Hazard Ground

There's probably no greater act of patriotism or selflessness than signing up for military service right after your country has been attacked. That's exactly what Joel Carpenter did after September 11, 2001. Prior to 9/11 he had gone to Hollywood to pursue a career in film and television, but the coordinated terrorist attacks compelled him to fulfill a higher sense of purpose, even though Joel was teetering on the cusp of "making it" in LA. He soon joined the ranks of the Army Rangers at the 75th Ranger Regiment, alongside a few others who had given up lucrative paths in life to serve their country. After serving multiple combat deployments as a Ranger, Joel decided it was time to leave the military and head back to civilian life and a job in the private sector. Part of that transition included picking up where he left things off in Hollywood. He has since taken on developing and writing the screenplay for a film about the Battle of Takur Ghar, the story that was the impetus for "Hazard Ground," and one that Joel is deeply connected to. Hear about Joel's journey from actor and screenwriter, to Army Ranger, and back to writing the stories of sacrifice in combat that deserve an enduring mark in history, on this special episode of "Hazard Ground."

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For Dan Futrell, joining the military was at first just a means to pay for college.  After initially shunning the idea of joining ROTC, he started taking some of the classes and found he enjoyed working with the people in the program. He eventually earned a four-year ROTC scholarship, and from there the Army became more than just a way to pay for college. Following graduation and commissioning, he joined the Infantry, because as he put it, "I wanted to be right in the thick of things." After multiple combat tours in Iraq, where he participated in over 400 combat missions, Dan eventually stepped away from the military to continue serving in a different capacity. In 2012 he earned a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Harvard, where he attended the Kennedy School of Government as a Pat Tillman Scholar and Rappaport Public Policy Fellow. That achievement launched several endeavors to continue public service and working to better society and enrich the lives of those around him. From the military to working in his local community, Dan Futrell epitomizes serving one's country, and we're honored to have him on the podcast!

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Staff Sergeant John Diem knows what it means to serve one's country. That phrase gets thrown around a lot, but John Diem embodies the spirit of patriotism in every sense of the word. He has served multiple combat tours as an infantryman, spending most of that time on the line as part of an infantry squad. He survived a year-long deployment to Iraq's "Triangle of Death", where he and his unit suffered almost daily bomb, mortar, and small arms attacks, before four members of his platoon were convicted of murdering an Iraqi family of four in Yusufiyah. Although he projects a somewhat reserved appearance, his peers have described him as an "absolute killer in combat." The steady and calm timbre he uses in normal, everyday conversation, is the same tone he uses when the bullets are flying all around him. The rigors of combat and in general, the Army, have challenged Diem's mettle many times, but perhaps nothing tested him more than when Private First Class Justin Watt broke the news to him about the family in Yusufiyah murdered by members of their own platoon. Diem ensured the incident was properly reported up the chain of command, while making a crucial effort to protect Watt from unit leadership who simply wanted the story - and Watt for that matter - to go away. This is a story of service, and making hard decisions in the face of undesirable consequences...A story we all can learn from, and one you don't want to miss! "Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death"

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Even if you've seen the movie "Black Hawk Down," and know everything about the book by the same title, you'll want to listen to this very special episode with Mike Durant, the pilot who was shot down over Mogadishu, Somalia during Operation Gothic Serpent in 1993. The level of courage and bravery displayed by him and the other soldiers who fought that long day on October 3rd, 1993, is unmatched. In this episode, Mike takes us through what it's like to fly helicopters for the Army's most elite aviation unit, and what it was like to face an angry mob who wanted him dead, with crippling injuries after being shot out of the sky over Mogadishu. Listen and get a perspective on the Battle of Mogadishu and the story of "Black Hawk Down" you just can't get from book or film. Hear from someone who lived through and survived the very worst moments of that battle on this incredible episode of Hazard Ground! "In the Company of Heroes: The Personal Story Behind Black Hawk Down" | "The Night Stalkers" | www.pinnaclesolutionsinc.com

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If you've ever wondered what it's like to be shot down in a helicopter in the middle of a war zone, then you definitely want to listen to this week's episode. Even if you haven't, then you'll want to listen to how this week's guest, Robin Brown reacted cool and calmly under pressure, and crash landed her Kiowa Warrior helicopter after literally being blown out of the sky by enemy fire in 2003, when the war in Iraq was starting to go from bad to worse. Many years later, Robin would go back to Iraq to take on a much different challenge and potentially dangerous, but fulfilling experience. Recently she climbed and skied Mt. Halgurd, the highest mountain in Iraq, with two other veterans (and past guests on Hazard Ground), to help find peace and beauty in a land that has for so long been associated with war, pain, and suffering. Her trip was chronicled in The North Face short documentary, "Adventure Not War." Hear her complete impassioned journey on this episode of Hazard Ground.   www.brownhousepr.com | www.adventurenotwar.com

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From as early as he can remember, Stacy Bare wanted to be in the military. To him it was adventure, coolness, and selfless service, all in one. When Stacy finally got to be the soldier he always dreamed of, he went to war, and served with honor during Operation Iraqi Freedom. But when he came home, his life began to unravel. War had never left him. After battling addictions and a downward spiral that was sure to end in death, Stacy found peace in the outdoors. He became a climber and mountaineer, and is now helping other veterans find that same peace through adventure in the mountains and teaching outdoor leadership. Among other things Stacy is the Director of Sierra Club Outdoors and co-founder of Veterans Expeditions - a non-profit that seeks to enrich and heal the lives of veterans, especially those who suffer from PTSD. He is also a brand ambassador for The North Face and Keen footwear, and was named the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2014. He is an incredible, motivating individual, who we are no doubt honored to have on the show! www.adventurenotwar.com | www.thenorthface.com | www.sierraclub.org | www.keenfootwear.com | www.vetexpeditions.com

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On the show today, we go back over 70 years and cover the most significant attack on American soil prior to 9/11. Our guest on this episode is retired Navy Lt. Jim Downing. At 104 years old, Jim is the 2nd oldest known American survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Jim's memory of that day is still as sharp and clear as it was the day it all unfolded, so we are incredibly lucky to get this firsthand account of the day "which will live in infamy," as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt observed after the attack. Hear on this episode how Jim survived the attack, and rushed in to save his fellow shipmates. Also hear Jim explain why he had the greatest peace in his life during such a horrific scene of shock and carnage. This episode will take you back to a very pivotal time in America's history, as told by someone who lived every eye-opening moment of it! www.jimdowning.net | "The Other Side of Infamy: My Journey Through Pearl Harbor and the World of War"

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Early in the morning on September 20, 2004, and during some of the bloodiest days of the war in Iraq, Jacob Schick and his fellow Marines received a quick reaction call. With no sleep following the previous night's mission, Schick rounded up his Marines and jumped in a Humvee. Even though he had a bad feeling about the situation, Schick demanded he drive the lead vehicle. Shortly after moving out, his vehicle ran over a triple-stacked tank mine IED. Schick took the brunt of the blast. He was blown 30 feet into the air. He never lost consciousness, and he never went into shock. Every horrific moment about that day is locked in his brain. The blast took limbs and parts of his body away, and caused him to endure 46 operations. But the most difficult part of the entire ordeal was the mental pain Schick had to endure during recovery. Not being on the battlefield with his Marines, literally nearly killed him, physically and mentally. Severe depression, painkillers, and thoughts of suicide became his new enemy. Hear on this episode how Jacob Schick fought one last battle, and is now living for his Marines and everyone else who continues to fight. www.22kill.com

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Part II of our episode with Nate Self, and the incredible Battle of Takur Ghar. Thanks for listening! www.nateself.com | "Two Wars"

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Nate Self's story is the reason "Hazard Ground" was born. Early on the morning of March 4, 2002, Self, a young officer and elite Army Ranger, found himself fighting for his life on top of a remote mountain in Afghanistan, markedly outgunned by al Qaeda fighters. Self was tasked with leading the Ranger Quick Reaction Force that was sent to rescue Navy SEAL Neil Roberts and Air Force Technical Sergeant John Chapman, who had become trapped on top of the mountain known as Takur Ghar, during Operation ANACONDA. As the chinook helicopter that Self and half of his team were riding in attempted to land on top of Takur Ghar, it was immediately hit with rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun fire, forcing it to crash land. Within seconds, some of Self's men lay dead in the snow, just off the helicopter's back ramp. And so began a day-long battle between Self's small team of Rangers and well-entrenched al Qaeda fighters, that lasted until after sunset. After Takur Ghar, another battle raged inside Nate Self's head - this one the result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For years, Nate Self fought that battle alone, nearly destroying his family and himself in the process. Hear how he survived what he describes as the "Two Wars" in this very special episode of Hazard Ground.   www.nateself.com | "Two Wars"

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