American Warrior Radio

“To The End of the Earth” is the last installment in Professor John McManus’ trilogy about the US Army in the Pacific during World War II. This book chronicles the events beginning with the retaking of the Philippines and takes readers through the final capitulation of the Japanese empire.

McManus is Curator’s Distinguished Professor of military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is a prolific writer, with 15 published works and is often called upon by national media as a subject matter expert. He previously appeared on American Warrior Radio to discuss some of the more bizarre battles of World War II.

He decided to write this series because even though the Army did most of the ground fighting in the Pacific, much of current literature has focused on the roles of the Navy and Marines.

The lead actor for the Army in the Pacific was General Douglas MacArthur. McManus describes MacArthur as a complex figure. He was certainly vain glorious but also deeply insecure and loyal. We also discuss two other principal commanders who had distinctly different styles; General Walter Krueger and General Robert Eichelberger.

Krueger was an immigrant who began his Army career as a private in the Spanish American War. He was very methodical, often frustrating MacArthur with the pace of his advances. Eichelberger was the exact opposite. A WestPoint classmate of George Patton, he was a “quick dash” commander often “leading from the front with a tommy gun in hand.”

McManus’ books are always excellently researched and “To the End of the Earth” is no exception.  He takes pride in the fact that he was able to represent the perspective of the average soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Readers will come to appreciate the tremendous logistical effort that was involved in supporting the island hopping campaign against Japan. The armada being assembled for the invasion of the Japanese homeland would have been the largest fleet ever assembled.

The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes provides support for Veterans severely wounded during the Global War on Terror. Two representatives join us for this broadcast.

Donny Daughenbaugh is the Senior VP for Development and Administration. He was shot in the face when his Marine Squad was engaged south of Baghdad. The bullet lodged at the base of his skull near his spine so doctors chose to leave it in place. Donny suffers tremendous pain to this day.

Mary Jessie Herrera is their Western Field Representative. She joined the Arizona National Guard with plans to make a career out of the Army. Mary was the lead gunner in a convoy ambushed while traveling from Fallujah to Ramadi. She took two AK-47 rounds to her right arm. Thankfully doctors were able to save the appendage but she still has limited use of her right hand.

The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes administers a variety of programs designed to support wounded Veterans.  Wounded Veterans can face financial strains during their hospital stay and recoveries. The Coalition’s Emergency Financial Aid program provides assistance with everything from mortgage & rent payments to groceries and utility assistance.

When the Coalition heard about spouses having to leave their jobs to be with their Veteran during recovery, the organization created the “Heroes Thanking Heroes” initiative. This allows spouses to earn money with flexible hours from home making calls to thank program donors. Since inception over 3.5 million calls have been completed.

The Coalition also has programs designed to support children & caregivers we well as all expense paid conferences that allow the Veterans to find hope & healing among those comrades also making the transition. Online education and training courses are also made available.

TAKEAWAY: ” When someone is killed they are fulfilling the commitment they made by writing a blank check to the American people up to and including their lives. When someone is wounded, they are still paying off that check, just more slowly.”

The mission of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations is to identify, exploit and neutralize criminal, intelligence and terrorist threats to the Air Force, Department of Defense and the US Government. OSI was created in 1948 and is patterned after the FBI. They currently have over 2,000 military and civilian agents working across the globe.

“John Smith” (not his real name) served 13 years in the OSI. He originally started in Air Rescue and Recovery supporting the Titan II missile silos at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Smith found himself “without a job” when the Titan II program was discontinued.  He had developed a relationship with an OSI Agent who suggested he apply but warned him “We NEVER take first term airmen.” Smith applied and because of linguistic and other skills, was accepted. He made sure to invite that original OSI agent to his ceremony.

As a Spanish speaker, his first overseas assignment was to Panama doing counter-intelligence work.  When it was decided that Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega would be charged with drug trafficking, his focus became more concentrated.

One of his best sources, a “little old grandmother” just outside of Panama City had good information that was always corroborated by the Intel personnel from other branches. But soon they learned that they all had the same “source”. Future meetings with the grandmother took place in a group.

Another situation involved a Russian defector. When Smith notified the State Department of what they had, he was given an envelope full of hundred dollar bills for the defector and told to place him on a plane to the United States immediately.

One of his proudest moments of his Special Investigations career was when his intelligence was used in the invasion of Panama. The saddest case was at Nellis Air Force Base when an Airman facing her third deployment in a year took her own life.

TAKEAWAY: “If you look at all the defectors over our history, they all worked pretty cheap.”

A Soldier’s Child Foundation  was born from a single photograph. The photo by Aaron Thompson won the Associated Press Managing Editor’s Photo of the Year. The compelling image depicts 8 year old Christian Golczynski being presented a folded American flag at the funeral of his father Marc.

Daryl Mackin was a neighbor of Marc’s parents. For months after Marc’s death, he did everything he could for them. Then one day Marc’s dad said. “Did it really matter and does anyone give a damn?”

While planning his son’s birthday Daryl glanced up at that photo of Christian Golczynski and was struck that this little boy would never again celebrate a birthday with his father.

