Nate Boyer is the embodiment of the idea that anything can be achieved with the proper dedication and focused effort.

After high school, Nate decided to give a Hollywood a try but he didn’t feel like he really belonged.  When he read about the tragedies associated with the civil war in Sudan, he offered to volunteer. However, without a special skill set, none of the organizations working with refugees wanted him. So Nate bought a ticket anyway and faked his way onto a United Nations flight to Darfur.

He volunteered in the refugee camps for two months when he contracted malaria. While recovering he listened to a lot BBC radio. Upon hearing about what was happening in Iraq, he decided he wanted to help people in a different way. He joined the Army under the 18 X-Ray program, eventually earning the coveted Green Beret.

Nate Boyer was an athlete in high school but never played football. While deployed he decided it was time to address that regret. Despite never having played a down of organized football, he walked on at the University of Texas and earned a starting spot for three years. He transferred to the National Guard, playing football during the school year and deploying with the Green Berets in the summer. He even played one game in the NFL as the oldest rookie in the modern era.

Having worn both cleats and combat boots, Nate recognized the common challenges that military members and high level athletes face when they can no longer practice their craft. He co-founded Merging Vets and Players to bring the two communities together to help each other.

Nate returned to Hollywood, acting in several major motion pictures and even producing and directing the film “MVP” which depicts the founding of Merging Vets and Players.

TAKEAWAY: “I have been in both locker rooms. We both experience that loss of team when we transition out of uniform. It’s tough to transition forward.”

Diane Hight didn’t know why her father had become an alcoholic. It wasn’t until much later in life she realized that he was suffering silently from his experiences in World War II. This discovery and her abiding respect for the generation that fought in WWII and Korea led her to found Forever Young Veterans.

“They are a generation that has never asked for anything. I thought at the very least I could grant some special wishes for them.”  Since 2006 Forever Young has honored more than 2500 Veterans 65 years and older with “Trips of Honor” to nine countries and granted more than 300 special wishes. Diane emphasizes that traveling with older Veterans can have some logistical challenges – each trip includes a medical team.

Some of the wishes were small, like a pilot who wanted to sit in the cockpit of a modern aircraft. Some turned into something larger. One WWII soldier was reunited with his first love in a small French town seventy five years later.

While it may seem counterintuitive to return Veterans to the scene of some of their worst days, doing so with their fellow Veterans has a profound healing effect. Family members of some Veterans say they never talked about their war experiences but opened up after a Trip of Honor. The burden of their silent suffering had been lifted. One Veteran said “Who would have ever thought that the best days of my life would be at the very end of my life.”

Diane has compiled 22 of their stories in a new book titled “Forever Young Veterans; Stories of Sacrifice, Healing and Hope.” Proceeds from the book will help fund future trips.

Listeners who are interested in helping grant a wish or be an escort on one of the trips are encouraged to contact Forever Young Veterans.

TAKEAWAY: “It doesn’t take a lot to make a difference in the lives of these guys.”

Central Intelligence Agency covert action officer Joe Goldberg has seen a lot of changes since his time with the agency. The advent of the digital age has made managing “propaganda” a whole new business.



Joe always had a desire to be in public service and the opportunity to interview with the CIA matched his dual degrees in political science and communications. His role with the agency also allowed him to feed his creative side.

During his time with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Soviets were number one on his list. His philosophy was “the truth usually works”. The means may be covert but the information was accurate.

“Back in my day we were using videotape and mailing or otherwise delivering packages to people in a good old fashioned covert intelligence manner.  Now you have digital, speed and anonymity. You don’t need a source anymore; the internet is your source. You just have to figure out how to fill it.”

Joe also served Leader of Corporate Intelligence for Motorola where he received meritorious award recognizing one who has made significant contributions to the intelligence profession. He emphasizes that his role was an ethical one. They were not there to steal technology but rather study market trends and forecast technology.

