The National Defense

SPECIAL GUEST GARY SINISE

This week The National Defense welcomes Jeff McChesney from Patriot Growth Capital to discuss his military service and his new venture helping veterans start their own businesses.  Randy and Jerry speak with Korean War veteran, Frank Schimizzi, to the show to hear about a great story of his high school diploma being awarded to him just prior to the age of 90!  Finally, the National Director of Communications for AMVETS, John Hoellwarth, talks about the recent firestorm regarding an ad AMVETS wished to place in the program for Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, MN.  It’s another great week on The National Defense!

This week The National Defense brings you another great program where we welcome in a new partner with the show, Farmers Insurance, and Leesa Eichberger to speak about the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on the PGA Tour coming up at the end of this month.  Brig. General John Pray, the President and CEO of Operation Homefront, is back on the show to give us the latest details on his great organization.  Finally, The National Defense is honored to welcome the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Congressmen Phil Roe, M.D., to the program to discuss his work Chairing the important committee dealing with the opioid crisis in the U.S., the V.A. system, and much more.  It’s another great show this week on The National Defense!

This week, The National Defense welcomes the American Legion’s Legislative Director Matt Shuman to the program to discuss the recent efforts by the American Legion on Capitol Hill to support those who served.  The President and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership, Jim Lorraine, then speaks with Randy and Jerry about his organization as well as their new suicide prevention initiative “Operation Deep Dive.”  Letha Steffey from ADT Security checks in with us from the CES show in Las Vegas, NV to wrap up our program.  It’s another great week on The National Defense!

This week, The National Defense welcomes the President of the Fisher House Foundation, Dave Coker, to the program to discuss some impressive new milestones hit by Fisher House.  Fisher Houses provide military families housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.  Then, Randy and Jerry welcome the President of the Navajo Nation, Russell Begaye, to the show to discuss a myriad of topics including recent honors for Navajo Code Talkers from WWII.  It’s another great show this week on The National Defense

Happy New Year from The National Defense!  We take this week’s show to look back at some of our favorite interviews from 2017, including President George W. Bush, and television personality Mike Rowe.  We’ll be back next week with brand new editions of The National Defense in the brand new year!

The National Defense welcomes VA Secretary David Shulkin back to the program to wish our troops and veterans happy holidays as well as discuss the current projects underway with the Veterans Administration. 

Leon Tackitt, an explosive ordinance specialist who has started his own winery in California, joins the show to discuss his line of EOD wines and those who are supported by it’s sales. 

4-Star Air Force General Merrill A. McPeak speaks with Randy and Jerry about his time in the U.S. Military, as well as his thoughts on current geopolitical situations around the world and we wrap up the show with some holiday greetings not only from VA Secretary Shulkin, but also from Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. 

No matter where you are, The National Defense wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!

This week the National Defense checks in with the American Red Cross and one of their people on the ground dealing with the horrific wildfires in California over the past couple weeks; Tony Briggs.  Tony fills Jerry and Randy in on the levels of devastation seen, what the American Red Cross is doing to help those affected, and what you can do to help.  Then, The National Defense is very excited to welcome Trace Adkins back to the show to discuss his continued support of America’s military and it’s veterans, as well as the fantastic new song (and wonderful music video to go with it!) “Still a Soldier.”  It’s another great show this week on The National Defense.

The National Defense has a great show for you this week, particularly if you’re a history or football buff!  First, Randy speaks with author Jay Wertz who, through his research and interviews conducted with those who were there, has written The World Turns to War (War Stories: World War II Firsthand).  Randy speaks with Jay about the way he went about putting the book together and the importance of documenting the stories of people that had their lives affected by World War II in this great interview.  Then, Pro Bowl Wide Receiver of Detroit Lions Fame, Herman Moore, returns to the show to talk about his involvement with the Quicklane Bowl coming up at Ford Field in Detroit Michigan.  Ford and Quicklane are providing ten $50,000 scholarships to veterans seeking jobs in the automotive maintenance field, and Herman has the details about how you can nominate a veteran for that award.  Time is running out, so make sure to get your nominations in soon!  That’s all this week on The National Defense.

This week, the National Defense gets into the holiday spirit by speaking with Buck Kern, the Executive Director of Snowball Express, an organization dedicated to providing hope and new happy memories to the children of military fallen heroes who have died while on active duty since 9/11.  Jerry and Randy get a little culture in their lives as they speak with Alvin Townley from the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, GA, about the role the arts can play in the lives of veterans as well as the photographs of former guest Stacy Pearsall.  Then Randy and Jerry speak with Manny Para from the Green Beret Foundation.  Manny is a retired Green Beret who, through the work of the Green Beret Foundation’s program, The Next Ridgeline, provides current and former U.S. Army Green Berets who are transitioning to civilian life the tools and resources they need to be successful.  That’s all this week on The National Defense.