"I felt like a waste of life, getting on a boat with my best friends." That realization on a deep sea fishing trip led Eric Tansey from a surfer lifestyle straight into the Army where he became a paratrooper. But his story doesn't end there.

After serving his country, Tansey became a police officer in one of Raleigh’s toughest districts, turned his craziest police stories into a published book, Pig Latin; appeared in “Office Joe,” a comedy series about veteran office life; and now does the “Failure to Stop” podcast and stand-up comedy.

This episode is equal parts inspiring, hilarious and proof that the most unexpected paths can lead to the most interesting lives.

Other topics in this Tango Alpha Lima episode include Veterans Day themes like sharing your military story and supporting veteran-owned businesses.

Veterans Day Deals & Discounts

Office Joe

Learn more about the Army/Navy Game

Eric Tansey author page

Failure to Stop podcast

Pig Latin: A Seriously Funny True Story of a Former Police Officer

Join the USA250 Challenge

Reddit Rabbit Hole: Veterans Stories

Veteran Owned Businesses

VA VETBIZ

PBS After Action

Military veterans and military family members are guiding the concept and design for the memorial that will honor and remember all involved in the Global War on Terrorism.

The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Foundation is welcoming input into the design of the memorial from service members, GWOT veterans, their families, Gold Star Families, and others.

This is the final episode in “Welcome Home,” the initial six-part special podcast series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance. Check back in the spring of 2026 for the next installment.

Marine veteran Mark Sewell joined the FBI after his military service, working on cases involving organized crime, human trafficking and more.

In the Atlanta FBI office, he was joined by agents who worked on high-profile mob crime such as the John Gotti case. Sewell wrote “Investigating America’s Most Notorious Strip Club: The FBI, The Gold Club, and the Mafia.”  His next book is about stolen valor. 

Other topics in this Tango Alpha Lima episode include a Reddit post about a survivor of human trafficking; whether bowling is the secret to living to 100; and arrests made in the murder of a Marine veteran.

LINKS

Investigating America's Most Notorious Strip Club

Reddit Rabbit Hole: Survivors of Human Trafficking

American Legion Resolution on Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness

New disabled veteran parking rules take effect in Washington

Darius Holland won a Super Bowl championship playing for the Green Bay Packers during his 10-year NFL career. Afterward, he found his calling as a chaplain in the Army National Guard and as a pastor of 20 years.

He currently specializes in religious practices and coaching that bridges cultural gaps and fosters spiritual readiness, especially within the military community.

A member of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation’s Design Advisory Council, Holland is the special guest in this episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou.

He talks about his NFL career, service as a chaplain, moral injury, and how he helps veterans and servicemembers heal.

This is the fifth episode in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance.

Retired Air Force veteran Brandon Fertig has transformed from a conservative, mild mannered civilian to a passionate outdoor adventurer.

An employee of Philips, he has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, skydived and whitewater rafted in Colorado, and gone scuba diving, rode horses, skied, fished, snorkled, kayaked, biked, and hiked all over the world.

Fertig’s eight-day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro was in support of MedTechVets, a nonprofit that helps veterans transition to rewarding careers.

Other topics in Episode 290 include the return of a Medal of Honor recipient’s remains, an update on Gulf War Illness treatment and a rare Stars Wars trading card.

Army Navy Game

USA250 Challenge

CDC recognizes Gulf War Illness

Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Capt. Willibald Bianchi have been identified

One-of-a-kind Star Wars collector’s card surfaces at US Army post exchange

All Americans have been affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Global War on Terrorism as a whole. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial is being designed to share the stories, voices and experiences of GWOTveterans, their military families and all Americans. Retired Army Col. Kirsten Brunson and Gen. Xavier Brunson are the special guests in this episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou. It is the fourth in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance.

Army veteran Dan Kunze, who joined the National Guard after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, talks about his new role as co-host of the Warrior Money podcast on Yahoo Finance, mental health, time management and other topics. 

Kunze, who appeared in an earlier episode about his role as vice chairman of Task Force Movement, also discussed impostor syndrome for military veterans, national security, technology, and civic leadership.

Other topics in this Tango Alpha Lima episode include Halloween tricks and treats, the VA's new MOS (Military Skills) Translator tool and National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day.

Links

Halloween Safety Tips

2025 Army/Navy game

Task Force Movement

Council of College and Military Educators

Join the USA 250 challenge!

Bridge My Return

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial will reflect the voices, unique experiences and war stories of those who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. 

Marine Corps combat veteran Elliot Ackerman, the co-chairman of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation’s Design Advisory Council, is helping to collect the voices that will be used to represent all those who served, sacrificed and contributed to the GWOT.

He is the author of a half-dozen books, including “The Fifth Act: America’s End in Afghanistan.” This episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, is the third in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance.

Traditional prosthetic care can be labor and time-intensive, difficult to scale to all VA facilities, and challenging for some veterans to access. However, the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning is making progress in digital prosthetics.

Digital innovation, AI and other technologies are allowing VA to deliver prosthetic devices to disabled veterans sooner so they can play video games, feed themselves, play sports like golf and pickleball, and more. Learn more in this week’s Tango Alpha Lima podcast.

Other topics in this episode include changes the Pentagon is making to MREs, Chuck Yeager’s historic supersonic flight and a Vietnam veteran’s journey back to school.

The American Legion is proud to be an Associate Sponsor of Army-Navy Game presented by USAA

Dr. Ripley discusses development of 3D-printed medical devices

Join the USA 250 Challenge

81-year old Vietnam War veteran graduations from Bristol College

Ron Cabral graduation video

New MRE options coming soon

Celebrating Chuck Yeager's supersonic flight

The design for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial will incorporate the stories of those most closely affected including veterans, their families, Gold Star Families and other military members. Kengo Kuma, who was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People, and Balázs Bognár from Kengo Kuma and Associates are the lead designers in the memorial to honor and memorialize GWOT veterans. They explain the design process, their vision and more for the project that will result in the memorial dedication in Washington, D.C. This episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, is the second in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion.