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The Battle of Fallujah tested Dr. Donnelly Wilkes in many ways. It refined his medical skills AND his faith. He tells his story in the autobiography  Wilkes had accepted a Navy scholarship and was in his fourth year of medical school when the September 11th attacks occurred. At that moment he realized his career as a Navy doctor was likely to take a different turn. He chose to embed with the Marines in order to stay closer to his wife. Responsible for the health of 1,000 Marines, it was he job to go where they go.  In 2004 this would mean setting up a field aid station in support of the First Battle of Fallujah, one of the most violent events of the Iraq War. Field medicine is vastly different from hospital medicine. While major innovations have occurred in combat medicine, most apply at the “secondary” level of treatment, not the front line areas where Dr. Wilkes was operating. He says in many ways those techniques are not much changed from previous wars. Dr. Wilkes and his corpsmen also had to deal with the added pressure of regular mortar and rocket attacks. “Indirect fire may not wound you directly but the mental torment is intense.” He describes his first combat casualty, an event that was recorded in a Pulitzer Prize winning photograph. We also discuss the juxtaposition of being a “Warrior-Healer”. “All your training up until you go to combat is to do no harm. And then you are put into an environment where you are trained to use your weapon.” Dr. Wilkes shares how combat transformed his faith and lessons he learned and can be applied to anyone’s life; get your heart and mind balanced, get your body fit, grab a fistful of courage and go after it.” TAKEAWAY: “You are the most important person you will ever meet. DON’T be late to that meeting.”

The Devil’s Hand is the fourth book by bestselling author and former Navy SEAL Jack Carr. It follows on his three other wildly successful novels “The Terminal List”, “True Believer” and “Savage Son”. Jack served 20 years at the tip of the spear, beginning as an enlisted Navy SEAL sniper and rising to the rank of Lt. Commander.  When it became apparent that further promotion would mean he would no longer be in the field “kicking in doors”, he decided to close that chapter of his life and move on the other aspiration he had since he was a child; becoming a writer. His mother was a librarian so Jack grew up with a love of reading. Looking back he realizes he was giving himself an education in good storytelling. He began writing The Terminal List during his months transitioning out of the Navy and it became a New York Times bestseller. The book is currently being made into an Amazon television series starring Chris Pratt. One reviewer said Jack “..lived the life he writes about” and his first novel proved to be very therapeutic. While not his original intention, he realized he was releasing some frustrations resulting from his personal experience with senior level leaders whose decisions had dire consequences for men and women on the battlefield. Jack had just begun outlining The Devil’s Hand when the pandemic hit. His experiences with adversaries watching us on the battlefield and adjusting their battle plans accordingly caused Jack to weave elements of what he was observing during the pandemic into his new novel. One hundred percent of the proceeds from sales of his Jack Carr Collection merchandise go to Veteran related charities including the amazing Rescue 22 Foundation. TAKEAWAY: “The great thing about writing is you are solving problems on the written page, kind of the same way I did on the battlefield. But if I mess it up in a thriller I can go back and edit it the next day so the consequences aren’t nearly as dire.”

Sheriff Mark Lamb has twice been elected Sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona. Pinal County covers 5,374 square miles and is larger than the States of Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. As elected, rather than appointed law enforcement officials, the office of Sheriff is rather unique. His agency was one of the jurisdictions featured on the Arts and Entertainment channel program “Live PD”. Sheriff Lamb was approached about co-hosting a spin off series called “Live PD: Wanted”.   He says he agreed to appear on the program because “There are so few opportunities to showcase the good men and women who put on the badge every day.”  While Sheriff Lamb does not know if the Live PD shows will return, he is working on putting together a show of his own. Sheriff Lamb believes that support for law enforcement remains high nationwide but the actions of one bad officer can negatively impact agencies across the country. This is why he emphasizes regular community engagement as a high priority for his department. His agency has lots of volunteer opportunities including a Citizen’s Posse and helping on cold case files.  He also takes pride in an initiative that provides early diversion opportunities for youth offenders. Sheriff Lamb regularly patrols with his deputies because they need to know that leaderships stands shoulder to shoulder with them during these times, particularly in a media environment quick to judge.  “We are at a disadvantage because it is our responsibility to be respectful of the law and work toward securing a conviction. “ He says that COVID has also created more public safety issues as well as public health issues. TAKEAWAY: “I view positive community engagement like a bank account; you have to constantly build your community trust accounts because when a withdrawal comes, it is going to be heavy. If you haven’t built enough trust, that check is going to bounce.”

