Alan Dollison is coming to the end of a long and distinguished Army career. After 30 years in uniform, he will be retiring from the US Army in November 2022. Dollison also has served as a prosecutor and ran for District Attorney of Humboldt County. 

Dollison said he’s lived some of his best moments as an Army officer. He served two tours in Afghanistan, one in Iraq and one, his most recent, in Saudi Arabia. He’s learned a lot about life and a lot about himself. He learned to follow and he learned to lead. He learned about training management, resource development, managing diverse geographically dispersed teams and running complex organizations.
But more than anything, he learned just how valuable friendships are.

“I’ve enjoyed the camaraderie and life experiences of the military, but I most enjoyed the relationships and the people I served with over 30-plus years, at all levels,” said Dollison.

Please listen in to Colonel Dollison's comment about our Afghanistan mission, particularly the conclusion of that mission. A soldiers soldier, Dollison has great advice for future missions.

I can be reached at [email protected] or [email protected]

On January 31, 1945, Pvt. Eddie Slovik became the first American soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion-and the only one who suffered such a fate during World War II. This podcast episode tells his story.

Pvt. Eddie Slovik was a draftee. Originally classified 4-F because of a prison record (grand theft auto), he was reclassified 1-A when draft standards were lowered to meet growing personnel needs. In January 1944, he was trained to be a rifleman, which was not to his liking, as he hated guns.

In August of the same year, Slovik was shipped to France to fight with the 28th Infantry Division, which had already suffered massive casualties in France and Germany. Slovik was a replacement, a class of soldier not particular respected by officers. As he and a companion were on the way to the front lines, they became lost in the chaos of battle and stumbled upon a Canadian unit that took them in.

Slovik stayed on with the Canadians until October 5, when they turned him and his buddy over to the American military police. They were reunited with the 28th Division, which had been moved to Elsenborn, Belgium. No charges were brought, as replacements getting lost early on in their tours of duty were not unusual. But exactly one day after Slovik returned to his unit, he claimed he was “too scared and too nervous” to be a rifleman, and threatened to run away if forced into combat. His confession was ignored-and Slovik took off. One day later he returned and signed a confession of desertion, claiming he would run away again if forced to fight, and submitted it to an officer of the 28th. The officer advised Slovik to take the confession back, as the consequences were serious. Slovik refused and was confined to the stockade.

The 28th Division had many cases of soldiers wounding themselves or deserting in the hopes of a prison sentence that might protect them from the perils of combat. A legal officer of the 28th offered Slovik a deal: dive into combat immediately and avoid the court-martial. Slovik refused. He was tried on November 11 for desertion and was convicted in less than two hours. The nine-officer court-martial panel passed a unanimous sentence of execution, “to be shot to death with musketry.”

Slovik’s appeal failed. It was held that he “directly challenged the authority” of the United States and that “future discipline depends upon a resolute reply to this challenge.” Slovik had to pay for his recalcitrant attitude, and the military made an example of him. One last appeal was made-to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander-but the timing was bad for mercy. The Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes forest was resulting in literally thousands of American casualties, not to mention the second largest surrender of an U.S. Army unit during the war. Eisenhower upheld the death sentence.

Slovik was shot and killed by a 12-man firing squad in eastern France. 

Please keep listening and and visit my webpage at www.mejohnsonauthor.com. Email me at [email protected]. Thank you for listening.

Judge Johnson

According to Tommy Anderson, "Our best days are ahead of us...You can do whatever you want to do. There's no excuse."

Tommy Anderson is a multiple best-selling author and screenwriter.  Tommy enjoys his role as a motivational speaker and Host of "The Real Tommy Unleashed" on the IQ Podcast Network in San Diego.  Tommy's show is heard on multiple streaming platforms, iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Apple Play, and more.

An accomplished screenwriter, he has written and produced "Life After Oblivion," a film based on his award-winning screenplay. “PTSD-A soldiers Revenge," which he wrote, is currently in production by Panther Trail Films - Hollywood. Tommy also received his first directing credit on the pilot series "The Tale of Richard Pic". Tommy is also routinely cast as an actor in commercials, television, and film.

