Patriot to the Core

The Mark Forester Foundation’s annual golf tournament will be held Friday August 11, 2023 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Muscle Shoals, AL.

In this episode, I chat with Doug Cole and Jay Stubbs who are long time participants and supporters. We talk about the course, the value of the entry fee, prizes, experiences and why they keep coming back each year.

My family and I appreciate the tremendous help we receive from these families that support my brother’s foundation.

The MFF always needs sponsors, so if you’re interested in sponsoring a team, a hole, the flag pins, a contest, or even donating prizes, we will welcome it.

You can learn more about The Mark Forester Foundation here and register and/or become a sponsor. We hope to see you on Aug 11 in Muscle Shoals, AL.

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]
Watch this episode on YouTube

T. C. Fuller joined the FBI after an 11-year career in the Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer. Then he joined the FBI and became a Special Agent, serving for 20 years.

During his time in the FBI he held many assignments, including: Principal Firearms Instructor, Joint Terrorism Task Force – Domestic and International, and Violent Crimes where his subject was added to the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted list. The fugitive was captured for severe crimes against children.

We start out talking situational awareness and how his “lack of” got him robbed at gunpoint, and what he learned from that. We also discuss how he graduated from Defensive Tactics School, compare the leadership of former FBI Directors Mueller vs. his predecessor Freeh, what would happen if owning guns became illegal – that could fall upon the FBI to confiscate them, the interesting work he does with The Horus Group, and his new book “Painting Over Rust.”

Dr. T. C. Fuller is a frequent guest on The American Warrior Show and has dozens of articles published in various periodicals mostly related to law enforcement procedure, weaponry and personal defense.

You can watch this interview on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/nIW_7QQdA_o

Special thanks to Our Town Podcast for letting me use their studios once again.

Mentioned in this episode:

Episode 51 – Rich Brown

Episode 50 – Tim Larkin

American Warrior Society

The Old Gray Man YouTube Channel

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]
Thad on YouTube

Gary Michael Rose (Mike) joins me in person to share what happened in Laos during Operation Tailwind in 1970. During these 4 days, Sergeant Rose exposed himself to the enemy many times in order to treat the wounded. And then, the helicopter carrying Rose and others crashed further injuring him and the other wounded on board.

Despite his numerous wounds from the past three days, Mike Rose continued to pull and carry unconscious and wounded personnel out of the burning wreckage and continued to administer aid to the wounded until another extraction helicopter arrived. 

It’s a remarkable story of selflessness where Rose said “we should not have survived.”

“I really take pride in the fact that I can go to my grave knowing that at least one person- I did something one day that caused him to live another 42 years,” Rose said.

This Special Forces Medic is credited with saving numerous lives over that 4 day period. You can read his Medal of Honor Citation here.

I loved having him in studio to talk in person. You can also watch this interview on YouTube here.

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]

Dan Skidmore (@danskidmore11) is the Director of Specialized Training at GORUCK. He’s back on PTC as to talk initially about the upcoming Mark Forester JAG 28 Memorial Birthday Walk/Ruck. This is our annual event honoring my brother Mark Forester who was KIA 2010, where we walk 28 continuous miles. Dan will be joining us for the first time (in person) on May 20, 2023 in Haleyville, AL.

I pick his brain about how to toughen up your feet, break in shoes and prevent injury (especially lower body).

We also discuss the benefits of compression therapy and his own business, Bulletproof Bands. He provided a huge discount on his site by using JAG28 promo code at checkout.

You’ll want to hear why he suggests peeing on your feet too – I’m not sure I can even physically do that. And what is the max weight you should carry for this event.

I look forward to Dan joining our walk this year and leading us in Memorial Pushups. Come join us. We want you to be part of our tribe on May 20, 2023 in Haleyville, AL. Read more and sign up here:

Mentioned in this episode:
Ballistic Trainers shoes
MACV-1 Rucking Boots that Dan will be wearing for this event
Bullet Rucker
Sandbags
Sand Kettlebells
Dan’s hotel in ancient Medina, Marrakesh, Morocco

Sorry for the audio issues on this one. My wifi has been oddly off recently, so you will notice some cut-outs.

You can also find Dan on YouTube and Facebook
And you can listen to our first interview on episode 75.

*Remember, for a big discount on Bulletproof Bands, use promo code JAG28 at checkout. Dan’s business is showing support for The Mark Forester Foundation.

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]

Chris Sprayberry and Troy Bye join me to talk about the upcoming JAG 28 Birthday Walk on May 20, 2023.

Chris (@https://www.instagram.com/sprayberry_77/) has done the walk every year since we started in 2011. Troy’s (@https://www.instagram.com/ourtownpodcast/) first time was last year. After learning the hard way, he can’t wait to do it again while being more prepared.

Today we talk about how they prepare, gear they use, tricks, injuries, misperceptions, mistakes, best memories from years past, and all kinds of stuff related to my brother’s annual memorial walk.

You’ll definitely want to hear how Chris prepares each year. It’s pretty impressive.

We enjoyed the banter together as we hung out in the Our Town Podcast Studio. Please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I want your feedback.

You can also watch us do this interview via YouTube here.

Mentioned in this episode:

How to Train for the Mark Forester JAG 28 Birthday Walk / Ruck – 12 Years of Practice

Joe Carlucci – 2023 Pizza Maker of the Year

Learn more about the JAG Birthday Walk and Register Here

Outro music by Spent Brass: Sons of War / Veteran

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]

MSG Darrell Utt retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces in January of 2017 after 26.5 years in the Army.

For this episode, he joins me in person and we have a great time covering the purpose of the National Medal of Honor Museum being constructed in Arlington, TX and why TX was chosen over Colorado. It seems Jerry Jones had something to do with it too.