Veteran advocacy is a passion for Joshua Hosler. That is why he and his fellow Veteran Anthony Archer founded Veteran Sheepdogs of America.  As disabled Veterans, they both have personal experiences within the VA system and recognized a gap that needed to be filled. Joshua served as an assistant platoon leader and bomb dog handler in the Marines. While he never had plans to enter the political arena, some of the things he saw overseas inspired him to get more involved when he left the Corps. “Seeing what the Afghani people felt after voting for the first time in their life, it was very hard not to be moved by that.”  He worked on a couple of political campaigns and briefly worked as District Director for Colorado Congressman Doug Lamborn before founding Veteran Sheepdogs of America. We discuss some of the advocacy areas they are focusing on including the 352,000 Veterans whose compensation and benefits exams are backlogged due to COVID.  Other examples include the case of Richard Stayskal, a Veteran with Stage IV cancer who would have a strong malpractice case in the civilian world but was prevented from seeking compensation due to the Feres Doctrine. Veteran Sheepdogs of America is a membership based organization.  This is by design as Joshua knows from experience that elected officials have higher respect for organizations whose members have financial skin in the game. Membership is also open to civilians and is only $10. Lastly, Joshua and I share our thoughts about the importance of having more Veterans seek public office. In 1973 nearly 3 out of 4 members of Congress had some type of military service. Currently that number is closer to one in six. The concept of using the term “Sheepdogs” to describe our military and first responders was first referenced by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman in his book “On Killing”. TAKEAWAY: “Anyone who supports our mission and supports Veterans is welcome.”

The Warrior Tradition is a PBS documentary that features more than a dozen Native American Veterans from all branches of the service. Per capita, more Native Americans serve our nation in greater numbers than any other ethnic group. Over 12,000 served in the First World War, even though many were not granted US Citizenship until 1924. Lanny Asepermy served 24 years in the Army and saw combat in Vietnam. He is Comanche/Kiowa, both tribes with a strong warrior tradition. However he says “When we were put on the reservation we were no longer warriors.” He then recounts how military service allowed them to be warriors for a while but when the wars were over “We were no longer warriors again.” The Comanche Indian Veteran’s Association has documented 1,259 known Comanches that have served our military with honor tracing all the way back to the Indian scouts. Following on a theme presented by combat journalist Sebastian Junger, we discuss the “cleansing traditions’ practiced by many tribes to prepare their warriors for battle. The Warrior Tradition documentary features a powerful scene where non-native members of the deploying unit were invited to participate in the ceremony. Lanny credits his grandmother’s blessing for carrying him safely through his Vietnam service. Lanny shares some lighthearted insight into assumptions made about Native Americans in uniform. When he was a lead tank commander in Vietnam, his fellow soldiers assumed he always knew where he was. He says “Yes, I knew where we were at and where we were going…but because I had a compass and a map!” He shares that it is a point of pride for him that the Army names many of their aircraft after Native American tribes. TAKEAWAY: When I asked Lanny why he enlisted he replied “We lost our land once..we’re not going to lose it again.”

“The League of Wives; The Untold Story of the Women Who Took on the U.S. Government to Bring Their Husbands Home” is Heath Hardage Lee’s homage to this very inspirational group of women.  Heath has worked in the women’s history space for twenty years and was horrified that this narrative had never been told. In addition to the tragedy of having their husbands as prisoners of war or missing in action, perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of this story is how family members were treated by our government and military institutions. Navy Commander Bob Boroughs was an exception, risking his own career to “color outside of the lines” and even recruiting some of the wives in a surreptitious campaign to place coded messages in their correspondence with their husbands. The societal context of the era is an important underlying theme, taking place during a time of intense change in our country. Most of these military wives considered themselves “by the book” but the reticence of our government to provide them any information or support eventually caused them to lose patience and take matters into their own hands. Sybil Stockdale, wife of Admiral James Stockdale, the highest ranking officer held prisoner in the infamous Hanoi Hilton, played a foremost leadership role in the effort. Her husband was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor and Sybil was awarded the Navy Ombudsman Award. President Richard Nixon, himself a Navy Veteran, ushered in a significant departure from the Johnson administration policy of “just stay quiet”. He or his staff personally answered every single telegram from POW’s wives and publicly thanked the League of Wives upon the conclusion of the war. Heath also shares the “uneasy” relationship the wives developed with radical peace activists due to the fact that they were the only organizations in control of communication in and out of the POW camps. The League of Wives has been optioned by Reese Witherspoon’s production company and Sony pictures so we may soon see it on the big screen. TAKEAWAY: “As an individual you may not be heard. But when these wives banded together they became empowered and an unstoppable force.”

