start Easy Company Outfitters, a boutique apparel brand delivering premium vintage Hawaiian shirts and beach lifestyle apparel. The company is known for producing 100% American made products that help support surf therapy programs for Veterans with PTSD.
https://easycompanyoutfitters.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Photo Credit: Easy Company Outfitters
veterans #army #iraq #inspiration #entrepreneur #PTSD #history #service #hazardground #podcast
Mike Lamonica served 24 years in the Air Force as a Combat Controller (CCT). It was more than just a job for him - it was what he was built for. The passion he had for the job is something you still hear in his voice today. Over the course of his career - which spanned from the first Gulf War up to 2011 - he executed multiple combat jumps and played key roles in pivotal operations throughout the Global War on Terror. It's a career that not only carries a rich history with it, but would easily inspire the next generation of CCT operators preparing for the next moment their nation calls. Lamonica is one of the most respected operators in the CCT community, and it's clear why, when you hear his story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.combatcontrol.team
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Partly inspired by his grandfather’s stories of combat and survival from WWII, David Bellavia decided to enlist as an Army Infantryman. It was pre-9/11, and the world was relatively quiet. Fast forward to the early days of OIF, and Bellavia is now in the thick of it, experiencing combat like his grandfather had. One of those battles - taking place in Fallujah on November 10, 2004 - would ultimately lead to Bellavia receiving the Medal of Honor, for his actions wiping out an enemy squad element. It’s an incredible story, and one Bellavia tells with humility and reverence. Hear it now on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.duty1st.com | "House to House: A Soldier's Memoir"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Laura Nicholson is a British Army Air Corps aviator who has flown multiple combat tours in Afghanistan. Her bravery under fire while flying Chinooks during one of those deployments earned her the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). During the operation for which she was awarded the DFC, she not only braved Taliban rockets to save a U.S. Marine, but she also rescued a wounded Afghan mother caught in the cross-fire. She entered the firefight twice to make the rescues. Laura's story is amazing, and inspiring - not for just her actions in combat, but also for how she got there. Hear her powerful story of combat and survival on our latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Ray McPadden is a former Army Ranger, serving with 2nd Battalion/75th Ranger Regiment. Inspired to serve after 9/11, he began his time in the Army as an Infantry Officer with the 10th Mountain Division. Between Iraq and Afghanistan, he served four combat deployments, spending nearly two years fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border during one of those tours. In fact, his unit established the first American foothold in the notorious Korengal Valley. In his relatively short time in the Army, Ray experienced the essence of combat and survival in the Infantry and in Special Operations. He's even reflected on it in two books he's written - one a memoir and the other, a war novel. Hear his powerful story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.raymcpadden.com | "And the Whole Mountain Burned" | "We March at Midnight"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Sara Wilkinson is the wife of Navy SEAL, Chad Wilkinson. After 21 years of service, Chad took his own life - the result of the compounding effects of blast wave injury, TBI, and PTSD. He left behind Sara and their two teenage children. Sara's story is one of triumph, heartbreak, resilience, and strength - the strength that Sara not only displayed as the spouse of a Navy SEAL who was deployed constantly, but also the strength she displays to this day, sharing her and Chad's story. We can't thank Sara enough for sharing it with us, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND.
www.chad1000x.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Dick Thompson is a Vietnam combat veteran and Green Beret. When he started his military career, he volunteered for the most dangerous path he could take, ending up in Vietnam with MACV-SOG, where he served as a Team Leader. With MACV-SOG he conducted covert unconventional warfare operations, never knowing if he and/or his entire team would return to base once they left the wire. It was a process that would galvanize him into a military leader who served across multiple high-profile organizations for 21 years before retiring. Thompson took those leadership lessons and subsequent skills to the private sector, where he continues to run High Performing Systems, Inc., an international management, consulting, and training firm with a focus on maximizing leadership potential. Hear his inspiring story of combat, survival, and beyond on our latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.hpsys.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
It's not often that we get someone from the AC-130 community on the podcast, but this time we were lucky enough to get someone who is a bit of an establishment in the community. Bill Walter is a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant and former AC-130 Gunner. He has played key roles in the AC-130 world for decades. In this episode he talks about his impact on that world from the early days and Operation EAGLE CLAW to the Global War on Terror. Bill is a member of the Air Commando Hall of Fame and SOCOM Hall of Fame. He is also currently writing the definitive history of the AC-130. Hear his complete story on our latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
This episode is all about leadership - leadership in combat, in government, and in business. Tommy Sowers is a former Green Beret who is also a multi-sector leader in the political, military, government, academia, and entrepreneurial worlds. He and Mark also worked together during Mark's first deployment to Iraq. Following multiple Iraq combat deployments as a Green Beret, Tommy went on to become the youngest Senate-confirmed Asst. Secretary at the VA as well as serve as the senior advisor to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and much more! If you're looking for some motivation, this is an episode you don't want to miss!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Growing up on a farm in Kentucky, Luke Coffey had an urge from a young age to join the Infantry, turning the agrarian landscape into a makeshift battlefield whenever he could. After high school and a short attempt at college, he made joining the Infantry a reality. He would see two combat deployments in one relatively short enlistment - one to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. His Afghanistan deployment, the most dangerous of the two, would take him to the Panjwai District of Afghanistan, a Taliban stronghold, where everyday life was most certainly about combat and survival. It was there he would form a strong bond with Curtis Grace (Episode 233), who he would eventually start the "The Panjwai Podcast" with after leaving the Army and pursuing a Masters degree in Chinese Literature. Hear his powerful story of combat, survival, and more on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.thepanjwaipodcast.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
From an early age, it was Tyler Mendelson's dream to become a United States Marine. His father was a Marine, and he wanted to serve his country after 9/11. He also grew up about an hour and a half from NYC, and his father had helped with the World Trade Center recovery effort, so the attacks hit extra close to home. His second dream was to become a filmmaker, partly so he could tell other veterans' stories, and just make great films in the process. His first major short film, "The Hun" - a drama set in the trenches of WWI - has won several awards. He most recently won the Victory The Podcast's 3-Minute Film Festival, having been chosen by "Entourage" creator, screenwriter, and film and TV director, Doug Ellin as the winner for Best Drama. Hear Tyler's inspiring story of combat, survival, and more on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.tylermendelsonfilm.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Rick Dickson's initial combat deployment was to Diyala Province, Iraq in 2006. He spent 15 months there with his unit, when violence in the country was reaching an all-time high. It was combat and survival in the truest sense. Following that deployment he would go on to become an Armor Officer through the Army's Green to Gold program, and eventually transition to Public Affairs, where he still serves today on Active Duty. Rick shares his experiences from that long deployment in 2006, as well as his experience working in the PAO world and all that comes with the military's existence in social and mass media. Hear his story of combat, survival, and more on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
If ever there was a warning shot for the detrimental effects of long-term, sustained combat operations on soldiers in modern warfare, Curtis Grace's deployment to Afghanistan in 2012 fits the bill pretty well. In this episode, Grace talks about that greuling deployment to the Panjwai District of Afghanistan, a Taliban stronghold. A deployment that dovetails with the Panjwai Massacre, orchestrated by U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales in March of 2012. Grace also discusses his transition from grunt to Apache pilot, and eventually flying attack helicopters in Afghanistan, supporting missions he once executed as an Infantryman. Curtis is now working to chronicle the time spent by U.S. forces fighting in Panjwai with a friend and fellow combat vet, through their podcast, "The Panjwai Podcast". Hear his powerful story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.thepanjwaipodcast.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Kim "Rooster" Rossiter is a retired Marine Corps Major and combat veteran of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. His story is tightly interwoven with his daughter Ainsley's, who was born with a terminal illness in 2003. Instead of shirking from the difficult task of facing Ainsley's inevitable fate, Rooster and his wife embraced it to ensure Ainsley lived every moment of her time on earth. The Rossiter's eventually started Ainsley’s Angels in honor of Ainsley. Ainsley's Angels builds awareness about America’s special needs community, and aims to ensure everyone can experience endurance events, something that always put a smile on Ainsley's face. Hear this powerful story of combat and survival, both on the battlefield and at home, on our latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.ainsleysangels.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
This week we explore the lighter side of combat in the War on Terror, with former Cavalry officer and aspiring writer, Brett Allen. Inspired by the events of September 11, 2001, Brett went into the Army as an officer a fews years later. His quest to serve in combat took him to Afghanistan in 2009, and while not immune to the effects of a well placed IED, his experience in combat fell short of what he had expected, catalyzing his desire to portray it in his recently published novel, “Kilroy Was Here”. The book takes a humorous look at some of the more ridiculous moments of warfare in the modern world. Hear about some of the lighter moments of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.hogwashwriting.com | "Kilroy Was Here"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Dr. Paul Roach is a recently retired Navy Combat Surgeon. At a young age, he intended to follow in his father’s footsteps into psychiatry. But trauma surgery was his calling, and he followed it all the way to the brutal and bloody environs of the war in Afghanistan. It was there he recalls his worst combat losses, and one quad-amputee Marine in particular, that he helped save against the odds.* That same Marine was a former guest on HAZARD GROUND, and is thriving today! Hear Dr. Paul Roach’s story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
*The Marine who Dr. Roach treated and speaks about in this episode gave his permission for Dr. Roach to talk about his case.
"Citizen Surgeon: A Memoir" | "The End: A Story of Love and War in the Afterlife"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Three months into his run for mayor of Kansas City - which seemed destined for victory - Jason Kander suddenly dropped out of the race. He did so to confront years of post-traumatic stress that nearly drove him to suicide. His PTS was a direct result of his deployment to Afghanistan where for months he often worked outside the wire as an Army officer, mostly without any fire support - just him and an interpreter, meeting with some of the most dangerous people on the planet. The pause from public service and running for office to seek treatment was ultimately successful, redirecting Jason to a different path leading efforts to help struggling veterans get back on their feet! Hear his inspirational story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.veteranscommunityproject.org | www.jasonkander.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Mike McGuinness is a three-time Afghanistan combat veteran. His story is a study in why leadership - meaning the presence of qualified people in leadership positions - is so important, from the lowest echelons of the military, all the way to the top. McGuinness served honorably for 16 years. He was also a squad leader in convicted war criminal Clint Lorance's platoon, which would ultimately lead to Mike leaving the military. This is a powerful story of combat, survival - and the hard consequences of not effectively treating moral injury and poor leadership - and the resilience of a man who the war followed home. Hear it on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Will Thomas is the founder of Operation Hawkeye, an organization that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the families of fallen special operations servicemembers for a decade now. The really interesting part is that Will started Op Hawkeye when he was in middle school! Moved to action by the downing of Extortion 17 in Afghanistan in 2011, Will decided to do something tangible to help the families of the special operators lost on that mission. It started with simply shooting hoops - 17K baskets in a weekend to be exact - and grew into years of raising money through various challenges related to sports, along with a very successful social media campaign. At one point, Thomas’s efforts even grabbed the attention of Adm. William McRaven. Hear Will's story of how he turned tragedy on the battlefield into hope for others - starting a movement when he was just a kid - on this special edition of HAZARD GROUND!
@op_hawkeye
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Thomas Schueman takes us through a young Marine officer's first taste of combat - a very real baptism by fire that ultimately prepared him for the day he'd see it again. Schueman talks about the survival of combat, not just on the battlefield, but also at home. Focusing on that survival at home is not just something he talks about; he's taken action by starting his own non-profit, called Patrol Base Abbate - named after legendary Marine, Matthew Abbate - to give servicemembers a "space to recalibrate inside the wire and community to thrive outside the wire." Hear Thomas Schueman's powerful story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.pbabbate.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
After graduating from the United States Naval Academy, Mark Treanor served as a Marine Corps rifle platoon leader in Vietnam, when some of the heaviest fighting took place. Years later, Mark would write a book about his experience in Vietnam. But, it's not your typical book about one's Vietnam combat experience. It's a novel, written through the lens of someone who lived through the worst in humankind, and carried the memory of that experience for years after the war was over. Hear Mark's powerful story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"A Quiet Cadence"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Brian Fleming joined the Infantry during a time of war to serve his country and test his mettle. He ended up getting a little more than he probably bargained for, but still understood the risks, serving in combat with honor. Brian was blown up twice while deployed to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division. The second blast was from a suicide bomber, just three feet away from Brian. Hear how Brian survived that horrific attack and the pain of reconstructive surgery, and went on to become a full-time author, speaker, and resiliency coach on this wild episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.blownupguy.com | "Redeployed"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
We have our second Canadian Armed Forces guest on the podcast this week! Ian Cantelo is a Sacrifice Medal recipient - Canada's version of the Purple Heart - due to injuries sustained after he was blown up multiple times while serving in Afghanistan. His injuries would nearly end his tour early, but undeterred by injury, Ian returned to the Panjwai district of Kandahar province to finish out his combat tour of duty. After leaving the military, Cantelo started working as a strength and conditioning/skills development coach for aspiring pro athletes, which he continues to this day, co-founding his own company in the process. Hear his inspirational story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.ctawest.com | www.athleticedgecalgary.ca
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
This week’s episode is about Richard Flaherty, the smallest known man to serve in the U.S. military in recent history. Richard served as a Green Beret in Vietnam, among other incredible ventures, earning two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for actions in combat. Later in life Richard was killed in a hit and run on the streets of Miami where he lived a good portion of his life after leaving the military. David Yuzuk, a Miami cop, befriended Richard and spent several years getting to know the 4' 9" Green Beret, combat veteran. Well, at least David thought he knew who Richard was. That is until Richard dropped a bomb on him just before his untimely death. On this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND, hear David tell the story of Richard Flaherty, "The Giant Killer." A story David promised his friend Richard, he'd share with the world!
"The Giant Killer" | "The Giant Killer: The Incredible True Story of the Smallest Man to Serve in the U.S. Military"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Henry Hughes' family tradition of military service dates all the way back to the American Revolution. For him, he chose the Army and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He served multiple combat tours with the 173rd, including one at COP Keating - the infamous outpost we've covered in several previous episodes - in 2008. When Hughes left the Army, it was to pursue a new passion - filmmaking. He has since been mentored by George Lucas, nominated for an Academy Award, and co-produced and acted in "The Outpost" - the 2020 film about COP Keating and the Battle of Kamdesh - as he continues down the path of a working filmmaker. Hear his powerful and inspirational story on our latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
"Day One" | "The Outpost"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light (www.silenceandlightmusic.com )
Eddie Wright's story is pretty insane! In 2004, he and his small element of Marines were ambushed in Iraq. Eddie immediately lost just about 100% of his physical ability to fight back. Calm and alert through the entire firefight that followed, Eddie remained a leader on the battlefield, directing other Marines returning fire and guiding those rendering aid. Despite the loss of two limbs, Eddie would return to active duty not long after the ambush. Hear his amazing and powerful story on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Nick Rucker is a veteran of two combat deployments - one to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. Those deployments didn't come without a price. After returning home, Nick struggled with Post Traumatic Stress and alcoholism - two powerful adversaries that required the will to fight, even after the wars for him were over. Nick is now a touring country songwriter and singer, an author, and most important of all: sober. Hear about his struggle returning from one battlefield to a war on the homefront that nearly destroyed him, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"Time Cap" | www.guitars4vets.org | www.killcliff.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
For our first episode released in both audio and video formats with our partners at Kill Cliff, Greg "Billy Bob" Thornton & Raymond "Donk" Strasburger - both Air Force A-10 pilots - take us through one of the most harrowing combat missions at the onset of the Iraq War in early 2003. Both pilots flew their A-10s through a blinding sandstorm, in a white-knuckle effort to provide critical close air support to U.S. troops in direct contact with Iraqi tanks. One of those troops was also one of their own - a fellow A-10 pilot from their squadron who was serving as the JTAC for the unit on the ground. Hear firsthand how the mission unfolded, and how it nearly ended in disaster, on this powerful, "keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat" edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.killcliff.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Brian Ribera is a retired Navy SEAL and the founder and president of Military Mobility - a non-profit, adventure-based organization that specializes in off-road expeditions and resiliency training for veterans. Military Mobility's mission is to "put clients in a team environment which fosters camaraderie, trust, and inspires the realization that any challenge - no matter how great - can be overcome." Hear how Brian has served his country at the most specialized levels of combat operations, to how he continues to serve veterans across the spectrum, in this bonus edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.militarymobility.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
As we wrap up an extensive look at COP Keating and the Battle of Kamdesh, which occurred on October 3rd, 2009, in Afghanistan, Zachary Koppes takes us on an intense and sometimes hilarious/sometimes heartbreaking journey through the day-long battle and its aftermath. Koppes spent the entire day in the fight, firing his MK 19 grenade launcher at enemy targets while trying to avoid being hit by a sniper who had a bead on his position (and his head). Hear the powerful story of combat, survival, loss, and resilience from the unlikeliest of soldiers, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Jeff Depatie is the first ever Canadian servicemember we've had on the podcast. The man was born to be a warrior, spending his career in the Canadian Armed Forces as a sniper/assaulter in JTF 2 - an extremely high-readiness and precise, tier one special operations forces unit. JTF 2's mission is to protect Canadian national interests and combat terrorism and threats to Canadians at home and abroad. Following his time in the military, Jeff co-founded The Special Forces Experience - a program that immerses participants in adverse environments with the intent to catalyze post-traumatic growth and improve human optimization. Hear Jeff's story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.thespecialforcesexperience.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
This week, another detailed look at COP Keating and the October 3rd, 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan with Chris Jones. Chris was an Infantry soldier in Red Platoon, Bravo Troop 3-61 Cav. He was also one of the five guys who volunteered for Clint Romesha's small team to take back the outpost against overwhelming odds. Jones talks about the intense battle that unfolded that day in October 2009, and the strong bonds amongst brothers in arms that kept a relatively small number of them fighting like hell until COP Keating was once again secure. Hear his powerful story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
This week we return to COP Keating and the Battle of Kamdesh, which took place on October 3rd, 2009 in Afghanistan. Kyle Knight was a Forward Observer in Red Platoon, Bravo Troop 3-61 Cav. Kyle offers an unvarnished perspective of what life was like on Keating before the overwhelming October 3rd attack, the leadership failures that lead to it, and the hours fighting on the ground to win back American control of the combat outpost. He and his unit of just 53 U.S. cavalry scouts ultimately repelled over 300 Taliban fighters while defending COP Keating. Hear his story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"Midnight Chow"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Dr. Shauna Springer's father raised his kids like a drill instructor - up at 5 a.m. three times a week to run miles in the dark at a local track. That kind of activity at an early age, along with solo mission service trips to foreign countries starting at the age of 10, may just have been the spark that started Dr. Springer on a path to understanding the psychological trauma veterans face on and off the battlefield. She isn't a veteran, but she has made it her life's mission to understand the psychology of a warrior, to the point where she is one of the most trusted docs within the veteran community. Hear her story and how she continues to help veterans heal in our latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.docshaunaspringer.com | "Warrior: How to Support Those Who Protect Us"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Dale Rider deployed to Iraq as a bridge crew member of an Engineer unit initially assigned to advise and assist the Iraqi's, after the war had theoretically ended. So, naturally, in the middle of the Iraq mission, his small detachment would head into Syria for a different mission. Dale shares his experiences with that sudden change of mission, and the struggle to deal with some of its side effects when he returned home. It's an interesting story that explores the volatile environment in Iraq and the surrounding region after the major troop drawdown, and how it's still affecting young servicemembers today. Hear Dale Rider's complete story on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Once again, we step outside the bounds of the typical HAZARD GROUND guest to tell Char Fontan Westfall's story. Char is the wife of the late Navy SEAL, Jacques Fontan. Jacques was killed while attempting to rescue survivors of Operation Red Wings, the ill-fated reconnaissance mission in June 2005 in Afghanistan, that left one lone survivor. Char talks about receiving the news of her husband's death, and the long, difficult road she's traveled dealing with the pain, anger, and grief of losing a spouse in such a tragic way. Although not easy, she's handled it with grace and strength, and inspiringly found new hope in an unfamiliar world. Hear her and Jacques's story on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
"A Beautiful Tragedy: A Navy SEAL Widow's Permission to Grieve and a Prescription for Hope"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
GORUCK founder Jason McCarthy went from Green Beret to building a 100 million dollar company, starting with just a napkin sketch of a rucksack that could withstand the abuse of war torn Baghdad and still look good on the streets of any major city. Along with a backpack company he also started a global movement to get people outside rucking, adventuring, and forming community through his GORUCK Challenge events. Hear how Jason McCarthy survived combat and went on to build one of the most inspiring and value-based companies in the world today, on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.goruck.com | www.goruckevents.com | "How Not to Start a Backpack Company"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Retired Air Force Colonel, Joe "Spoon" Rizzuto has had one of the most interesting careers a military pilot could have. The Air Force Academy grad started out flying C-130s in Alaska - something he wasn't initially thrilled about, but he describes as extremely rewarding and beneficial as a young pilot. He would eventually go from the C-130 to flying both the A-10 and Reaper and Predator drone aircraft in combat. He was even one of the first to fly drones in Afghanistan shortly after 9/11. Hear his powerful story - the highs and lows of flying close air support in combat, and the psychology around piloting drone aircraft engaged in combat from thousands of miles away from the battlefield, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
For Tonya Oxendine the Army offered an escape from a rough upbringing - a chance for a better life. Although not without extreme hardships and challenges, Tonya embraced the military, using the trauma she experienced in it and after, to become an incredible leader who has made it her life's mission to take care of others. She served over two decades - including several years in the 82nd Airborne - retiring as a Command Sergeant Major. Today she serves as the Atlanta Program Manager of Merging Vets and Players - a veteran service organization that pairs veterans with former pro athletes to empower them through the transition once they've taken the uniform off. Hear her incredible story of resilience on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.vetsandplayers.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Our conversation this week is simply about service - service in combat, and continued service when the uniform comes off. David Smith is a former Navy Corpsman who served in combat in Afghanistan. When an aspiring career in the Navy was cut short, David found another way to serve his country. Ultimately he started an organization called, CONTINUE TO SERVE. Through this organization, he brings together other veterans in continued service to the Nation, particularly when it comes to civic duties and standing up for those less fortunate. Most recently, he rallied a group of veterans through his organization to lead the clean-up of downtown Washington, D.C. and around the Capitol after the January 6th attacks. CONTINUE TO SERVE has also been an outlet for David to seek healing from post traumatic stress, as well as find the same sense of purpose he felt as a Navy Corpsman on the battlefield. His story, and this conversation are something we all can take a little good from. Hear it all, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.continuetoserve.vet
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Grant Broggi didn't take the typical route to the Marine Corps. The extra time he took before ultimately joining meant he entered the Marines with life experience - a key attribute in forming who he would become as a leader of Marines. And the experience he gained from leading Marines in combat would eventually pay dividends when he became a strength coach, preparing Marines for combat as well as forming a small business. That small business would take a punishing hit during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Broggi used the principles learned through his experience in the Marines to navigate the uncharted waters of the pandemic, taking care of people first. Taking care of his members also meant going against sound business principles to ultimately remain afloat and begin to thrive again in uncertain times. Broggi still serves in the Marine Corps while running The Strength Co., focusing on enriching others' lives through physical fitness, training servicemembers for the rigors of combat, and helping to revive U.S. manufacturing. Hear his inspiring story of service, risk, and resilience on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.thestrength.co | @thestrengthco
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
When Rod Lurie immigrated to the United States at a young age, he was taken by what he saw when he visited The United States Military Academy at West Point for the first time. Beyond the institution, he knew attending West Point would provide a means to pay back the country that welcomed him from abroad. Whether his decision to ultimately go to West Point was right or wrong, Lurie has found that his attendance and graduation from there prepared him very well for the profession he knew he always wanted to go into - that of filmmaking. West Point taught Lurie "never to panic, and there is a solution for everything" - guidance that has served him well as he went from Army officer to film critic, to writer and director of feature films. His latest film is "The Outpost", released in July 2020, which tells the story of the Battle of Kamdesh and the fight to save Combat Outpost Keating in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. It's a moving and intense film, that portrays the battle and the men who fought there in a way most feature films about war fall short of. It's also a film Lurie poured his heart and soul into, and almost didn't finish. Hear the complete story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"The Outpost" | "The Last Castle" | "The Contender"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Ryan Hendrickson doesn't know when to quit. If you've served alongside Ryan in combat, that's probably a good thing. Ryan Hendrickson is a retired Green Beret, leaving the Army as an E-7 in January of 2020. Before joining the Army, Hendrickson enlisted and served in both the Navy and the Air Force, until he found his true calling in Special Forces. As a Green Beret demolitions expert, he would find a passion hunting IEDs and working with local villagers. In the high risk confines of Afghanistan, that work would also lead to Hendrickson nearly losing his leg, if not for an experimental limb salvage procedure and an Army surgeon willing to take the risk. Hendrickson then fought through painful rehab to deploy back to Afghanistan roughly eighteen months after his initial injury. As if that wasn't enough, in 2016 Hendrickson was involved in a brutal firefight in which his actions would earn him the Silver Star. Even after his retirement, Ryan still continued to deploy to high risk areas as a civilian. See now why we said he doesn't know when to quit? In all seriousness, this is a story about service, about fortitude, about resilience, and about taking care of those who fight beside you. Hear Ryan Hendrickson's inspiring story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.ryanmhendrickson.com | "Tip of the Spear"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
Donat "Dan" Le Blanc lost his right arm while fighting in Vietnam as a Marine aircraft machine gunner. Service was in his blood; his father was a World War II veteran and POW. So when it was his generation's calling to combat service, Le Blanc joined the Marines. He cites the 1957 film, "The DI" with Jack Webb as a major source of inspiration for joining the Corps. But, Le Blanc's time in Vietnam would end not long after he sustained life-threatening injuries when the helicopter he was manning an M60 machine gun on flew into a hot landing zone during an evac mission in September 1966. Although his time in combat would end, his service would not. Le Blanc went on to eventually make a career out of working for the VA, providing valuable first-hand knowledge for the development of prostheses for veterans who had lost limbs in combat. He would also write a book about his life and time in combat, titled "Deckhouse: My Story", leaving a lasting record not just for his children and grandchildren, but also for those who return from combat with physical and invisible wounds. This is a story of combat, survival, and decades of service to country and veterans alike, as told by a Marine who lived through all three. Hear it now on the latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"Deckhouse: My Story"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
There's no better story for Episode 200! Daniel Rodriguez entered the Army shortly after losing his father at the age of 18. He joined the Infantry and was almost immediately thrust into one of the worst positions to be in as a new soldier in combat: the replacement for another soldier who had been killed in Iraq. Although it was a rough start, the unit he ended up with would ultimately be the group of guys he not only bonded with, but would also go through one of the bloodiest battles of the GWOT on October 3, 2009 at COP Keating, when the small outpost was attacked by over 300 Taliban fighters. Rodriguez would lose a close friend during the battle, but it was a friendship that would ultimately spark what would happen after Rodriguez left the Army, turning many negatives into a huge positive. Before losing his friend, Rodriguez promised that if he made it out of Keating alive, he would pursue Division I college football and maybe even the NFL if it led there. And that's exactly what Daniel Rodriguez did, making it as a walk-on at Clemson University, playing 3 years before earning a shot at the NFL. Rodriguez takes us through that journey, from a kid looking for direction, to surviving hellacious combat, to realizing his dreams and living big for those who didn't make it home. Hear it all on our 200th episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.danielrayrodriguez.com | @DanielRod_83 | "Rise: A Soldier, a Dream, and a Promise Kept" | "The Outpost"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)
The junior enlisted servicemembers we've had on this show have never shied away from giving the unvarnished truth when talking about their experiences in combat. They join for a myriad of reasons - a sense of patriotism, a career, or they just didn't think they had better options when entering the workforce. Regardless, you can always count on them to shoot straight when asked for their opinions, especially when it comes to life in combat. Justin Piessens enlisted in the Army after high school, thinking at the time he really couldn't find better options. Plus he was always open to new and interesting experiences. Interesting is what he got, serving as a tanker as the war in Iraq started to heat up in 2004, with a growing insurgency just under the surface. After he returned from his first deployment to Iraq, and ten days before leaving the Army for good, he was put on stop-loss, and headed to Ramadi in 2006 at the height of the insurgency. And this time he wasn't going to be riding in a tank. His brigade commander told his unit it was going to be a "meat grinder." That's exactly what it was, both physically and mentally. In this episode, Justin talks about completing one combat deployment and jumping right back into another 15-month hellscape, and how that eventually led him down a dark road. This is a story of combat and survival in the truest sense, and one that fortunately ends on a positive note. Don't miss it!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Dr. Jeff Cain has led an interesting military career to say the least, as both an Infantryman and a doctor, spanning from the period of the first Gulf War into the Global War on Terrorism. Dr. Cain began his career at West Point, choosing Infantry as his branch upon graduation. Following time with the Berlin Brigade in Germany during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Cain made his way to 3rd Ranger Battalion where he would serve - along with time at Regimental Headquarters - until he made the decision to go to medical school through the Uniformed Services medical school program. Suffice to say, Cain's time serving in special operations left an indelible mark on him, so much so that his intent upon finishing medical school was to go back and serve as a doctor in SOF. Which is exactly what he did, becoming the 1st Ranger Battalion physician, and completing two OEF rotations and one OIF rotation with multiple JSOTFs. Cain even ended up serving as the lead medical planner for the Jessica Lynch rescue, going in with the recovery force and remaining on the ground to secure other remains during exfil. Today Dr. Cain still practices medicine while focusing on productive methods for treating post-traumatic stress, sustaining a valuable connection between medicine and the veteran and military communities. Hear his inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
When Tom Spooner enlisted in the Army, he had every intention of becoming a Ranger. But, a last minute change in orders would send him to the 82nd Airborne, where he quickly found, Ranger or not, that he was in his element as a paratrooper. From then on, wherever Spooner went in the military he would find his element along with seasoned veterans who mentored him into a proven combat leader and special operator. Aside from serving in the 82nd, Spooner went on to earn his Green Beret and serve in Special Forces for a little bit before being selected to serve in the Army’s top special mission unit. His experience in combat, coupled with the tools given him by the mentors who fought before him would also help him find a way to heal his mind and body after 12 deployments, and suffering the effects of traumatic brain injury. Make no mistake about it Tom Spooner is a warrior in the truest sense of the word, and today, he helps run Warriors Heart, which he co-founded - a veteran service organization where warriors help other warriors heal through treatment for chemical dependency, alcohol abuse, and co-occurring psychological disorders relating to PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury, carrying on his legacy of service while helping other warriors heal after combat. Hear his powerful story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.warriorsheart.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Gordon Sumner joined the military at the end of the Vietnam War era. As such, the timing of his entry into service led to very unique experiences while serving overseas, both in combat, and during the tense years of the Cold War. He began his military career as an Infantry officer, but through a weird twist of fate, would transition to Aviation before nearly resigning his commission. That move to Aviation would set Sumner on a trajectory to Grenada, where he commanded an Air Cavalry unit with the 82nd Airborne Division. He would also be one of the few to be combat wounded during fighting there. Sumner would also go on to serve with the British Army as an American exchange officer. That position would lead to him becoming the first American to command an attack helicopter squadron in the British Army - work that would put him at the forefront of efforts to quell attacks by the Irish Republican Army. After retiring as a Colonel, Sumner would take part in one of his greatest acts of service - working with Veteran Service Organizations, particularly Veterans Moving Forward, where he currently serves as President and CEO. Hear the complete story on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.vetsfwd.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
This is a story of combat and survival in the truest sense. Survival not just from bullets and bombs in Baghdad, but from the indelible scars war leaves on those who’ve experienced it firsthand. Jeff Morris is one of those individuals. His time as an Army infantry officer led him to fight in Iraq both as a platoon leader and company commander. It would carry him through bloody firefights where he would lead soldiers, all trying to survive, and achieve the “little victories” that make long, drawn out campaigns seem worth the sacrifice. And ultimately, it would take him to the brink of his humanity, forcing the reckoning that undoubtedly comes for a man who has lived through combat and chooses to be a force for good after he returns home. Hear Jeff Morris’s powerful story of combat and survival, from officer candidate eager to get into the fight to war veteran searching for healing, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"LEGION RISING: Surviving Combat And The Scars It Left Behind"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Don Culp's passion for aviation began as a young boy. Watching his stepfather work with the Navy's Blue Angels demonstration team, Don knew he wanted to join the military, and specifically go into aviation when he graduated from high school. His journey would take him a little longer than expected though, as he was initially recruited into chemical operations instead of aviation in the late 90's. It would take him roughly a decade and five attempts to transfer out of his Chemical specialty and into Army Aviation. He went from E-6 to Warrant Officer Candidate, and not long after, into flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. By 2011, Culp graduated as an Apache pilot, and three weeks later deployed to Iraq for his first combat tour. But, Culp's aviation career would not come without challenges - one in particular was directly related to his daughter who was born a few days before he left for Warrant Officer Candidate School. In this episode, Don Culp talks about those challenges and how they shaped him not just as an aviator, but as a father, and the man he is today. Hear his powerful story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.braelynaubreyfoundation.squarespace.com
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Service over self. Character over affiliation. Values over personal gain. Mike Jason learned these tenets at an early age in a place far away from the United States. Born to two American expats in Italy, as a child Mike would often hear the locals talk about what the Americans did for them during World War II. His patriotism and love for the American military was born out of these conversations. So when Mike was 11 and his family moved back to the United States, he knew he wanted to join the profession of arms, and serve the country and ideals that others who had never even set foot in the U.S., spoke so highly of and appreciated so much. That journey took him to West Point, and after graduation, eventually into combat in the Global War on Terror. Mike Jason has led from the troop level all the way up to formulating policy in the Pentagon. After serving for over two decades, Mike retired as a full bird colonel. He continues to uphold the values he swore to when he entered the military, while working to combat veteran suicide and serve the next generation of leaders. His journey, from young boy swapping one "foreign" country for another, to becoming the American Soldier he heard so much about as a kid, is one we all can take something positive from. Hear his entire story on this week's episode of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
In Episode 188, Andrew Bundermann walked us through the Battle of Kamdesh - the attack on remote COP Keating in Afghanistan, where 53 U.S. cavalry scouts held off over 300 Taliban fighters attacking from the mountains above. Bundermann was the acting commander at COP Keating on the day of the attack. His company commander, now LTC Stoney Portis, was stranded at a nearby base because the helicopter he was flying in had taken enemy fire two days prior, and air assets were unable to get him back to COP Keating prior to the attack kicking off on October 3rd, 2009. In this episode, Portis chronicles his fight to get back to his men as the battle raged from dawn until dusk. Hearing him talk about what his men did to save not just the outpost, but each other, is a powerful testament to what soldiers will do for each other in combat. Stoney also shares the leadership challenges he faced after the battle, reconstituting a unit that had just endured a brutal fight that took some of their own. It's clear from the way Stoney Portis speaks and carries himself, now and shortly after the Battle of Kamdesh, that his men couldn't have asked for a better leader to get them through the dark times after the bullets stopped flying, as well as to let the world know about the great things his men did for each other on that fateful day in 2009 in the remote mountains of Afghanistan. Hear the full story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"The Outpost" | "The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
An infantryman, looking for the next challenge in his military career, Gary Garza decided to try out for Special Forces Selection. After completing Ranger and Sniper Schools with the 101st Airborne, it only made sense that the next step was getting his Green Beret and embarking on a long career in Special Operations. That's exactly what Garza did, becoming a Special Forces Medical Sergeant, and completing 12 deployments in the Global War on Terror. Those deployments came with a price, but also with wisdom on how to better train and take care of SOF soldiers who deploy multiple times to high intensity, high op-tempo AORs over and over again. Garza speaks intently about the mental health aspect and ways in which SOF units are working to improve and strengthen soldiers' mental health, just like they would their physical health, in order to improve both the combat force, and the families that support them during and after every deployment. Garza also serves as the Executive Director of the Special Forces Foundation - a Foundation that provides a range of programs contributing to the maintenance of the mind and body, as well as ongoing support in resolving psychological, emotional, and relationship issues before they become chronic within the Special Forces community. Learn more about this foundation and the inspiring career of Sergeant Major Gary Garza in this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.specialforcesfoundation.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Donny O'Malley does not fit the typical mold of a U.S. Marine. Except for the part where Marines strive to be the absolute best at one thing: killing the enemy. In spite of being the type of person who never liked having a boss, and who was very entrepreneurial in nature, Donny O'Malley wanted to join the military and become a Marine, primarily so he could be the best at taking out bad people on the battlefield. And, after 9/11, that was all the motivation he needed for pulling the trigger, so to speak. His father however, convinced him to finish college and become a Marine officer. O'Malley took his father's advice, and would eventually serve in combat as an infantry officer, rifle platoon commander, and fire support team leader. Following his time in the Corps, O'Malley, who had already spent a significant amount of time mentally preparing himself for what he'd experience in combat, looked to humor as a means of maintaining good mental health, not just for himself but also for his fellow vets who were struggling. That motivation led him to becoming the founder and CEO of VET Tv, also known as Veteran Television, a streaming video on demand channel that has often been referred to as the Comedy Central of the military. VET Tv showcases the raw, dark military humor that has transformed dark days on the battlefield to brighter ones on and off screen. Hear how it all started in this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.veterantv.tv | @vet_tv | @donnyomalley
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
On the morning of October 3rd, 2009, American Combat Outpost Keating was attacked by over 300 Taliban fighters, the small outpost defended by just 53 U.S. cavalry scouts. The location of COP Keating couldn't have been any worse from a tactical standpoint, inviting the inevitable before American forces would shut it down: an overwhelming attack by insurgent fighters. The small outpost sat along the banks of a river at the base of the mountains, deep within Afghanistan’s rugged Nuristan province. Built in 2006, COP Keating's strategic purpose was initially to serve as a base from which U.S. Army counterinsurgency efforts could win-over local Afghan villagers; however, after a few years, it had produced little counterinsurgency benefit. On the day it was attacked with overwhelming force, Andrew Bundermann, a platoon leader at the time, was the acting commander. He and his soldiers mounted a successful counter-attack, eventually taking back the outpost, but at the cost of losing eight men from their unit. Two soldiers would receive the Medal of Honor, and Bundermann would ultimately receive the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the battle. It was one of the most intense firefights of the war, which by all accounts, Bundermann and his men should have lost. Hear how they took back COP Keating on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"The Outpost"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Following a fairly short stint and multiple deployments with the Navy not long after 9/11, Mike Mednansky felt a calling to a military occupation much more technical, and challenging than the one he had in the Navy. He decided to go out for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) school - one of the most dangerous, but most rewarding jobs in the military. EOD technicians are some of the most highly trained, highly focused, technically surgical servicemembers on the battlefield. It takes nerves of steel to perform their job, and for good reason, as one slip-up could cost lives, or at a minimum, serious injury. Mike ended up transferring from the Navy to the Army in order to attend EOD School. Once out of school he went back to deployments, this time as an EOD tech. It was on what would be his final deployment, that an IED he was attempting to gather evidence from, partially detonated in his hands, causing serious injury. It would ultimately lead to Mike's medical retirement, but not his exit from the EOD community, as he continues to instruct Special Forces soldiers heading downrange. Hear Mike's complete story, from the constant academic pressure of the EOD schoolhouse to daily life on deployment as an EOD tech, walking the fine line between life and death...Get it all on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Chili Palmer's military career started off with a bang...or rather, a combat jump into Panama. Less than two weeks after arriving at 1/75 Ranger Battalion, Chili jumped into combat for Operation Just Cause. It was just his ninth static line jump, and although the action on the ground was minimal for Palmer, he would go on to participate in and experience a heavy amount of kinetic operations throughout the rest of his over two-decade long career in the Army, serving much of that time as an operator in a special mission unit. Chili goes in depth into the highs and lows of serving as an operator, the early days of fighting in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and what has changed in the SOF community since his time there. He also talks about his time working as a military advisor on the films “How It Ends” (2018) and 2020’s Netflix original, “Extraction.” Tune in to another powerful and interesting story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
@chilipalmershooting
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
For 14 years Elana Duffy lived with chronic physical and mental pain, the result of injuries sustained from an IED blast and vehicle collision during one of her deployments to Iraq, two years into the war. During that time she had struggled with figuring out exactly what was wrong, and healing enough to continue on with a promising Army career, injury-free. Elana Duffy enlisted in the Army with an Ivy League Masters education and a desire to perform a job where she would see tangible results. But the IED blast and vehicle collision in 2005 would unfortunately inhibit her ability to continue to deploy, even after she had worked her way into selection to an elite Army unit. The invisible wounds of war had caught up with her, and she was medically retired in 2012. But through all of her struggles to figure out what was wrong, Elana Duffy never gave up the fight, both on and off the battlefield. She continued to perform her job at a high level in combat, and found a way to heal once she left the military, up to electively amputating her leg at the calf muscle to finally rid herself of the chronic physical pain. In the end, she also found a way to help others with similar struggles, by starting Pathfinder, a Veteran Service Organization that helps vets connect with local community services that help them reintegrate into civilian life after leaving the military. Hear Elana Duffy's powerful story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.pathfinder.vet | www.getheadstrong.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Aaron Love joined the Air Force shortly after 9/11 to become a Pararescueman, or “PJ” as they are more commonly known. PJs are expert combat medical professionals capable of providing life-saving measures in hostile areas, as part of the Air Force's special operations force. A few missteps along the way though, nearly derailed Aaron’s pursuit of becoming a PJ. But Aaron’s desire to succeed in one the military’s most difficult training and qualification pipelines, ultimately led him to earning the title of Air Force PJ and deploying in support of the Global War on Terror. In this episode, Aaron talks about operating as a PJ in combat; the highs and lows, and what it’s like when the reality of war sets in and there’s one fellow soldier you can’t bring home alive. Today, in the true spirit and path of a Warrior, Aaron also continues to prepare the next generation of special warfare servicemembers through his own podcast and website, called "Ones Ready", while still serving on active duty. Aaron has led an inspiring career as a PJ, and the only way to dig into it is to listen to Aaron talk about it firsthand, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.onesready.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Today we go back to the first Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm! Shane Hudella joined the military to carry on a family tradition of serving. Not long after signing up, he was headed for his first and only major combat deployment in Desert Storm, where life became quite interesting with the constant threat of SCUD missiles targeting and raining down close to his unit's location. Following Desert Storm, Hudella would go on to serve in the Army until 2012, when he retired as a First Sergeant. But, perhaps of equal note to his military service was what he did outside of the military with the United Heroes League - a hockey, and now multi-sport focused non-profit he started in 2009, under the name Defending The Blue Line (DTBL). Hudella initially founded DTBL to help military families with the high costs of hockey and help ensure children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in a sport he loved, being from Minnesota. Since 2016, when DTBL transitioned to United Heroes League, it has grown to support all sports and help a much broader base of children connected to the military, helping both military families at home, as well as directly impacting soldiers in combat zones during the GWOT, as you'll hear in one poignant story told in this episode. Hear Shane's entire inspiring story of service on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.unitedheroesleague.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Chris VanSant had an impressive career in the Army. He retired with twenty-plus years as a Special Operations veteran, operating at the highest level in a special mission unit for a good portion of that time. He took part in eleven combat deployments as both a team member and team leader in 1st SFOD-D, deploying to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. During that time he took part in 500-plus combat operations. One of those operations was the capture of Saddam Hussein. But, all that time in combat took its toll on VanSant, as it often does despite the person or the unit they serve in, leaving Chris to deal with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and the dependence on chemicals that is so often associated with attempts to heal from injury. As you'll hear in VanSant's story though, he found a way out of the darkness, and continues to lead a life of purpose, developed through the moments he spent as a warrior in combat. Hear about his powerful journey of combat and resilience on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.tyrtactical.com | @vansanttyrtactical
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
It’s often said on this podcast that war and combat change you forever, no matter your level of exposure. Tim Stolinski is living proof of that. Deployed to Iraq to train and advise Iraqi Border Police as part of a Military Transition Team (MiTT) in 2009, Stolinski was integrated into a society and fledgling military reeling from an insurgency and a leadership void, the genesis of which extended back decades. Due in part to the day-to-day effort to remain amongst the living, Stolinski’s experience in Iraq would leave a lasting impression, changing him, as it does, forever. Once home and able to process his time at war, Stolinski noticed that the divide between the civilian populace and those who had ventured off to different wars in the Global War on Terror - one of which has lasted for nearly twenty years now - had become much deeper than what it was before he joined the military in the early 2000s. Stolinski hopes to bridge that gap, through writing and outreach within his community, and continued service to his country and those he hopes to help better understand his fellow veterans coming home from war. Hear this veteran's story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.poptartsandapistol.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
When Brad Snyder talks about his experiences at the U.S. Naval Academy you can sense his appreciation for how the Academy builds strong leaders - men and women of character, integrity, fortitude, and optimism. Brad Snyder graduated from the Naval Academy in 2006. He would deploy as a Navy EOD officer for the first time in 2008. Five years later, he would be medically retired from the Navy, permanently blinded by an IED blast in Afghanistan. The bomb that took his eyesight would not destroy the person he became through valuable life experiences, forged by the indispensable lessons taught to future Naval officers at the Academy. Brad Snyder would go on to win a total of five Gold medals combined, in swimming at the Paralympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro, and break a World Record that had stood for over thirty years. He has become an inspiration for many, both athletes and leaders, on and off the battlefield. And he continues to prepare the next generation of leaders as well, teaching at the Naval Academy. Most importantly though, he's taken an injury that most would see as an immovable obstacle in life and become something greater than what he was before his injuries. Hear how it all unfolded, and get inspired on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.bradsnyder.us | "Fire in My Eyes"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Dan Luna is using his experience as a Navy SEAL to do something revolutionary, that for a species that has enacted violence on itself in times of war, for centuries, probably shouldn't be. That "something" is preparing American servicemembers for the shock that war is on the human brain. He's helping servicemembers get ahead of Post Traumatic Stress by working to minimize its effects from the front end, rather than saving all of the treatment for after servicemembers come home from war. And Luna has plenty of experience to draw from. He is a 20-plus year veteran of the SEAL Teams, spending some of that time with Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He's also an expert in Leadership, credentialed through both operational and institutional education experience. In this episode, Dan talks about the highs and lows of surviving combat and operating at the highest level. He also covers his experience as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he's worked to prepare the next generation of servicemembers and leaders for the violence they will see in war. Get into the psychology of combat and survival in this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
We don’t often hear the stories of women who served in Vietnam, especially those who deployed directly to combat zones. Diane Evans is one of those women who had the opportunity to serve as a nurse in combat in Vietnam in areas where humanity seemed only a ragged shred of existence. She joined the military in the late 1960’s with the intent to go to Vietnam. Like her brothers and other young men she knew in her rural Minnesota town, she felt a sense of duty and calling to serve her country in a time of war. She would fulfill that duty serving in Evacuation Hospitals on the front lines, one of which was located not far from the Cambodian border in the Central Highlands. She would do this at the young age of 21, from 1968-69, arguably the most brutal year of the Vietnam War. When Diane returned home, she found herself fighting a different war: the fight for recognition for the women who contributed so bravely to the war effort in Vietnam. After a nearly 10-year battle, her dream was realized in 1993 with the dedication of the statue commemorating Vietnam-era female veterans as part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Hear her complete and inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"Healing Wounds: A Vietnam War Combat Nurse’s 10-Year Fight to Win Women a Place of Honor in Washington, D.C."