As a founding member of VetPics Film Productions, Tommy gives back through the all-veteran independent film production company which produced "Life after Oblivion." Most recently Tommy was seen as the face of the national Spotify commercial as the man with the dancing dog. His best-selling novel Haboob Wind is now a screenplay, and his new novel Two Million Steps was released in March of 2021 and went to Best Seller on Amazon in two weeks.

Before moving to the Los Angeles area, Tommy lived in Madison, Wisconsin and had a full career firefighter/paramedic with the Madison Fire Department and later retired from the U.S. Army and the Air National Guard. Tommy is a member of various organizations, including the Hollywood American Legion Post 43, Veterans in Media and Entertainment, the U.S. Press Association, and serves as a photojournalist with the California American Legion Press Association.

Bill Lauper: "As a society, it's all about the future, and it starts with our children. We teach them right, our society is going to be just  fine."

Retired Navy Commander William "Bill" Lauper has devoted his life to mentoring American youth. After serving all over the world, he retired to his wife's home state of California. He was not ready, however, to rest on his laurels.  As a man accustomed to service, he has accepted positions educating our youth. As a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at three Southern California high schools,  he instills high morals, selfless service and the values of good citizenship in his cadets. 

Commander Lauper's honor guards are easily the equal of many active duty, full-time honor guards. I (Judge Johnson) know, because I have personally observed them at many local patriotic events. Many of Bill's students go on to accept appointments to the Service Academies and ROTC programs at major universities.  

Listen to Bill's inspiring story and his message to our young people. Any questions for Bill or Judge Johnson, please email [email protected].

As the Auditor-Controller for Riverside County, California, Paul Angulo manages a budget in the tens of billions of dollars, amounts larger than the operating budget of half the U.S. States. His responsibilities are immense. 

Enlisting in the Army at age 18, Auditor-Controller Angulo attributes a great deal of his later success to lessons in leadership and ethical behavior he learned in the United States Army from 1971-1974.  He describes the example set for him by Vietnam combat veterans and noncommissioned officers and how he has incorporated those lessons into managing the enormous budget and staff of the Auditor-Controllers Office. 

Judge Johnson and Auditor-Controller Angulo discuss the importance of Americans, all of them, supporting their democracy. We also discuss the toll service takes on our servicemembers and how responsibilities of American citizenship are not shared equally. According to Paul, "Democracy and the freedoms we enjoy are a shared responsibility...I have friends who have been to the Middle East in combat roles for 12 tours. Then we wonder why they have PTSD."

Please listen to Auditor Controller Paul Angulo and the message he has for young Americans. Any questions, please send them to [email protected].

Judge Johnson is strictly providing a message to assist veterans in healing. He is not endorsing any candidates for any nonjudicial office. Thank you.  

Greg Coker, retired Army Command Sergeant Major and a previous guest on The Veteran Experience, returns to discuss the impact of 9/11 on the U.S. and on Greg and his family. 

Sergeant Major Coker has devoted his life to helping veterans. Through his role as CEO of the Reaching New Heights Foundation and as chief mentor of the Riverside and San Bernardino County Veterans Treatment Courts, SGM Coker has been able to touch innumerable lives. 

Greg will discuss where he was on that fateful day in 2001. He will talk about his feelings, knowing he would be leaving his family for the two tours he served in Iraq. More importantly, Greg will deliver his message of unity  for both veterans and America, a message he learned from 9/11 and his service in the years following 9/11.

"Any veteran who is suffering can call me at (909) 518-4951. You are not alone."

Please listen to this warrior. Any questions, please send to Judge Johnson at [email protected] or www.mejohnsonauthor.com.

Navy Veteran Greg Sanchez's life was at rock bottom. His drinking was out of control. He was hospitalized 6 times in one year for alcohol poisoning. He was "couch-surfing" and living on the streets. Arrested, incarcerated and facing serious felony criminal charges, Greg asked himself. "What is it that I am living for?" That was in 2018.