Submarine Veteran Kevin Loewe admits his initial motivation for joining the Navy did not spring from patriotism or high ideals; he just needed a job. But he came to love submarine service, spending most of his 20 active duty career in the “silent service”. Kevin served on several submarines including fast attack boats and ballistic missile submarines. On his very first deployment, the relief sub was delayed and they ended up spending 91 days submerged. “The only thing we had left on that sub was sardines, crackers and peanut butter.” There were some exciting times too – much of his time on the USS Queenfish involved secret missions. One mission put Kevin into one of the most exclusive clubs in history. On a visit to the North Pole, a scientist reminded Kevin that in recorded human history, fewer than 5,000 persons had stood where he was at that moment. We also discuss the term “shipmate” and why it is so important. Part of qualifying for the submarine warfare pin in convincing your fellow crew members they can trust you with their life. Crew cross training is critical so that anyone can “at least keep a band aid on a problem” until the experts arrived. EVERY submarine sailor is trained in firefighting as that is one of their greatest threats.  One of his boats even had a fire in the engine compartment when their were moored to the pier. Reflecting back on his career he only has one regret. When offered his choice of next duty stations he chose the USS Queenfish over the USS Darter, the last diesel submarine in commission. He later learned that because the Darter was so old they were no longer allowed to submerge and spent most of their time just traveling from port to port. (And bar to bar!)

Merchant Marine Veteran Dave Yoho falsified his birth certificate so he could join the effort during World War II.  He was fifteen years old when he joined the branch that would experience the highest casualty ratio of the war; 1 in 26 Merchant Marines would give their lives. Dave joined the crew aboard the SS Great Meadows, a T2 refueling tanker operating in the Pacific Theatre. He worked in the engine room, thirty eight below the water line.  When he asked his “salty old” 22 year old officer how they would get out if hit, he was told “Kid..if we take a hit you ain’t gonna get out of here.” The sacrifice made by the WWII Merchant Marine is exhibited by one particular convoy on the “Murmansk Run”, a critical supply line for the Russian allies. Of the 33 ships that began PQ 17, only 11 made it safely. The war ended four days before Dave’s 17th birthday. When he returned home he was a Veteran but not able to vote or buy a drink.  Merchant Marines were not recognized as Veterans and therefore received no benefits.  “We call it an oversight because it eases the pain. If we thought it was anything else it would break our hearts.”  That “oversight” was not corrected until 2017. Another initiative to recognize their service came about in 2020 when bi-partisan legislation to award all WWII Merchant Marines with the Congressional Gold Medal was signed into law. This came about thanks to advocates like Rita Cosby and Representatives Don Young and Susan Brooks. “Life is a series of new beginnings and most of us made a choice.” Dave completed his GED, spend three years in “night school” and founded his own business at the age of 28. Today his company Dave Yoho Associates is one of the leaders in his industry & Dave is recognized as one of the most accomplished public speakers in the country. Only approximately 2,000 WWII Merchant Marines remain. If you would like to support their cause please visit American Merchant Marine Veterans. TAKEAWAY: “I’m not bitter. I only ask. Can you…will you..ever understand? We gave up our youth to serve. “