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
From an early age, Jack Murphy wanted to join the military - he wanted to be close to the action, to experience war. 9/11 happened during his senior year in high school, so as soon as he graduated he enlisted to become an Army Ranger. As a Ranger he served as an anti-tank gunner, sniper, and team leader with 3rd Ranger Battalion. A friendly fire incident nearly derailed his military and special operations career, though. Luckily for Jack, he was able to continue serving in Special Operations. In 2006, he completed the Q-Course, becoming a Green Beret and joining 5th Special Forces Group as the senior Weapons Sergeant on a military free fall team. In 2010, Jack left the military to attend Columbia University, where he graduated in 2014. He has since written multiple books, co-founded a military news website run by SOF veterans (while still in college), and become a full-fledged journalist, reporting from around the world. Jack Murphy's story is one of honor and service, and seeking the hard truths in a chaotic world. Hear it all on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"Murphy's Law" | "Gray Matter Splatter" | "Direct Action"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Legendary journalist, Joe Galloway, joins us again on the podcast! Joe has covered just about every major conflict involving the U.S. military from the Global War on Terror all the way back to Vietnam, where he made a name for himself and was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device for rescuing wounded soldiers under fire at Ia Drang, becoming the only civilian to receive a combat medal from the Army during the Vietnam War. More importantly, Joe has embedded himself in military conflict to ensure the stories of those who fought in those wars, along with the families who supported them at home, are heard, even after those service and family members have passed. In this episode, Joe talks about his time covering the first Gulf War, up to the GWOT and present day, as well as his new book about remembering the sacrifices of those who fought in Vietnam, who, despite a bitter welcome home, went on to achieve great success. Hear it all on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"They Were Soldiers: The Sacrifices and Contributions of Our Vietnam Veterans" | “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young” | “The Vietnam War”
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
His military career had an almost idyllic start. Following in his father's footsteps, he signed up for the Infantry, and set out to do his part in the fight against terrorism and protect not just Americans, but also the continually oppressed. He even ended up sitting next to his future wife on the long flight from Infantry School to his first duty station in Alaska. But Eric Donoho's time as an Infantryman would take a dark turn, literally the moment he stepped off the plane for a 14-month deployment to Iraq in 2006. During that deployment he survived blasts from two IEDs and one EFP, along with personal tragedy. The blasts would take their toll, leading Eric to early retirement from the Army, and eventually to the edge of taking his own life. Ironically, it was the shock of personal tragedy once again that pushed Eric forward to a place where he could heal and return to the husband and father he'd always hoped to be. Hear Eric Donoho's moving story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.handupllc.com | www.rocwheels.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Fred Wellman has experienced some pretty significant highs in his military career. He was commissioned in Aviation out of West Point; flew Scout missions in Desert Storm; studied at Harvard; learned to fly Black Hawks so he could return to active duty to serve in combat in the Global War on Terror; as well as served as the spokesman for Generals David Petraeus and Martin Dempsey. But with those highs came unimaginable lows. From personal tragedy to combat loss, to fractured relationships from years of untreated post-traumatic stress, Wellman has lived through the fire and is still standing to see the other side. This episode gets deep into that journey and the ride Fred Wellman took to become a successful entrepreneur and leader in times of crisis, which he is still doing to this very day! Hear his powerful and inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.scoutcommsusa.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Following a promising college football career at Notre Dame, Rocky Bleier was on his way to starting a pro career in the NFL. It was 1968, and Bleier, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, was nearing the end of his first NFL season when he received another draft notice. This time it was from the Army, and it was for a report date the morning after a Steelers game Bleier was suited up for. It was the height of the war in Vietnam, and Bleier's number was called, budding NFL career or not. Bleier accepted, and by May of 1969 was thrust into combat in Vietnam. He would go on to serve honorably, sustaining serious injuries and receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals for actions in combat. Following his service in Vietnam, in spite of his injuries and being told he'd never play football again, Rocky Bleier worked his way back into the NFL, eventually starting at running back for the Steelers and winning four Super Bowls. It's an incredible and inspirational story - hear it all on this week's episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.rockybleier.com | "Fighting Back"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Searching for a higher purpose, and a sense of selflessness and brotherhood, Rob Jones enlisted in the Marine Corps at 20, while still attending college at Virginia Tech. His sense of purpose and the warrior mentality that the Corps gave him were put to the test after he sustained devastating injuries on July 22, 2010 in Afghanistan. While sweeping a field for suspected IEDs, Jones stepped on a land mine. The blast would leave him a double amputee. What most people see as insurmountable, Rob Jones saw as just another challenge. He has since faced down that challenge, making a quick recovery and going on to become a bronze medal Paralympian, among other amazing feats, including running 31 marathons in 31 days! And now he hopes to carry on that warrior mentality as a leader in Washington - he is currently running to represent the 10th District of Virginia in the U.S. Congress. Hear about Rob Jones’ incredible and inspiring journey on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.robjonesjourney.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Matt Klein grew up with vivid stories of his grandfather flying dive bomb missions in World War II. His grandfather had signed up shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Much like his grandfather, Klein joined the military shortly after 9/11. He signed up to serve in the Infantry - a job that would provide more than its fair share of hairy moments through two combat deployments to Iraq as the insurgency there gained steam. A chance opportunity to take the NYPD entrance test eventually led to Klein leaving the Army and becoming a detective with the NYPD. An avid and talented artist, whose father was a career animator with Walt Disney and Warner Brothers, Klein now serves as a Forensic Sketch Artist. He's also the creator of Rendar ART and "Battle Tribe" - a cool, Star Wars take on military operators. Hear how Matt Klein survived some very close calls in combat, including an IED blast for which he was awarded a Purple Heart, to earning a coveted spot as one of three Forensic Sketch Artists with his unit in the NYPD, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
@mattrendar | "Battle Tribe"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
It's safe to say that fate has been on Gary Wetzel's side since the day he stepped foot in Vietnam. He survived 5 helicopter crashes; he's a living recipient of the Medal of Honor from his time there; he was shot, stabbed, and blown up on the battlefield; and he's come full circle in meeting those who treated him after his 5th helicopter crash, decades later. That 5th crash and subsequent firefight that earned him the Medal of Honor came on January 8, 1968. Wetzel's arm was nearly blown off in the initial engagement, forcing him to fend off a multitude of enemy fighters with just one arm and a machine gun. Decades later, Wetzel continues to honor the lives he saved that day, as well as the lives of those he couldn't by sharing his story with groups all over the country. He wears the medal for them, and for the unsung heroes, especially those who never made it home from war. Hear his incredible story of courage under fire, honor, and service on this Memorial Day edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Strap in folks, because in this episode we go deep into the life and survival of Justin Lascek. Justin is a Green Beret Medic, who was blown up a little over a year ago while fighting in Afghanistan. The blast ended up taking both of his legs, and a couple of other vital parts which you’ll hear about in the episode. What the blast didn’t take was Justin’s indomitable warrior spirit, which is undeniable when you hear him tell his story. Ultimately, his strength, cultivated well before he enlisted, and his will to live carried him through the excruciating pain of an aggressively fast recovery. This episode gets deep, it gets dark, it gets light, and it’s one you don’t want to miss. Hear it all, and even how Justin Lascek went from combat wounded to inspiring others through his appearance on the "Joe Rogan Experience" and touring with musician Sturgill Simpson in support of the Special Forces Foundation, on this powerful, latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
@justin.lascek | Special Forces Foundation | www.sturgillsimpson.com | "The Justin Lascek Podcast"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Joe Chenelly’s path to the Marine Corps started from a very unlikely place. As he describes it, his parents were hippies. And after initially finding college to be something he didn't necessarily have an affinity for, Chenelly enlisted in the Marines. Joining not long before 9/11, Chenelly would eventually end up at the forefront of America’s war on terror as a combat journalist. In fact, Chenelly was the first Marine combat correspondent to step foot into enemy territory after 9/11. He was also part of the initial invasion into Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joe Chenelly now continues to serve as the National Executive Director for AMVETS, one of the leading veteran service organizations in America. Hear what it was like to be on the front lines of America's response to 9/11, as well as Joe's amazing work with AMVETS in support of those returning home from war, in this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.amvets.org | www.rollingtoremember.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Vincent "Rocco" Vargas thought his life would be baseball. He was on the path to take a stab at the majors, but academic ineligibility while playing college ball pushed him in a different direction. Inspired by military service and seeking a way to provide a stable means of supporting his first child, Vargas enlisted in the Army in 2003. He knew he wanted the most challenging job possible in the military, and ultimately settled on becoming an Army Ranger. After 3 deployments with the 75th Ranger Regiment, experiencing combat and the highs and lows that come with it, Vargas decided to leave active duty to pursue a new chapter. He is now a working actor and writer. You can catch him regularly as "Gilly" on the FX show and "Sons of Anarchy" spinoff, "Mayans M.C.", along with other acting projects he has coming out. Experience the inspiring evolution of Vincent "Rocco" Vargas on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.vincentroccovargas.com | "Mayans M.C." | @MayansFX | "Light The Fuse"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
Will Bardenwerper returns to the show, and goes back to Ranger School. Will graduated the Army's grueling combat leadership school in 2004, but returned recently to write a piece for Outside Magazine on Ranger class 05-19. Bardenwerper admits he's more often jolted from a deep sleep by a dream about Ranger School than he is by anything related to his own experiences in combat. Going back to chronicle class 05-19 may have actually changed that, but if anything, it gives outsiders a look into one of the toughest and most demanding military training courses out there. If you're interested in attending Ranger School, or ever wondered what goes on during this 9-week test of a soldier's physical and mental fortitude, this is one episode you don't want to miss!
"Army Ranger School Is a Laboratory of Human Endurance" | "The Prisoner in His Palace" | www.willbardenwerper.com
This episode is brought to you by MyFrontPageStory.com! MyFrontPageStory.com is a brand new way to celebrate major life events and turn them into your own piece of front-page news. Each story is written by professional journalists and are perfect for anniversaries, weddings, graduations, retirements and many more occasions. Special offer for "Hazard Ground" listeners inside the episode!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts!
This week we're featuring another Special Guest, whose story is characterized by resilience as well as connected to recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. On April 15, 2013, Marc Fucarile was severely injured by the second of two bomb blasts at the Boston Marathon. He was attending the race as a spectator, watching a friend of his run, and was standing just a few feet away from the second bomb when it detonated. Fucarile lost his right leg above the knee in the blast, nearly lost his left leg and was covered with severe burns, shrapnel wounds, and even still has shrapnel lodged in his heart. His true recovery didn't happen, though, until he was given an opportunity for treatment at Walter Reed. Hear how that happened along with Mark's inspirational story on this special edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.marcfucarile.com
This episode is brought to you by MyFrontPageStory.com! MyFrontPageStory.com is a brand new way to celebrate major life events and turn them into your own piece of front-page news. Each story is written by professional journalists and are perfect for anniversaries, weddings, graduations, retirements and many more occasions. Special offer for "Hazard Ground" listeners inside the episode!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
A measured decision led Tom Kerr to pursue the Green Beret after 4 years in the Infantry. He wanted to do more in combat, serve with the elite, and know that what he was doing every time he deployed to a combat theater was not only challenging, but tangible. Following more deployments as a Green Beret, a back injury nearly sent Kerr out of the military and a job he loved more than anything. But, he found purpose in a new position working to modernize and innovate combat gear and systems for Special Operations forces until his back healed and he could deploy again. Tom Kerr is still serving as a Green Beret on active duty, nearing the end of a 20-year career, while also working on the next chapter building a clothing start-up called, Eighth Order. Hear his inspiring story of combat, resilience, and healing on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.eighthorder.com | Arc'teryx LEAF- Special Operations Care Fund
This episode is brought to you by MyFrontPageStory.com! MyFrontPageStory.com is a brand new way to celebrate major life events and turn them into your own piece of front-page news. Each story is written by professional journalists and are perfect for anniversaries, weddings, graduations, retirements and many more occasions. Special offer for "Hazard Ground" listeners inside the episode!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Dr. Bob Adams is fifth generation career military, dating all the way back to the Civil War. His military career spans 30 years, and began at the U.S. Naval Academy. Following graduation, Dr. Adams served a few years in the Navy before pursuing his dream to become a Navy SEAL. He would serve 12 years as a SEAL before embarking on a career shift, enrolling in medical school, and becoming a doctor - specifically an Army doctor. From there he would go on to fill such prestigious positions as the Command Surgeon for Delta Force, and deploy with the 82nd Airborne Division in 2003-2004 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His military career and service to his country and others is nothing short of astounding, and you can hear about it in detail on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
"Six Days of Impossible" | www.sealhellweek.com | www.swordsandsaints.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
He is credited with making roughly 5,325 rescues during his 20 year career in the Air Force. That's an average of approximately 5 rescues each week for 20 years straight! Mike Maroney joined the Air Force to become a PJ. He says he joined the military to earn his keep for living in a free country. And when you look at what he's done during his military career, it's clear he's done more than earn his keep. He's saved the lives of not only American servicemembers, but also those of Coalition Forces, civilians during humanitarian missions, and even the enemy - proving he's dedicated to something much, much bigger than himself. Maroney continues to train and prepare individuals for special operations careers, even now that he's out of uniform. He's an incredible human, and you can hear his story on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
When Jeremy Staat was drafted out of Arizona State by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1998 NFL draft, it looked as if his life for the foreseeable future would be based solely around pro football. He was a standout player, but after four seasons in the NFL Staat decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and serve in the military. Staat enlisted in the Marine Corps, and served from 2005 to 2009, deploying to Haditha, Iraq as an infantry Marine. In this episode, Jeremy talks about his unlikely jump from the NFL to combat, his close relationship with Pat Tillman, riding a bike across the U.S. to raise awareness about veteran suicide, and how these experiences have pushed him toward a greater life of service, and eventually running for U.S. Congress. Hear it all on this inspiring episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.jeremystaat.com | www.staatforcongress.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
If you're looking for motivation, or simply inspiration to never, ever quit, then you should listen to this episode with Green Beret, Nick Lavery. Nick enlisted in the Army to become a Green Beret after he graduated college in 2007. Since earning his Special Forces tab, Lavery took shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade to his shoulder, leaving a sizable wound; he was shot in the face; and ultimately lost part of his right leg from machine gun fire, all in three separate encounters with the enemy. For all three injuries, Lavery insisted on and has returned to combat as soon as possible, making him the first special operator to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee. Hear his incredible story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Following in the footsteps of his father and both grandfathers, Thomas Gibbons-Neff joined the military at the end of his senior year in high school. He enlisted in the Marine Corps. Like many of his contemporaries, he just wanted to get in the fight. He was in 8th grade when 9/11 happened. So any doubt that he would follow his family into the military, and eventually war, vanished when his country was attacked. But war would bring a new revelation for Thomas and his fellow Marines: that life would be so greatly different, even though they had survived and come back home to the lives they left behind to fight America's enemies. In this episode, a Marine turned journalist reflects on the loss of his fellow Marines, fellow leaders who he respected greatly, and whose loss is still deeply apparent. Hear his story on this very sobering edition of HAZARD GROUND.
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a Special Forces Medic, Robert Patrick Lewis can certainly tell you. They are some of the most highly trained field medical professionals in the world. Lewis signed up to become one after 9/11, and deployed multiple times to Afghanistan, Iraq, and North Africa, eventually finding himself on the receiving end of field medical care. He received the Purple Heart for wounds he sustained on one of those deployments to Afghanistan. In this episode, Lewis talks about the circumstances surrounding his combat injuries, losing brothers in combat, and how he went from Green Beret to both non-fiction and fiction writer. He's also now an entrepreneur, marketing professional, and investor. Hear his inspiring story of combat, loss, and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"The Pact" | "The Pact II" | "Love Me When I'm Gone" | www.heroesmediagroup.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Originally, Terry Wilson wanted to be a Marine. But, following a brief education on the recruiting business, Terry opted for the Army instead when he learned his "guaranteed" MOS wasn't so guaranteed with the Marine Corps. He would eventually become a Combat Engineer with the Army, deploying to Afghanistan where his job was lead Husky vehicle driver, searching for IEDs during route clearance operations. Prior to his assignment as a Husky driver, Terry was blown up by three IEDs in the Buffalo A2 vehicle. In this episode, Terry talks in depth about those experiences, the traumatic brain injury and other IED related injuries that ultimately resulted in receiving the Purple Heart, and what life has been like since his time in Afghanistan, including a deployment there as a civilian. Check it out in this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.coachterrywilson.com | Video of IED Detonation on Terry Wilson's Vehicle
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
There are Marines...There are Recon Marines...And then there is Rudy Reyes. At the age of twenty-six, Rudy joined the Marine Corps out of a desire to serve his country and honor the warrior mentality he had built within himself through years of rough upbringing and various physical challenges. After graduating Parris Island, Reyes earned a coveted spot to try out for Marine Force Reconnaissance. He would go on to complete the training and land a job in the Marine Corps that only an extremely small percentage of Marines will ever perform - that of Force Recon Marine. As a Recon Marine, Rudy would conduct missions from pre-Afghanistan invasion in Pakistan in 2001, to the Iraq invasion in 2003, to bloody combat in the Battles of Fallujah and Ramadi in 2004 and 2005. Hear Rudy talk about how these campaigns shaped the person he is today, and even though he came home alive, how they almost destroyed his life on the home front, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"Generation Kill" | www.rudyreyes.com
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Brad Thomas returns to the show! Brad is a musician and retired 1st SFOD-Delta operator, who also fought in the Battle of Mogadishu - better known as "Black Hawk Down" - as an Army Ranger. Brad's band, "Silence & Light", were featured in Episode 58, just before they were getting ready to head into the studio to record their first album. Their self-titled debut album was released on December 20, 2019. All proceeds from the album are being donated to two veteran support organizations: Warriors Heart and the Marine Raider Foundation. In this episode Brad talks about the recording process with Grammy Award-winning Producer, Josh Gudwin, and the importance of finding a creative outlet for the dark times and trauma experienced in combat. He also offers up some rarely heard, intimate details of the fight in Mogadishu along the way. Check it out now on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.silenceandlightmusic.com | "Silence & Light" Music | www.warriorsheart.com | www.marineraiderfoundation.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the conclusion of Operation Just Cause, this week we bring you an incredible story of combat and survival from that campaign. David Reeves was a Ranger fire team leader with Charlie Co, 3rd BN, 75th Ranger Regiment during the invasion of Panama. His company's mission was to seize the airfield at Torrijos Airport, the international airport of Panama City. During the mission, Reeves was shot three times with an AK-47 at point-blank range while hunting down two enemy shooters in a terminal restroom. In the end, Reeves and his fellow Rangers would survive; the enemy combatants would not. Hear this amazing and powerful story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
As someone who was rising through the ranks and performing at a very high level in the Army's top tier, elite special operations unit, Patty Collins never thought she would suffer an injury that would end up taking her leg, when she wasn't serving in a war zone. But, in 2006, while riding her bike to work on Fort Bragg, she was struck from behind by an automobile. The marathon runner and triathlete, survivor of multiple combat tours, and recipient of both a Senior Parachutist Badge and the Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, was now facing injuries and excruciating pain that would eventually lead to the decision to amputate her left leg. Undeterred from continuing to serve on active duty, Patty would go on to complete over 24 years of active service and retire as a Colonel. Hear her very powerful story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Born prematurely due to drugs and alcohol, to a mother he would never meet, Kionte Storey spent the first 10 years of his life raised by his second cousin. He would spend 8 more years in foster care, before he found the Marine Corps. Joining the Marines was a form of escape, but also a way to prove something to himself, and possibly a chance at a better life. Unfortunately, his time in the Marine Corps would be cut short by an IED in Afghanistan that took his right leg. Storey found new challenges in recovery, this time fighting thoughts of suicide and hopelessness with his newfound physical injuries. But through it all - an adverse childbirth and upbringing, and now life as an amputee - Kionte Storey has found the strength to persevere and push through the dark times. And now he hopes to be a beacon and inspiration for others who are struggling. Hear his powerful and inspirational story on our very last episode of 2019!