Joe has since moved onto a quieter life as a college professor and self-published author.  His first book “Secret Wars” was literally in envelopes ready to be mailed to potential publishers when the 9/11 attacks occurred.  He chose instead to follow the arduous path of self-publishing. His third thriller “Rebellious Son” was just released.

Of course, the Central Intelligence Agency has to review all his books before they can be published. He feels like they give him a little more flexibility because he is writing fiction.

TAKEAWAY:  “It’s kind of interesting in world where we are connected instantaneously, we are all by ourselves.  What is truth – that is the big question.”

Fisher House Chairman & CEO Ken Fisher is carrying on the wonderful program first created by his great uncle Zachary Fisher.  To date, the Fisher House has provided support to over 430,000 military and Veteran families in the form of free lodging and travel.

Neither Ken nor Zachary served in the military. But when Zach heard the USS Intrepid was going to be scrapped he led an initiative to have the ship preserved and converted to a museum that hosts over 1 million guests a year.

Shortly thereafter he received a phone call from Pauline Trost, wife of the then Chief of Naval Operations. She witnessed a family arriving at Bethesda Naval Medical Center and, knowing the average cost of hotel rooms in the area, wondered where this family was going to stay while visiting their injured loved one. As a very successful builder, Zach had the solution. He and his wife dedicated more than $20 million to the construction of the first Fisher House. The foundation is now “on the road” to building their 100th home.

The homes provide no cost lodging to families of ill or injured Veterans and are built with easy access to Veterans Administration hospitals. Homes can be as large as 21 suites and provide both privacy and communal spaces. A very powerful element of these homes is that every family understands what the other is going through and provides a natural support system.

Other Fisher House programs include “Hero Miles” which provide free airfare using donated frequent flyer miles and “Hotels for Heroes” which provides free hotel rooms in areas where no Fisher House has been built. Listeners are encouraged to donate their frequent traveler bonuses in support of these families.

TAKEAWAY: “There are sacrifices being made on our behalf and behind every person in uniform there is a family. The American people should never think that just saying thank you is enough.”

The transition from military to civilian life is the principle focus of our regular Havok Journal update with Editor Scott Faith.  The transition can be more difficult for some than it is for others. Scott himself is retiring from the Army soon after 28 years in service.

Several articles on the topic have been published on Havok Journal and we discuss highlights of each.

“Observations of a Transitioning Officer – Time to Go” by Josh McKaskill

“A Green Beret Leaves the Service – How to Ruin Your Transition in Five Ways” by Marshall McGurk

“Veteran Nonprofits: The Backbone of Military Transition to Civilian Life” by Megan Thatford

The Havok Journal started the 2nd Mission Foundation specifically to help members of the military or first responder communities to make their transition. “A lot of time Vets think they have to do it alone and that is absolutely not true..there is a lot of support out there.”

We also talk about a recent article by Ayman Kafel called “Fellow Police Officers ..It’s OK to Die in Defense of Others.”  May seem controversial but once one gets passed the headline Ayman is really discussing a mindset that is important for police officers. “If you aren’t willing or mentally prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, then find another line of work because people’s lives depend on you.”  He proposes that a mission first attitude needs to be adopted by more police agencies.

Anyone interested in potentially writing to Havok Journal is encouraged to contact them through their website.

TAKEAWAY: “A retirement ceremony is the professional equivalent of a funeral because your career is officially dead at that point.”

Traumatic Brain Injuries have been diagnosed in more than 450,000 service members between the years 2000 and 2021.  These “invisible wounds” can cause physical, mental and emotional damage. A recent short film titled “Brainstorms” shows the impacts that these wounds can have upon the victims and their families.

Two medical professionals join us to discuss this issue. Dr. Chrisanne Gordon is founder of the Resurrecting Lives Foundation and Dr. Josh Appel is Chief of Emergency Medicine at the Southern Arizona VA and a former Air Force Pararescueman.



The typical IED can cause damage to persons even as far away as three football fields. TBI’s also have a cumulative effect. Dr. Gordon says of the patients she interacts with, the average number of TBI’s is eight.