International Spy Museum Executive Director Christopher Costa may not have had experience in the museum business but he has decades of experience in the world of espionage and covert action. He spent two decades as an Army counter-intelligence specialist working with special forces before moving on to the Navy Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). Chris also served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counter Terrorism at the White House. He has been inducted into the United States Special Operations Commando Hall of Honor. The International Spy Museum moved into new Washington, DC facilities in 2019, allowing for better display of the thousands of espionage artifacts they have in their collection – the largest collection on public display in the entire world. In addition to the fascinating objects on display, visitors can even undertake a “secret mission” complete with a cover identity and a debriefing that evaluates their skills. They even offer virtual educational programs like “Spy Chat” and the “Spy Cast” podcast. “We responsibly educate the public on a topic that otherwise remains hidden. In some ways I am an unofficial ambassador and that is a privilege.” As a young officer, Chris learned an important lesson about the emotional toll of betrayal while working on a spy penetration at NATO headquarters. The infiltrator was code named “Topaz” (an ode to the classic Alfred Hitchcock Cold War film) and they discovered that the spy’s wife worked in the NATO Office of Security. We spend some time talking about his take on the vulnerabilities of a polarized nation and foreign actors’ exploitation of social media. This issue was masterfully explored in an article by Dr. Alice Atalanta. The Spy Museum is a non-profit organization and listeners can support them by making a donation or buying some of their cool merchandise. TAKEAWAY: Good spy craft is really personal. It’s building a deep relationship and then accepting that there will be a leap of faith at some time.

“Unforgotten in the Gulf of Tonkin; A Story of the US Military’s Commitment to Leave No One Behind” is a superbly researched book.  “We will leave no person behind” is an ethos of our military dating as far back as before the Revolutionary War. Author Eileen Bjorkman served 30 years in the Air Force, much of it as a flight test engineer. She has experience with more than 25 different military aircraft. Flight Test Engineers are behind the scenes personnel who work in the backseat of aircraft and control rooms to design tests in order to gather data.  They then make recommendations for improvements and changes. “That’s why we test. So our warfighters can be their best.” While Unforgotten in the Gulf of Tonkin revolves around the specific story of Navy pilot Willie Sharpe who was shot down over Vietnam in 1965, it is best described as a broader examination of the evolution of Combat Search and Rescue.  Eileen chose to feature Sharpe because his case featured many historic firsts. These included forward staged rescue helicopters and orbiting amphibious aircraft that were literally put into place a few days before he was shot down.  Radio traffic of the entire rescue was tape recorded and a copy was presented to Sharpe. In the book Eileen shares some amazing stories of combat rescues ranging from World War I to the first use of a helicopter way back in World War II. The story of one particular Catalina amphibious aircraft rescue of the crews of three different bombers while under fire is especially compelling. We also spend some time talking about specific technologies (like the ejection seat) that improved survivability. The Department of Defense is even soliciting design proposals for Autonomous Personnel Recovery vehicles that would allow downed pilots to “phone for an taxi”.

“Three Wise Men” tells the story of one family’s extreme sacrifice during the longest sustained period of conflict in our nation’s history. All three Wise brothers enlisted. Jeremy became a Navy SEAL, Ben a Green Beret and Beau a Marine. Together they would spend 1,600 days deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both Jeremy and Ben would be killed in action, triggering the Department of Defense “Sole Survivor” designation for youngest brother Beau. The Fog of War is a recurring theme in Three Wise Men, including the situation that led to Jeremy losing his life. The December 30, 2009 suicide bombing at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost, Afghanistan would become the CIA’s second highest single day casualty event in the agency’s history. Jeremy would be awarded the CIA Intelligence Star. Returning to combat following Jeremy’s funeral, brother Ben would pray “Lord please keep us safe. Not for me but for the people who care about me. What happened to Jeremy can never happen to my family again.”  But tragedy would call upon the Wise family one more time. While pursing high value targets in Afghanistan’s Balk Province on January 9th, 2012 Ben would sustain serious wounds. He died Jan. 15 at the military hospital in Landstuhl. At Ben’s funeral, Marine Corps Commandant General James F.  Amos told their grieving mother “Mrs. Wise, you have my word that Beau is not going anywhere for a long, long time.” While Beau says that in retrospect the Corps’ decision was the right one, it became apparent over time that his career as a Marine was effectively over because he was prohibited from going into combat. Beau found himself wondering how he would deal with the loss of two brothers without his own Marine brotherhood. TAKEAWAY: “People will see the title of the book and think the third Wise Man is me, but it’s not, it’s my Dad.”

Rita Cosby is one of the most respected broadcasters in America and an ardent advocate for our military and Veterans.  She has practiced her craft as both a radio and television host and has been recognized with THREE Emmy Awards – the highest recognition for excellence in the broadcast industry. While she has interviewed over twenty world leaders, entertainment icons and even a serial killer, her greatest interview may have been with her own father. As a child she noticed that her father Richard had scars “etched like cracks in dried mud.” Her mother simply said “we don’t talk about it.” Cleaning out possessions after her mothers’ passing, she discovered a tattered suitcase that contained a bloody red & white Polish armband and an ex-POW card. Rita says this started the greatest story of her life. As a teenager her father was part of the World War II Polish resistance that fought for their freedom against overwhelming odds.  He fought in the Warsaw Uprising and endured the horrors of a German POW camp. Rita tells his incredible story in her book “Quiet Hero: Secrets From My Father’s Past”. Rita was recently named Chair of the Global Service Institute. This innovative initiative seeks to create “generations of greater good” by inspiring people to serve in their communities. The institute has a free app that directly connects volunteers with charities in their area. Rita encourages both non-profits and volunteers to register for the app and explore their virtual speaker series featuring leaders from around the globe. Rita was also recently involved in a campaign to finally secure recognition for the unsung heroes of the Merchant Marines. TAKEAWAY: “There are millions of people around the globe who everyday are praying that they come to a riverbed with GIs on the other side. This beacon on the hill..this incredible thing that IS America.”

Firefighter cancer was the leading cause of career line of duty deaths between 2002 and 2017. Deputy Chief Darin Wallentine of the Tucson Fire Department joins us to share more information during National Firefighter Cancer Awareness month. Firefighters have a 9% greater chance of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% greater chance of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population.  A contributing factor is new building materials that can create a toxic soup when aflame. While the Personal Protective Equipment worn by our firefighters is state of the art, it does not completely eliminate the risk. Inhalation exposure is the greatest risk, but dermal exposure and ingestion are also factors. One of the goals of National Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month is to deliver targeted education about best practices and resources to reduce the impact of cancer on our firefighters. Darin provides examples of some of the simple procedures that can reduce risk. One of which is the very “low tech” post fire decontamination technique consisting of a five gallon bucket of water with Dawn dish soap added. Using wet wipes at the fire scene and a “shower within an hour” after returning to the station are also recommended procedures. Some departments have the ability to provide their crews with a second set of turnouts so firefighters always have a fresh and clean set. Listeners are asked to engage with their local governments to makes sure that their local departments have the funding to make sure their public safety personnel always have the funds necessary to supply the best equipment. TAKEAWAY: “I look at Firefighting as a blessing and a curse. It’s the greatest job in the world but on the flip side of the coin it can be a curse when you are sitting in a doctor’s office getting that diagnosis you weren’t expecting.”

Hearing loss is the number one service related issue among Veterans.  Dr. Christi Moore has been practicing audiology for over two decades and was inspired to enter the field after growing up with family members who suffered from hearing loss. Veterans make up about ten to fifteen percent of her patient base. Dr. Moore provides us a basic primer on the biology of hearing loss and how continued exposure to noises in excess of 90 decibels can cause hair cells to weaken.  While repeated exposure to gunfire, explosions and loud engines is an obvious exposure risk for members of our military and first responders, she explains that there are devices in civilian’s daily lives that can also contribute; power tools, the increased use of headsets/ear buds for music and even a shop vacuum cleaner. I grew up regularly using firearms and chain saws and now suffer from Tinnitus. Damaged hair cells can sometimes get confused and create a “phantom sound” that the brain interprets as a noise.  Other health conditions like cardiovascular issues, medications or infections can also cause Tinnitus. While there is no cure for Tinnitus, there are therapies that can reduced the intensity of the affliction. We discuss the issue of denial and how hearing aids are no longer perceived in our society as simply a sign of “old age”. Dr. Moore encourages Veterans to explore treatment options and funding through the VA health system. Dr. Moore emphasizes protective measures and highly recommends properly rated “shuttering earmuffs” for persons who enjoy shooting or are regularly exposed to loud noises. TAKEAWAY: “It’s never easy to admit that something isn’t working right in your body system. Even if you don’t think your hearing problem is bad right now, don’t wait until it gets bad before you do something about it.”