After a great deal ofsoul-searching in jail, Greg answered that question. "You have to say that life is worth living," Greg said. "I did." He believed his life was worth living.

Today, Greg has almost 4 years of sobriety and is married to a wonderful lady. He will be graduating with a bachelors degree in history from the University of California,  Riverside, this year and plans to pursue a Masters Degree in Public Administration.

"For those of you listening, I can tell you that I understand what every phase of alcoholism looks like," Greg said. "There are enormous amounts of resources available to help you. There are allies, people who will not judge you, and I am one of them. You just need to ask for help."

Greg is a successful graduate of the Riverside County Veterans Treatment Court. He recently addressed Secretary of Veteran's Affairs McDonaugh on veterans issues. Judge Johnson: "I trust this man. I have seen him in a jail jumpsuit. And I have seen him devote his life to helping veterans and other alcoholics. He is epitome of both rehabilitation and why we need veterans treatment courts.

Any questions for Judge Johnson or Greg, please email them to [email protected]. Thank you.

Judge Randy Stamen is a hero to veterans in the Inland Empire. Since January 2020, Judge Stamen has presided over the Riverside County Veterans Court. In this role, he is charged with rehabilitating hundreds of justice involved veterans.

A Riverside  native, he brings a firm and just hand to guiding veterans through the veterans court and military diversion programs. Judge Stamen is no stranger to adversity. Once suffering from serious health problems, he received kidney and pancreas transplants. This taught him an invaluable lessons he shares with our veterans. "Maintain your health and good habits. Keep balance in your life."

Judge Johnson interviews Judge Stamen and discusses the pressing topics facing veterans in our criminal courts. While not providing legal advice specific to any case, they do provide general guidance to veterans facing criminal charges. 

Send comments, questions and criticisms to Judge Johnson at [email protected]. Or visit www.mejohnsonauthor.com. Neither judge receives any compensation for this episode. We do this to help veterans. 

Attorney Virginia Blumenthal is a Riverside icon. The first woman attorney in Riverside, Virginia has risen to fame as  one of the undisputed best lawyers in the United States. Virginia has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to her community by the Riverside Mayor and City Council; the Riverside County Board of Supervisors; the California Governor and Assembly; and the President of the United States. 

Virginia's began her working life as a school teacher. She became a lawyer in 1975, opening her own law practice. Over the years, Virginia has handled the toughest cases in California with remarkable and quite regular success. She appears before me often. 

Her inspiration is her parents. Her father was a highly decorated World War 2 Navy Veteran, a veteran of the USS Franklin. Commissioned in 1944, the USS Franklin earned four battle stars in the Pacific War. In March 1945, 800 of its sailors were killed in a Japanese attack. 

Virginia describes her father as the most "non malicious chauvinist" you ever wanted to meet. She tells a touching story about her dad. "I had often joked my parents were the world's greatest prosecution jurors. Until one day one of my father's friends said to him, 'John, how did you ever let your daughter become a criminal defense attorney.' Daddy looked at him and pointed his finger at him and he said, 'You listen to me. I put my life on the line on the USS Franklin, and my fellow sailors gave their lives protecting these freedoms that my daughter defends.'  

And I thought, 'Daddy, you do understand.'"

Please listen and share this interview with my good friend Virginia Blumenthal. Contact me at [email protected]

Sandy Duchac of "Veteran Sisters " is an American hero. Serving honorably in the United States navy, Sandy was the victim of Military Sexual Trauma.  Sandy turned the scourge of MST into a source of strength. Now, this remarkable woman devotes her life to assisting victims of MST as an advocate and in healing. 

Listen as she describes her journey. 

Veteran Sisters can be contacted at veteransisters.org. From their webpage: "Learn how you can help #EndMST.  We must hold perpetrators of rape and sexual assault accountable with consistent, action-deterring military punishments after civilian law enforcement who specialize in sex crimes complete an investigation."