Traumatic brain injuries do not show up on a normal MRI and both doctors agree that they are significantly under diagnosed. Common symptoms include headaches, photophobia (light sensitivity) and audio sensitivity. Dr. Gordon explained that when one part of the brain goes down, other parts try to step up causing lack of balance. This is why some Veterans are hyper sensitive to sound, large crowds and short tempered.

We also discuss recent developments that have complicated the situation. The pandemic caused many Veterans to become even more isolated and civil unrest added pressures to Veterans who fought for a unified nation. Dr. Appel adds that the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan left many Veterans wondering if it was worthwhile. “For me it was like watching the Twin Towers fall all over again.”

Traumatic Brain Injuries are fixable but we need to do a better job of diagnosing them early. Dr. Gordon recommends that whatever part of your brain is working, overwork that part and it will begin to pull the section that is damaged back.

TAKEAWAY: “The consequences of a malfunctioning brain are greater than the consequences of a malfunctioning arm.”
Veterans Crisis Line - Dial 988 and Press 1, Text to 838255

Operation Pineapple Express will likely go down as one of the greatest rescue missions in history. What makes it even more interesting and inspirational is the fact that it was mostly organized by civilians – retired Special Forces operators, Congressional staff, and state department personnel. In the midst of the horror and chaos of our withdrawal from Kabul, Pineapple Express was able to get approximately 1,000 Afghan allies and their families on evacuation flights. It was just one among several operations conducted by volunteer groups.

Lt. Col Scott Mann is a retired Green Beret and was one of the principle organizers of the effort. He describes the events in his book “Operation Pineapple Express”.  It all began with a plea Scott received from Nezam, an Afghan Army Special Forces NCO who had served with Scott. Nezam was receiving threatening texts from the Taliban and knew he had to get out of the country, but his application for the special visa he was promised was mired in bureaucracy.

“We didn’t have the resources, we didn’t have the authority, and we didn’t have the means. But we know what a promise is.”

Once they got Nezam to safety, Scott’s phone started blowing up with messages from other operators asking for help with other at risk Afghan partners. Task Force Pineapple would eventually be comprised of over 100 volunteers.

Scott’s book also shares the tremendous stresses placed upon his volunteers. Many had battled to put the war behind them but found themselves managing a new mission from the sanctity of their homes.

Scott discusses the serious long term implications of the way the withdrawal was handled and the moral injury to the Veterans who served in Afghanistan.

Scott and his wife formed Operation Pineapple Express Relief to fund continued efforts to help at risk allies. Operation Recovery is also still helping get allies out.

TAKEAWAY – “We may be done with al-Qaeda and ISIS but they aren’t done with us. The graveyard of empires will follow us home.”

Six words sum up Col. Scott Mills’ philosophy on how he wants all his airmen to be treated and how they should prepare accomplish their mission. Many of these concepts are adaptable to civilian teams as well.

He organizes these six words into two categories of three; Respected, Protected, Connected & Fight, Fit, Family. Scott expands upon the meanings of each of those words for our listeners.

Scott is always asking his airmen “Are you ready?” The correct answer should be a simple “yes”. Scott is motivated to ask this question because of personal experience.  In January 2007 he was flying an A-10 over Iraq when he got a call about a downed helicopter. He knew it was likely that more enemies were waiting in ambush. For five minutes he scoured the terrain for hidden ambush sites but was unable to find them before they opened up on the downed crews. “I think about those five minutes all the time. It is a debt that I have to pay forward. YOUR five minutes are coming and you have to be great when those five minutes to find you. Everything you do should be focused upon preparing for those five minutes.”

Scott believes that we all have a responsibility to set a minimum baseline and hold our personnel to that standard. ”If you are having a bad day and only have 50% to give, I want that full fifty percent. I want you to give me everything you have that day.”

Col. Mills is the Commander of the 355th Wing and is responsible for organizing, training and equipping 25 squadrons consisting of 46,000 personnel and $51 billion in assets.

