Oscar Mike Radio

Tony Aubrey came on Oscar Mike Radio in July 2022 (https://oscarmikeradio.com/301-tony-owen-operation-vet-now/) to talk about his U.S. Air Force Career and the organization he helps run, Operation Vet Now.

Operation Vet Now focused on outreach to where the Veterans are. They go to events and work to engage with Veterans who attend these events to offer assistance or guidance to programs and resources that Veterans may need.

One of the ways Operation Vet Now advocates is by working with Veteran athletes who become Ambassador Athletes for Operation Now.

Many of OVN’s Ambassador Athletes are actively serving or are now Veterans. Their approach is to have these athletes tell their stories and spend time with the Veterans.

Tony talked about how collaboration with other Veteran groups. The collaboration with the Fire for Effect Foundation and other groups is a lesson in how Veterans can be stronger together.

I hope to meet Tony and check out an OVN event in 2024. Thank you for talking with me again.

Go to https://opvetnow.org/ to learn more and donate!

David, Kelly, and Rick from the Veterans Brotherhood Motorcycle Club, asked me to come with them to southern Massachusetts to meet not one, but two World War II Veterans.

Bill is 99, going on 100, and George is not too far behind. The interesting thing is that both served under General Patton during WWII before they were deployed elsewhere.

George was a combat engineer and Bill was in artillery. They talked about different aspects of serving during that time and what General Patton was like.

Listening to them talk about coming home, I realized they faced challenges all Veterans face. Both talked about how great the Veterans Administration has been with them.

We talked a little football. The New England Patriots will honor George next month, and they had some commentary on how the Patriots could improve their standing!

It is one thing to read the books, watch the movies, and play the video games. It is another matter to listen to these stories from the people who lived them. We can't ever let these stories be forgotten.

Thank you to David, Kelly, and Rick for asking to go meet these real American Heroes. If you love motorcycles and Veterans check out The Veterans Brotherhood Motorcycle Club - https://vbvmcma.com/

Larry Freeland served as a helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. It is always an honor to talk with those who have served during the Vietnam War. There is a perspective on life and service that is seldom found in today's world.

Legacy Of Honor: The Patriarch, is about a doughboy fighting in World War I Europe. Larry wrote this as part one of a generational series based on the experiences of his own family who served in World War 1, II, and the Vietnam War.

Talking with Larry, this book truly was a legacy to his grandfather as well as his father. I can't wait to read part two.

You can go to www.LarryFreeland.com to learn more. Thank you Larry for talking with me, and can't wait to have you back when your second book is published.

Lee grew up in New Orleans and served as a Communications Officer in the U.S. Army.

After getting out, Lee used his experiences to write about 12 Perspectives to Inner Peace. “Look To The Warriors” demonstrates how military experiences and services can be lessons to everyone regardless of the challenges they are facing.

Talking with Lee, I learned that “Look to the Warriors” takes real military experiences from Lee and others and distills them into the 12 Perspectives.

These perspectives allow someone who is not in the military to get an in-depth look at how adversity and challenges were turned into victories.

You can get “Look to the Warriors: 12 Perspectives to Cultivate Inner Peace” on Amazon now (Link Below).

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B0BNNG5FGP&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_5ZGTE67E8S36JXK6RNY5

You can also find Look to the Warriors at Tactical 16 Publishing (https://tactical16.com/product/look-to-the-warriors/) and anywhere else books are sold.

Find out more about Lee and his other books by going to http://leekelley4.com/

Thank you, Lee, for sharing about how Warriors can be an example of resilience and success in the face of adversity.

Tony served in the Navy and started his Veterans’ Advocacy in 2013.

He rides his motorcycle across the United States to bring comfort to Gold Star Families.

When Tony connects with Gold Star Families the time spent lets them know that they are not forgotten. If possible Tony will use the support given to the Gold Star Foundation to assist families where needed.

This conversation is another example of a Veteran taking what he has and using it to bring comfort to others. Gold Star Foundation is a non-profit and is funded through donations. Consider supporting Tony today.

As a podcaster and a motorcycle enthusiast, I recently had the privilege of hosting an enlightening conversation on my show, Oscar Mike Radio, with Michael Gardner Sr., a passionate advocate for motorcycle safety. This blog post is a recap of our discussion, where we delved into the importance of motorcycle safety, the story behind the "Check Twice, Save a Life" campaign, and the inspiring work of Michael's charity organization.