The Headstrong Project | The Heroes Project | Kirstie Ennis Foundation
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
As an Infantry Marine, Geoff Hopf experienced a unique side of the Persian Gulf War we rarely hear about. Hopf's relatively small team was tasked with forming the first line of defense if Saddam Hussein decided to invade Saudi Arabia during the buildup of coalition forces prior to Operation Desert Storm. Left in the desert for week's on end, Hopf's team literally ran out of food at one point, while still carrying out the vital mission of defend and delay. The kick-off of combat operations would bring further perils as the chaos of war nearly swallowed up the small contingent of Marines. Following his exit from the Marine Corps, Hopf would embark on an equally unique career as a fiction writer. He has since authored dozens of novels, making a name for himself in both the post-apocalyptic and western genres. Hear about his unorthodox journey from Marine to best-selling author on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.gmichaelhopf.com | "The End: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series)" | "Vengeance Road" | "Nemesis: Dead Center (An EMP Surviv al Novel) (Nemesis Trilogy)"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Anytime combat photographer Kevin Wallace was involved in a firefight, he often had a critical decision to make: shoot back at the enemy, or pick up his camera and take a much different shot. The decision could be painstaking, but Wallace knew the importance of documenting combat, while still trying to help those to his left and right. The process weighed on him so much that he spent hours and hours training himself so that he could flip from camera to weapon and back without thinking about it. This proved vital for one particular and pivotal battle, from which Wallace received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with valor while serving in Afghanistan. Wallace alternated between engaging the enemy and visually capturing the actions of his teammates with his camera, successfully documenting the battle, and helping to ensure he and his teammates made it back to base alive. Hear him share this incredible story and more on this week's episode of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
There isn't much we can say about Kyle Carpenter to further accentuate just how special a human being he is. He served as a Marine in combat and received the military's highest award for valor with humility, strength, and optimism - qualities that were certainly tested by the years of pain and frustration that followed his exit from combat. Kyle was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan on 21 November 2010. On that day, Carpenter threw himself on an enemy grenade in order to save the life of a fellow Marine. But to get the best sense of who Kyle Carpenter is deep down, and understand the steadfast character he exemplifies day in and day out - beyond what's written in headlines and citations - you have to hear him tell it. His story is incredible, for not just what he did in combat, but also for what he's done since. You can hear him share it on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.williamkylecarpenter.com | "You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Unless you served in Vietnam, you probably weren't aware that U.S. forces fought alongside other allies, Australia being one of them, and an important one at that. Dave Sabben was one of those soldiers who bravely led Australian military forces not long after the U.S. war in Vietnam began. Sabben joined the army as part of Australia's National Service program in 1965. By the end of '65 he had completed officer training, graduating as a 2nd lieutenant. Shortly thereafter he deployed to Vietnam as platoon commander of 12 Platoon, D Company, 6 Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). After only a couple of months in-country, Sabben's unit experienced their first battle, and what would come to be known as one of Australia's fiercest and most intense engagements of the Vietnam War - the Battle of Long Tan. Hear how Sabben led his unit against overwhelming odds and survived a battle that in his words, "no amount of training could prepare you for," in this special edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.sabben.com | "The Battle of Long Tan" | "Through Enemy Eyes" | "Danger Close"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases (Paid Link)
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Geoff Dardia's special operations career was pretty much over before it even began. Having rolled multiple phases of BUD/S due to injuries, at 21, Dardia had broken his body down to the point where the Navy was willing to compensate him for the rest of his life, if he chose. But having a goal to become a SOF operator, Dardia switched gears, enlisted in the Army, and relatively quickly worked his way to becoming a Green Beret. Perseverance would earn Dardia a successful career in Special Forces, but that also came with a heavy price. In this episode Dardia talks about how operating in combat was actually "safer" than the long-term hazards associated with preparing for combat. And how the Task Force Dagger Foundation Health Initiative Program gave him the unconventional and much-needed opportunity to mend those wounds outside the normal and restrictive military medical system. Hear his inspiring story in this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Task Force Dagger Foundation Health Initiative Program
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Two completely different military career paths: one, a Lieutenant General who served over 30 years as an Army Infantry officer, the other an enlisted Infantry Marine who served four years, with two overseas deployments to combat zones. Both brought together though, by their experiences and unique perspectives serving multiple combat tours. Now retired, Lieutenant General "Burke" Garrett would go on to become the Executive Advisor to the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, a nationally renowned program that provides transformative care for veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. Tim Banik, the Marine, would become close friends with General Garrett while he was immersed in the intensive outpatient Emory program, after struggling for years with PTSD. Together they continue to help others who are struggling with the invisible wounds of war. Hear their story on this Veterans Day edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Emory Healthcare Veterans Program
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Like many kids coming out of high school, James LaPorta just wanted to get on with life. His country was at war, and he had little interest in going to college - at least right away. So he joined the Marine Corps, signing up for the infantry. That decision would take him to Afghanistan, to fight in his country's war, and fundamentally change who he was as a person. It would also prepare him for life after the Marine Corps. He wanted to make the Marines a career, but the military had different plans. So LaPorta decided to pursue journalism as a way to continue to serve, especially in an age where speed in reporting meant more than accuracy and facts. He wanted to make sure the story was told, and told correctly. LaPorta now serves as the senior correspondent for Newsweek covering national security and military affairs. Hear his inspiring journey on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
@JimLaPorta
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Before "Lone Survivor" - the story of Operation Red Wings as told by Marcus Luttrell, the only SEAL to survive that operation - there was ODA 525. Assigned a special reconnaissance mission inside Iraq on the eve of the Desert Storm ground war, the Green Berets of ODA 525 faced a moral dilemma of magnificent proportions when their hide site was discovered by local children. Poor intel on the hide site location put the men of ODA 525 in a populated area of the desert, where they would face overwhelming odds if discovered. CW2 Chad Balwanz, commander of 525 tells the story of how he and his men decided not to kill the Iraqi children who stumbled upon their hide site, only to take their chances fighting off a numerically superior force. This is one of the most impactful stories to come out of the Gulf War, and Balwanz tells it like it happened yesterday. Hear his amazing firsthand account of ODA 525 and the small team of Green Berets who took on Saddam's forces deep behind enemy lines, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Jason Robinson felt a calling to serve in the military. Notably, he felt it was his duty to serve having been born into a free society - a way to earn his citizenship. He also wanted to do his part to ensure the U.S. military didn’t revert back to a draft to fight the Global War on Terror - something his sons could have faced as they grew older. Robinson chose the Infantry at age 34 - no easy feat. He literally had to fight his way into the Infantry, writing letters to both President Bush and Vice President Cheney so that he could join in his mid-thirties. Robinson went on to fight honorably in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, receiving the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in an EFP strike. Needless to say, Jason Robinson earned his citizenship and then some. Hear his inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
We've covered the Battle of Mogadishu - popularized by the movie and book, "Black Hawk Down" - multiple times on the podcast. But, we haven't covered it from the perspective of the combat search and rescue (CSAR) team sent in to rescue the crews of the Black Hawks shot down on October 3, 1993 over the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia. John Belman was a Ranger on the CSAR team that was dropped in to the first crash site. On arrival at the site, Belman and his teammates were thrust into a chaotic scene of whirling dirt and debris and intense enemy gunfire. The situation on the ground was so dire that Belman just assumed he'd never make it out alive. Fortunately he did though, after an overnight battle between a relatively small U.S. force and literally an entire city. Hear yet another unique perspective on the battle that you just can't get from book or film, straight from an Army Ranger who lived through it, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.johnbelman.net | www.goruck.com
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
John Stryker Meyer earned his Green Beret in December of 1967. About five months later, he was based in Vietnam, fighting a very deadly and secret war in Laos and Cambodia. For John and his fellow Green Berets, the war in Vietnam was fought in the shadows. And they arguably gained considerable ground in the fight, despite virtually zero public recognition for their contributions at the time. Their efforts were audacious and struck at the heart of an enemy fighting an unconventional war - tricky ground for the larger conventional U.S. force so often associated with the war. John takes us through the mindset of the Green Beret preparing for and facing off against such a largely unconventional enemy, sharing what it was like to operate so close to them, that at one point an enemy soldier unwittingly touched John's boot in the pitch-black darkness as he crawled past him and his team. Hear this amazing story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! "Across the Fence" | "On The Ground: The Secret War in Vietnam" | "SOG Chronicles: Volume One" Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
On November 9, 2010, Zach Stinson, a Marine fighting in Afghanistan, stepped on an IED. The blast took both of his legs, and a few fingers. But, the blast did not take his zeal for life. Listening to him talk about this experience, you would never think that he's faced great challenges and extremely low moments trying to get back to the normalcy of everyday life. He has handled his injuries with the same bravery and stoicism he displayed when taking "point" while searching the village compound that hid the IED that changed his life forever. He's even looked past his injuries and "limits" and started competing in triathlons as a double amputee. Zach Stinson's story is amazing, and one we all can take inspiration from, no matter what our station is in life. Check it out on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. We just made our 3rd donation, this time to the Pat Tillman Foundation. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
When Pasha Palanker was 15, he and his family immigrated to the U.S. from Moldova. Although his family lived in a rough neighborhood on a very low income, Pasha was happy and proud to be living in America, whose opportunities far outnumbered those of his birthplace. In an effort to repay the U.S. government for the assistance provided to him and his family after they arrived from Moldova, Pasha enlisted in the Army, shortly after the war in Iraq kicked off in 2003. Following multiple deployments to Iraq, Pasha had been blown up more than once, and suffered multiple Traumatic Brain Injuries. His experiences left him with the lasting effects of PTSD. In this episode he talks about his journey - how he survived multiple blasts and came face-to-face with a suicide bomber, and how he is now working through the issues caused by his injuries. This is an open and insightful conversation about the indelible wounds of war we can't see that are still plaguing servicemembers long after they come home.
www.getheadstrong.org | www.teamrubiconusa.org
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. We just made our 3rd donation, this time to the Pat Tillman Foundation. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Normally, this week's guest would be billed as a "Special Guest" as Joe Galloway was never actually in the military. But if history has anything to say about it, there's no doubt he's earned his stripes, going all the way back to his first overseas assignments in Vietnam. Early on, Galloway was embedded with the 1st Cavalry Division during the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major battle of the Vietnam War. He not only covered the battle, but also fought to save the lives of other American soldiers during fierce ground fighting. He was eventually awarded the Bronze Star with "V" for Valor for rescuing wounded soldiers under fire at Ia Drang, becoming the only civilian to receive a combat medal from the Army during the Vietnam War. Galloway would serve a total of four tours in Vietnam, and then cover every major American conflict up to the Global War on Terror. He's been described as "a soldier’s reporter and a soldier’s friend,” and there's no doubt that sentiment shines through in this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
"We Were Soldiers Once...and Young" | "The Vietnam War"
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. We just made our 3rd donation, this time to the Pat Tillman Foundation. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Patrick Murphy is the first Iraq War veteran elected to the U.S. Congress, representing Pennsylvania. Following his time in Congress, he was confirmed as the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army, serving until January 2017. Murphy may be a veteran of U.S. politics, but this conversation is anything but a political one. Murphy deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 82nd Airborne, and also taught at West Point during his tenure as a U.S. Army officer. He’s a special breed of leader who truly understands what it means to be a patriot and look beyond self to serve the greater good for those around him and the people he once directly represented in Congress. He’s made holistic changes for the better in the military, and he continues to lead as a vetrepreneur and soldier-statesman today. Hear Patrick Murphy’s powerful and inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.patrickjmurphy.com
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. We recently made our 3rd donation, this time to the Pat Tillman Foundation. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
While taking a semester off from college, Gene Murphy received what many young men his age feared at the time - a draft notice for Vietnam. Murphy considered it an honor to serve his country, so leaving his small, South Dakota farming community for the Army and Vietnam, was tough, but not a big deal. When he shipped off to Vietnam, he figured as a mortarman he'd probably be stationed at a basecamp somewhere and not spend much time in the jungle. But the situation changed rapidly when he hit the ground, and he quickly went from mortarman to infantryman living in the jungle. Just 30 days before the end of his 12-month tour, Murphy was shot twice during a firefight and left paralyzed below the waste. His attitude throughout it all and to this day has been nothing short of amazing. And he's carried that positivity into leading and serving a key role in the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization in South Dakota for over 40 years. Hear Gene Murphy's inspirational story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.dav.org
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. We just made our 3rd donation, this time to the Pat Tillman Foundation. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
As far back as he can remember, Michael Rutledge wanted to be a Naval Aviator. He lacked the grades to get him there, so he enlisted in the Navy, eventually becoming a Navy SEAL. Unable to ignore his desire to fly in the military, after 8 years as a SEAL, Rutledge started the process to transfer to the Army to fly helicopters. All of this happened not long before 9/11. Despite his love for the Teams and its inherent brotherhood, Rutledge felt a greater calling to make it into the aviator ranks and fly in combat. He would be one of the very few aviators that would go from flight school straight into the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Rutledge shares with us the high's and low's of his journey, and what it meant to be a part of some of the military's most daring and precise missions, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. We just made our 3rd donation, this time to the Pat Tillman Foundation. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Garrett Cathcart had wanted to go to West Point since the 4th grade. When high school graduation approached, it was West Point or enlist. He secured an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, setting him on a course to become a combat-tested leader, as the Global War on Terror erupted only a couple of years before he graduated and entered active duty. Since then he has served as a Cavalry Scout, Troop Commander, and military advisor in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cathcart sits down in-studio to reflect on the loss he experienced in combat and the “what-if’s” that changed the course of human lives. He expands on how those events led him to a life of service, helping other veterans through his nonprofit, Mission Roll Call. Mission Roll Call's purpose is to give every single veteran a voice in policy and advocacy on the issues that are important to them. Hear how Garrett Cathcart unwittingly came to be the champion for that voice on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.missionrollcall.org
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
It’s not too often we get the opportunity to speak with veterans of WWII. They’re a special breed, and Harry Lockhead is no exception. Joining the Navy when his country was at war, Lockhead went into the service as a cook. After the battle at Tarawa, the loss of Marines was so great, that the Navy asked for volunteers to learn how to perform reconnaissance and underwater demolition for future beach landings. Harry volunteered, and became one of the Navy's first Underwater Demolition swimmers, or "Naked Warriors" as they were known. With no instruction manual, Harry and his team of other volunteers had to learn how to clear beach landings in combat, literally by trial and error. Lockhead would eventually become one of the original UDT20 Frogmen, and predecessors of the Navy SEALs. It's an amazing feat, considering the conditions and timeline these men operated under. Hear a firsthand account of what it was like training and operating as a "Naked Warrior" on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.navysealfoundation.org
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Staring down a very domesticated life path she had no interest in following, Mary Dague decided to join the Army, a few years after 9/11. Desiring a military job that was both dynamic and challenging, she signed up for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). She loved being an EOD soldier and showed great promise as a young bomb tech on her team while deployed in combat. But it only took one critical incident to end all of that. On November 4, 2007, her military career came to an end when she literally bear hugged an IED that her team was disarming, when it became unstable in their vehicle, in an attempt to save her teammates' lives. The explosion took both of her arms, but never damaged her spirit and the strength she now calls upon to live each day and inspire and help others who have reached a low point in their lives. She has handled her injuries with astounding resilience and best of all, a rock solid sense of humor. Hear her inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
@WonderNubs
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Following his childhood dream to serve in the military, Zachary Rhyner joined the Air Force in 2004. He knew he wanted to serve in an elite group, that would no doubt face challenges in combat. Rhyner enlisted with the goal of becoming a combat controller. After a grueling two-and-a-half-year selection and training process, he became a special tactics combat controller. He would soon go on to serve with a Special Operations team, seeing their fare share of combat in Afghanistan. It was on one of those missions that he and his team would face extremely daunting challenges, fighting to their objective up 60-foot cliffs against a very well-defended enemy force. Rhyner's actions during that particular battle would earn him the Air Force Cross - the second highest military award that can be given to a member of the United States Air Force. During his sixth deployment, Rhyner would sustain injuries that ended his military career, but were the catalyst for him to continue a legacy of service with the help of the Pat Tillman Foundation. Hear this incredibly inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.pattillmanfoundation.org
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Even though Chris Greca came from a military family, he never intended to join the Army. But, it was a spur of the moment decision at a red light one day that drove him to the recruiter’s office. And before he knew it, Chris Greca was on his way to a 31-year career in the Army. He would retire in 2017 as a Sergeant Major, fulfilling key posts all the way up to the 4-star command level. Serving much of his career with the storied 75th Ranger Regiment, he also racked up a large number of injuries along the way. So much so that he became one of the first senior enlisted infantry soldiers in a leadership position to publicly address the emotional numbness and his own mental health issues that had come with serving so much time in and around combat. Greca continues to help other servicemembers suffering from those same issues today through public speaking and direct outreach. Chris Greca is an inspiring leader and we are honored to have him share his story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.5thprinciple.net
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
As a young Army Ranger, Jeff Struecker saw combat early, beginning with the operation to capture Manuel Noriega in Panama in 1989. But, it wasn't until his experiences during Operation Gothic Serpent - the op to capture Somali faction leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid - that combat took on a new meaning - a more violent and vicious meaning. Better known by its book and film title, "Black Hawk Down", Struecker shares with us his experiences fighting on the ground in Mogadishu, on 3 and 4 October, 1993, in a running gun battle, the likes of which the U.S. military hadn't seen in years. He talks about how he was able to transform fear into decisive action, and head back out into the embattled city to help save his fellow Rangers, when he most certainly knew he was heading out on a "suicide mission." After Somalia, Struecker would go on to become an officer and chaplain, serving in Airborne and Ranger units. He also served more than a dozen combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hear his incredibly inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.jeffstruecker.com | "The Road to Unafraid"
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
In 2004 in the Iraq desert, British soldier, Brian Wood found himself on the receiving end of an order not given in battle in 25 years: FIX BAYONETS! In just a split second he digested that phrase, and began leading his men on a full-frontal assault against an entrenched enemy, charging into heavy oncoming fire. Outnumbered, he and his men engaged in a close-quarter battle, seizing the initiative and defeating the enemy force, saving numerous allied soldiers' lives. For his courageous leadership in battle, Brian was awarded the Military Cross by Her Majesty The Queen II - one of Britain’s highest awards for gallantry in combat. But, his story doesn't end there. Years later he would be tried for war crimes under bogus litigation, straining his will and close relationships to a near breaking point. Hear how he survived one of the most daring assaults in military history, and the fallout from having his honor questioned years later, in this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
"Double Crossed: The Highest Honour, The Greatest Betrayal"
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Remi Adeleke was destined to lead an unconventional life. He might say it was divine intervention. Whatever it was, it put him on a path most ordinary people never travel. Then again, Remi isn't an ordinary human being. He was born into Nigerian royalty, the son of a Yoruba chief. His father was also an entrepreneur, architect, and engineer, who worked to bring prosperity to Nigeria through innovative development projects. But, his father's untimely death would leave Remi's family penniless, and resettled in the Bronx, NY. Remi would go from Prince to street hustler, until a twist of fate lead him to the Navy, where he put himself through hell to become a Navy SEAL. His story didn't end there, but only got better. Hear his incredible story of transformation - how he defied the odds in the Bronx, the Navy, and in combat - on this very inspirational episode of HAZARD GROUND!
"Transformed"
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
We bring a little bit of levity to the show this week with our guest, Matt Cothron. Matt, better known by his online moniker, Uncle Chaps, is a successful (and humorous) blogger and podcast host. But, before that, he was a Marine, serving in combat as a bomb dog handler. In 2007 he was shot through the arm - an injury that would eventually contribute to medical retirement. Leading up to that event, he had been in over 40 fire fights and conducted over 100 raids in Iraq. His experiences in combat would ultimately contribute to a diagnosis of PTSD toward the end of his military career. In turn, his struggle with PTSD would lead to a very personal and regretful event in his life that he still pays the price for to this day. Hear about Matt Cothron's journey from Marine to successful career bringing humor and perspective to the masses, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.getheadstrong.org
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
When you look back on Jason Redman's career as a Navy SEAL, two words stand out: warrior and leader. We've said it before - those words get thrown around rather loosely. But in Jason's case, they are terms he continues to embody, even after his career in the Navy was finished. In this episode, he talks about what it means to be a leader, and what it takes to continue to grow as one, constantly learning and refining knowledge, lessons, and experience. He also goes in-depth on what happened to him on the night of September 13, 2007, when the assault force he was leading came under heavy fire while hunting down an Al Qaeda HVI. Redman was injured badly, taking multiple rounds to his body and gear, and one devastating round to his face. Hear how he helped bring his men home alive that night; and how a hand-written sign he had hung on his door at Bethesda Naval Medical Center became the rallying cry for his recovery, and an inspiration to many others! Hear all of it on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.jasonredman.com | "The Trident" | "Overcome"
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
We have another Special Guest this week, and an absolutely incredible story of one man's quest to survive under Saddam Hussein's rule as well as the insurgency that plagued his country months into Operation Iraqi Freedom. He still goes by his code name, Johnny Walker, and for years - including through Desert Storm and the 2003 U.S. invasion - he dreamed of a better life for himself and his family. He didn't see a future in Iraq, but rather one nested in the American Dream. Johnny Walker discovered a path to that dream when he started working as an interpreter, or "terp" as they're known on the battlefield, for Navy SEALS operating in his homeland against the insurgency vying for control. Hear Johnny talk about what life was like under Saddam, how he found purpose in working with U.S. forces, and how he eventually achieved his American Dream, in this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.codenamejohnnywalker.com | "Code Name: Johnny Walker"
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!!
It was an absolute honor to have Marine, WWII vet, and Medal of Honor recipient, Hershel “Woody” Williams on the show! Woody Williams grew up in rural West Virginia, so far removed from urban centers that his family had no access to daily news sources. So, Woody’s family had virtually no access to information about the military, let alone the events leading up to WWII. But, eventually it was the Second World War that would act as the catalyst for Woody joining the Marine Corps. While fighting on Iwo Jima, Williams “displayed ‘valiant devotion to duty’ and service above self as he ‘enabled his company to reach its objective,’" earning him the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle. Woody received the Medal from President Truman at the White House on October 5, 1945. Williams is the last surviving Marine from WWII to wear the Medal of Honor. This is an incredible, inspiring edition of HAZARD GROUND you don’t want to miss! www.hwwmohf.org Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we donate proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So far, we've been able to make small donations to Merging Vets and Players and The Headstrong Project. So let's keep this going so we can make more and bigger donations! Help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! So many great and honest companies with great products! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Our Special Guest this week is Renee Nickell. Renee became a Gold Star Sibling when she lost her brother, Marine Major Samuel Griffith in combat on December 14, 2011 in Afghanistan. Renee was very close to Sam; in her eyes, he was her hero. Losing him was devastating. Six years after his death, she decided to honor and remember Sam by writing a memoir about him, with the hope that it would help her and others who had lost a sibling, find some peace in the process of healing. The book is "Always My Hero" and it's a tribute to Samuel Griffith. Renee shares with us her journey from losing her brother, writing the book, and finding a reason to be whole again on this very moving episode of HAZARD GROUND.
www.reneenickell.com | "Always My Hero"
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
This week, another legend in the Special Ops community joins us, as retired Colonel Lee Van Arsdale takes us through two pivotal operations for the storied 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta, more commonly known as Delta Force. Van Arsdale joined Delta Force in 1985, and spent 14 years leading some of the most elite soldiers history has ever seen. As a Major, he lead the Delta assault troop that captured Manual Noriega in Panama in 1989, personally restraining Noriega while he was taken into custody. Van Arsdale was involved with several other high impact missions throughout his career, the world will never know about; however, one other one rose to notoriety in the mid '90s. That was the Battle of Mogadishu - more commonly known as "Black Hawk Down." In this episode, we once again get a rare look at this battle - and new information about it, from a man who lead troops on the ground there. A West Point grad, Van Arsdale now works on the faculty staff at the Thayer Leader Development Group at West Point, helping develop the next generation of leaders. This is one episode you don't want to miss!
www.thayerleaderdevelopment.com
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
There are many general officers in the U.S. military, but there are few who truly leave their mark on the organization after they have finished serving in its ranks. LTG (Ret) Michael Ferriter is one of those few. His commitment to not only serving his country, during multiple times of conflict, as a Ranger and beyond, along with his steadfast leadership have made the military a healthier and more lethal fighting force. LTG Ferriter is also responsible for bringing the Combatives Program to the Army. But, it's his thirty-plus years of service in uniform, and uncompromising sense of integrity, having lead soldiers from the elite 75th Ranger Regiment to taking care of military families as the commanding general of Installation Management Command that stand out as his greatest achievements. We were lucky enough to have him share with us his journey through the ranks and what he's doing now to continue to influence lives, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.theferritergroup.com | www.nationalvmm.org
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Scot Spooner is a modern-day warrior. He joined the Army at a young age, earned his Green Beret, and eventually earned a spot in the Army's elite Delta Force. He's trained for war, instructed others in its finer and deadlier points; fought in combat and survived when others around him were less fortunate, and returned home, seemingly unscathed. But, ultimately, injuries deeper than skin surface came to light. So Scot, in the truest sense of the term "warrior," sought healing while discovering a way to not just help himself, but help others, as he and his brother and business partner call it, "become more powerful humans." This is a very inspirational story about a man who experienced combat not just in war, but in his personal life as well. Scot's literally been tested by fire, and has come out of it a truly more powerful human. Hear his incredible story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.ogfree.com
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
This week we return to Afghanistan, 2002, and the Battle of Takur Ghar. Retired Army Master Sergeant and Ranger, Eric Stebner tells it from the perspective of leading Chalk 2 of his Quick Reaction Force up an over 10,000-foot mountain, under enemy mortar fire, to link up with his Platoon Leader’s chalk, which was already engaged with the enemy on top of the mountain. Stebner recounts the effort to climb 2000 feet, at a high altitude in the thin mountain air, and fight the battle to take back the high ground on top of Takur Ghar, and eventually recover the bodies of Navy SEAL Neil Roberts and USAF combat controller John Chapman. He and his chalk would eventually fight their way to securing Takur Ghar, but not until well over twelve hours after landing, and losing a total of five men, including Eric’s best friend, when it’s all said and done. Hear this moving account of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.myusvc.com/4vrrip.html
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Kevin Lacz left college to join the Navy with orders for SEAL training. He would go on to graduate with BUD/s Class 246, and eventually land with SEAL Team Three. By 2006, he was fighting in Ramadi, Iraq, working primarily as a sniper and medic. In 2008 he returned to Iraq, working again as a sniper, medic, and also breacher - SEAL certifications that made him the only member of his platoon qualified to participate in any operation the platoon planned. During his time in Iraq, Kevin also worked alongside American Sniper, Chris Kyle. Their close relationship led to Kevin working as a technical advisor, as well as playing himself, in Clint Eastwood's 2014 film, "American Sniper." Kevin talks about that experience as well as surviving combat, and losing not just teammates, but what it's like to lose a piece of yourself on the battlefield, in this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.huntingforhealing.org
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
She initially wanted to be an astronaut, jumping headfirst into the Civil Air Patrol program at a young age. But Annie Kleiman would end up taking a completely different path - one very unconventional within the ranks of the Air Force. She would ultimately try out for and be selected to deploy as part of a Cultural Support Team (CST) in 2012 in Afghanistan with the 75th Ranger Regiment, as an Air Force Officer. The CSTs would place her and other women like her on direct combat missions, performing a vital function of Special Operations - interfacing with the local populace to enable and help form enduring relationships with the locals, specifically with village women, in support of counterinsurgency operations. Following her time with the CSTs, Annie would go on to become a Pat Tillman Scholar with the goal of contributing to future CST work on a larger scale as a civilian. Hear about her groundbreaking journey on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
An absolutely powerful episode this week with the Executive Director of The Headstrong Project, Joe Quinn, on the heels of launching a new chapter in Atlanta. Joe was in his senior at West Point when his brother died in the north tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Joe believed he was in the best spot to enact revenge on the perpetrators of the attacks, and maybe have a chance to feel somewhat whole again, as he was soon to be commissioned in the Army, and would soon fight his enemies on foreign soil. Unfortunately, war opened his eyes to a new reality - one that couldn't extinguish the mental anguish of losing his brother, but also one where he witnessed his fellow soldiers struggling with the same mental distress. All of this led him to the work he's doing today to help other veterans in the most vital way, with The Headstrong Project. Hear about his journey on this very moving episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.getheadstrong.org
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Following in the footsteps of immediate family, Duane France joined the Army prior to September 11, 2001. When the World Trade Center towers fell, France was stationed in Germany, away from the immediacy of GWOT planning, but ready to serve, wherever, and whenever. It would be a few years before he'd be "in the fight," but as with most people who served post-9/11, his time would come, with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan during some of the bloodiest times of both campaigns. His experiences during those deployments, along with witnessing the effects of war on his fellow soldiers, would eventually lead him to the mental health profession. Today, Duane France is retired from the Army, and serves as a mental health counselor for veterans in Colorado. Hear about his journey as NCO, teacher, and now provider for better soldier care on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.veteranmentalhealth.com | "Combat Vet Don't Mean Crazy"
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
He's now living his life not just for himself, but for those he served with on the battlefield who never made it home. One of those soldiers, in particular, died in an instant right next to him. On December 8, 2005, Adam Mattis was seriously injured when his vehicle was struck by an IED containing several explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) near Sadr City in Baghdad. The attack occurred just 28 days before Adam's tour in Iraq was scheduled to end. The officer riding next him was a good friend and someone he highly respected. Following his medical retirement from the Army, Adam lived through the highs and extremely low, low's of surviving such a traumatic experience in combat. Fortunately he found purpose again and has transformed himself into the successful entrepreneur, business and management leader he once was in the private sector before joining the Army. Hear this powerful and moving story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!
www.adammattis.com
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
She went from performing in front of thousands of cheering fans in NFL stadiums, to executing one of the most vital missions in the Global War on Terror. Rachel Washburn was a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader before commissioning as a 2nd lieutenant in the Army. Her first assignment in the Army was to a Cultural Support Team (CST) in Afghanistan - a groundbreaking concept where women were embedded with Special Operations units in order to enable and help form enduring relationships with the local populace, specifically with village women, in support of counterinsurgency operations. Rachel shares with us her rewarding, and often dangerous, experience working as an integral part of a CST in combat, and the challenges she and her team faced breaking new ground for the military and working against a virtually invisible enemy. Check it out on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Mike Frazier has one of the most interesting military backgrounds of any of our guests. He served in Iraq in 2003 as part of a Coast Guard tactical law enforcement team, in support of combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following a short stint in the Coast Guard, Frazier enlisted in the Army to become a crew chief. He would eventually earn a billet in the elite and highly specialized 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, more commonly known as the “Night Stalkers.” But, a back injury would bring his military career, and his time with the Night Stalkers, to a screeching halt. Mike loved serving in the 160th. The injury, compounded with the dark experiences of combat would lead Mike down a precarious path where suicide was the only form of relief. Fortunately, after hitting rock bottom, Mike found a reason to live, and just recently began opening up about his experiences. Hear about this moving journey on this week’s episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.shotatdawnproject.org Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Imagine being shot through the chest by a sniper in Ramadi, Iraq in 2004, and surviving. Imagine completing a 4-year enlistment as an infantry Marine, surviving combat, and then going on to become one of the Army’s elite Green Berets. Now imagine finding out several years after surviving the sniper’s round, that you have terminal lung cancer that was misdiagnosed by the military, and there’s virtually nothing you can do about it. That’s the story of Rich Stayskal. Because the alleged misdiagnosis occurred while Stayskal was in the military, he cannot sue the federal government for malpractice, all due to an obscure 60-something-year-old law known as the Feres Doctrine. But, you can’t be a Marine and a Green Beret without being a fighter. And that’s exactly what Rich Stayskal is doing – fighting back, against cancer and the misdiagnosis. Hear how, on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.feresdoctrine.com We also want to thank Rich’s attorney, Natalie Khawam, for joining us on this episode to provide the background on Rich’s legal case and the Feres Doctrine. Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Author, journalist, and Marine Officer Philip Caputo served 16 months in Vietnam, landing in 1965 with the first ground combat unit deployed there. Caputo spent much of his time in Vietnam commanding an infantry platoon in fierce combat operations synonymous with the war. A few years later he would leave the Marine Corps and begin writing about his experiences in Vietnam. His memoir on the subject, “A Rumor of War” is a classic, and it wholeheartedly describes the savagery that war can so easily expose in normal, everyday human beings. The similarities between Caputo’s own experiences in war and those of today’s servicemembers who have survived combat are so apparent, yet so often forgotten. Philip Caputo is one of those rare individuals who has bridged the gap from warrior to writer, and eloquently shares with us the excessively important lessons of a war so many people have wanted to forget. And he does it here again on this very special episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.philipcaputo.com | “A Rumor of War” Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Our guest this week is one we like to call a special veteran guest. It isn’t necessarily a story of combat and survival in the traditional sense. But it is the story of a man who served his country in the Army, during the Cold War, and then went on to inspire millions through his career as a wrestler, and then as an Ultimate Fighting Champion and mixed martial artist. He is a six-time World Champion and Hall of Famer in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Outside the octagon, he’s also a successful businessman, bestselling author, and actor on the rise. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s a founding member of MVP (Merging Vets and Players), an organization dedicated to helping veterans and pro athletes find purpose together, when they’ve taken off the uniform. He is Randy Couture on HAZARD GROUND! www.vetsandplayers.org | “Becoming the Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage” Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Marissa Strock joined the Army seeking a sense of direction in life. She knew the military and going to war would present challenges, but what she experienced on Thanksgiving Day 2005, was furthest from her mind when she signed on the dotted line with her recruiter a relatively short period before. On that day in 2005, Marissa, an MP, was the gunner in a Humvee as part of a convoy that was hit with a massive IED in “The Triangle of Death” near Baghdad. The explosion occurred nearly under her feet while standing in the gun turret. Marissa would eventually lose both legs as a result of the blast, and face immense challenges that have nearly taken her to the brink of death. And she has faced those challenges with an attitude and grace that are nothing short of inspiring! Hear her complete story on this very powerful episode of HAZARD GROUND! Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Circumstances beyond his control brought him to the 75th Ranger Regiment. But once he made it in and earned the coveted scroll and beret, retired Sergeant First Class Jeremy Tindell found a home. So much so that he stayed in the Regiment after suffering a severe back injury in a training accident. Tindell retired from the Army after 13 combat deployments. And has now found a new passion as an active member of Merging Vets & Players – an organization designed to help both combat veterans and pro athletes transition from battlefield and playing field to new careers and new beginnings. Hear all about this Ranger’s journey from working in a machine shop to becoming an elite combat veteran in this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
As we mark our 2-year anniversary, it is an honor and treasure to have retired Sergeant First Class and Green Beret, Michael Rodriguez on the show for our 100th episode! Rodriguez, his wife, and son are all combat veterans. Between the three of them they have 16 deployments, with Michael serving 9 of those in combat. He was medically retired after 21 years of service, and continues to serve to this day as as a member for President George W. Bush’s Military Service Initiative Advisory Council; and most notably he is the president and CEO of the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation. Rodriguez has also contributed significantly to research on Traumatic Brain Injuries and Post Traumatic Stress, so much so that he was inducted as a Fellow into the lauded “Explorers Club” based in Manhattan, NYC. Hear all about Michael’s journey from his first combat deployment with the 10th Mountain in Somalia to what he’s doing today to help veterans across the globe, on our 100th episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.gwotmemorialfoundation.org Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Her job as a combat photographer was to chronicle war, combat, human strife, and disaster relief efforts among other significant moments in history. But over time it became a much, much more weighty task. One that she was passionate about executing, but one that would ultimately take a heavy toll on her body and mind. Stacy Pearsall is one of the most decorated combat photographers in the U.S. military’s history. During three combat tours, she earned the Bronze Star Medal and Air Force Commendation with Valor for combat actions in Iraq. She is also one of two women to win Military Photographer of the Year and the only woman to win it twice. She has sacrificed so much for service to her country and her fellow servicemembers. But, most importantly she has given immensely to ensuring history won’t forget some of its most pivotal sagas and those that have served before and after her. Hear all about it, and the incredible work she’s doing now, on the latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.stacypearsall.com | www.veteransportraitproject.com | www.ccforp.org | “Shooter: Combat From Behind The Camera” | “A Photojournalist’s Field Guide” Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
We are extremely excited to have two very special guests on the show this week! On the heels of the premier of their new movie, “Sgt. Will Gardner” which hits select theaters, On Demand & Digital outlets January 11, 2019, actors Max Martini and Michael Hagerty join us to talk about the film, the importance of helping veterans when they come home from war, and war’s effect on the human condition. “Sgt. Will Gardner” tells the story of Iraq War veteran Will Gardner, played by Martini, who is struggling with the lingering effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from his time in combat. A cross-country motorcycle trip provides the journey for Will to ultimately make the important move toward finding peace. Martini wrote and directed the film which Hagerty produced. The two partnered up to make the film and give back to veterans by not only telling a much needed story, but also donating a portion of the film’s proceeds to three charities which support veterans suffering from TBI, PTSD and veteran homelessness. Check it all out on this Special Edition of HAZARD GROUND! “Sgt. Will Gardner” Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
He had no intention of making the Air Force a career when he entered the service as a graduate of the San Diego State College ROTC program in 1957. But, Merrill “Tony” McPeak would go on to become the 14th Chief of Staff of the Air Force and retire as a 4-star general, closing out a career that included flying 269 combat missions in Vietnam and flying with the Air Force’s elite aerobatic team, the Thunderbirds. His experience in Vietnam is well-chronicled in the recent Ken Burns documentary, “The Vietnam War,” on which General McPeak worked as a technical advisor, ensuring utmost accuracy throughout the film and that the documentary told the complete story of all sides affected by the war in Vietnam. In this episode, General McPeak speaks to that roll, as well as some of the lighter-hearted moments flying combat missions in Vietnam, and his encounter with President George H.W. Bush when he was in office. Check it all out on our 2019 inaugural episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.generalmcpeak.com | “Hangar Flying” | “Below The Zone” | “Roles and Missions”?? Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Stuart “Stu” Steinberg has lived an adventurous life to say the least. Enlisting in the Army during the Vietnam War, he would eventually serve as an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialist from 1967-1971. During his 18 months in Vietnam, he would have one of the most dangerous jobs in the services, and his experience there would eventually paint the picture his recently published book, “This is What Hell Looks Like” so vividly describes. Following Vietnam, Steinberg would go on to earn his law degree, an advance law degree, and eventually teach at the Georgetown University Law Center. For several years as a capital defense investigator he would experience cases whose disturbing nature was innately characteristic of the hell seen in war. Hear how Stu Steinberg survived that hell, and has now gone on to live a life of service helping other veterans, on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! “This is What Hell Looks Like: Life as a Bomb Disposal Specialist During the Vietnam War” ??Do your holiday shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!?? Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Col Kim Campbell's story is one of perseverance, and living proof that shutting down the urge to quit or give up, will ultimately lead to what others told you wasn’t possible. At a young age she set her sights on attending the U.S. Air Force Academy to ultimately put herself on a path to become an astronaut. Several "No's" and a few roadblocks later, Kim Campbell earned her way to becoming an A-10 pilot. And that "no-quit" attitude is exactly what she needed in probably her most jarring moment as a fighter pilot: the day she was nearly shot down in combat over Iraq. Her plane was so badly damaged that she had to pilot it using manual controls. When it was all over, she would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. It’s one thing to fly and engage the enemy in combat, but it takes a special kind of composure to safely land a badly damaged aircraft in a war zone. Col Kim Campbell’s story is truly inspiring, and it was an honor to have her on the show!
Do your holiday shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Feeling an obligation to serve his country and fight for those lost, especially the first responders, after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Dave Burton went into a Marine Corps recruiting office on 9/12. To his surprise, there wasn’t another person in line to sign up. He wasn’t dissuaded though, and he enlisted that day. He left for boot camp at the age of 25. Following boot camp and the School of Infantry, Burton first deployed to Iraq in 2003 as part of the initial invasion force. There he would fight in the battle of An Nasiriyah as part of Task Force Tarawa. Burton would go on to deploy three more times as an Infantry Marine between Iraq and Afghanistan, before leaving the Marine Corps. In this episode, he shares what those deployments meant to him, the permanence of war and its violence, and the indelible memories of going to war as a United States Marine. www.shootoutforsoldiers.com We are very excited to announce our newest sponsor, Combat Flip Flops! If you go back into the early HAZARD GROUND archives, we had the founders of Combat Flip Flops, Matt Griffin and Don Lee on Episode 20. Born out of the idea to bring peace to war-torn areas of the world through thriving business, Combat Flip Flops’ mission is to create peaceful, forward-thinking opportunities for self-determined entrepreneurs affected by conflict. Their willingness to take bold risks, community connection, and distinct designs communicate, “Business, Not Bullets”–flipping the view on how wars are won. Through persistence, respect, and creativity, Combat Flip Flops works to empower the mindful consumer to manufacture peace through trade. And now, our listeners will be able to benefit from that mission by getting 15% off every order when you use the coupon code “HAZARD1” at checkout! Do your holiday shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting all of our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Anthony Swofford joined the Marine Corps in 1988, setting in motion a series of events that would put him on the front lines of the liberation of Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Storm, and eventually help launch his career as a writer and producer. He’s probably best known for writing the book, “Jarhead” – a very honest memoir of a Marine’s life on and off the battlefield. The book would eventually be released as a major motion picture under the same name in 2005, with Swofford being played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Swofford takes us back to the uneasy days on the “berm” in the desert, and candidly recounts his time at boot camp and going through scout sniper training in the Marine Corps. It’s not often we get the chance to speak with veterans of Desert Storm, especially someone who has done so much with the experience. So sit back, and enjoy this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND, with writer, producer, Marine – Anthony Swofford.
“Jarhead”
We are very excited to announce our newest sponsor, Combat Flip Flops! If you go back into the early HAZARD GROUND archives, we had the founders of Combat Flip Flops, Matt Griffin and Don Lee on Episode 20. Born out of the idea to bring peace to war-torn areas of the world through thriving business, Combat Flip Flops’ mission is to create peaceful, forward-thinking opportunities for self-determined entrepreneurs affected by conflict. Their willingness to take bold risks, community connection, and distinct designs communicate, “Business, Not Bullets”–flipping the view on how wars are won. Through persistence, respect, and creativity, Combat Flip Flops works to empower the mindful consumer to manufacture peace through trade. And now, our listeners will be able to benefit from that mission by getting 15% off every order when you use the coupon code “HAZARD1” at checkout!
Do your holiday shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!
Support the podcast by supporting all of our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
In a matter of seconds Marine Cpl. Todd Nicely’s life was changed forever. After the blast and while he was flying through the air, he knew “they” had finally got him. On March 26, 2010, while leading his patrol back to base camp in Afghanistan, Cpl. Nicely stepped on a pressure plate mine. The blast almost instantly took all four of his limbs, forever changing how he would live his life, if he would live at all. Nicely would survive the blast, becoming a quadruple amputee, as well as an inspiration for others. He considers himself lucky and fortunate that he and all of his men came home from that fateful deployment alive, and would get to be with their families and friends once again – a testament to his warrior spirit that lives on to this day. Hear how Todd Nicely survived more than just the explosion that nearly took his life over 8 years ago, on this very inspirational episode of HAZARD GROUND! If you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Jim Reese spent a good part of his military career in 1st SFOD-Delta, and has been called "one of the finest special operators in the modern military” by the Commander of Coalition Forces of Iraq and Afghanistan. He played a pivotal role in the first stages of the Global War on Terror, right after September 11, 2001. His initial role was to bridge the gap between the Department of Defense and the CIA leading up to and through the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. And from there he was instrumental in leading the hunt for Osama bin Laden in the early days after the invasion. From these efforts and his time working in Special Operations, Jim Reese understands leadership in combat...leadership in times when it matters most! Hear his unique story, and what it's like to lead at the highest levels, on this follow-up to Veterans Day episode of HAZARD GROUND! If you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening...Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
In this special Veterans Day edition of HAZARD GROUND, Mark talks with United War Veterans Council (UWVC) Executive Director, producer of the NYC Veterans Day Parade, and Marine veteran of the Panama Invasion and Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Mark Otto. Otto only spent four years in the Marine Corps, but he packed a lot into those four years, playing a key role in two large military operations, among other special work. Following his time in the Marine Corps, he went on to become a regular trader on the floor of the NY Stock Exchange. Today, Otto continues to support veterans by leading multiple veterans' advocacy volunteer events and programs through the UWVC. He even shares with us an incredible story of his connection with the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and how the circumstances surrounding that event came back to visit him decades later after his involvement in Desert Storm! www.uwvc.org This episode is once again brought to you by our latest sponsor, Cabela's - the world's foremost outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear! Cabela's provides everyone, from the expert hunter and angler to the family looking to get away on a weekend camping trip with the right gear at the best prices! So if you're looking to outfit your next big adventure, or just looking for some great gear to use around the house or cabin, go to our Sponsors page, hazardground.com/sponsors, and click on the Cabela's banner. You have to go through our Sponsors page if you want to help out the show...And make the most of your next outdoor adventure! We are still running our Amazon promotion, so if you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening...Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Sometimes it’s the invisible wounds from war that are the most difficult to diagnose and treat. The indicators are subtle, if ever apparent. There’s more mystery than science, and the wounded are left with the burden of proof and most often hopeless for a cure. That’s exactly what happened to Carolyn Furdek. A former NCAA Division 1 swimmer, graduate of West Point, four-time Ironman athlete, and a seasoned combat veteran and leader with multiple combat deployments between Afghanistan and Iraq, Furdek began suffering from severe mental health issues during one of those deployments. She effectively “shut down” and for several years, doctors were baffled by her illness. Eventually Carolyn found the path that led to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, taking her life and career back from the invisible wounds. Hear how she did it in this very inspiring episode of HAZARD GROUND! “Locked-in: A Soldier and Civilian’s Struggle with Invisible Wounds” This episode is once again brought to you by our latest sponsor, Cabela’s – the world’s foremost outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear! Cabela’s provides everyone, from the expert hunter and angler to the family looking to get away on a weekend camping trip with the right gear at the best prices! So if you’re looking to outfit your next big adventure, or just looking for some great gear to use around the house or cabin, go to our Sponsors page, hazardground.com/sponsors, and click on the Cabela’s banner. You have to go through our Sponsors page if you want to help out the show…And make the most of your next outdoor adventure! We are still running our Amazon promotion, so if you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! And Knife Country USA continues to support us with amazing deals and the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA’s commitment to exceptional customer service – their owner personally guarantees it! Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: “HAZARD1” at checkout to get 15% off your entire order! Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening…Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Following in the footsteps of family members who had served before him, Zach Iscol earned his commission after graduating from Cornell University in 2001. He actually passed up a flight contract and joined the infantry so he could get to combat sooner, fearing he might miss the war while working his way through a lengthy flight school. In 2004, he eagerly volunteered to re-deploy to Iraq and fight in Fallujah shortly after returning from his initial combat deployment there. All of these actions speak volumes about the person Zach Iscol is to his very core. It doesn't take long to understand that he's a man of fortitude and a critical thinker who understands the necessity of selfless service. He has carried those attributes beyond his time in the Marine Corps, founding such organizations as Hire Purpose - a company that helps veterans find meaningful employment - and co-founding Task and Purpose, a news site for veterans, by veterans. Hear his inspirational story of combat, survival, and service in this episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.taskandpurpose.com | www.hirepurpose.com | "The Western Front" We have a new sponsor this week! Cabela's - the world's foremost outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear! Cabela's provides everyone, from the expert hunter and angler to the family looking to get away on a weekend camping trip with the right gear at the best prices! So if you're looking to outfit your next big adventure, or just looking for some great gear to use around the house or cabin, go to our Sponsors page, hazardground.com/sponsors, and click on the Cabela's banner. You have to go through our Sponsors page if you want to help out the show...And make the most of your next outdoor adventure! We are still running our Amazon promotion, so if you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! This episode is also brought to you once again by our incredible sponsor, Knife Country USA. Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA's commitment to exceptional customer service - their owner personally guarantees it! Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: "HAZARD1" at checkout to get 15% off your entire order! Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening...Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
What an absolutely insane story we have for you this week! On April 21st, 2007, Joshua Mantz was shot and killed by a sniper in Iraq. The exceptionally large bullet that killed Josh initially passed through a senior NCO standing next to him, and then severed Josh's femoral artery. After losing a significant amount of blood, Josh was dead for a full 15 minutes before a military trauma team resuscitated him, bringing him back to life. Mantz’s journey from graduating West Point as an Infantry Platoon Leader to ultimately surviving a sniper’s deadly shot in combat, and recovering through the mental highs and lows of such an uncommon ordeal is absolutely incredible. Hear about it all in this very introspective episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.asymmetricmind.com | "The Beauty of a Darker Soul" We are still running our Amazon promotion, so if you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away! The podcast is brought to you once again by our latest sponsor, Knife Country USA. Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA's commitment to exceptional customer service - their owner personally guarantees it! Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: "HAZARD1" at checkout to get 15% off your entire order! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Steve Kiernan joined the Marine Corps when he was 17. He attended his high school graduation as a Marine fresh out of boot camp. The discipline and drive that the Marine Corps instilled in Steve are what ultimately got him through some of his darkest days – the by-product of becoming a Marine and heading off to war. Just a few weeks into his first tour in Iraq in 2008, Steve was walking point on a security patrol heading back to base in Fallujah when he was hit by an IED. The blast ended up taking both of his legs. The recovery process for Steve was long, grueling at times, and something he almost didn’t make it out of. A desire to forge a new path in life significantly different from the one he knew before his injury, gave Steve new hope and a reason to keep living. He’s now a short story and essay writer, pursuing an MFA at the University of Oregon. This is another inspirational story of combat and survival you don’t want to miss! www.steven-kiernan.com This episode is also brought to you by our latest sponsor, Knife Country USA. Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA’s commitment to exceptional customer service – their owner personally guarantees it. Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: “HAZARD1” at checkout to get 15% off your entire order! Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening…Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Despite the darkness of combat, there always seems to be moments of levity that surface from time to time. Paul Szoldra, whether he believes it or not, is a master at finding those moments. Whether it was Marine boot camp, or the unforgiving landscape of Afghanistan, Szoldra found humor to get him through the boredom, frustration, and nervous anticipation of combat. A near miss from an IED blast that most certainly would have taken his life, was all that was needed to make Szoldra all-too aware of the horrific realities of combat. But none of the darkness, including life-altering and life-ending IEDs, would have been overcome without humor. And so Paul Szoldra eventually left the Marine Corps and started the “Duffel Blog,” an online military satire publication that has seen over one million unique readers each month. The Duffel Blog has been praised by everyone from Defense Secretary Mattis, to former Pentagon spokesman George Little, and The Onion’s founding editor Scott Dikkers! Check it out on this rather lighthearted episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.paulszoldra.com | www.duffelblog.com | www.taskandpurpose.com/author/paulszoldra2/ This episode is also brought to you by our latest sponsor, Knife Country USA. Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA’s commitment to exceptional customer service – their owner personally guarantees it. Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: “HAZARD1” at checkout to get 15% off your entire order. Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening…Spread the word, tell a friend!!