TAKEAWAY: "That is the unifying thing about our nation. We all have skin in this game. We all need to serve and find a way to do so.”

“Black Snow; Curtis LeMay, the Firebombing of Tokyo and the Road to the Atomic Bomb” is author James M. Scott’s latest release. In some ways it is a sequel to his previous book “Rampage” about the battle for Manila. I consider James to be one of the greatest historical writers of our generation.

There are many fascinating historical characters presented in this book but principally focuses on Curtis LeMay – one of the Army Air Corps, later Air Force’s most legendary figures.

LeMay was a “problem solver” and developed many of the bombing techniques successfully used in the campaign against Germany. He personally led some of the most dangerous missions of that theatre. He trained his crews relentlessly and held them to high standards. Some of his crews may not have liked him but they all respected him. One said “If LeMay told me two plus two equaled five I would believe him.”

LeMay was appointed to replace Brigadier Haywood Hansell, whom James describes as “a planner, not a predator” to prosecute the bombing campaign against Japan. They would be using the new B-29 Stratofortress, the most expensive weapon system of World War II.

The strategy of high altitude precision bombing employed in the European theatre was not working in the Pacific. Several factors contributed to this issue including the frequency of cloud cover over the targets and the jet stream which would push bombs dropped from high altitudes far off target.

LeMay stripped the bombers of all defensive weapons and ordered them to attack at low level at night.  Understandably, many of his crews thought these would be suicide missions but they caught the Japanese completely by surprise.  The missions proved devastating, incinerating 15.8 square miles of Tokyo and 267,171 homes, stores and businesses. The blazes were so intense that many of the bombers returned with soot coating their fuselage.

The description Black Snow was quoted by reporter Robert Guillain as he observed the immediate aftermath of the bombings.

James’ next project will closely examine the three days surrounding  the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

“The Shot: The Harrowing Journey of a Marine in the War on Terror” tells the story of Sgt. Bill Bee’s narrow brush with death and the challenges he faced post- service. It is co-authored by Sgt. Bee and Daily Mail editor Wills Robinson.

Bill was deployed with his unit in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan when Goran Tomsevic, a Serbian embedded reporter from Reuters joined them.  Bill did not have much respect for “embeds” after his first reporter requested to be evacuated after only one day in the field. Goran was different. Bill says Goran had an “operator mentality” and just a touch of insanity.

 Photo Credit: Goran Tomsevic

Bill’s unit had been notified there might be a Taliban marksman in the area and a single shot alerted Bill to his presence. Without donning his armor and helmet Bill rushed to check on his men. He had just drawn a bead on where he thought the sniper was positioned when his entire world went dark.  Goran was positioned nearby and mistakenly captured The Shot – a series of photos that showed the instant Bill Bee narrowly avoided death. Goran would later tell him “This picture only happen one time before and that guy died.”

An IED in Marjah would wound half of Bill’s squad kill two Marines. A third traumatic brain injury would end his career with the Marines and began a nightmarish experience with the VA.  He had trouble scheduling treatment and they had him on a cocktail of 18 pills. Bill attempted to take his own life.

Wills Robinson was shown photos of The Shot and asked to follow up on Bill’s story. Bill had declined previous interview requests but he saw this as an opportunity to help other Veterans. The day after Robinson’s story appeared in the Daily Mail, Bill was contacted by the VA. “It shouldn’t take a news article for someone to get help with something they rated in the first place.”

TAKEAWAY:  "You can’t do this by yourself. There is help available but you’ve got to break down and ask for it."

Cobra gunship pilot Lew Jennings flew 726 missions in Vietnam, receiving over 50 combat decorations including three Distinguished Flying Cross citations for Valor and 36 Air Medals.  He published a memoir about helicopter combat in Vietnam named “19 Minutes to Live”. He joins us as part of our partnership with the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.

Vietnam was considered the first “helicopter” war. Over 12,000 helicopters flew 5.25 million sorties. Eighty percent of the light observation helicopters, forty seven percent of the Hueys and thirty percent of the Cobra helicopters were lost.  Nearly 5,000 helicopter crew members were killed and an untold number wounded.

Lew shares some of the tactics they developed “on the fly” depending on the terrain and mission. Many of his missions involved hunter-killer teams consisting of OH-6 scout helicopters, Cobras and Hueys. Sometimes they would fly in “pink teams” consisting of only a scout helicopter and a Cobra gunship. “It was our job to go out and stir things up.”

Lew describes some of the more heroic and tragic missions of his time in combat. These included one pilot who climbed out of the cockpit while airborne to kick lose a misfired rocket. One of my favorites was a mission with Eddy “Mad Bomber” Joiner.  In order to deal with a bridge way deep in a ravine, Eddy filled a five gallon can with napalm and attached a phosphorous grenade. His co-pilot carried the homemade bomb on his lap, pulled the pin and barely got the contraption out of the helicopter before it exploded. They destroyed the bridge and were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for that mission.

His unit was heavily engaged in the A Shau Valley action that came to be known as “Hamburger Hill”.

Lew and several other “grey hairs” came out of retirement to fly hundreds of classified missions in Iraq. Lew was 62 years old at the time and their chief pilot was 72.

TAKEAWAY:  Lew says he spent many nights trying to figure out how to best support the guys “with a rifle and rucksack” on the ground. 

9/11 survivor & FDNY Veteran Tim Brown lost nearly 100 of his friends in the September 11 terrorist attacks, including his two best friends.  He has made it his mission to assure that our nation never forgets.
Tim is no stranger to the face of terrorism. He responded to the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing and was dispatched to help with the recovery efforts following the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing. But nothing could have prepared him for the events of 9/11.
He had been assigned to Mayor Giuliani’s Office of Emergency Management – a role Tim describes as “taking off his helmet and putting on a tie.” He was in his office across the street from One World Trade Center when the first plane hit the North Tower.
Tim describes some of the horrible moments he experienced, including last seconds with his fellow firefighters before they climbed the stairs with full knowledge that they may never return. “It was what all the firemen, policemen and EMT’s did that day. They fulfilled the oath they had taken to give their lives for someone they didn’t know.”
Tim was 20 feet from the front of the South Tower when it collapsed and sought cover in the Marriott Hotel next door, which was subsequently buried under the rubble. Drawing upon his training, he held on to a vertical column while the wind (later proven to be has high as 185 mph) picked him up.  “I was just waiting to be crushed in that moment”. Tim and a few dozen others were able to find their way out of the rubble.
We discuss how the number of rescuers dying from 9/11 illness is rapidly approaching the number killed during the attacks.
Tim has become a national leader in preserving the memories of those who were murdered on 9/11 at Ground Zero. He feels particularly compelled to share these stories with younger generations who had not been born at that time.
Tim volunteers with the National September 11 Memorial Museum and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. He can be reached via Eagle Rise Speaker's Bureau.

Irv Brandt’s evolution from a Navy torpedo man to law enforcement was an awkward transition but it worked out. Irv served with the US Marshal  Service for more than 20 years. After leaving the Navy, he went to college to study business. After Black Monday no one was hiring business majors, but there were lots of opportunities in Law Enforcement. “I went into law enforcement and it turns out I was really good at it.”

As a member of the Atlanta Police Department, Irv was assigned to Centennial Park during the Olympics. He was fifty feet away from the bomb detonated in the park by Eric Rudolph. “I’ve been shot at, I’ve been stabbed, but nothing is more terrifying than a bomb. It’s amazing to me that I wasn’t hit”.

Irv tested for a position with all the Federal Agencies and was waiting for a DEA academy class when the Marshal Service called. The Marshal’s academy began earlier so Irv jumped at the chance.

