Veterans Radio

The Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park is the largest inland Naval Park in the country. Located on Buffalo’s Waterfront, this unique family destination features four decommissioned Naval vessels that served in a variety of military conflicts in our nation’s history. We talk to John Branning, Superintendent of Ships, and Navy veteran about the Park, the Ships, and the needs. One unique vessel is the USS The Sullivans which is named for the 5 brothers from Iowa who perished on the same ship in WWII. John tells host Jim Fausone about the challenges of keeping this old naval history alive after so many years.

This is our monthly program on the VA and your benefits. In addition to questions from our listeners we are going to discuss the Aid and Attendance benefit and possible suspension of this benefit if the veteran is placed in a facility. Join our guests: Dr. Ginny Creasman, Medical Center Director for VA Ann Arbor Healthcare SystemDr. Raghuram Matta, Deputy Chief of Staff, Detroit VA Health Care SystemBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret), Legal Help for VeteransMichael G. Smith, Jr., Director of Washtenaw County (MI) Dept. of Veteran AffairsBrian Hayes, Public Affairs Officer, VA Ann ArborBill Browning, Chief Volunteer and Community Relations, Detroit VA Health Care System They along with host Dale Throneberry will bring you up to date on what’s going on at the VA and answer your questions regarding any and all benefits you are entitled to.

Ever wonder what certain military terms really mean or where they came from, well we did. So we asked Air Force Veteran and historian Joe Neussendorfer to dig into terms and give us a quick debrief on Cup of Joe, Mustang and Dog Tags. Listen in you might be surprised.

Our guest this week is Colin Clark, Editor, Breaking Defense. Colin was the founding editor of DoDBuzz.com. Previously, he covered Congress, intelligence and regulatory affairs for Space News; founded and edited the Washington Aerospace Briefing, a newsletter for space industry professionals; covered national security issues for Congressional Quarterly; and was editor of Defense News. Clark is based in Washington, D.C.Breaking Defense is an online defense magazine designed to be the idea hub of the defense world, where the crucial defense ideas are debated, the biggest defense stories are reported and analyzed and the hottest weapons and news videos are shared.If you want to know what’s going on in Washington, you have to tune in this week on Veterans Radio. Find out what is really going on regarding America’s military.

Amy Hawk is our guest this week. She discusses her new book, “Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton” and the story of Captain Jim Shively’s captivity after being shot down in Vietnam and his post-POW civilian career.Amy discusses this story of hope, courage, and perseverance with host Jim Fausone.

Our guest this week, John D. Lukacs, is the producer of the “4-4-43” documentary, which is based on his book “Escape From Davao: The Forgotten Story of the Most Daring Prison Break of the Pacific War”. Don’t miss this incredible story of bravery and survival.On April 4, 1943, ten American prisoners-of-war and two Filipino convicts broke out of the Davao Penal Colony, an escape-proof Imperial Japanese Army prison plantation in the Philippines. Called “the Greatest Story of the War in the Pacific” by the U.S. War Department in 1944, this astonishing, yet true action adventure tale is told through the eyes of Lt. Col. William Edwin Dyess, one of World War II’s most extraordinary, yet little-known heroes.Known as the “One-Man Scourge of the Japanese,” the swashbuckling fighter pilot from Texas dueled with enemy planes in aerial combat, led America’s first amphibious landing of the war, survived the infamous Bataan Death March and nearly a year in enemy captivity to help lead the only large-scale POW escape of the Pacific War and later, a top secret fight against the U.S. Government to break the news of Japanese atrocities to the world — all before his tragic death in a plane crash at the age of 27. Dyess was the 2015 recipient of the prestigious Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.

The Mirror Test: America at War in Iraq and AfghanistanJ. Kael Weston, is our guest this week on Veterans Radio. He spent seven years on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan working for the U.S. State Department in some of the most dangerous frontline locations. Upon his return home, while traveling the country to pay respect to the dead and wounded, he asked himself: When will these wars end? How will they be remembered and memorialized? What lessons can we learn from them?The overall frame for the book, from which the title is taken, centers on soldiers who have received a grievous wound to the face. There is a moment during their recovery when they must look upon their reconstructed appearance for the first time. This is known as “the mirror test.”From an intricate tapestry of voices and stories—Iraqi, Afghan, and American—Weston delivers a larger mirror test for our nation in its global role. An unflinching and deep examination of the interplay between warfare and diplomacy, this is an essential book—a crucial look at America now, how it is viewed in the world and how the nation views itself.

