On April 9th, 2005, Matt Klein, a retired NYPD detective and US Army infantryman, was struck by an IED while patrolling a cemetery in Samarra, Iraq. After the strike, the other members of his unit located and captured the triggerman.

In this clip taken from Ep. 180, Klein shares his incredible story of survival and resilience. He talks about the moment of the attack and the aftermath.

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Brennan Morton is a former reconnaissance Marine who served with 2nd Recon Battalion during two deployments to Iraq. Brennan is also the author of Valhalla Boys, a book about his service.

Support the show
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys
https://www.jcramergraphics.com
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Brennan's Links
https://www.facebook.com/Brennan.Morton.Author
https://www.facebook.com/paladinpresspublishing/
https://www.instagram.com/paladinpresspublishing
https://amzn.to/4jq4ixy

00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad
00:00:29 Intro | Joining the Marines
00:05:07 Marine Corps Tattoos
00:08:28 Call-To-Arms
00:12:19 Recon and SEAL Contracts as Recruiting Tools
00:16:15 Are SEALs Better Swimmers than Marine Recon?
00:20:42 Prepping Your Feet for Rucking
00:25:04 Marine Snipers | Organizational Changes
00:29:50 From Marine Infantry to Recon ARS
00:38:54 Work-Up and 1st Iraq Deployment
00:59:17 Over Worked and Underutilized
01:10:49 Grooming Standards | Advisor Teams
01:20:12 Sniper School
01:29:07 2nd Deployment to Iraq with 2nd Recon
01:35:04 Occupying Compounds
01:40:59 Valhalla Boys

Brian Dickinson is a former Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer and alpinist that has climbed the highest peak on each continent. Check out our entire interview on Ep. 211.

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https://jcramergraphics.com
https://ANGLICOshop.com
https://patreon.com/formeractionguys

Brian's Site
https://briandickinson.net/

00:00:00 Tibet Route vs Nepal Route
00:04:09 Acclimating to Everest
00:07:27 Summit Day
00:09:59 Gear Malfunction
00:13:52 The Final Push | Summiting Everest
00:19:57 Verifying a Summit

Merryl Tengesdal had a dream to reach space and believed her best chance was as a Naval Aviator. She began her career flying H-60s, moved on to training students flying the T-34c and T-6a, then applied for an inter-service transfer to screen to become a U-2 spy plane pilot.

Support the show
https://www.jcramergraphics.com
https://www.ANGLICOshop.com
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys

Merryl's sites
https://merryltengesdal.com/shop-book/
https://www.youtube.com/@UC_RCb3DfyEaWv80aQlKooRg

00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad
00:00:40 Intro | mIRC Chat
00:04:47 1st Deployment | 1st Females on Ship
00:10:00 I Wanted to Be an Astronaut
00:14:40 Flight School
00:19:59 Landing SH-60s in Rough Seas
00:32:24 SH-60 Roles
00:34:40 2nd Deployment | South America
00:46:58 Different Cultures
00:56:44 Applying to be a U-2 Pilot
01:01:38 U-2 Spy Plane Pilot Selection and Training
01:16:54 U-2 Pilot's Custom Space Suit
01:23:04 Operating at High-Altitude
01:32:58 First High Altitude Flight | Food During Missions
01:37:02 Foreign Navies and Life on US Ships
01:42:33 Reality Checks | Casualty Assistance Officer
01:52:46 Extreme Ross

Aren Brandfass & Cody Anderson are former MARSOC plank holders who also worked as government contractors before starting the Stranger By The Hour podcast. We dive into some current events and controversies in this episode!

Support the show
https://www.jcramergraphics.com/collections/infantry
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Stranger By The Hour Link
https://open.spotify.com/show/5Webs3ny2aEpe7AuKp6rPv

00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad
00:00:40 Intro | Podcasting
00:09:00 Information Operations
00:15:50 Who is "They"
00:24:30 Epstein
00:29:49 Ukraine vs Russia
00:50:43 Immigration
00:57:35 Artifical Intelligence
01:03:37 Assassination Attempt
01:17:46 OnlyFans
01:33:43 Tech Overlords
01:45:04 Not Caring About Overseas Conflicts
02:09:43 Keeping Perspective

Travis Harless is a former 0311 Marine Rifleman who joined when he was 17 and linked up with C 1/7 in Kuwait only weeks after graduating from the School of Infantry. Because his first deployment began so soon into his enlistment, Harless was able to deploy three times during his four year enlistment.