A Navy Veteran himself, Daryl was spurred to action, creating A Soldier’s Child Foundation. Their first initiative was to honor the children of the fallen on their birthdays.  They currently support over 5,000 children in all 50 states. The average expenditure per child is $150 but they also spent more to fulfill special wishes.  The Foundation includes children of warriors who have died long after combat from complications of their wounds and  even suicide.

The Foundation also conducts various camps around the country where children of the fallen can come together to help each other heal through their common experience.  These children learn they are not alone and are helped to develop nurture the skills they will need in life as survivors. “In order to sustain each other you have to be around each other.”

Their third initiative provides educational assistance through the Xavier Martin “Fill in the Gap” memorial scholarship program. This program focuses on children who do not qualify for scholarships from other government or non-profit organizations.

TAKEAWAY: “This is not our government’s debt to pay. It’s every American citizen’s debt that we care for the families of our fallen and the children should be first on our list of giving.”

Colton James has always held a deep love for our country and abiding respect for those who serve in the military and first responder communities. Many of this country western artist’s songs reflect those themes.

“Our family was red, white and blue all the way.” Both of his grandfathers, five of his uncles and his brother served in the military. Colton himself almost signed up to be a fighter pilot but music took him down a different path.  He began performing Christian and Gospel music when he was four years old. He always remembers his grandmother’s words; “A painter paints with a brush. A musician paints with his pen.”

His most memorable performance was opening for Jason Aldean at the Norfolk Little Creek Amphibious Base. He performed “Brave Men”, his tribute to troops, before 16,000 fans and received a standing ovation.

Colton is now leading an initiative to give back to those who serve by constructing a 15,000 square foot lodge in Southern Virginia. The Land 4 Heroes Lodge will provide space for military and first responder families to reconnect and relax in the great outdoors.

Land 4 Heroes was inspired as Colton had the opportunity to perform before more military audiences. This led to his participation in a program that took patients at Walter Reed hospital out to camp, hunt and fish.

The Land 4 Heroes Lodge will be the first of four lodges built around the country. Their builder is a 20 year Navy Veteran and disabled Veterans were consulted during the architectural design of the lodge, assuring that every element of the building can best accommodate everyone.

Colton shares the different types of overwhelming support he has received for the project including contractors providing in-kind materials and services. His plans include continued collaboration with other organizations that provide support for military families.

TAKEAWAY:  When asked what drives him to complete this project he said “I don’t think Noah argued with God when he told him to build an ark.”

“I Married the War” is a powerful new documentary from husband & wife independent filmmakers Betty & Ken Rodgers. It tells the stories of 11 military wives whose lives were forever changed when their husbands returned from combat. The women span from World War II to present day.

Betty and Ken previously produced another great documentary named “Bravo; Common Men, Uncommon Valor.” That film relates the stories of the Marines that fought at the siege of Khe Sahn. Ken fought there and was awarded a Purple Heart.

The idea of “I Married the War” came when they attended a reunion of Khe Sahn Veterans. One of the Marines told Betty “You are a Vietnam Veteran too.” It was during that reunion that they joined a seminar with 50 other couples and discovered there was a name for some of the actions Ken had been manifesting – PTSD.  Ken’s manifestations included being quick to anger, always sitting with his back to a wall and self-medication. He admits he thought at the time “I DIDN’T have PTSD that was someone else’s problem.” However, during a dinner with another couple shortly after the reunion, Ken was triggered resulting in a scary situation. It was then he decided to seek help.

There are more than 5.5 million military caregivers. Many are subjected to “secondary PTSD.” The stories told by the 11 wives in “I Married the War” are both heartbreaking and inspiring as they deal with the conflicts that followed their husband home from war.   In helping their husbands, many of the wives developed a new sense of self that made them stronger.

Ken and Betty are happy to partner with any local Veteran’s organization who might be interested in hosting a screening of the documentary as a fundraising event.  They also list a variety of support and help organizations at their website.

TAKEAWAY: As searing as this documentary is, it is also a collection of love stories. These women refused to give up on their husbands.

A-10 fighter pilot Kim Campbell picked up many leadership lessons over the course of a 24 year Air Force career. Some came in a “crucible moment” over Baghdad on April 7, 2003. While providing close air support for troops in contact, her aircraft was struck by a surface to air missile, knocking out all of the plane’s hydraulics.

Ejecting over Baghdad was not a preferred option. In a matter of seconds she was able to analyze the situation and switch to “manual reversion”, a procedure that is difficult even under ideal conditions. She described flying an A-10 without hydraulics like driving a dump truck without power steering. Kim was able to nurse her damaged plane 300 miles back to base, landing without brakes. Maintainers counted more than 600 holes in her aircraft. She would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for that mission.

The lessons learned from that experience and her years of leading airmen form the basis for her new book “Flying in the Face of Fear: A Fighter Pilot’s Lessons on Leading With Courage.” There are many great takeaways in the book including the phrase “Aviate, Communicate, Navigate.” In critical situations it is important to address the most important issue first – like keeping your A-10 in the air (Aviate). Navigate – gain situational awareness and communicate – ask for help.