America’s Newest Medal of Honor RecipientsThis week on Veterans Radio, we will be talking with America’s newest Medal of Honor recipients.LTC Donald “Don” Long’s helicopter was shot down in the landing zone that day and was finally rescued when Kettles came back with additional aircraft borrowed from the 161st Aviation Company(Pelicans). During the early morning hours of May 15, 1967, personnel of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, were ambushed in the Song Tra Cau riverbed by an estimated battalion-sized force of the North Vietnamese army with numerous automatic weapons, machine guns, mortars, and recoilless rifles. The enemy force fired from a fortified complex of deeply embedded tunnels and bunkers, and was shielded from suppressive fire.Upon learning that the 1st Brigade had suffered casualties during an intense firefight with the enemy, then-Maj. Charles S. Kettles volunteered to lead a flight of six UH-1D helicopters from the 176th Aviation Company (Minutemen) to carry reinforcements to the embattled force and to evacuate wounded personnel. As the flight approached the landing zone, it came under heavy enemy attack. Deadly fire was received from multiple directions, and soldiers were hit and killed before they could leave the arriving lift helicopters…and much more.

Clinton Romesha / Red PlatoonThe need for DAV services has never been so great. The number of veterans with service-related injuries and illnesses has skyrocketed to more than 3.6 million men and women today, up from 2 million just 12 years ago. By the year 2020, the number is expected to grow to 4 million. Join our guest Garry Augustine, the Executive Director of DAV’s National Service and Legislative Headquarters in Washington, D.C., who will discuss proposed changes at the VA.We also speak to Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha. In 2009, Romesha of Red Platoon and the rest of the Black Knight Troop were preparing to shut down Command Outpost (COP) Keating, the most remote and inaccessible in a string of bases built by the U.S. military in Nuristan and Kunar in the hope of preventing Taliban insurgents from moving freely back and forth between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Three years after its construction, the army was finally ready to concede what the men on the ground had known immediately: it was simply too isolated and too dangerous to defend. On October 3, 2009, after years of constant smaller attacks, the Taliban finally decided to throw everything they had at Keating. The ensuing 14-hour battle—and eventual victory—cost 8 men their lives.Red Platoon is the riveting first-hand account of the Battle of Keating, told by Romesha, who spearheaded both the defense of the outpost and the counter-attack that drove the Taliban back beyond the wire, and received the Medal of Honor for his actions.A special song by Kelly Trudell: Sound of Hope

Veterans StoriesThis week on Veterans Radio, it’s all about veterans’ stories. First up, we have local Ann Arbor Builders who have honored our friend and co-founder of Veterans Radio the late Gary Lillie.Second, we talk with Glen Munroe from Jordan Reses Supply Company and Veterans Matter, who are sponsoring the 1st Annual Silver Star Event to eliminate Veteran Homelessness.Finally, we will talking with author and photographer Robert H. Miller about his new book from National Geographic, Veterans Voices.

Battle Rattle: A Last Memoir of World War IIThis week on Veterans Radio, we look back at World War II through the eyes of 94-year-old WWII veteran Roger Boas.“The war has changed me in ways that will take the better part of my life to understand, let alone make peace with,” begins Roger Boas in his thoughtful, compelling account of World War II. As part of the Fourth Armored Division, he found himself at the spearhead of the Allied thrust into Europe. His memoir, Battle Rattle: A Last Memoir of World War II, recreates both the tension of the battlefield and the camaraderie behind the front line. It also relates his harrowing experience as a Jew of being one of the first American soldiers to discover a Nazi concentration camp. Boas reveals the powerful impact of war on those who fight it.

Humor in UniformThis week on Veterans Radio, join host Dale Throneberry and his guests, authors Bob Woolsey and Mark Benvenuto, as we take a humorous look at their outrageous antics while attempting to serve our country. We all knew guys like these when we served. Many provided the comic relief we needed. We loved them then, and we still do. Don’t miss this fun-filled hour on Veterans Radio.General’s BrieferA hilarious story based on the two-year military experience of Bob Woolsey at the Pentagon. After ROTC, a Fulbright Grant to Germany, and law school, Bob finally entered the Army at the height of the Vietnam War. He is a klutz who, with a little brains, makes it through Basic Infantry Training, and is lucky enough to be assigned as an Oral Briefing Officer to the General Staff. His only duty is to announce the ultra–Top Secret world news every morning, from the hush–hush “Black Book.” He takes us through his personal hell at Fort Benning to his eventual triumph as the favorite newscaster to the Chief of Army Intelligence. He poignantly describes the astonishing events of those times as well. The assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy; riots at the Chicago Democratic Convention; the Hippie March on the Pentagon; the rise of Mu’umaar Qaddaffi and Saddam Hussein—and the day we put a man on the Moon. It’s a wonderful lifetime of History that takes place in just two years.Twisted Tales from VMIMark Benvenuto takes a humorous, irreverent look back at his four years at The Virginia Military Institute. “The West Point of the South”From the preface: A word or two of caution, dear reader: This is a compilation of stories of times at VMI, a little college in Lexington, Virginia, with a big footprint. Plenty of folks have written some memoir of their college years, but this is probably very different precisely because VMI is very different from most other schools. That can be a source of great pride or eternal puzzlement, depending on your point of view, and how sober you are when discussing it.”

Wins for Warriors Foundation and Brig. Gen. Allison Hickey (ret.)Sandy Hudson, Executive Director/CEO of the Wins For Warriors Foundation & Brigadier General Allison Hickey USAF (ret).Wins for Warriors Foundation advocates for and invests in resources that engage veterans and their families to live a resilient life.In August 2013, Detroit Tigers All-Star pitcher Justin Verlander announced a commitment of $1 million to launch Wins for Warriors. Wins for Warriors united with other philanthropic leaders in April 2014 when the organization participated in the launch of the White House’s Joining Forces Initiative Impact Pledge.And…Retired Brigadier General Allison A. Hickey was part of the first class of female cadets to graduate from the Air Force Academy in 1980 and rose through ranks to become a brigadier general during her 27-year military career. She worked for several years in private-sector technology and customer service work before returning to federal service with the VA in 2011.In October 2015, Allison Hickey, the Veterans Affairs Department’s top benefits official and arguably the most polarizing figure in the VA leadership ranks in recent years, stepped down from her post amid praise from her colleagues and renewed attacks from her critics. As under secretary for benefits, Hickey oversaw more than 20,000 VA employees and the delivery of benefits to more than 12 million veterans and their families. She was one of the last holdovers from former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki’s tenure, frequently praised by top officials for her efforts to modernize the department and her dedication to veterans.“She has been an exceptional colleague and an even better friend to me,” VA Secretary Bob McDonald said in a statement. “Her commitment to excellence and service to our country is unquestioned.”

Legend: Medal of Honor Recipient Roy BenavidezThe unforgettable account and courageous actions of the U.S. Army’s 240th Assault Helicopter Company and Green Beret Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez reveal how he risked everything to rescue a Special Forces team trapped behind enemy lines. In Legend, acclaimed bestselling author Eric Blehm uses the Vietnam War as his backdrop, focusing specifically on a single mission that took place on May 2, 1968. That day, a twelve-man Special Forces team had been covertly inserted into a small clearing in the jungles of neutral Cambodia, a place where U.S. forces were forbidden to operate.From there, what followed would become legend in the Special Operations community. After being flown directly into the heart of battle, Benavidez jumped from the hovering aircraft and ran nearly 100 yards through withering enemy fire. Even though he was immediately and severely wounded, Benavidez reached the perimeter of the decimated team, quickly provided medical care, and then proceeded to organize an extraordinary defense and rescue. Throughout the battle, he was bayoneted, shot, and hit by grenade shrapnel more than thirty times; however, he refused to abandon his efforts until every survivor was out of harm’s way.