Retired Marine Staff Sgt. John Jones loved being a Marine. So much so that after the vehicle he was riding in was blown up by an IED in Iraq on January 3, 2005, one of his primary concerns was if he would be able to continue to serve in the Marine Corps. A twist of fate had put him in the target vehicle: he had made a last minute decision to switch into the vehicle that was hit, just prior to rolling out in his convoy. The blast from the anti-tank mine IED eventually took both of his legs. So his concern was real. But now, over a decade later, John Jones has found a different way to serve his country – through a non-profit called Workshops for Warriors, which trains, certifies, and helps place Veterans, Wounded Warriors, and Transitioning Service Members into advanced manufacturing careers. Hear all about this incredible journey on this incredibly inspiring episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.wfw.org This episode is also brought to you by our latest sponsor, Knife Country USA. Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA’s commitment to exceptional customer service – their owner personally guarantees it. Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: “HAZARD1” at checkout to get 15% off your entire order! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
This week…Marine and bestselling author of “Echo in Ramadi,” Scott Huesing returns! Scott was first on the show before “Echo in Ramadi” was released (Ep. 50), and now he returns to pick up where he left off. This episode focuses on the human condition and the idea of human connection through war and the bonds of the military. It’s really what the book “Echo in Ramadi” is all about – the immeasurable strength of the human spirit! Check it out!
www.echoinramadi.com | www.savethebrave.org | “Echo in Ramadi: The Firsthand Story of US Marines in Iraq’s Deadliest City”
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
What lengths would you go to, to change the world…to inspire others to change the world? Alex Evans, along with three other military veterans, is rowing a boat across the Atlantic Ocean to do just that. He’s part of the 1st all-American Military veteran team – aptly titled “Fight Oar Die” – that will race across the Atlantic Ocean in December 2018, in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge – a race that has challenged individuals and teams from around the world for years. Their goal is to increase “awareness of and support for the cognitive, behavioral, and physical health of U.S. Military/Veteran personnel” and inspire them and others to live their best life. In this episode, we sit down with Team Skipper Alex Evans and team psychologist and Iraq veteran, Dr. Jacob Hyde, who will be monitoring the team throughout the race to better understand the effects of mental trauma and extreme duress on the human body. Hear firsthand how this seemingly crazy idea came to fruition, and where it will take the Fight Oar Die Team by year’s end…and beyond! www.usvetrow.org Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
It’s hard to put into words the magnitude of Joe Getherall’s service to country from the time he enlisted in the Marine Corps to his retirement as a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. One thing is certain though, he embodies the qualities that every great leader should and needs to possess: selfless service, humility, mental-toughness, and courage under fire. He displayed those attributes during his three tours in Vietnam. Known as the “Iceman,” he was wounded three times during the war, and was eventually awarded the Silver Star for his actions in combat. That award is now under review for upgrade to the Medal of Honor under Bill H.R. 974, sponsored by Congresswoman Napolitano and endorsed by Senator McCain, for Joe’s heroic actions in Quang Tri Province on December 22, 1966. Hear Joe’s description of the battle and what led him to return to Vietnam so many times in spite of the constant bloodshed, on this very special and inspirational episode of HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Thinking he would go to college & follow a much different path, Alex Juedes ended up “dropping out” to follow in his father’s footsteps & become a Marine. He loved being a Marine in fact. But, on January 25, 2014, Alex Juedes was manning an MRAP gun turret in Afghanistan when an RPG slammed into the feed tray of his machine gun. Immediately, his right hand was gone and he was bleeding from shrapnel piercing his femoral artery. Alex made it out of Afghanistan alive though, but would never return to the Marine Corps as a rifleman. If he had to do it all over again, he says he would head right back to Afghanistan to fight as an infantry Marine. He speaks humbly of his injuries & what he endured half a world away & back at home. But deep within is a warrior spirit that truly shines through in this episode. He is now helping others exponentially & giving back to those who followed a similar path, returning from combat never to be the same as when they left, through his non-profit, Purple Heart Cruise. This is a special episode, with an incredible warrior, that you don’t want to miss!
www.purpleheartcruise.org
Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
If you’ve ever wondered what the power of the mind looks like, and you’re also looking for some inspiration, then this is the episode for you! John Timar is a former Navy SEAL, who is now the Chief Sales Officer for Kill Cliff, a leading clean hydration and sports nutrition brand for elite athletes. John is also a successful, long-time entrepreneur. As a young man he set his sights on becoming a Navy SEAL despite the many naysayers along the way. In this episode John takes us through the long, grueling journey to become a Navy SEAL, what life was like in the SEAL teams in the ‘90s, and what led him to become a successful entrepreneur. So, if you’re looking for a shot of motivation, or just want to learn how to become a badass in the business world, then check out this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!
www.killcliff.com
This week’s episode is brought to you by all of our sponsors: PATAGONIA, FIVE TEN/ADIDAS, HYDRO FLASK, ONNIT, MOOSEJAW, MOUNTAIN GEAR, & UNCHARTED SUPPLY CO. Go to www.hazardground/sponsors and check ’em out! Supporting our sponsors, supports the show!!
Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
This week we step off the beaten path and cover an oft-forgotten operation, and the stellar career in special operations of Steve Dawson. Steve spent 25 years in the Army – most of those with Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Special Forces. He spent the better part of his career as an operator with Delta Force. He also took part in the rescue operation of Kurt Muse, an American civilian living in Panama and held captive during Noriega’s rule in Panama in the late ’80s, also known as Operation Acid Gambit. Acid Gambit is considered one of the most daring hostage rescues ever attempted. In this episode Steve gives a firsthand account of the successful rescue operation, along with some lighter moments as a Delta operator going through the Special Forces Q Course. Hear all about it this week on HAZARD GROUND!
This week’s episode is brought to you by all of our sponsors: PATAGONIA, FIVE TEN/ADIDAS, HYDRO FLASK, ONNIT, MOOSEJAW, MOUNTAIN GEAR, & UNCHARTED SUPPLY CO. Go to www.hazardground/sponsors and check ’em out! Supporting our sponsors, supports the show!!
Thank you all for the iTunes reviews! They help so much…Seriously, keep ’em coming!!
On April 11, 2011 former Marine, Brian Aft stepped on an IED in Kajaki, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, while on a routine foot patrol. The blast ended up taking both of his legs, and ultimately leading him down a very dark path. He turned to hardcore drugs to numb the pain, and simply get through every day life as a double amputee. Then one day he was approached by former NFL linebacker, David Vobora in a parking lot. Vobora approached Brian with such enthusiasm that Aft thought the giant former pro football player was going to mug him. It turns out, Vobora simply wanted to know what happened to Aft, and if Brian was interested in joining his gym, the Adaptive Training Foundation, as a means of recovering physically, mentally, and from drug addiction. Hear about Brian Aft’s unlikely road to recovery with the help of a former NFLer, on this special episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.adaptivetrainingfoundation.org | www.highfivesfoundation.org This week’s episode is brought to you by all of our sponsors: PATAGONIA, FIVE TEN/ADIDAS, HYDRO FLASK, ONNIT, MOOSEJAW, MOUNTAIN GEAR, & UNCHARTED SUPPLY CO. Go to www.hazardground/sponsors and check ’em out! Supporting our sponsors, supports the show!! Thank you all for the iTunes reviews! They help so much…Keep ’em coming!!
Ryan Hepworth worked on some of the most intense trauma cases as an Army nurse. He knew he was going to experience those situations when he volunteered to work in combat trauma. A decision he says was based on a willingness to "know" the patients he was working on. Working in the combat hospital in Afghanistan brought him face-to-face with the worst that humans can do to one another in war. So much so that every time Ryan talks about his experiences in Afghanistan, his words take him back to the moments, the intensity, the smells when so many heavily injured servicemembers were brought to him for urgent, lifesaving care. And it also stirs up memories of those he couldn't save. Talking about it is the therapy that helps him with PTSD, a direct result of his time spent in Afghanistan. This is an emotional episode, but one that is intended to help us all better understand the dark effects that war has on those who've experienced it, and what's needed to keep that darkness from taking one more life. www.shadowwarriorfoundation.org This week’s episode is brought to you by all of our sponsors: PATAGONIA, FIVE TEN/ADIDAS, HYDRO FLASK, ONNIT, MOOSEJAW, MOUNTAIN GEAR, & UNCHARTED SUPPLY CO. Go to www.hazardground/sponsors and check ’em out! Supporting our sponsors, supports the show!! Thank you all for the iTunes reviews! They help so much...Keep 'em coming!
Richard Prince fought in one of the most horrific battles of Vietnam, and one that often gets overlooked. The battle for Hue City during the Tet Offensive of 1968 was an all-out grudge match & street fight that lasted for several weeks. Prince found himself fighting in one of the most hellish engagements of the battle, below the Dong Ba Tower at the city’s imperial Citadel, where many Marines perished. During the fight, Prince was shot through the neck by a sniper, permanently damaging his vocal chords. Fortunately, Prince made it out of the Citadel, and the battle, alive. Fifty years later, Richard Prince returned to the reconstructed Dong Ba Tower in Hue City, with The Greatest Generations Foundation, a nonprofit that provides free visits to battlefields where Vietnam and World War II veterans served. Hear about Prince’s fight to survive and save other Marines, and his bittersweet return to the place that had once been hell on earth for him & so many others, on this episode of HAZARD GROUND! This week’s episode is brought to you by all of our sponsors: PATAGONIA, FIVE TEN/ADIDAS, HYDRO FLASK, ONNIT, MOOSEJAW, MOUNTAIN GEAR, & UNCHARTED SUPPLY CO. Go to www.hazardground/sponsors and check ’em out! Supporting our sponsors, supports the show!! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
This week we return with another episode with the living legend, Mike Vining. Mike has taken part in so many unique missions as an Operator and EOD Technician. And we cover a handful of those in this week’s episode. From Vietnam to Presidential elections, to prison riots, to the bombing of Khobar Towers, Mike Vining brings you firsthand accounts of rare special missions, and some pretty intense moments on the ground and in the air. Check it out, on this Part II episode with Mike Vining! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
This week’s episode is a little less about combat engagements, and more about another deadly threat amongst veterans: suicide. Master Sgt. Orlando Reyes served in three combat deployments to Iraq, but never faced a greater enemy than the one within. The stress from those deployments, the PTSD, and the failed relationships that resulted, drove Reyes to attempt to take his own life. Luckily for him, and others, he wasn’t successful, and because of that, he’s vowed to help save others from suicide. He has since become a top suicide prevention trainer for the Marine Corps, and was even named Marine Corps Times’ 2014 Marine of the Year. Once a Marine who worked tirelessly on the battlefield to keep Marines alive, now Reyes works to save the lives of those Marines who have left it! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Wanting to do more for his country and serve in a time of war, Ben Kesling joined the Marine Corps to become an officer at the start of the Global War on Terror. As most conflicts do, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan changed him. But not in a way where he wanted to bury their memory, but more along the lines of understanding them and what effects they have on not just veterans coming home from war, but also those whose soil has been occupied. So, following his time in the Marine Corps, he went back to school to become a journalist, in hopes of putting his experience in war to good use in conveying the seemingly never ending conflict to those who had never been. He now reports for The Wall Street Journal, and spends a good portion of his time focusing on veterans affairs. He’s a unique individual with a rare perspective on two wars that have affected so many people, and he shares that perspective on today’s episode of HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
We’re back from a short hiatus, with an incredible guest! Retired Air Force Colonel Tommy Goode has led an unconventional career as an Air Force helo pilot. From the story behind how he made it into the flight program, to flying the rescue/recovery mission after the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, to now flying fire attack helicopters…Tommy Goode is no ordinary pilot. He’s about as humble as they come, but when you hear him talk about his time in the air, you know he’s the real deal! Check out the complete story this week on HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
He completed five combat deployments between Iraq and Afghanistan as both an infantry Marine and Marine Special Operator. He has been awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star for Valor for actions on the battlefield during those deployments. He has seen the hellish, unlucky, and simply chaotic side of war, and lived to tell about it. After eight years of service, he left the Marine Corps to become a writer. Now Elliot Ackerman is an accomplished author, who has plenty of life experience to keep the pen on paper for years and years to come. And out of all of the living that he has done, and accolades earned, he approaches life with a humility unexpected from someone so accomplished. And that’s what makes his story a must-listen. Hear all about it on this episode of HAZARD GROUND! “Dark at the Crossing” | “Green on Blue: A Novel” This week’s episode is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Onnit! Looking for Total Human Optimization? Head over to www.hazardground.com/sponsors, and click on the Onnit banner and check out all the great products Onnit has to offer. Think clearer, train better, perform at your peak…Get Onnit. Remember, support for our sponsors goes right back into making Hazard Ground the best show it can possibly be! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Facing a draft notice and challenged by his Marine father to prove his mettle, Jim Hackett signed up for the Marine Corps in 1967. The war in Vietnam was heating up considerably in the late '60s, and Jim Hackett the Marine - and a crack shot at that - was heading right for the meat grinder. Except a funny thing happened at boot camp graduation: Hackett wasn't immediately sent to the infantry. Instead, as a top graduate of his class, he was sent off to "Secret School" to learn how to track the enemy on the battlefield, at close range no less. By the time Jim made it to Vietnam, the war was quickly headed toward the height of chaos. Two Purple Hearts and a full enlistment in the Marine Corps later, Jim Hackett left the military to take on other pursuits. He bounced back from his combat experiences to become a working actor, and live an incredibly interesting life after the war. Hear all about it on this episode of HAZARD GROUND! The Greatest Generations Foundation This week's episode is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Patagonia clothing and gear! Whether you're into fishing, hiking, climbing, surfing, or just need a good rain jacket, backpack, or travel gear, find the sustainable and ironclad solution at Patagonia. Backed by their Ironclad Guarantee, you will not be disappointed with their products and customer service. So get on over to www.hazardground.com/sponsors, and click on the Patagonia banner for FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $75…Remember, support for our sponsors goes right back into making Hazard Ground the best show it can possibly be! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
This week, in honor of Mother's Day, we have a very special guest. Dianne Layfield is the proud mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Travis J. Layfield, who was killed in action on April 6, 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dianne was gracious enough to sit down with us and share Travis' story, as well as talk about her journey coping with his passing, and experiencing some unexpected and amazing discoveries that followed. Parent or not, this is one episode everyone can take a little something from. Dianne has done an incredible job keeping her son's memory alive, and we are absolutely honored to have her as our guest on this week's episode of HAZARD GROUND! This week's episode is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Patagonia clothing and gear! Whether you're into fishing, hiking, climbing, surfing, or just need a good rain jacket, backpack, or travel gear, find the sustainable and ironclad solution at Patagonia. Backed by their Ironclad Guarantee, you will not be disappointed with their products and customer service. So get on over to www.hazardground.com/sponsors, and click on the Patagonia banner for FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $75…Remember, support for our sponsors goes right back into making Hazard Ground the best show it can possibly be! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
What an absolutely amazing story! Driven by a keen interest in medicine & a desire to give back to his country, Karl Holt joined the Army to become a Green Beret medic. After several years of assessment, selection, & special forces training, Holt found himself in the heat of combat, putting his SF medic training to use. On one particular mission though, while trying to escape an overwhelming counterattack, the helicopter Holt was riding in crashed & literally fell out of the sky into a 2-story building. There were few survivors. Badly injured, Holt managed to escape the wreckage with the help of his friend & fellow SF teammate. Following recovery & many, many surgeries, he decided to pursue his Medical Degree, so he could continue to serve & help others as a physician. With the help of the Pat Tillman Foundation, through which Holt is a Tillman Scholar, he is on his way to completing medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill. If you’re looking for motivation…inspiration, you’re certain to find it in this unbelievable story of the Green Beret-turned-White Coat, Karl Holt! www.pattillmanfoundation.org Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
This episode with JC Glick could have gone on for hours…That’s how good conversations with JC, especially those about leadership, can be. JC went from battle tested Army Ranger, serving over 11 combat tours between Iraq & Afghanistan, to leadership consultant, couch & author. He’s been tested in just about every way imaginable, from making it through a difficult childhood to leading special operations soldiers at some of the highest levels in the US military in combat. And what came out of that cauldron is one of the finest leaders you’ll ever meet. JC Glick now works as a leadership consultant who advises at the strategic, operational, team, and individual levels, including at Fortune 500 companies & for the Denver Broncos & Carolina Panthers of the NFL. Hear how he went from combat Ranger, to struggling with PTSD and suicide, to arguably one of the greatest modern day thought leaders on education, development & resilience on this cerebral & very inspirational episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.kenningassociates.com | “A Light in the Darkness: Leadership Development for the Unknown” | “Meditations of an Army Ranger: A Warrior Philosophy for Everyone” Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
A combination of factors led Lewis Nelson to enlist in the Army after college – 9/11; a family history of military service; and a history degree with a job that was going nowhere. So Nelson enlisted to become a linguist, and after several years of specialized training found himself in Iraq on two separate deployments with the 101st Airborne Division. While deployed, Nelson ran the gamut of combat occupations, from intelligence collection, to running convoys, to helping combat arms soldiers clear houses. All of it seemed pretty natural and exciting to someone who lives life on the heels of the next adventure. But the return home & reintegration with normal life is where the adventure of war caught up with Nelson. He found himself battling a new enemy – PTSD. Hear his story & how he worked through those struggles on this very enlightening episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.wanderingveteran.com | “Life After Loyalty” Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Matt Gallagher thought he was just keeping a regular blog of his time spent in a war zone as a way to chronicle daily life as a Platoon Leader during the Iraq War in 2007-08. Little did he know that his blog, aptly titled, “Kaboom” was a much bigger hit on the internet than he thought. His chain of command was even okay with it, until, as Matt puts it, “they weren’t.” And soon the US Army was shutting the young officer’s blog down. But, with the internet being the internet, Matt’s war journal & war memoir-in-the-making never left the internet (you can still find it online today). And what “Kaboom” did was help Gallagher organize his thoughts about the war, provide levity to the daily grind & sludge factory that war often becomes, & help shape an author-in-the-making. Matt Gallagher is now out of the army & is an accomplished author. His work has appeared in “The New York Times,” “The Atlantic,” “The Paris Review Daily” & “Wired,” as well as other publications. Hear how he went from “Kaboom” to novelist on this very enlightening episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.mattgallagherauthor.com | www.wordsafterwar.org | “Kaboom” | “Youngblood” This week’s episode is brought to you by our newest sponsor Patagonia clothing. Another company we stand behind 100%! Their clothing and gear is next level, and customer service is top notch! We only have show sponsors w/ products we know and trust, otherwise they wouldn’t be a sponsor. Patagonia is another one of those brands. Click on the Patagonia banner at hazardground.com/sponsors for FREE shipping on all orders over $75!! Supporting our sponsors, helps support the show! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Trey Grissom entered the Naval Academy to play football & left there to become a Marine after highlighting his collegiate football career in one of the great Navy upsets over rival Notre Dame in 2010. The rigors of the Academy & college football prepared Grissom well for leading Marines in combat. But as combat goes, nothing ever fully prepares you for that experience, except the experience itself. That sentiment is reflected in Grissom's thoughts on his combat tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as well as in his reflection on probably one of the most high profile assignments a Marine can undertake - platoon commander at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. There, he oversaw several Marine burials at Arlington National Cemetery, bringing honor & dignity to those who didn't make it home alive. This episode goes deep inside the mind of a Marine who has been in the unfortunate position of laying his brothers to rest both on & off the battlefield, but has exemplified the leader he is by handling this duty with incredible poise & strength. Check it out! This week’s episode is brought to you by our new sponsor Adidas Outdoor & Five Ten shoes. Again, this is gear we use, put to the test, and stand behind 100%! Otherwise they wouldn't be a sponsor. Go to hazardground.com/sponsors and click on the Adidas/Five Ten banner for FREE SHIPPING! Supporting our sponsors helps support the show! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
As a Green Beret, Joe Serna has been through just about everything in combat: he’s been blown up a couple of times, shot at, and nearly drown in an armored vehicle when the road under it gave way next to a canal. And with all those combat injuries, most certainly comes PTSD, which Joe has most certainly battled. The breaking point came a few years ago when Joe was arrested for drunk driving. He subsequently broke his probation & ironically found an unintended healing point when the judge who sentenced him spent the 24 hours in jail with him knowing that Serna’s PTSD makes confined spaces torturous. When you listen to Serna speak, you can tell that his love of life & family is what keeps him alive. It’s what kept him engaged with the judge that one night in jail, so the walls “didn’t exist.” And it’s what helped him push past simple luck those dark days in combat. This is another inspiring episode you don’t want to miss! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
From a young age, Cliff Anders wanted to fly helicopters in the military. Getting into the cockpit seemed to be a breeze for Cliff, but getting to war, to “do his part,” was not so easy. He was in flight school during September 11, 2001, but it would be several more years & a few moves around the world to various Apache & training outfits, before Cliff would finally see combat. You see, Cliff is a determined individual – so much so that he & a fellow pilot would call the Army’s Personnel Command every night during their tour in Korea to try & get reassigned to a unit heading to fight in the Middle East once the Global War on Terror kicked off. In the end Cliff would have to wait nearly 5 years before finally seeing combat. And when he did, he was thrown straight into the lion’s den. On this episode, Cliff Anders talks about those first experiences flying in combat & how they changed him as a person & the incredible connection he formed with those soldiers on the ground who he supported by fire, but only knew by voice. This is another great episode you don’t want to miss!! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Josh Jespersen’s entrance into the military wasn’t exactly conventional. But then again, there really isn’t much about Josh that is “conventional.” And he’s just about the nicest & decent human being you’ll ever meet, too! Once in the military, Josh quickly earned the Trident of a Navy SEAL & went on to honorably serve several years as a SEAL, surviving combat tours in Iraq & Afghanistan. After leaving the Navy he co-founded Mission Memorial Day – an organization that has set out to bring back the true meaning & recognition to Memorial Day by serving “not only those who made it back from the battle field, but also those who didn’t.” Mission Memorial Day (MMD) honors those who never made it home from war by encouraging decoration of monuments or servicemembers’ graves, or engaging in a physically demanding activity or small expedition. Aside from co-founding MMD, Josh also holds the speed record for climbing & snowboarding down all of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks in just 138 days – a record previously held by a professional big mountain skier. In a nutshell, Josh is the epitome of the silent professional – he’s truly a warrior & inspirational dude, & we are honored to have him on the show! www.voag.org | @joshjespersen This week’s episode is once again UNOFFICIALLY brought to you by NO COW protein bars. 1g of sugar & they still taste great! “No Cow, No Bull, No Whey!” Try ’em today…Tell ’em Hazard Ground sent yah! www.nocow.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review on iTunes…Every review helps grow the show!