Kim told her father she was going to become an astronaut after witnessing the Challenger shuttle disaster. In an early example of the grit she exhibited during her entire life, Kim wouldn’t take no from the Air Force Academy and would be selected to be the Cadet Wing Commander her senior year.

Kim’s husband Scott was also an A-10 pilot and we spend some time discussing the challenges that arise in a dual military marriage.

TAKEAWAY: “It’s not the fear that matters; it’s all about what you do in that moment. It’s about stepping up to take action in the face of fear and having the courage to respond even when you’re scared.”

Oscar Mike Radio was founded by Marine Veteran Travis Partington when he was personally going through a very rough patch in life. He was also struggling to make sense of why the suicide rate among his fellow Veterans was so high. He created the podcast to give Veterans the opportunity to share their stories as a way of healing and communicating that they ARE special.

Travis has some prior experience in the radio business. However, as he was thinking about how he could best support his fellow Veterans he just so happened to attend a media day event at the local community college. One of the breakout sessions featured a company talking about podcasting. Travis’ reaction was “I’m in! How do I do this?”

“Pod Fade” is a phrase used to describe the tendency among most podcasters to gradually reduce or immediately stop producing content. Of the estimated 2 million podcasts in the US in2021, only 720,000 have published ten or more episodes. The average “fade” comes at the 4-7 episodes mark. Oscar Mike is now approaching 400 published podcasts.

Travis and I speak briefly about the logistics and dedication required to produce a good podcast. One of his most straight forward pieces of advice is to understand the “why” of your podcast.  One’s purpose had to be fully aligned with their authenticity. “If you do nothing else you must be consistent with your uploads.”

Most of his guests come from word of mouth. Travis says he focuses on guests that he can learn from or whom add value to the Veteran conversation.

Oscar Mike Radio was a finalist in the 2021 Veteran Podcast awards and was recently featured in a Veterans Administration blog about Veteran podcasts.

TAKEAWAY: “Regardless of whether we get one download or a million, if our broadcast has added value to even ONE listener, I have executed the purpose of Oscar Mike Radio to the best of my ability.”

Navy Week is an outreach program conducted by the Navy Office of Community Outreach. Since 2005, the program has scheduled events in as many as 15 communities anualy with a focus on areas that do not have a significant Navy presence.

In this episode we talk with four sailors participating in the year’s activities. To see if there is a Navy week coming to your community or one nearby, visit the NAVCO website.

Lt. Mike Miller is a public affairs officer with NAVCO.  He shares the goal of “deploying to” communities that aren’t “Navy towns” to make them more aware and familiar with this branch.  The types of assets participating in a Navy Week event often are determined by whether the city has a “namesake” relationship with a ship. A variety of units such as SEALs, bands, EOD personnel and the Blue Angels aerial demonstration team are featured at these events.

Lt. Commander Bruce Mansfield is the bandmaster for Navy Band Southwest based out of San Diego. The 45 member organization features various ensembles including a ceremonial band, woodwind/brass quintets and even a rock band. They average 600 performances a year.  Mansfield encourages young persons to consider that they could have a military career in the as musicians and provide “service through music.”

Engineman Samuel Peirce serves aboard the USS Gabrielle Giffords, a littoral combat ship. It is named after former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who narrowly survived an assassination attempt and only the 13th ship to be named after a living person.  Samuel is proud of his critical role maintaining the engines that keeps the ship moving.

Diver 2nd Class Skylar Bokeman grew up in the desert and figured the Navy would be a great opportunity to get near the water.  Navy Divers are trained in a diverse set of skills and can dive anywhere in the world and in any environment.  They are often paired with Special Forces units.  “If it’s lost we’ll find it, if it’s sunk we will bring it up.”

Greg Drobny started writing in the early days of “blogging” as a full time contributor to The Rhino Den, an element of the Ranger Up company. Today he is one of the most prolific contributors to The Havok Journal.  His piece “The Sheepdog Analogy Is Deeply Flawed” is the focus of our discussion.

The Sheepdog concept was first formed by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman in his book “On Killing”. His theory is that everyone falls into one of three categories; the majority of the population are “sheep”. Those who prey on the general population are “Wolves” and those who protect the general population are “Sheepdogs” – members of our military and first responder communities.

Greg was inspired to study in the fields of history and psychology after reading Grossman’s book while training to be an Army Ranger. In his article he calls the Sheepdog “harmfully simplistic” because people, like life, are dynamic. He cites the examples of the grandmother who dispatched a “wolf” trying to break into her home. He also discusses how people who attempt to don the mantel of “sheepdogs” but are untrained can cause more harm than good.

Greg was inspired to join the Army at 28 years old following the 9/11 attacks. During boot camp he was teased by his fellow soldiers warning him that because of his age he was going to break his hip. Sure enough, 2 days before completing Ranger training that is precisely what happened. He eventually did earn his tan beret as a member of the Ranger training brigade.

Greg was deployed in Iraq as a psychological operations team chief. After leaving the military he spent some time working in politics, a field he says was very similar to his military psy-ops activities.

Greg currently works as the Student Recruitment Manager for Code Platoon. Code Platoon addresses the issue of Veteran unemployment by providing high intensity “boot camp” training in the field of software engineering.