We discuss one of Irv’s cases that was featured on America’s Most Wanted; Jodie Thompson. Thompson escaped from prison and was on the run for more than three months. Victims said Thompson could open a gambling machine quicker with a crowbar than staff could with keys. “He was one of the coolest persons under pressure I have ever seen. I had him at gunpoint and he smiled at me.”

Irv spent much of his career working international cases. The US Marshals conduct ALL international extraditions for local to federal agencies. He used to charter jets and bring home cartel members a dozen at a time. Irv says the most satisfying arrests were sex offenders because they will keep offending and leave a wake of misery if they are not caught.

Since retiring, Irv has become the author of the Jack Solo thriller series.

TAKEAWAY: “Once a warrant is issued, the US Marshal service WILL CONTINUE looking for you until you are arrested or dead."

A “moral injury” can occur in response to witnessing behaviors that go against an individual’s values and moral beliefs.  I was first introduced to this concept by Col. Marc Walker of the 12th Air Force and asked him to explain it further to our listeners.

Clearly, in war, there are many situations that can cause moral injury. These can include death or harm to civilians, “same team” violence, concealed acts of cowardice, sexual trauma or the inability to prevent death or suffering.  These incidents don’t happen only in combat – Marc shares examples he witnessed while maintaining equipment.

While moral injury has been with us since the beginning of time, it wasn’t until recently that it began to be examined through current psychological lenses.  It is estimated that there is a 50-65% moral distress rate among service members. While one would think it disproportionally impacts younger persons who have not have as much exposure to the world, Marc says it is more common in senior service members as they take on added responsibilities of command. “Even for those special operators who are trained to compartmentalize and put it in a box, eventually that box can become full and overflow.”

We discuss how moral injury also occurs in civilian life like witnessing a bad auto accident or acts of betrayal in an office environment or personal relationship. While it can be difficult to diagnose, some symptoms include poor self-care, irritability, trouble sleeping and even fatigue and headaches.

Marc currently serves as Director of Logistics, Installations & Mission Support for the 12th Air Force. He is a “Mustang”, having begun his career as an enlisted airman before becoming an officer.  He strongly believes that this gives him an added advantage in commanding his personnel as he has walked in their boots.

TAKEAWAY: Like with any mental situation, if one suspects someone is suffering it is better to bring the issue up and be wrong than to overlook it and live with the regret of not taking action. This in itself can cause a moral injury.

“Frogmen” was the nickname given to the members of the newly formed Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) during World War II. Their fellow service members called them “Half Fish, Half Nuts”. They were the predecessors of today’s Navy SEAL teams.

George Morgan

The history of the formation of these special units is the subject of a new book by award winning journalist & author Andrew Dubbins. It is called “Into Enemy Waters; a World War II Story of the Demolition Divers Who Became the Navy SEALs”. Much of the book is based upon the personal experiences of one of the last living original Frogmen George Morgan.

Draper Kaufman is credited as the being the “father of the Navy SEALs”. Although the son of a Navy Admiral, Kaufman was denied a commission from the Naval Academy due to poor eyesight. He volunteered with the American Ambulance Corps in France prior to the US entering the war. He then volunteered with the Royal British Navy where he gained valuable experience defusing bombs during the London blitz. When Admiral Nimitz asked Draper why he wasn’t in the US Navy, He replied that our Navy didn’t want him because of his eyesight.  Nimitz resolved THAT issue immediately.

The Frogmen of UDT would see action in some of the most famous battles of World War II including D-Day, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and even the waters of Tokyo Bay gathering intelligence for an invasion that never took place. Very often they would swim long distances to the enemy beaches armed with only a knife, their demolition tools and their bravery.

Dubbins shares the creativity Kaufman and the original Frogmen used in developing techniques and tools, versions of which are still in use today.  Kaufman insisted on recruiting strong swimmers as he felt it was easier to train a man to use explosives than to swim. Upon reflection, George Morgan jokes that it was probably a mistake he told the recruiter he was a lifeguard.  George also shares firsthand accounts of the terror of war and bravery of his fellow UDT Frogmen.