Two men…One of them wanted to work in special operations from the start, & ended up serving a long career in the most elite forces in the U.S. military, fighting in The Battle of Mogadishu all the way into the Global War on Terror. The other holds the unique distinction of playing in both Nirvana & Soundgarden before deciding to join the Army & going on to serve in Special Forces for the rest of his military career. They are “Brad” & Jason Everman, both the truest form of modern day warriors you’ll ever meet. And now both of them are returning to their music roots to form a new band called “Silence and Light” with the intent to give back to the community they served with, through music. They plan to record an album this summer with a major producer, & give all proceeds from the record back to veterans & service charities! These are two incredible humans on an episode you don’t want to miss! And don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review on iTunes…Every review helps grow the show! www.warriorsheart.com | silenceandlightmusic.com This week’s episode is once again UNOFFICIALLY brought to you by No Cow protein bars. No Cow bars provide a high amount of protein with just 1g of sugar & they still taste great! So if you’re into living and eating healthy, try No Cow bars to get that protein boost when you need it most. In the words of No Cow, “No Cow isn’t just for the dairy intolerant, it’s for the bull$#t intolerant. Those who choose to live a healthy life and demand better.” We actually use No Cow bars & they really are what they say they are. No bull$#t! www.nocow.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
This is sure to be part one of a multi-interview series with US Army & Delta Force legend, retired SGM Mike Vining. Vining enlisted in the Army in 1968. He served in Vietnam as an EOD tech, but after 10 years in EOD he started looking to transition to Special Forces as a medic. He soon found himself, however, going through the selection process for the newly formed 1st SFOD-Delta, more commonly known as “Delta Force” as the Unit was looking to add more EOD techs to its initial roster. Vining successfully graduated the 1st selection class for Delta, and would go on to serve with Delta for the better part of his career. Vining served in many high level operations. So in this episode we dive deep into Operations EAGLE CLAW (Iran) & URGENT FURY (Grenada). Today, Mike Vining spends his time writing, hiking, rock & mountain climbing, & alpine & backcountry skiing, while doing important research work for the National EOD Memorial & working as a committee member for the National EOD Association. This is a very interesting episode, so don’t miss it! This week’s episode is UNOFFICIALLY brought to you by No Cow protein bars. No Cow bars provide a high amount of protein with just 1g of sugar & they still taste great! So if you’re into living and eating healthy, try No Cow bars to get that protein boost when you need it most. In the words of No Cow, “No Cow isn’t just for the dairy intolerant, it’s for the bull$#t intolerant. Those who choose to live a healthy life and demand better.” We actually use No Cow bars & they really are what they say they are. No bull$#t! www.nocow.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Our guest this week is not the typical guest we tend to feature on “Hazard Ground.” But we felt it was important to have Steve Cannon on to talk about service & leadership, as he is someone who’s embodied those ideals for a very long time. Steve Cannon is currently the CEO of AMB Group, LLC – the Arthur M. Blank family of businesses, which includes the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, whose business operations Cannon currently leads. He is also a West Point graduate and qualified Army Airborne Ranger, who served in West Germany during the fall of the Iron Curtain. Prior to joining AMB Group, Cannon served as president & CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, where he was responsible for leading operations that generated record sales with annual revenues exceeding $20 billion. Cannon’s leadership philosophy, work ethic, and all-around attitude on perseverance & resilience are the reasons he’s been so successful, while continuing to be a down-to-earth, humble & all-around good human being. This is a must-listen episode…Don’t miss it!! www.blankfamilyofbusinesses.com | www.johnnymac.org Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
We are honored to be joined this week by special guest & author/journalist/filmmaker Sebastian Junger. Junger is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author of such works as “The Perfect Storm,” “War,” & “Tribe.” He is also a documentary filmmaker whose debut film “Restrepo” was nominated for an Academy Award. As an award-winning journalist who’s covered news stories around the world, he’s received both a National Magazine Award & a Peabody Award. He is also known for directing “Korengal,” the sequel to “Restrepo.” Hear how Junger got his start in journalism and filmmaking; hear about his interaction with Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was assassinated just days before 9/11; and what it was like to live alongside, in combat no less, the soldiers whose story he was sharing with the world…On this very special episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.sebastianjunger.com | www.restrepothemovie.com | www.korengalthemovie.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
We return this week with a guest who at first, humbly, didn’t really believe she had much to offer to the podcast or our general audience. But she in fact does have something important to share, & sharing her story is yet another reason we do the podcast each week – to help others whether they’ve been in the military or not. Margaux Mange is a living example that you can find a way to heal from PTSD & the traumatic effects of having your brain literally rattled in combat. While serving in Iraq, Margaux survived multiple IED blasts, one of which killed her best friend, literally in front of her. For a long time she suffered through finding the right therapy to even try & heal from the blasts & the loss of her friend. It wasn’t until she discovered the healing effects from outdoor pursuits that she actually started to recover. Nothing will bring back the people she lost through war, but she can now live the rest of her days for them. She’s even climbed Denali, just for them. Catch this highly inspirational story of combat & survival on this week’s episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.missionmemorialday.com | www.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
There are simply too many positive things to say about Chris Van Etten to fit in this short intro, but what we will say is that his drive & motivation to move beyond his injuries & inspire others is infectious & invigorating. In 2012, while on patrol as a Marine in Afghanistan, Van Etten stepped on an IED. The blast took both of his legs as well as the life of his best friend. The accident took its toll both physically & mentally on Chris. Unsure where his drastically changed life was headed, Van Etten started working out religiously to clear his head. The physique he attained eventually landed him as an underwear model with Jockey’s inspirational “Show ’Em What’s Underneath” campaign. And a desire to pursue projects that help motivate & inspire others has driven Van Etten toward acting, where he currently plays “Chet” – also an injured vet – on ABC’s daytime drama, “General Hospital.” Van Etten also continues to work as a motivational speaker, and if this episode of “Hazard Ground” doesn’t inspire you, we’re pretty sure nothing will. So many good stories in this one, so check it out! www.bravacreativegroup.com | www.opboom.org | @chrisvanetten_official Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Today we pick-up with Ryan Pitts’ story as the Anti-Afghan force begins their deadly and sustained assault on Pitts and his observation post, in the vicinity of Wanat Village, Kunar Province, Afghanistan on July 13, 2008! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! If you like the show, please subscribe/rate/review on iTunes! It helps the show tremendously, and we always appreciate the feedback!
On the one year anniversary of Hazard Ground, it’s probably fitting that we share part one of the two part story of how Staff Sergeant Ryan M. Pitts received the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat. His is a story that defines the reason we do the podcast every week – to tell the stories of service, sacrifice, of unbreakable spirit, and strength in the face of insurmountable odds, with the hope that these stories will help others, whether they’ve served in the military or not. Sergeant Pitts received the Medal of Honor with humility and grace, and it’s evident by his words that he doesn’t believe it was just him who earned the Medal of Honor, but it was him alongside every one of his fellow soldiers who fought bravely on that dark day of July 13, 2008, along with those who didn’t return. And Ryan Pitts, who is now out of the Army, understands the duty that comes with the recognition of distinguished gallantry. Hear how Ryan Pitts became a recipient of the Medal of Honor, and what he’s doing now to carry on the legacy of his fallen brothers, on this one year anniversary episode of Hazard Ground! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
We should consider ourselves fortunate to have someone like Scott Huesing to carry on the story of the brave men of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines who fought daily in Ramadi, Iraq from the winter of 2006 to early 2007. During that period, Ramadi was considered the deadliest city in Iraq. Huesing and his Marines likened it to living in Hell. Scott Huesing served for over 24 years in the Marine Corps, both as enlisted and a commissioned officer, retiring as an Infantry Marine Major. His career included 10 deployments which have put him at the center of major operations in over 60 countries worldwide, leading and conducting combat missions in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. But it is his time leading Echo Company in Ramadi – the “Magnificent Bastards” of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines – that seems to have left the deepest impression on Huesing in all of his time in the Marine Corps. The Hell that he and his Marines lived through is captured so vividly in his new book, “Echo in Ramadi” which will be released in February 2018. Above all the book is a fitting record that explains the indelible scars of those Marines who lived through Hell in Ramadi, while carrying on the memory of those who didn’t return. www.echoinramadi.com | www.bravacreativegroup.com | www.savethebrave.org | “Echo in Ramadi: The Firsthand Story of US Marines in Iraq’s Deadliest City” Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Joining the military had been a lifelong dream for Nick Irving. He even knew from a young age that he wanted to be a sniper, taking BB gun shots at just about every inanimate object in his neighborhood, using his homemade ghillie suit as camouflage. And like many who know they want to be a part of the best the military has to offer, Nick set out in high school to join the elite Special Operations Forces of the U.S. military. Through hard work, preparation, and perseverance he became a sniper with the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, where he completed 6 combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. While with the 75th he also set a single deployment record with 33 kills in a 3-1/2 month timeframe, earning him the sobriquet, “The Reaper.” Nick takes us through the mind of a sniper, on and off the battlefield, and what it was like to come home as The Reaper, in this captivating conversation. www.reaper33.com | “The Reaper” | “Way of the Reaper” Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Jason Beighley is a special breed of soldier. He has over 17 years experience serving and excelling in the U.S. Army’s top tier Special Operations units. Looking for a greater challenge and more fulfilling job in the military, he worked to join those units, and would soon find himself involved in combat and high-stakes engagements with the enemy. One of those engagements was the Battle of Mogadishu, better known by its film and book adaptation, “Black Hawk Down.” In this episode, Jason, like the other guests we’ve had who fought in that battle, offers up a perspective you only get from someone who lived it and battled through it on the ground those two intense days in October 1993. He especially highlights how the rigorous training he went through prior to Mogadishu prepared him for the stress and strain of combat, allowing him to be an asset to his fellow operators and survive that and several other engagements. Today, he helps provide that same level of training to others working in high-risk environments, continuing to help develop the next generation of warriors like himself. www.strategiclinkpartners.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
Dr. Julia D. Dye is an author and the VP and CFO of Warriors, Inc., “the entertainment industry’s premiere military advising company.” She also runs Warriors Publishing Group with her husband, retired Marine, and star of such iconic war films as “Platoon” and “Saving Private Ryan”….And former Hazard Ground guest, Dale Dye. Julia also holds a Ph.D. in Theatrical Hoplology – a field which combines anthropology, sociology, economics, and the study of military history and combatives with performance. For this episode, Dr. Dye sits down with us to talk about the importance of accurately portraying warfighters’ stories in film and television. She also discusses her new book, “Through My Daughter’s Eyes,” which takes a close look at life growing up in a military family, with all of its ups and downs, and what it means to sacrifice in the name of service to one’s country. This episode is all about telling the warfighter’s story, the right way, and it comes straight from one of the leading experts in the business! www.warriorsinc.com | www.warriorspublishing.com | “Through My Daughter’s Eyes” | “Code Word: Geronimo” | “Backbone: History, Traditions, and Leadership Lessons of Marine Corps NCOs” Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!
As a young infantryman, Jesse Yandell knew he wanted to serve with the best units the U.S. Army had to offer - with soldiers who had the desire to take on more and always push further than the rest. He settled on the elite soldiers of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Once in, he never looked back, serving 15 combat deployments with the Rangers, and eventually reaching the position of Company First Sergeant within the Regiment. Many describe him as "cool and calm" in combat, and a "rock" who others look to in times of trouble. His will and strength are simply outmatched, as evidenced when he came back from a near-career ending and nearly fatal gunshot wound to the chest. He let the Army and others around him know that he had more to give and wasn't finished serving, by successfully summiting Mt. Rainier, just four months after surgery! If you're looking for inspiration, or searching for motivation to push yourself to your max potential, look no further than the story of Jesse Yandell! www.jesseyandell.com | www.hooahinc.org
Having decided that eight years of medical school was not the right fit for him, and stung by a desire to do something immediately more challenging with his life, Robert Disney dropped out of college to join the Air Force to become a Pararescue specialist, more commonly known as a "PJ." The PJs primary mission is to rescue, recover, and/or provide medical aid to downed air crews anywhere in the world, in any type of environment, both hostile and friendly. The attrition rate within the PJ training and qualification pipeline is extremely high. Disney's class started out with 86 recruits, and graduated just 6. It's no wonder Robert Disney went on to have such a successful career as a PJ, and survive an absolutely insane amount of combat and training related traumatic events, including a helicopter crash and being shot through the face. Hear about this incredible ride he's taken through the ranks of the Air Force, in combat and brotherhood, and how he's found peace amongst the inescapable scars of battle, on this amazing episode of Hazard Ground!
A self-described hellion growing up, Kirstie Ennis has always had the fire inside of her to overcome virtually any obstacle. That trait was put to the test on June 23, 2012, when the helicopter she was a door gunner on crashed in Afghanistan while performing combat resupplies. Kirstie, the daughter of two Marines, had planned to stay in the Marine Corps for a full career. The injuries she sustained as a result of the crash, which included an above-the-knee amputation on her left leg and a traumatic brain injury, forced her to medically retire from the Marine Corps in 2014. The fire inside was never needed more than in her years of recovery, fighting to become something greater than the person she was before joining the military. And Kirstie has done just that. She's now a mountaineer, Olympic hopeful, and the first female US veteran above-the-knee amputee to summit Carstensz Pyramid, a 16K foot peak in Indonesia...And she's working on a host of other high alpine summits! She's also just an all-around incredible and inspiring human being, and we're beyond honored to have her on the Hazard Ground Podcast! www.theheroesproject.org | www.thevetsproject.com
They're father and son, bonded by war. Both of them, Marines. The father fought in Vietnam, during one of the most violent periods of that conflict. The son did the same in Iraq. For the longest time, the son only knew that his dad was Alvin Bert Grantham, or "A.B." as he's known, the wounded Marine on the tank in one of the most iconic photographs from the Vietnam War. The photo of A.B. Grantham was shot by award-winning photographer, John Olson. It was featured in the March 8, 1968 issue of "Life" magazine, and would come to symbolize the horrific fighting that took place in Hue City during the Tet Offensive. It wasn't until the son, Joshua Grantham, fought as a Recon Marine in Iraq in 2004 and 2006, that father and son would finally solve the enigma of one another, revealing the haunting wartime past that had made the father a hero to his son, and unveiling the son's reasons for following in the hero's footsteps. This is an amazing story of family, brotherhood, sacrifice, and raw human experience that we truly consider ourselves lucky to cover on the Hazard Ground Podcast! www.reconsniperfoundation.org | "Hue 1968"
Each time Peter van Agtmael has been to war, he's gone without a weapon. No pistol, no knife, no rifle. The only thing he's carried into combat is a camera. And through that camera he has captured the human toll of war, both mental and physical. Since 2006 he has covered the Global War on Terror, working primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has since produced three books of images from these wars that are at times just as moving as they are haunting. Without these works, we would be devoid of a very important and sobering reminder: That war is an instrument so powerful, it should only be used when all other options have truly been exhausted. This conversation with Peter van Agtmael is an interesting and thought-provoking discussion on that perspective, and what it's like to not only document, but to feel the consequence of such violent action. www.petervanagtmael.net | "2nd Tour Hope I don't Die" | "Disco Night Sept. 11" | "Buzzing at the Sill"
There's probably no greater act of patriotism or selflessness than signing up for military service right after your country has been attacked. That's exactly what Joel Carpenter did after September 11, 2001. Prior to 9/11 he had gone to Hollywood to pursue a career in film and television, but the coordinated terrorist attacks compelled him to fulfill a higher sense of purpose, even though Joel was teetering on the cusp of "making it" in LA. He soon joined the ranks of the Army Rangers at the 75th Ranger Regiment, alongside a few others who had given up lucrative paths in life to serve their country. After serving multiple combat deployments as a Ranger, Joel decided it was time to leave the military and head back to civilian life and a job in the private sector. Part of that transition included picking up where he left things off in Hollywood. He has since taken on developing and writing the screenplay for a film about the Battle of Takur Ghar, the story that was the impetus for "Hazard Ground," and one that Joel is deeply connected to. Hear about Joel's journey from actor and screenwriter, to Army Ranger, and back to writing the stories of sacrifice in combat that deserve an enduring mark in history, on this special episode of "Hazard Ground."
For Dan Futrell, joining the military was at first just a means to pay for college. After initially shunning the idea of joining ROTC, he started taking some of the classes and found he enjoyed working with the people in the program. He eventually earned a four-year ROTC scholarship, and from there the Army became more than just a way to pay for college. Following graduation and commissioning, he joined the Infantry, because as he put it, "I wanted to be right in the thick of things." After multiple combat tours in Iraq, where he participated in over 400 combat missions, Dan eventually stepped away from the military to continue serving in a different capacity. In 2012 he earned a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Harvard, where he attended the Kennedy School of Government as a Pat Tillman Scholar and Rappaport Public Policy Fellow. That achievement launched several endeavors to continue public service and working to better society and enrich the lives of those around him. From the military to working in his local community, Dan Futrell epitomizes serving one's country, and we're honored to have him on the podcast!