Support the show
C 1/7 Flags: https://www.jcramergraphics.com/search?q=charley 
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys
ANGLICO Gear: https://www.anglicoshop.com 

Travis's podcast
https://youtube.com/@badgesbulletsblunders 

00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad
00:00:40 Intro | Joining the Marines
00:06:48 Police Academy vs Marine Boot Camp
00:10:06 Infantry Training | Deployment with C 1/7
00:26:51 First Engagement
00:35:02 Rockets
00:45:03 The Infantry | From Iron Sights to Optics
00:56:55 Hillbilly Armor
01:11:13 Pre-Deployment Training
01:25:38 Is Iraq Safer Now?

Fred Apgar worked in Air Force intelligence during the Vietnam War. However, he was part of the clandestine war in Laos that was not acknowledged at the time. We talk fire support, electronic warfare, and Fred's return to the country to close that chapter of his life. 

Support the show
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Fred's Book
https://www.amazon.com/Return-Plaine-Jarres-Fred-Apgar/dp/1964300037

00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad
00:00:40 Intro | Joining the Air Force
00:04:07 Treatment of Veterans | Deployment Cycles
00:14:08 Individual Augments to Vietnam | Joining the Air Force
00:17:49 Vietnam Vet Reacts to Afghanistan Withdrawal
00:29:31 Airborne Intelligence in Laos and Vietnam
00:32:20 What are the JTAC and FAC Jobs?
00:41:28 Operations in Laos and the Naming of the Podcast
00:44:43 Laos ELINT Missions | TF Alpha
00:53:27 First Paveway Bombs | Dragon's Jaw Bridge
01:00:46 "We Weren't In Laos"
01:07:22 Redemption
01:18:11 Keep Your Honor Clean | POWs

Scott Lyng served in the US Army with the 3rd Infantry Division, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 2-69 AR. Scott deployed to Iraq two times during his enlistment, then became a firefighter following his military service.

Support the show
Custom flags: https://jcramergraphics.com/collections/flags
ANGLICO Gear: https://www.ANGLICOshop.com
Exclusive Content: https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys

00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad
00:00:40 California Fires
00:11:37 Joining the Army
00:22:11 The M1A1 Experience
00:30:57 M1A1 Abrams and M88 Hercules
00:39:38 Tank Weapons and Loadout
00:51:30 Do Medics Ride in Tanks?
00:56:28 Tank Training | Provisional Infantry Deployment
01:06:57 Hitting an IED in a Tank
01:23:08 Naming Tanks
01:30:37 Armor and Drones in Ukraine
01:39:47 A Tanker's Thoughts on Fury

Ben Fortier served in two deployments to Iraq as a mortarman with 1st Battalion 25th Marine Regiment. Ben plays guitar, drums, and uses poetry to inspire song lyrics. His collection of poems Phantom was the 2024 winner of the Robert A. Gannon award. 

Support the show
https://www.jcramergraphics.com
https://www.ANGLICOshop.com
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys

Ben's Links
https://www.instagram.com/thebenfocreates/
https://www.amazon.com/Phantoms-Benjamin-Fortier/dp/B0CF42W6CV/

David Walton is a former Green Beret and has written multiple books for people interested in attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection. Check out David's previous interview on Ep. 188.

Support the show
https://jcramergraphics.com/collections/flags
https://www.ANGLICOshop.com
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys

David's site
https://www.tfvoodoo.com

00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad
00:00:40 Intro
00:06:57 What a Special Forces Soldier Real Job Is
00:11:16 Mission Creep | MARSOC and SFAB as Advisors
00:21:18 Marines Going to Special Forces
00:33:47 18X and Other Selection Drop Outs
00:47:37 Recruiting Levels
01:01:32 Women In Combat Arms
01:29:58 Tim Kennedy Drama