Our conversation began with a familiar sign that many of us have seen but may not know the story behind - "Check Twice, Save a Life". I first encountered Michael at an event where I learned about his deep involvement in motorcycle safety and his charity organization.

Michael's journey into advocating for motorcycle safety was born out of a personal tragedy. Five and a half years ago, he lost his son in a devastating motorcycle accident. In memory of his son and to help the motorcycle community, he started a charity to support riders who have been injured or fallen.

Michael's charity found a partner in Southeastern Mass Fallen Riders, a similar organization on the south shore. Together, they began organizing events like runs and a motorcycle awareness day in March. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to adapt their approach. They started standing on the side of the road, holding signs to raise awareness. Their efforts have been successful, with over 500 bikers standing on overpasses throughout Massachusetts and around 6,000 "Check Twice" signs distributed.

During our conversation, Michael and I expressed our concerns about the lack of safety among riders. We discussed the potential risks of motorcycles on the road, especially with the increasing number of cars and distractions. Michael suggested the idea of a detection system that alerts drivers of motorcycles nearby, a concept that could potentially save lives.

Despite the efforts of organizations like "Check Twice, Save a Life", there is a lack of support and funding for motorcycle safety initiatives. Michael emphasized the importance of promoting awareness and encouraged people to support the cause, even if they don't ride motorcycles themselves.

For those interested in connecting with "Check Twice, Save a Life", Michael shared that people can visit their website, legacy24.org, for more information. He also shared details about their upcoming annual poker run event on September 10th, which includes a pig roast, live band music, and open bars.

The event is not just a party, but a way to support the community and honor Michael's son's memory. Michael's personal goal, along with his wife, is to prevent at least one family from receiving the devastating phone call they received when their son passed away.

As the host of Oscar Mike Radio, I am excited about the event and committed to motorcycle safety. I look forward to riding and honoring Michael's son's memory.

Our conversation ended with a heartfelt thank you from Michael for the support and for having him on the show. It was a reminder of the power of community and the importance of safety. As we ride, let's remember to "Check Twice, Save a Life"

It is always good when a guest recommends another person to talk with on Oscar Mike Radio. Michael Madsen came on to talk with me for number 354 (https://oscarmikeradio.com/354-michael-madsen-still-serving/)

After the show aired, Michael messaged me and said I ought to talk to U.S. Army Retired Command Sergeant Major Barry Smallwood. When a Warrant Officer speaks, I listen and so it was with great anticipation that I hit the record button for the conversation with Sgt Maj Smallwood.

Barry Smallwood served in the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, Crypto-Analyst, and TAC-Fire Computer Operator. Throughout his Army career, Sgt. Maj Smallwood developed his leadership style and said that his troops needed to trust his direction in order to be combat-effective. SgtMaj Smallwood believes leaders should work for those they lead.

Currently, Barry is the Director of Training for Law Enforcement and First Responders for Vizitech USA. Vizitech is using real work buildings, situations, and expertise to build models that allow for immersive training during crisis situations and scenarios.

“Anything that will enhance your capability whether it is physical or mental, you need to immerse yourself into.” These are wise words, and just a small glimpse of the knowledge Sgt. Maj. Smallwood has to share.

Thank you, Michael, for the recommendation. Sgt. Maj., thanks for squaring this Lance Corporal away (just kidding).

I couldn’t help it. My first thought when I started looking at the website for the book, “We Don’t Want You, Uncle Sam”, was, what would a 2nd Lieutenant know about recruiting? Seriously? Then I started digging into the website and reading about Matthew Weiss’ view on the recruiting problem for the military and the solutions needed to fix it. I began to realize that Lieutenant Weiss may be onto something. I wanted to learn more.

Adam Semonick & Brad Otto are both Marine Corps Veterans and do SIM Racing together as The WolfPack. Adam was on Oscar Mike Radio in March for number 337 (https://oscarmikeradio.com/337-adam-semonick-marine-corps-hawker-and-sim-racer/). He had talked to me about the Wolfpack so getting both Brad and Adam to talk about SimRacing was a must-do!

The Wolfpack Racing Group is a dedicated group of Military Veteran SIM Racers. Veterans find communities in many areas and SIM Racing is another one. The support, camaraderie and drive to improve make race day all the more fun.

I enjoyed hearing how the community has grown and with the American Legion sponsoring an Indycar, the interest in F1 and NASCAR at LeMans, why can't Veterans find success and community in Sim Racing? Start your engines and let's go!

You can reach out to Brad or Adam if you want to get into SIM Racing. Thank you both for coming on and talking with me!