Staff Sergeant John Diem knows what it means to serve one's country. That phrase gets thrown around a lot, but John Diem embodies the spirit of patriotism in every sense of the word. He has served multiple combat tours as an infantryman, spending most of that time on the line as part of an infantry squad. He survived a year-long deployment to Iraq's "Triangle of Death", where he and his unit suffered almost daily bomb, mortar, and small arms attacks, before four members of his platoon were convicted of murdering an Iraqi family of four in Yusufiyah. Although he projects a somewhat reserved appearance, his peers have described him as an "absolute killer in combat." The steady and calm timbre he uses in normal, everyday conversation, is the same tone he uses when the bullets are flying all around him. The rigors of combat and in general, the Army, have challenged Diem's mettle many times, but perhaps nothing tested him more than when Private First Class Justin Watt broke the news to him about the family in Yusufiyah murdered by members of their own platoon. Diem ensured the incident was properly reported up the chain of command, while making a crucial effort to protect Watt from unit leadership who simply wanted the story - and Watt for that matter - to go away. This is a story of service, and making hard decisions in the face of undesirable consequences...A story we all can learn from, and one you don't want to miss! "Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death"
Even if you've seen the movie "Black Hawk Down," and know everything about the book by the same title, you'll want to listen to this very special episode with Mike Durant, the pilot who was shot down over Mogadishu, Somalia during Operation Gothic Serpent in 1993. The level of courage and bravery displayed by him and the other soldiers who fought that long day on October 3rd, 1993, is unmatched. In this episode, Mike takes us through what it's like to fly helicopters for the Army's most elite aviation unit, and what it was like to face an angry mob who wanted him dead, with crippling injuries after being shot out of the sky over Mogadishu. Listen and get a perspective on the Battle of Mogadishu and the story of "Black Hawk Down" you just can't get from book or film. Hear from someone who lived through and survived the very worst moments of that battle on this incredible episode of Hazard Ground! "In the Company of Heroes: The Personal Story Behind Black Hawk Down" | "The Night Stalkers" | www.pinnaclesolutionsinc.com
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be shot down in a helicopter in the middle of a war zone, then you definitely want to listen to this week's episode. Even if you haven't, then you'll want to listen to how this week's guest, Robin Brown reacted cool and calmly under pressure, and crash landed her Kiowa Warrior helicopter after literally being blown out of the sky by enemy fire in 2003, when the war in Iraq was starting to go from bad to worse. Many years later, Robin would go back to Iraq to take on a much different challenge and potentially dangerous, but fulfilling experience. Recently she climbed and skied Mt. Halgurd, the highest mountain in Iraq, with two other veterans (and past guests on Hazard Ground), to help find peace and beauty in a land that has for so long been associated with war, pain, and suffering. Her trip was chronicled in The North Face short documentary, "Adventure Not War." Hear her complete impassioned journey on this episode of Hazard Ground. www.brownhousepr.com | www.adventurenotwar.com
From as early as he can remember, Stacy Bare wanted to be in the military. To him it was adventure, coolness, and selfless service, all in one. When Stacy finally got to be the soldier he always dreamed of, he went to war, and served with honor during Operation Iraqi Freedom. But when he came home, his life began to unravel. War had never left him. After battling addictions and a downward spiral that was sure to end in death, Stacy found peace in the outdoors. He became a climber and mountaineer, and is now helping other veterans find that same peace through adventure in the mountains and teaching outdoor leadership. Among other things Stacy is the Director of Sierra Club Outdoors and co-founder of Veterans Expeditions - a non-profit that seeks to enrich and heal the lives of veterans, especially those who suffer from PTSD. He is also a brand ambassador for The North Face and Keen footwear, and was named the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2014. He is an incredible, motivating individual, who we are no doubt honored to have on the show! www.adventurenotwar.com | www.thenorthface.com | www.sierraclub.org | www.keenfootwear.com | www.vetexpeditions.com
On the show today, we go back over 70 years and cover the most significant attack on American soil prior to 9/11. Our guest on this episode is retired Navy Lt. Jim Downing. At 104 years old, Jim is the 2nd oldest known American survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Jim's memory of that day is still as sharp and clear as it was the day it all unfolded, so we are incredibly lucky to get this firsthand account of the day "which will live in infamy," as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt observed after the attack. Hear on this episode how Jim survived the attack, and rushed in to save his fellow shipmates. Also hear Jim explain why he had the greatest peace in his life during such a horrific scene of shock and carnage. This episode will take you back to a very pivotal time in America's history, as told by someone who lived every eye-opening moment of it! www.jimdowning.net | "The Other Side of Infamy: My Journey Through Pearl Harbor and the World of War"
Early in the morning on September 20, 2004, and during some of the bloodiest days of the war in Iraq, Jacob Schick and his fellow Marines received a quick reaction call. With no sleep following the previous night's mission, Schick rounded up his Marines and jumped in a Humvee. Even though he had a bad feeling about the situation, Schick demanded he drive the lead vehicle. Shortly after moving out, his vehicle ran over a triple-stacked tank mine IED. Schick took the brunt of the blast. He was blown 30 feet into the air. He never lost consciousness, and he never went into shock. Every horrific moment about that day is locked in his brain. The blast took limbs and parts of his body away, and caused him to endure 46 operations. But the most difficult part of the entire ordeal was the mental pain Schick had to endure during recovery. Not being on the battlefield with his Marines, literally nearly killed him, physically and mentally. Severe depression, painkillers, and thoughts of suicide became his new enemy. Hear on this episode how Jacob Schick fought one last battle, and is now living for his Marines and everyone else who continues to fight. www.22kill.com
Part II of our episode with Nate Self, and the incredible Battle of Takur Ghar. Thanks for listening! www.nateself.com | "Two Wars"
Nate Self's story is the reason "Hazard Ground" was born. Early on the morning of March 4, 2002, Self, a young officer and elite Army Ranger, found himself fighting for his life on top of a remote mountain in Afghanistan, markedly outgunned by al Qaeda fighters. Self was tasked with leading the Ranger Quick Reaction Force that was sent to rescue Navy SEAL Neil Roberts and Air Force Technical Sergeant John Chapman, who had become trapped on top of the mountain known as Takur Ghar, during Operation ANACONDA. As the chinook helicopter that Self and half of his team were riding in attempted to land on top of Takur Ghar, it was immediately hit with rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun fire, forcing it to crash land. Within seconds, some of Self's men lay dead in the snow, just off the helicopter's back ramp. And so began a day-long battle between Self's small team of Rangers and well-entrenched al Qaeda fighters, that lasted until after sunset. After Takur Ghar, another battle raged inside Nate Self's head - this one the result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For years, Nate Self fought that battle alone, nearly destroying his family and himself in the process. Hear how he survived what he describes as the "Two Wars" in this very special episode of Hazard Ground. www.nateself.com | "Two Wars"
Mike Erwin is an amazing human. After surviving three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Intelligence Officer, much of that time directly supporting Special Operations, he started one of the premier veterans support organizations in America: Team Red, White & Blue, or "Team RWB" as it's commonly known. For several years now, Team RWB has been connecting and helping veterans heal through physical fitness, building community, and enacting positive change. Mike is also the Founder and President of The Positivity Project and CEO of The Character & Leadership Center, both organizations that are making incredible strides in developing the next generation of great leaders. In a world that's seemingly saturated in negative energy, Mike Erwin is a positive force connecting those who want to be something truly greater than themselves! "Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude" www.teamrwb.org | www.posproject.org | www.characterleadership.center
General (Ret) Ann Dunwoody holds the distinction of being the first woman in the US Military to achieve the rank of four-star general. But when you listen to her speak and understand a little bit of who she is as a person, you get the sense that there is no military rank high enough to quantify who she is as a leader. Her 37 plus years of military service have helped transform the US military for the better, and inspired other servicemembers to become incredible leaders like herself. She has deployed in support of major combat operations from Desert Storm to the Global War on Terror, and finished up her military career by commanding the largest global logistics network in the Army. It goes without saying that she's an incredible woman, human, and leader, who knows the true meaning of humility, integrity, and selfless service. We are again honored to have such an outstanding guest as General Dunwoody on the show! "A Higher Standard: Leadership Strategies from America's First Female Four-Star General"
In the spring of 1966 a 19-year old Bill Reynolds was on top of the world. The young Californian had it all: the killer car (a '65 Chevelle Super Sport to be exact), the gorgeous girlfriend, and a well-paying job in Los Angeles. Then, just before summer hit, his world changed forever - he received a draft notice in the mail, with orders to report to the Los Angeles Induction Station on May 17, 1966. Bill knew that it was his time to serve, like his father before him in WWII, so he went without question. He went to war with the Army's 9th Infantry Division, which had been re-activated for combat in Vietnam. Throughout his tour, Bill fought some extremely tough battles, lost some very good friends along the way, and served honorably. This episode was actually recorded one day after the 50th anniversary of one of the last battles Bill fought in, where he lost several of his good friends. Bill ultimately completed his tour of duty in Vietnam, and returned home to pick up where he left off back in 1966. We're honored to have him on the podcast, and thankful he's able to keep such an important part of our history alive. This is another incredible episode you don't want to miss! The Greatest Generations Foundation (www.tggf.org)
Chris Roessner's attitude and work ethic speak for themselves. In a relatively short period of his life, he's gone from surviving a year in Iraq in the Sunni Triangle performing a wartime mission with one of the lowest survival rates, to being awarded a prestigious academic scholarship through the Pat Tillman Foundation, to writing and executive producing his own film, "Sand Castle," which recently debuted as a Netflix Original Movie in April 2017. Part of his reason for joining the military, like so many other young soldiers, was to earn money for college. That decision set Chris on a path to discover his passion for writing and motion pictures, and it's clear he's taken advantage of every opportunity he's earned along the way. It's not too often that your first major screenplay is made into a movie as quickly as "Sand Castle" was. And most importantly, Chris was able to make a film that was as true as possible to the experience he and so many others like him had serving in combat - a feat that's not easily achieved. If you're looking for inspiration, you'll find it in the story of Chris Roessner! @CitizenRoessner | www.pattillmanfoundation.org/scholar/chris-roessner/ | "Sand Castle" (www.netflix.com/title/80118916)
Dale Dye is probably best known for the roles he's played in numerous motion pictures on war and combat...Films like "Platoon," "Casualties of War," and "Saving Private Ryan." But before he landed in Hollywood, he spent a majority of his time fighting and leading Marines on real battlefields - the ones where the slightest mistake or sniff of bad luck meant you weren't coming home. He's a veteran of multiple tours in Vietnam and survived 31 combat operations there. He's a decorated Marine who embodies every bit of the warrior spirit. And now he continues his mission to ensure that warrior spirit is accurately portrayed in motion pictures, and conveyed to and understood by as many people as possible. His latest project is called "No Better Place To Die." It's a World War II film, Dye hopes to make on his own terms, "outside the traditional Hollywood way," as he puts it. It's a venture as unconventional as the life Dale Dye has been fortunate enough to lead, and looks to be, no doubt just as incredible. www.warriorsinc.com | www.facebook.com/NoBetterPlaceToDie | www.indiegogo.com/projects/no-better-place-to-die-second-push-film-war#/ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2f68xdXYrg
You might be wondering why our guest this week is not affiliated with the military. Every now and then we like to feature a special guest on the show - someone who hasn't necessarily experienced combat, but who works to better the lives of others through podcasts, music, books, and other forms of media. And that's exactly why we have John Brenkus on the podcast. He has an amazing story of how he created his own show for ESPN, called "Sport Science." And he has an even more amazing story of how he met the woman of his dreams, who he created his own podcast with, called the "Brink of Midnight" where they feature successful athletes and entertainers who experienced a life-changing moment that turned everything around and changed them for the better, sending them on path to greatness. It's an inspiring show that accentuates the positive, and that is why we're featuring John Brenkus on this week's edition of "Hazard Ground"! "Brink of Midnight" Podcast | www.brinkofmidnight.com | "Brink of Midnight" Music
Most people know Mark Bowden as the best-selling author of the book, Black Hawk Down, the basis for the 2001 film by the same name. But this is only one small part of a collection of books Mark has written that detail some of the most instrumental US military operations in modern history. In the last several years he has covered the Iran Hostage Crisis, the hunt for Pablo Escobar, and the final chapter of Osama Bin Laden, as seen through the eyes of those that were there on the ground, and all the while capturing the human element amidst the profuse inhumanity of armed conflict. His most recent book tells the story of the fall of the city of Hue, Vietnam's intellectual and cultural capital, during the 1968 Tet Offensive, and the Americans' struggle to take the city back. Hue 1968 is an incredible book that captures a polarizing slice of military history that badly deserves preservation. Like the book, this is an incredible episode you don't want to miss! "Black Hawk Down" | "Hue 1968" | "The Finish" | "Killing Pablo" | "Guests of the Ayatollah"
Struck by a sense of duty to defend his country after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Will Bardenwerper walked away from a comfortable job in Midtown Manhattan to join the military. Despite some unexpected downtime while waiting to start his initial training, and then more schooling to become an Airborne & Ranger qualified officer, Will was finally dropped into the "hornet's nest," as he describes it, near Ramadi, Iraq in 2006, at the height of the initial Iraqi insurgency. Having fulfilled his initial military commitment and surviving one of the most dangerous deployments in recent history, Will transitioned from the military to become a full-time author. His latest book, which came out this month, details Saddam Hussein's last months alive and his daily interaction with his American guards. It's called, "The Prisoner in His Palace" and it provides an interesting perspective on the emotional and psychological toll guarding Saddam, in secret no less, took on both the young and more mature US soldiers who were handed the task of caring for the former dictator before eventually escorting him to his execution. Listen to Will recount his time in combat along with his journey to write and publish "The Prisoner in His Palace" on this very special episode of Hazard Ground! www.willbardenwerper.com | "The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid"
Johnny "Joey" Jones seemed to have it all. He was a young, good looking Marine, who had earned one of the most technically difficult, interesting, coolest, and coveted jobs in the U.S. military - that of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician (Think back to Ep. 3 w/ EOD Tech, Brian Castner...). It's also one of the most dangerous jobs in the military, and on August 6, 2010, that danger caught up with Jones when he stepped on a very well hidden IED in Afghanistan, instantly severing both of his legs above the knee and severely damaging his right forearm and both wrists. Lucky to even be alive, Jones headed for a most difficult path to recovery, which he has endured with incredible strength, optimism, and grace. Hear in this episode how Jones went from the top of the mountain, to the bottom, and back to the top again, and how he handled his injuries in the immediate aftermath of the explosion that changed his life forever. Simply put, this is another inspirational story you don't want to miss! www.johnnyjoeyjones.com | www.bootcampaign.org
Despite their difference in military rank when they served in the Army's elite 75th Ranger Regiment - one a seasoned enlisted man with a combat deployment already under his belt, and the other, a new lieutenant working to gain experience and the respect of other Rangers - Donald Lee and Matthew Griffin became fast friends. They went to war together several times, all the while hatching a plan to become business partners when the bullets stopped whizzing overhead. What they started, in spite of a few roadblocks along the way, was Combat Flip Flops - a successful flip flop company, that now produces other clothing and gear as well. Combat Flip Flops employs a business model that helps create stability and security in war-torn countries by helping to educate children there, clear unexploded mines, and provide economic opportunities and a sense of purpose that otherwise wouldn't exist. And they do it with a sense of humor and community that only two individuals who have endured the "suck" of multiple combat deployments could. This is another incredible, inspirational story you don't want to miss! www.combatflipflops.com
Jason Van Camp, who is today the Founder and Chairman of Mission 6 Zero, is another one of those guys who knows what it means to be a leader, in every sense of the word. He knows what it's like to have passion for something in life and to scratch and claw toward a goal until it's been achieved. He knows what it means to never quit - at least not until there's physically nothing left to give (and even then we're not quite sure Jason would give up). And it's that attitude that has gotten Jason through hundreds of hours of rigorous military training, multiple combat deployments in Special Operations as a Green Beret, and countless moments unlocking the hidden potential of others, so that they too can achieve greatness. Hear his story of combat and survival - how he's lead soldiers on the battlefield and also dealt with personal loss - on this very inspirational episode of Hazard Ground! www.mission6zero.com | www.warriorrising.org
Feeling an obligation to do his part for his country, Paul Rieckhoff enlisted in the Army after graduating from college in the years just before 9/11. After the Twin Towers fell, Paul found himself in uniform working tirelessly at Ground Zero. It wouldn't be long after that he would trade the dust and debris of 9/11 for the sands of Iraq, fighting as an infantryman at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his service overseas, Paul returned home to start a group that is now the leading post-9/11 veteran empowerment organization, serving his country in a much different, but much needed role once again. Paul is the founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), a veteran advocacy powerhouse that is making sure those who put on the uniform and serve around the globe, are given the support they deserve when they finally make it home. www.iava.org | "Chasing Ghosts: Failures and Facades in Iraq - A Soldier's Perspective"
Many know Taya Kyle as the wife of American Sniper, Chris Kyle...But for so many others she's an inspiration for overcoming tragedy. For us, she is our first non-military member that we've interviewed, but her story is so compelling. She is raw, honest, and graceful. This is a woman who has shown more strength in her grief, than most do in a lifetime. And like Chris, she is a protector, who continues to help others through times of trouble. Please do not miss this episode! www.tayakyle.com | www.chriskylefrog.com | www.chriskylefrogfoundation.org
Washington Redskins Special Teams Coordinator, Ben Kotwica is a proven leader through and through. From his time spent grinding it out on the football field at West Point, to flying Apache attack helicopters in combat, and returning home to work his way up to coaching in the National Football League, Ben embodies the importance of preparation, perseverance, and mentorship. It was truly an honor to have him on the show to share his take on combat, survival, coaching, and leadership!
When Marty Skovlund joined the military, he knew right from the start he wanted to be a part of the best the Army had to offer. He wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself...and Marty is not a small man. So after Infantry School, he earned a coveted spot in the 75th Ranger Regiment, one of the most elite units in the United States Military. While in the Ranger Regiment, Marty served five combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Marty has since left the military, and is now an author and filmmaker, bringing other great stories, like his, to life. Check out his story of combat and survival on this episode of Hazard Ground! Violence of Action: The Untold Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror | www.martyskovlundjr.com | @MartySkovlundJr | www.darbyproject.org
As a Marine, Jonathan Hancock experienced some of the worst fighting of the Iraq War in 2004 in Ar Ramadi. That year started off fairly peaceful, and it looked as if an extended American presence in Iraq would not be needed. Then, all hell broke loose, and Ramadi offered some of the fiercest fighting the Marines would see. Jon survived combat, but when he came home, like most of his fellow 2/4 Marines - nicknamed "The Magnificent Bastards" - he continued to fight a battle that raged within. Before it took him out for good, Jon decided to take a trip to try and heal. That trip was a walk across the United States, from coast to coast, in honor and remembrance of those Magnificent Bastards that never made it home. This is another great story you don't want to miss! www.bastardsroad.com @bastardsroad @bastardsroadmovie
If you followed the news during the start of the war in Iraq in 2003, you probably remember the two Apache pilots that were shot down behind enemy lines during the first weeks of the war. One of those pilots was Chief Warrant Officer David S. Williams, and his story was chronicled on several news outlets following his rescue. But what you didn't hear was a detailed account of his time in captivity. He and his co-pilot suffered through weeks of brutal interrogations among other perils. Hear the full story of what they endured on this episode of Hazard Ground!
Nate Boyer has lived anything but an ordinary life. Primarily because he's a man who knows how to set goals and achieve them. Not just any goals either; we're talking big goals. In early 2005, after working as a volunteer at refugee camps in Africa, he came back to the US and joined the Army, becoming a Green Beret in 2006. After serving in combat as a Green Beret, he decided to work toward achieving another dream of his: playing professional football. An unlikely candidate, Nate made the University of Texas Longhorn football team as a walk-on safety. Following graduation, he then went on to join the Seattle Seahawks as a long snapper. Nate Boyer knows what it means to follow your dreams, even if that means swimming against the current. He knows what it means to rise up to a challenge and ultimately succeed. And now, he's using his own experiences to help other dreamers do the same! @NateBoyer37 | www.nateboyer.com | www.mission6zero.com | www.vetsandplayers.org | www.waterboys.org/kili/
If you're looking for inspiration, a leader, or someone with true grit, look no further than Brigadier General (Ret) Becky Halstead. She is a leader and a trailblazer through and through. There aren't enough words to describe how great this woman is...You just have to listen. It was truly an honor to have her on our show, and this is definitely one episode you don't want to miss!! www.beckyhalstead.com 24/7: The First Person You Must Lead Is You
On Christmas Day 2006, Navy Corpsman Dustin Kirby was shot through the jaw by a sniper in Iraq. Up to that point, Kirby had worked tirelessly on the battlefield to save the lives of several Marines who he served with as their first-line source of medical care in combat. The sniper's bullet is what eventually took Kirby off the battlefield, and left him with a decade or so of chronic pain, depression, and limited ability to perform such simple tasks as eating and talking. It took ten years to find the right help to put Kirby's face, jaw and life back together, and eventually end his suffering. This is a heartwarming account of one veteran's journey of overcoming his enemies on the battlefield to, in the end, defeating his own pain when he came home. Check it out!
Joshua Brandon served three combat tours in Iraq, for which he was awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars with Valor. He served ten years in the Army as an Infantry Officer. But when he came home from combat, he soon realized he was battling another enemy; one from within. In 2007, he was diagnosed with PTSD and has since battled with the effects of PTSD and a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Fortunately for Joshua, he found a remedy in the healing powers of the wilderness. He took to alpine climbing and other outdoor pursuits as a way to find a new sense of purpose and repair the wounds caused by a war that persists to this day. Today, he continues to work in the Outdoor Industry, providing veterans with outdoor therapeutic adventure, participating in veteran outdoor scientific studies, and furthering environmental conservation. He's even a sponsored alpine athlete with the outerwear brand Outdoor Research. This is a great, inspirational story you don't want to miss! www.outdoorresearch.com/blog/athletes/joshua-brandon
It's war. It's what we can only imagine hell to be like, and Justin Watt lived through it. His story is eye-opening and shaded by the dark narratives and hard choices that only war can draw out. He was a member of the 101st Airborne Division's renowned 502nd Infantry Regiment, serving as an infantryman in Iraq's "Triangle of Death" in 2005-06. His unit suffered unimaginable losses during their year-long deployment, and the horror only intensified when four members of his platoon, his brothers in arms, murdered an Iraqi family of four in Yusufiyah, and then gang raped their fourteen year old daughter before shooting her to death and setting her body on fire, in an attempt to cover up their involvement. Justin tells the story of how he survived a year of unrelenting enemy attacks, a persistent breakdown in unit leadership, and ultimately the immediate backlash from that same leadership when he was the first to speak up about the murdered Iraqi family and report it to U.S. Army officials.
When a U.S. Army Colonel told a young Shannon Polson that she would never fly an attack aircraft, she set out to prove him wrong. As a matter of fact she became one of the Army's first female Apache pilots, and the first woman Apache pilot assigned to a line unit in the XVIII Airborne Corps. Serving overseas multiple times, she lead two flight platoons and a line company. When her time in the Army was finished, she used her experiences as a pilot, adventurer, and leader to forge a career as an author and public speaker. Today, she incorporates her love of art with her sense of adventure and pathfinding to help others overcome life's most difficult challenges. She's a true leader in every sense of the word, and someone we are proud and honored to have on the podcast. We hope you enjoy it! www.shannonpolson.com | North of Hope | The Road Ahead: Stories of the Forever War | THE GRIT PROJECT
For several years, Brian Castner performed one of the military's most difficult and dangerous jobs: he was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician. Not only was he an EOD tech, but he was also an officer, leading a team of bomb disposal experts, and ultimately responsible for every decision they made in combat. He served two combat tours in Iraq as the leader of an EOD unit. But, when he came home from his final combat tour, he began fighting a new enemy within, one he defines as the "Crazy," a jangled mix of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) symptoms. It has taken time, but Brian's wounds are healing, and he is now an established writer and bestselling author of books that are helping others deal with the scars of combat. For many, the war continues on once they leave the battlefield...Brian is proof of that. He is also proof that there is a way to heal from the wounds that so many combat veterans battle each and every day. This is another great episode you don't want to miss! www.briancastner.com @Brian_Castner The Long Walk | All the Ways We Kill and Die | The Road Ahead: Stories of the Forever War
On December 19, 2005, Noah Galloway was driving the lead truck in a small convoy when his vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Iraq's "Triangle of Death." Taking the brunt of the blast, Galloway was severely injured and ended up losing his left arm and leg. The loss of two limbs devastated the former standout athlete and fitness guru. So much so that it sent him into a downward spiral of excessive drinking and depression. Noah eventually hit rock bottom, and when he did, he rebounded with zeal and surpassed the image of what he once was. Noah looked beyond his darkest moment and his injuries, and fought to get himself back into excellent physical shape, eventually becoming a competitive adventure race athlete, personal trainer, author, and motivational speaker. He was even named the 2014 Ultimate Men's Health Guy by Men's Health magazine, gracing the cover of that year's November issue. Noah's story is one of resiliency and inspiration, and one that many to this day draw strength from. This is one account of combat and survival you don't want to miss! www.noahgalloway.com @noahgallowayathlete @Noah_Galloway Living With No Excuses: The Remarkable Rebirth of an American Soldier
Many people know the story behind the Battle of Mogadishu, immortalized in the book and film, Black Hawk Down. Rarely though, does one get the opportunity to see it from a different perspective; from one of the soldiers who fought and lived through that harrowing day in 1993. Matt Eversmann (portrayed by Josh Hartnett in the film Black Hawk Down), not only survived that battle, but went on to share his experiences, leading young men and women, and preparing them to face circumstances in life when the stakes are highest. Matt now spreads that message by working as a motivational speaker. This is an incredible episode, told by someone who witnessed the Battle of Mogadishu firsthand, giving you a unique point of view you just can't get from book or film.