Last Days In VietnamThe Academy Award-nominated documentary Last Days in Vietnam premieres on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 9:00 PM Eastern on your local PBS station.During the chaotic final days of the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese Army closes in on Saigon as South Vietnamese resistance crumbles. The United States has only a skeleton crew of diplomats and military operatives still in the country. As Communist victory becomes inevitable and the U.S. readies to withdraw, some Americans begin to consider the certain imprisonment and possible death of their South Vietnamese allies, co-workers, and friends. Meanwhile, the prospect of an official evacuation of South Vietnamese becomes terminally delayed by Congressional gridlock and the inexplicably optimistic U.S. Ambassador. With the clock ticking and the city under fire, a number of heroic Americans take matters into their own hands, engaging in unsanctioned and often makeshift operations in a desperate effort to save as many South Vietnamese lives as possible. Our guest is retired U.S. Army Col. Stuart Herrington, who served as an intelligence adviser to the South Vietnamese army and was one of the last Americans to be helicoptered out of Saigon. We’re also joined by Ed Ruckle, U.S. Air Force (ret.), interviewer with the Veterans History Project and Veterans Tributes-Honoring Those Who Served by recording their stories.

WAR IN EUROPE ENDS!The time is May 1945, Germany surrenders to the Allies, ending World War II in the European Theater. Join guest Military Authors, John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel, along with host Bob Gould, as they discuss the events of 1933-1945.

Our guests this week include: Jennifer Giering, Senior Director of the Hiring Our Heroes program from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. She will be talking about the Hiring Our Heroes program and its goal of helping America’s businesses hire over 500,000 veterans.Next is Joyce Faulkner, former President of the Military Writers Society of America and current board member and co-founder of Red Engine Press. Red Engine Press is a small, independent publishing house. They produce hardcover books, trade paperbacks, and compact discs. In particular, Red Engine Press encourages writers with veteran and military stories to submit their works for possible publication. Joyce’s goal is to help veterans record their piece of history—for themselves, their families, their communities, and our country.And one of Red Engine Press’s authors, Beth Underwood, who will be discussing her book, Gravity. Gravity is the story of a small group of Army National Guardsmen from the Volunteer State of Tennessee—otherwise simple men, who spent a year of their lives in the Triangle of Death, one of Iraq’s most hostile areas of operation. But their daily patrols and combat missions weren’t featured on the nightly news. Instead, they operated as silent professionals – ordinary men facing extraordinary circumstances, who carried out their jobs to the best of their abilities and prayed they’d stay alive. Continuing the legacy of citizen-soldiers throughout the ages, they stepped forward to protect their families, their neighbors, their countrymen—and their fellow warriors, even in the face of death. There is a story that will live for generations to come.

Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and WWIIHollywood helped win World War II, and by that, we don’t mean John Wayne, but five of the country’s most celebrated film directors, who went to work making films for the War Department that showed Americans at war, overseas and in the skies, living, fighting, bleeding, and dying. Those films changed America and changed the men who made them, including John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, George Stevens, and Frank Capra.It was the best of times and the worst of times for Hollywood before the war. The box offices were booming. But the industry’s relationship with Washington was decidedly uneasy. Hearings and investigations into allegations of corruption and racketeering were multiplying, and hanging in the air was the insinuation that the business was too foreign, too Jewish, too “un-American” in its values and causes. Could an industry this powerful in shaping America’s mindset really be left in the hands of this crew? Following Pearl Harbor, Hollywood had the chance to prove its critics wrong and did so with vigor, turning its talents and its business over to the war effort to an unprecedented extent.No industry professionals played a bigger role in the war than five of America’s most legendary directors: Ford, Wyler, Huston, Capra, and Stevens. Between them they were on the scene of almost every major moment of America’s war, and in every branch of service, army, navy, and air force; Atlantic and Pacific; from Midway to North Africa; from Normandy to the fall of Paris and the liberation of the Nazi death camps; to the shaping of the message out of Washington, D.C.Join host Dale Throneberry and his guest, award-winning author Mark Harris.

At Ease!How time flies! With its April 27 edition, “At Ease” begins its second year on Veterans Radio. Host and bestselling author Dwight Jon Zimmerman celebrates the start of the show’s sophomore year by welcoming new guests artist/writer Wayne Vansant and retired SEAL Mike Ritland, and returning guest New York Times bestselling author Stephen Coonts, who talk about their latest books.PIRATE ALLEY by Stephen Coonts is the latest thriller starring his heroes Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini. A luxury cruise ship is captured by pirates off the Horn of Africa who enforce their authority with shocking savagery and a callous disregard for human life.TRIDENT K9 WARRIORS by Mike Ritland with Gary Brozek is the fascinating story of today’s military working dogs from the point of view of a retired SEAL who trains them. For the first time ever, readers get an inside look at these elite K9 warriors—who they are, how they’re trained, and the extreme missions they undertake to save countless lives on the field of battle.THE GRAPHIC HISTORY OF GETTYSBURG by Wayne Vansant is a brilliant achievement. Rich in drama, accurately detailed, this is a benchmark addition to the historiography of the bloodiest battle in the American Civil War.

Helping Civilian Mental Healthcare Providers Work With Their Military Patients.This week on Veterans Radio, we will be discussing the stigma many veterans have about going to see civilian mental health providers. Most soldiers returning from deployment believe that civilian mental health providers do not understand their specific issues and therefore refuse to visit these providers.Our guests from Team Red, White & Blue, Mark Gunner & Zack Armstrong, discuss a Two-Tier program to teach and instruct civilian mental health providers on the differences between civilians and soldiers when it comes to their therapy, and to remove the barriers soldiers have when choosing to visit mental health care providers. For more information, go to www.starproviders.org

Powerful Peace: A Navy Seal’s Lessons on Peace from a Lifetime at WarJ. Robert DuBois is a security advisor who was once labeled a “smart power authority” while assisting U.S., British and Iraqi forces in Baghdad. A multilingual Navy SEAL with experience in more than thirty nations, he retired in 2006…then headed back into Iraq and Afghanistan to support commanders facing complex threat situations. In Powerful Peace, J. Robert DuBois takes on a crucial, unprecedented mission for a U.S. Navy SEAL: the relentless pursuit of interpersonal and international peacemaking. With gut-wrenching candor and surprising moments of comedy, he narrates a personal journey through decades of conflict, its often-absurd origins, its ever-present innocent victims, and its potential solutions.Learn more about J. Robert DuBois.

Our featured topic is Medal of Honor Recipient, Father Emil KapaunIn 1950, Father Emil J. Kapaun, Chaplain, US Army, a native of Pilsen, Kansas, was Chaplain of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Korea. He distinguished himself on the field of battle, both as a soldier and a Chaplain. During the early days of the Korean War, Father Kapaun ministered both spiritually and physically to his fellow soldiers, particularly the sick, wounded, and dying. Captured, 2 November 1950 by North Korean-Chinese Soldiers, Father Kapaun was confined at Prison Camp #5, Pyoktong, North Korea until his death, at the hands of his captors, 23 May 1951. Granted the title of “Servant of God” by the Catholic Church, Father Kapaun is the Most Decorated Chaplain in US military history. On April 11 President Obama will award the Congressional Medal of Honor to Father Kapaun.Join Veterans Radio Host Bob Gould and guests: Father John Hotze, Priest and Judicial Vicar for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita; Roy Wenzl, national award-winning reporter for the Wichita Eagle; and co-author of The Miracle of Father Kapaun, William “Bill” Funchess, soldier and fellow POW who was THERE at Camp 5 all together to honor a great humanitarian.Learn more about author William “Bill” Funchess.

Major General Patrick Henry Brady / Dead Men FlyingOur guest this week on Veterans Radio is Major General Patrick Henry Brady, who spent over 34 years in the Army serving across the world. He is one of America’s most decorated veterans.While in Vietnam, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for a series of rescues during which he used 3 helicopters to rescue over 60 wounded. At the end of the day, his aircraft had over 400 holes in it from enemy fire and mines. Serving two tours in Vietnam, he flew over 2,500 combat missions and rescued approximately 5,000 wounded personnel.Maj. Gen. Patrick Henry Brady is the only living Vietnam Army veteran to hold both the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross, our nation’s second-highest award. His other awards include two Distinguished Service Medals, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, six Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, one for valor, the Purple Heart, and 53 Air Medals, one for valor. He is a member of both the Army Aviation and Dust Off Halls of Fame.He recently published a book, “Dead Men Flying,” with his daughter, Meghan, a veteran of the war in Iraq. The book covers his experiences with the origin and execution of Aero Medical evacuation in Vietnam, known as Dust Off, the greatest battlefield lifesaver in history.Don’t miss Major General Patrick Henry Brady’s interview this week on Veterans Radio!

AT EASE!“At Ease” Goes Nautical on April 28, piping aboard distinguished authors Craig L. Symonds and Larry Bond who will discuss their books The Battle of Midway and Exit Plan, and more. AT EASE is hosted by award-winning author and newest member of the Veterans Radio Crew Dwight Jon Zimmerman.

“An American soldier dies every day and a half, on average, in Iraq or Afghanistan. Veterans kill themselves at a rate of one every 80 minutes. More than 6500 veteran suicides are logged every year-more than the total number of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq combined since those wars began.” – New York Times (April 15, 2012)The Department of Veterans Affairs is increasing its mental health employee staff by roughly 1,900.“VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced the plan Thursday, saying the government must make sure all veterans have adequate access to health care.”The department plans to add about 1,600 clinicians and about 300 support staff to an existing mental health staff of roughly 20,590. The department says it’ll begin recruiting immediately”. Military.com 19 April 2012.Join us this week on Veterans Radio as we discuss this continuing problem with our returning troops. Our guests include: Eric C Amberg, Ph.d, who practices neuropsychology in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For 12 years, he treated traumatized veterans at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital. Now, alarmed at the growing numbers, Dr. Amberg has an especially strong interest in suicide intervention. We also have Jerry Yellin, World War II fighter pilot who fought his own demons for over 30 years until he learned Transcendental Meditation. It changed his life.“We have thousands of young veterans coming back from war today suffering from what I suffered and now known as PTSD. It is important for me that they do not wander for a good portion of their lives as I did. TM is available to all veterans and their families through Operation Warrior Wellness”.

Our featured guest is author Maria GoodavageIn her new book, Soldier Dogs: The Untold Story of America’s Canine Heroes (Dutton Penguin), Maria Goodavage opens up a whole new world for dog lovers in her intrepidly reported, richly illustrated, heartwarming account of the dogs who play an increasingly vital role in our military efforts.“[A] highly recommended book if you have the slightest interest in military working dogs. A must read—I say again must read—book if you have ever served anywhere they’ve had paws on the ground. I’m not sure who to thank more…Maria Goodavage for her book or Blek, Lucy, Buck, Ajax, Davy, Tina, Patrick, Fenji, Rex, Cinte, Lex, Ben, Lars, Duc and the other dogs and their handlers for helping her write it…” – David Reeder, Military​.com“The capability they bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine.” David Patraeus, Former Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan.Learn more about author Maria Goodavage.

Encore Presentation (Originally Aired 19 June 2010)This was one of our late partner, Gary Lillie’s, favourite programs. Hosted by Gary with his guests, Charles Raymond Calhoun, the captain of the Dewey, and sailor Murl Eastman, who worked below-decks. During the typhoon the captain gripped a vertical pipe that became horizontal as the ship rolled, looking between his feet at the ocean below, while down below, Eastman and his fellow crew members walked on the bulkheads (walls), as the deck became verticalTyphoon Cobra in World War II sunk three United States Destroyers, the Hull, Monaghan and Spence. It took the lives of more than 800 sailors. Only the heroics of the commanders and crew of ships such as the destroyer Dewey, which rescued men in the water despite the darkness of night and the worst typhoon to ever hit a fleet. The Dewey recorded possibly the lowest barometric pressure ever, 27.30 inches, and rolled close to 90 degrees, more than any other ship known to history that still recovered.

