SOFREP Radio

Kevin Wilson is the author of Sully's Squad, a coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of World War II. The book follows fifteen-year-old Arty, who lies about his age to enlist, as he gets thrown into the horrors of the Sicilian campaign. Amidst the madness, he meets Angelina, a young nun-in-training, and forges a deep brotherhood with his squadmates.

Wilson also draws inspiration from real life for his characters, such as Sully the sergeant, who is based on his uncle killed in action during the Great War. The story sensitively portrays the realities of battlefield deaths, shellshock, and the emotional journey of veterans returning home.

Get a copy of Sully's Squad: https://amzn.to/49NDx01

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

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Stayton Bonner is a former Rolling Stone and GQ Magazine editor and the author of Bare Knuckle: Inside the World of Underground Boxing. This gripping narrative talks about the rise of Bobby Gunn in the lucrative blood sport, as well as intimate details into the gritty criminal underworld that drew in immigrants and mobsters in search of fame and fortune.

Bobby was a skinny but tough kid born into the world of boxing. At a young age, his father taught him dirty street fighting and bare-knuckle boxing. While lesser known, Bobby’s Marine Corps background further honed his toughness and resilience, forging him into a lethal weapon whose name would eventually be etched in bare-knuckle boxing history. 

Get a copy of Bare Knuckle: https://amzn.to/3vNlLfx

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Dailey is a retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant and author of Tough, Rugged Bastards. In 2003, Dailey was handpicked to become the team leader of Detachment One, the first Marine Corps unit assigned to the US Special Operations Command. Their battlefield success became the proof-of-concept for the formation of the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC).

Dailey shares how the title of his book came about. As team leader, he was free to choose the members of his team but was instructed to select "tough, rugged bastards with strong backs and hard feet" as the sole stipulation. The book covers the creation, training, and deployment of Detachment One, ultimately leading to the creation of MARSOC.

Learn more about John Dailey: https://www.jadailey.com/

Get a copy of Tough, Rugged Bastards: https://amzn.to/49lvWWk

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Lazarus, renowned for his notable works such as Super Bowl Monday and his latest book, The Wingmen, delves into the heroic narratives of two American icons and lifelong friends: space explorer John Glenn and Ted Williams, widely regarded as the greatest hitter in baseball history. 

Before the onset of the Korean War, Glenn had completed 59 combat missions during World War II, while Williams was a highly decorated WWII Marine pilot and a two-time American League Triple Crown winner at the pinnacle of his baseball career.

During the Korean War, the paths of these extraordinary men intersected as they were both called to serve again. The Wingmen explores how the duo bravely flew into North Korea with Glenn in the lead and Williams at his side. Lazarus unravels the profound friendship between these larger-than-life men and the unbreakable mutual respect they shared.

Learn more about Adam Lazarus: https://www.adamlazarusbooks.com/

Get a copy of The Wingmen: https://amzn.to/3xbJl64

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric Blehm is an award-winning author known for his New York Times bestsellers Fearless and The Only Thing Worth Dying For. In the early 1990s, he served as editor-in-chief of TransWorld SNOWboarding magazine and, by 1999, had transitioned to freelance writing.

Blehm gained significant insight into the world of special operations shortly after the September 11 attacks when he found himself embedded with Green Berets. This immersion ultimately led to his acclaimed book The Only Thing Worth Dying For. His subsequent book, Fearless, chronicles the remarkable journey of Adam Brown, a Navy SEAL whose unrelenting spirit allowed him to triumph over severe injuries.

Blehm's latest work, The Darkest White, marks a return to his snowboarding roots. The book narrates the life of Craig Kelly, often hailed as snowboarding's first superstar, and explores how his legacy continues to inspire professional snowboarding, a discipline that he was instrumental in creating.

Learn more about Eric Blehm: https://www.ericblehm.com/

Get a copy of The Darkest White: https://amzn.to/3IDRu5p

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dwayne Epstein is an accomplished author and biographer, renowned for his insightful explorations into the intricacies of his subjects' lives. His most notable works include Lee Marvin: Point Blank and Killin' Generals: The Making of The Dirty Dozen.

He delves into some of Lee Marvin's thoughts on The Dirty Dozen and how his favorite aspect of the movie was how it reflected the thoughts and feelings of the greatest generation—the ordinary people who lived through it.

Dwayne also shares that Lee Marvin was a US marine serving in the Pacific theater before he became an actor. He talks about how Marvin suffered from PTSD his entire life upon returning due to his harrowing experiences and his realization of how horrific war really was.

Get your copy of Lee Marvin: Point Blank: https://amzn.to/3v5NnMp

and Killin’ Generals: https://amzn.to/3T1OVPm

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Cohen, Founder of ProTek Watches, and SOFREP Managing Editor Guy D. McCardle join today’s episode of SOFREP Radio. Wristwatches trace their origins back to World War I, serving as essential tools for soldiers in the trenches.

Over the decades, wristwatches have evolved in both materials and technology, yet their fundamental purpose remains unchanged—to provide a quick and convenient means of telling time.

Barry shares insights into the innovative technology featured in ProTek watches, such as tritium illumination for hands and hour markers—the same material used in gun sights. Unlike conventional lume, tritium requires no external light source and provides 100x brighter illumination.

ProTek is the designated official watch of the USMC, proudly showcasing the United States Marine Corps logo embossed on the caseback.

Explore the ProTek collection here: https://protekwatch.com/

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mikael was on the ground during the catastrophic US evacuation from Afghanistan in August 2021. He made it his mission to save as many Aghan allies as possible and is personally responsible for the safe exit of 20 allies. While some made it out, Mikael talks about the deep moral injury this abandonment has caused.

When it became apparent that it was impossible to evacuate everyone in Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), Digital Dunkirk was born—an ad hoc, public-private, digital-based effort involving thousands of people around the world that came together to save as many people from the carnage of the Taliban.

Get your copy of Life and Death at Abbey Gate: https://amzn.to/42Sehnx

Learn more about Mikael Cook and Digital Dunkirk:

Website - https://www.mikaelcook.com/

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

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Rick is a Silver Star recipient for his leadership during the Battle of Mogadishu, popularized in the Hollywood hit Black Hawk Down, and was a prominent member of SEAL Team TWO and SEAL Team Six. He continues to serve the SEALs as Chief Operating Officer of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.

Frogman Stories is a collection of events in and around SEAL Teams over the course of 45 years. It shows an authentic portrayal of how things get done in SEAL Teams and the silent trials that forge these extraordinary men into fearsome warriors. Rick captures the memorable lessons on life and leadership that only a true SEAL who has seen it all can share. 

Get your copy of Frogman Stories: https://amzn.to/49jquUL

Learn more about Navy Seal Museum:

Website - https://www.navysealmuseum.org/

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Initially enlisted in 1969 to play football for the army, Col. Tiso ended up on a bus to the Virginia Military Institute to ultimately get commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973. He served decades as a soldier and, after mandatory retirement, still chose to serve 11 more years as an intelligence planner and analyst for a defense contractor.

He deployed five more times to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. Col. Tiso explains that the Iraqi army was envisioned to be a bulwark against Iran. But its failures in the Battle of Najaf, as well as a pivot in strategy, ended up costing American lives in a war that could have been over by 2005. 

Get your copy of In Strange Company: https://amzn.to/3uwbiVa

Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.