He shares some Medal of Honor recipients who most resonate with him and what the Medal of Honor recipients want this museum to actually be–focus on courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship and patriotism.

We also discuss his time in Iraq in 2006 with Operation Parliament. He and his team were able to rescue a hostage unharmed after letting the kidnappers know in no uncertain terms that it would be in their best interest to release her to avoid further action against them.

In addition, we cover his favorite books, IEDs, his Alive Day of April 17, 2006–how 1″ made the difference, leadership lessons from Iraq, control what you can control, can’t fake preparation, calm breeds calm and more. Thanks for visiting me in Huntsville Darrell!

Mentioned in this podcast:

Burn the Boats book
Darrell on Combat Story podcast
Where the Red Fern Grows book
Last Out – Elegy of a Green Beret by Scott Mann
Ep 29: Larry and Janice Brown, parents of Adam Brown
Ep. 69: Woody Williams
Ep. 62: Sammy Davis

*Big thanks to M. Troy Bye at Our Town Podcast for hosting us in his studio.

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]

Matthew Reed started his military career in the Marines. After being honorably discharged in 2007, he joined the Army and became an Interrogator and a Military Intelligence NCO, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Then from 2012 through 2022, Matt worked as an Intelligence Contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense, with roughly six years in the Balkans Region of Europe, where his mission was to root out hostile penetrations of our HUMINT Source pool.

Matthew and I have an interesting discussion on the Chinese surveillance balloons and why China should be very concerned by what the U.S. thinks of them, the global effects of the war in Ukraine, the humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan, interrogation tactics and the importance of studying the Roman Empire.

We close by learning about his books, based on his real life growing up in Houston, and from his career in the military.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Matthew on Cleared Hot Podcast w/ Andy Stumpf

Purchase Matthew’s books here:

The Houston Thriller Series

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]

Michael Blout joins me to talk about the battle from 2012 where he was awarded the Silver Star. As a former Flight Superintendent, Combat Dive Course Superintendent, and Superintendent over the Department of Training, Special Warfare Preparatory Course and more, we talk much about preparation, mindset, leading, integrating into a team and never quitting. During the CCT pipeline, Blout was smoked many times by one of his instructors, Mark Lauren (aka Klinganator or Cyborg). Mark is also a former guest on this show.

He also shared how to keep the sharks away while scuba training and threw in some surprises about dolphins.

Mike is another Air Force Combat Controller who is a silent professional. He’s sacrificed his body and family to fight evil and to serve in other various ways throughout the world. “Take care of your people and they will take care of you.”

One of Blout’s SF teammates, “Big Mike” Duskin, was killed in this battle on Oct 23, 2012. Please take time to read about him at this link: https://www.duskinandstephens.org/duskin

I hope you enjoy the intro music and full song at the end of this interview. It was written by former Air Force CCT, and 2-time PTC guest, Dan Schilling. You can learn the history of this song here. Dan’s goal is for it to be something that urges people to turn up the volume when they play the track!

“My hope was that this song rocks enough that guys I wrote it for will enjoy it and powerful enough to leave an indelible emotional impact crater,” Schilling said, “one you want to revisit over and over again.”

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]

On Sept 16, 2010, Yvette’s son, Daniel Ray Sanchez (Danny) was killed in Afghanistan by an insurgent who infiltrated the Afghanistan partner force.

Today, Danny’s mom tells us why this “ball of energy” was made for Combat Control and what happened on his first deployment – how was an insurgent able to get on the helicopter with Danny and his team and then kill Danny when they landed. Fortunately, that guy was killed immediately, but only after injuring others, and of course killing one of America’s bravest.

Yvette started the SrA Danny Ray Sanchez Foundation and holds an annual race on Labor Day weekend to raise money to provide scholarships to Montwood High School graduates, and hopefully to other schools in the district soon.

Yvette and I have become friends since 2010. We’ve mourned together and attended several events together. I loved finally getting to have her on Patriot to the Core. Listen to this mother’s love of her son as she shares how she was notified and how she’s handled his loss since. We also discuss how Danny’s death affected her youngest son, Dakota, since he’s no longer being duct-taped to the door or being hung on the door knob by his underwear, compliments of his big brother.

You can also watch this interview on YouTube here.

Mentioned in this episode:

Memorial 3 Gun
Combat Control Foundation

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]

On this special Christmas Day episode, we hear from a legend from WWII – Gail (Hal) Halvorsen.  He has many names:  Uncle Wiggly Wings, The Berlin Candy Bomber and The Chocolate Flier.  He became popular for dropping candy from his plane to the children of Berlin, from 1948-49.

His efforts gained support from many back in the states.  School children packaged candy in boxes with parachutes, and candy companies like Wrigley and Hershey’s donated items.  Thanks to his efforts he and his team had dropped 23 tons of candy by Christmas 1949.

Today we talk of “Operation Little Viddles”, how he became a pilot, how to overcome trials and depression, freedom vs. communism and the importance of serving others.  This is an uplifting episode that you don’t want to miss.  He shares that these children in Berlin taught him about freedom more than anything else.  It’s amazing what 2 sticks of gum turned in to!

Learn more about Mr. Halvorsen here:

http://wigglywings.weebly.com/

His book, “The Berlin Candy Bomber” here:  https://smile.amazon.com/dp/088290616X

Special with Tom Brokaw:  https://youtu.be/QWbISrde2mQ

Note: Mr. Halvorsen passed away in February of 2022 at the age of 101. This is an interview I did with him back in 2016.

Copyright 2022 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to [email protected]