TAKEAWAY: It took a particular type of bravery for George Morgan to help Andrew on this project. It caused him to recall bad memories that he had been trying to forget for decades.

Valor Club is an innovative master planned community specifically designed for transitioning Veterans. The development will be built on 200 acres five miles southeast of San Antonio. At full build out, the $330 million dollar community will include 1,400 residential units on a campus also featuring various support amenities and services. This community will be the first of its kind on this scale.

Michael McDowell is the President  & CEO of Valor Club and a Marine Veteran with multiple combat deployments.  He has earned four college degrees with his PhD focusing on the effects of stress and military transition to civilian life.

Valor Club will be built around five pinnacles of a successful transition with the residential piece just one part of the equation. The other pinnacles include an educational component, extensive social service support, recreation & fitness and career selection & placement.  The mortar that will hold all these elements together will be the fact that ALL the community residents will be Veterans who understand the struggles of transition and are willing to step up and support their neighbors.

Valor Club is working with both private and public partners to keep the lease rates affordable and below the local market rate price. Once the San Antonio project proves itself, Mike would like to see the concept scaled to other markets. San Antonio was chosen not only because it is “Military City, USA” but also because of the extensive & diverse corporate presence that will provide apprenticeship and career options.

Failure to assimilate is one of the biggest impediments for Veterans making the transition to civilian life. Mike discusses the potential lack of “civilian cultural competency” among Veterans. “From day one of boot camp, we put these individuals into a socialized system where everything is taken care for them. It is a phenomenal system for winning wars but sets them up for potential failure when they leave the military.

TAKEAWAY: “ Our ideal prospect is a year from leaving service in order to create an option for them and reduce stress.”

Hometown Heroes Radio creator and host Paul Loeffler has done some amazing work assuring that the stories of World War II and Korean era Veterans are not lost to history. Since 2005 Paul has interviewed an average of one World War II Veteran per week.

Much of Paul’s inspiration came from an early moment in his life when he accidentally came across a framed newspaper article hidden away in his grandfather’s closet. It described how Dr. Robert Loeffler pulled 26 men out of burning tanks and half tracks while under fire in a German ambush. Those actions earned his grandfather a Silver Star commendation and he would be awarded a Bronze Star at the Battle of the Bulge.

While a television broadcaster, Paul pitched the idea of adding short feature segments with World War II Veterans to their regular broadcasts. His boss discounted the idea saying “Nobody wants to hear a bunch of old guys talking.” Paul did it anyway and the series won awards. He founded Hometown Heroes Radio in 2007 and began syndication in 2013. The program is currently airing on 13 stations.  His job as a radio sports announcer allows him to travel all across the country and he seeks out Veterans to interview in all those communities.  Listeners can hear over 740 archived shows and even suggest potential guests via Paul’s website.

Paul shares some of the more interesting stories he has helped tell. While the stories are all different, he says one common theme is the humility that all these Veterans display. We share the fact that we both feel a sense of urgency to make sure these stories are told. It is estimated that only 174,000 of the 16 million persons who served in World War II are still alive today.

TAKEAWAY:  “No matter where you live in this country of ours, no matter how big or small your hometown may be – there are stories that should not go untold.”

Landing craft and the men who sailed them were often unheralded. But they were a critical part of our victory in World War II. They were especially important to the island hopping campaign in the Pacific theater.
Like many of his generation, Steven Ganzberger enlisted as soon as he turned 18 following the attack on Pearl Harbor.  His grandson Zach Morris has always been an avid World War II historian. He was visiting town on May 18, 2011 and decided to conduct a 2 hour interview with his grandfather. Two days later, Steven passed away. This put Zach on a 10 year odyssey to learn more about the landing craft that his grandfather and his comrades sailed. The result is a wonderful book called “When the Beaches Trembled.”

Three types of landing craft were used during the second world war; Landing Craft Infantry (LCI), Landing Craft Tank (LCT) & Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM). Service aboard these craft was miserable. All were designed with flat bottoms that allowed them to get close to shore and beach themselves in order to deploy their troops or equipment. This meant that sea sickness was a regular curse for their crews. There was only one restroom for a crew of up to 60 men and fresh water was at a premium.