Havok Journal Editor Scott Faith joins us for the first show of the New Year; a retrospective on 2020. Havok Journal is my “go to” website for all things Veteran and Military. Scott and I discuss the messages shared in several of their articles published over the last year, beginning with “Resolutions for Veterans”.  The piece is based upon a poll of all their writers. The number one resolution on the list reinforces the mission of both the Journal and American Warrior Radio; encouraging Veterans to tell their story.  Several of the resolutions touch on the theme of helping fellow Veterans and their families and seeking help when needed. Havok Journal’s “biggest” article of 2020 was “We Are the Useful Idiots; How Our Nation Divided is Playing Strait into the Hands of our Greatest Enemies” written by Dr. Alice Atalanta. Alice builds upon comments from a 34 year Intelligence Officer who calls out the vulnerability of a polarized nation. She also provides tips on how each of us can take responsibility for not spreading disinformation on social media and putting out the “flame wars.” We wrap up with a piece written by Kevin Wilson about the biggest “cyber blue on blue” event of the year:  “Cancel Culture; Black Rifle Coffee Company vs 2A Bro Vets”.  Black Rifle was founded by Green Beret Evan Hafer in 2014 and has become one of our nation’s most successful Veteran owned companies. They have millions of social media followers and generated revenues of $80 million 2019. An ill-advised link to the Kyle Rittenhouse incident by one of their affiliates created quite a kerfuffle in the Veteran community. TAKEAWAY: “Perhaps more than some others, we as Vets know yesterday is done, today is a gift, and there is no guarantee of tomorrow. The coming year is yours – what will YOU do with it?”

“Last Stands; Why Men Fight When All is Lost” is the latest book by Michael Walsh. The book examines several legendary battles from the Spartans at Thermopylae to the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Michael has authored 16 works of fiction and non-fiction and his books have been translated into more than twenty languages. Michael had just completed two books examining classic western civilization and the next logical step was looking at the men who fought to preserve western culture. In particular, Michael says the book is homage to his father & his comrades, a Marine who fought in Korea & Vietnam. Michael purposely did not write a military history book that strictly focuses on the tactical and operational level but rather one that examines recurring themes in all these battles and their broader cultural context . We agree that “You can’t beat up history with the lens of today.” His chapter on The Alamo provides a perfect example. Last Stands is meticulously researched and full of surprises like the fact that General George Custer had plans to run for President and achieving a big win in the Indian Wars would have added to his stock. Michael calls the Battle of Little Big Horn perhaps the “worst campaign event ever.” Michael chose the battles based upon a common thread; last stands where the losing side winds up winning – their sacrifice was not wasted. Michael’s analysis of the Battle of Shiloh emblemizes this concept for both General Grant and the Union Army. We briefly discuss the idea of whether we as a society still fight wars with the goal of complete victory. Michael believes the real question is “When was the last time we fought a war to win it?” That responsibility falls upon the civilian leadership, not our military. TAKEAWAY: “While technology may change, human nature is immutable”

Helping homeless Veterans find housing is a passion Ken Leslie feels deep in his bones. He is the founder and “Chief Advocate Officer” for the non-profit Veterans Matter. While Ken never served in the military, at one time he himself was homeless and living off the streets. As a traveling standup comedian in the 1980’s Ken began to notice a greater number of homeless around the country.  This led him to start a homeless project in his hometown of Toledo. In 2007 John Mellencamp stopped by the tent city and invited all of the homeless to his concert. One of the attendees mentioned to Ken “John talked to us from the stage. I guess I really DO matter.” That was the beginning of the 1Matters non-profit. A host of other celebrities like Veteran and Country Western singer Craig Morgan have also joined the cause. While participating in a homeless outreach with a friend, Ken learned that the lack of deposits was preventing many Veterans from taking advantage of VA housing vouchers. In one case, a mere $150 was keeping a 67 year old disabled Veteran on the streets in the rain for another three days. Ken expanded his mission with the addition of Veterans Matter. Their cloud base program can cover deposits for Veterans, in many cases the same day. So far they have housed over 4,000 Veterans and their families. Their partnership with VA “wraparound” programming has resulted in 91% remaining in housing. It is estimated that there are 40,000 Veterans without housing in the US. Veterans who are experiencing challenges can also call the National Center for Homeless Veterans: (877) 424-3838 TAKEAWAY: “Every day I wake up and I know that somewhere out there is a Veteran on his hands and knees praying for a way to find that deposit so he and his family can get into housing. Every single person has the power to make a difference.”

Rock Force is the latest book by bestselling author Kevin Maurer.  It describes the experiences of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment in retaking the fortress island of Corregidor from the Japanese during World War II.  Kevin used unpublished transcripts provided by family members and at least one first person interview to “rebuild” the actions of those paratroopers in 1945. He also spent a week on Corregidor “walking the book”, at one point even finding scraps of a parachute. Kevin’s goal was to focus upon individuals’ stories and specific actions that took place during the invasion rather than the larger scope of the mission. Retaking Corregidor was not only of tactical importance but also a point of national pride. The coordinated airborne/seaborne assault pitted 3,000 US paratroopers and 1,000 infantry against 6,700 fanatical and well entrenched Japanese. Paratroopers targeted a postage stamp landing zone on the top of the island, jumping from a mere 300 feet. The airborne invasion took the Japanese by surprise. As one reads the book and gets to know the members of the 503rd a “Dirty Dozen” sort of feeling emerges.  Their Commander “Panama Jones” was a soldier’s soldier and Lloyd McCarter had to be bailed out of the brig to participate in the mission but was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on “the Rock”. We also discuss some of the parallels Kevin noticed between those World War II paratroopers and the soldiers he personally engaged with during current conflicts. Kevin has covered military operations extensively for over a decade and first “cut his teeth” covering Robin Sage. He followed the 82nd Airborne during the invasion of Iraq and was embedded for 10 weeks with Special Forces in Afghanistan. He has written 10 books including the New York Times bestseller “No Easy Day” about the mission to get Bin Laden. TAKEAWAY: Rock Force reads more like a novel and Kevin does a great job of properly memorializing the memories of these brave men involved in a historic mission.

Dr. Reagan Anderson served five years in the US Navy, most of it as a surgeon for the Marine Corps First Reconnaissance Battalion.  (A long time tradition of the Marine Corps is that they do not have their own medical or clergy so they pull those resources from the Navy.) He is one of several “Warrior-Healers” we have had on the show. He describes conducting surgery in a war setting as “controlled chaos”.  Fallujah Surgical presented particular challenges; it was filthy and they were often operating under fire. He says patients sometimes looked like powdered donuts because of all the silt. Despite those challenges, Dr. Anderson never lost a patient who came to him alive. Despite having attended seminary prior to medical school, he “lost his faith in Iraq.” He details several events that led him to that point including being faced with having to treat both a severely wounded Marine and the insurgent who shot him. After leaving the military and starting a medical practice, Dr. Anderson became increasingly aware of how broken our healthcare system had become. His observations led him to write the book “Universal Death Care; A Solution for Healthcare in the Age of Entitlement” Dr. Anderson outlines some of the concepts presented in his book including the fact that between 50 – 80 percent of the illnesses and dollars spent on healthcare are completely preventable.  Our system is collapsing under the weight of too many people not taking personal responsibility for their own health. The administrative costs (30%) related to insurance are another aggravating factor. “The solution that would save over $20 billion a year would be to have one set of rules and one set of prices. That’s enough money to insure every citizen in this country with zero co-pays and deductibles.” TAKEAWAY:  “Too many people think they can live a lifetime of poor health choices and then visit a doctor to receive a magic pill to cure all their ills.”

Rick Tippins spent 28 years as a law enforcement officer after serving in the United States Marine Corps. With the help of fellow Marine & bestselling author G. Michael Hopf he is now pursuing a career as an author. Tippins cut his teeth as a member of the East Palo Alto California police department. At the time, East Palo Alto had the highest per capita murder rate of any city in the United States. He says that even for a Marine Veteran it was an eye opening experience. However, he learned very valuable lessons that would carry him through the rest of his career. The most important of which was not falling into the “Judge Dredd” persona of a cop. He didn’t want his law enforcement career to “be like an NFL running back; short, violent and explosive” so he made a lateral transfer to the San Mateo Sheriff’s office where he worked Street Crimes Suppression, SWAT, Narcotics and Homicide. His nearly three decade career as a Sheriff’s deputy was filled with both hardship and rewards. Tippins discusses the importance of finding balance in a career that can create tremendous challenges to families and relationships. “Even military members get a chance to come home and rest but for law enforcement it is constant pressure for years.” Tippins found writing to be a release for the stresses of the job. He began writing screenplays during his downtime while working at the local jail. He soon found that the process of moving ideas to movies was rife with complications so he instead decided to publish his stories. He has three books out with a fourth on the way. TAKEAWAY: “You have to be self-aware. If your mind hurts or your soul hurts because of this job, you have to find a way to fix that.”