After a disastrous experience at the Battle of Tarawa, the Navy converted some landing craft to gunboats in order to provide better fire support for the troops landing on the beaches.  In addition to providing fire support against opponents on land, they also served as anti-aircraft platforms. One of Steven’s best friends was killed by a Kamikaze pilot at the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Steven participated in seven campaigns in the Pacific. He and his fellow crew members were in constant combat for two years.

TAKEAWAY:  Most “old Navy” officers weren’t keen on the idea of beaching their ships. LCI command was NOT a preferred assignment.

The Distinguished Flying Cross is our nation’s fourth highest award for heroism and the highest award for extraordinary aerial achievement. Three time DFC recipient Ross Detwiler and his fellow “Misty” pilots volunteered to fly some of the most dangerous missions of the Vietnam War. Twenty two percent of the forward air controllers were shot down. Ross was among them.

The original Forward Air Control missions were flown in much slower, propeller driven aircraft. However, because the loss rates of pilots and aircraft were so high, the mission was renamed Fast Forward Air control and transitioned to F-100 and F-4 aircraft. Ross flew both. He says that their mission was basically to go out and get shot at so they could discover where the enemy was. The lives of the pilots who flew “Misty” missions are detailed in his book “The Great Muckrack and Rosie”.

In his book Ross recounts the sometimes tragic and often heroic stories of some of the men he flew with. There are also more light hearted anecdotes of the adventures of the pilots who lived day to day and developed a rather morbid sense of humor. Ross shares his recollections of the day his aircraft was hit by multiple rounds and caught fire. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion but the equipment worked precisely the way it was supposed to. He is everlastingly grateful to the crew of the “Jolly Green” helicopter rescuers who pulled him out the jungle and lists each by name in his book.

Ross has also written a second book; “Pacific Musick” that describe the life of Captain Ed Musick, chief pilot of the Pan American Airways China Clipper.

The Distinguished Flying Cross Society is a membership organization consisting of DFC recipients and their family members. Their mission is to honor the legacy of the men & women who have received the award, preserve their rich legacy & historical narratives and educate the public on the values of courage, patriotism and character.

Havok Journal editor Scott Faith joins us for a regular update. Scott is currently an active duty officer with half a dozen combat deployments. He writes under a pseudonym.

We begin with one of the first articles he published for Havok Journal, “What Veterans Are (Still) Owed on 4th of July”. The article caused quite a stir because in Scott’s opinion his fellow citizens don’t owe him anything. He doesn’t expect free drinks or store discounts and is perfectly okay with fireworks. He finds THOSE yard signs particularly vexing because they feed into the dysfunctional Veteran subculture. We agree that our government DOES owe Veterans fulfillment of the contract they signed including functional healthcare and full payment of their pensions.

Military recruiting shortfalls are an issue that should concern us all. Some are even questioning the sustainability of the all-volunteer force concept.  The numbers are startling. Of the pool of 31.8 million age appropriate persons, only approximately 465,000 meet academic/fitness requirements and have clean drug/criminal records. Most concerning to Scott is the increasing politicization of the military. Scott has loved his time in the Army but he is seeing more of his brothers in arms recommending  against enlistment. The “Afghanistan exit debacle” motivated Scott himself to submit his retirement papers.

Scott believes that, in general,  members of the military are compensated pretty fairly. “Making a career out the military is a ticket to the upper middle class if you play your cards right.” He feels that addressing the issue of toxic leadership is key to retention. Recent changes that allow for “blended retirement” have also helped.

We wrap up the show discussing the potential benefits and downsides idea of compulsory conscription and Byron Chen’s article on Veteran transition.

TAKEAWAY: “Veterans need to get out there and be our own best representatives. Being successful in the community and continuing to serve pays off more in the long run than any temporary recruiting boost.”