Air Force Defense Strategy Into The Next DecadeHost Bob Gould’s guest was Dr. Rebecca Grant, President of Iris Independent Research who focused on joint doctrine, airpower history and defense strategy. Dr. Grant has been a frequent guest on Veterans Radio. She discusses the past Cold War weapons like the B-52 and U-2 spy plans and the future F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the F-22 Stealth Fighter. Dr. Grant outlined the foundation of U.S. nuclear defense strategy through 2020.

Our guests today are Bob Drury, Tom Clavin, and Marine Sgt. Steve SchullerLast Men Out. The True Story of America’s Heroic Final Hours in Vietnam.In a gripping, moment-by-moment narrative based on a wealth of recently declassified documents and in-depth interviews, Bob Drury and Tom Clavin focus on the story of the eleven young Marines who were the last men to leave, rescued from the Embassy roof just moments before capture, having voted to make an Alamo-like previous stand. As politicians in Washington struggled to put the best face on disaster and the American ambassador refused to acknowledge that the end had come and to evacuate, these courageous men held their ground and helped save thousands of lives. They and their fellow troops on the ground and in the air had no room for error as frenzy broke out in the streets and lashing rains and enemy fire began to pelt the city.Drury and Clavin gained unprecedented access to the survivors, to the declassified “After-Action reports” of the operation, and to the transmissions among helicopter pilots, their officers, and officials in Saigon secretly recorded by the National Security Agency. They deliver a taut and stirring account of a turning point in American history which unfolds with the heart-stopping urgency of the best thrillers—a riveting true story finally told, in full, by those who lived it.Join host Dale Throneberry and authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, and Marine Sgt Steve Schuller this week on Veterans Radio. You don’t want to miss this amazing and true story of the courage, nobility and discipline of a small group of Marines during the last days of the Vietnam War.Learn more about Bob Drury and Tom Clavin’s “Last Men Out”

Humor in war. If you laugh, you were there.People who have been to war have all experienced it. Get back home, tell a hilarious story about something over there, and…people just stare at you. Okay, so they have not been there and have no idea what makes the story funny – especially when the story is about danger. Well, on Veterans Radio, we and our listeners who have been there are going to tell each other the stories—because we know why they are funny! Hosted by Gary Lillie.

Today’s broadcast is a replay of Sgt. David Hack’s interview with Gary Lillie. The beginning of the show is live with with Bob Gould’s interview with US Wings VP of Sales and Marketing, Bob Kruty. Followed by the March 5th program with Gary Lillie’s interview of Sgt. Hack.

Our first guest is author LTC Gene Boyer to discuss his book, INSIDE THE PRESIDENT'S HELICOPTERInside The President’s Helicopter takes the reader on an incredible journey through America’s most controversial wars and presidential administrations–a real backstage view of the men and events that shaped world history, and Boyer was the fly on the wall.” — Ken Sewell, NYT bestselling author“If not for Boyer’s headstrong determination, the history of the Army’s Executive Flight Detachment and the prominent role it played at the White House might have been lost forever. –CW4 Carl Burhanan, first black aviator to fly for the White House, Gene Boyer provides ten years of closely held information on the comings and goings of three sitting, one future, and two former U.S. presidents as well as national leaders worldwide.” –Colonel Bill Golden, Army aide to President Nixon.“Here is a story of high adventure, courage, and history-making moments. On one level, it is the saga of an Army veteran of Korea and Vietnam, and it is a very human close-up look at the U.S. Presidency.” –Julie Nixon Eisenhower“Sit down, buckle up, and get ready for an unforgettable ride! INSIDE THE PRESIDENT’S HELICOPTER is filled with stories never told by the media.” –Flint Whitlock, editor of WWII QuarterlyFrom Korea to Vietnam to flying Presidents around the world, LTC Boyer’s passengers have included sitting Presidents, Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford, and future President Reagan, 55 Heads of State, and many more. You don’t want to miss program with LTC Gene Boyer and Dale Throneberry.Learn more about Author LTC Gene Boyer.

As early as 1839, Captain Charles Wilkes led the first U.S. Naval expedition into Antarctic waters. In 1929, Admiral Richard E. Byrd established a naval base at Little America I; led an expedition to explore further inland, and conducted the first flight over the South Pole. From 1934–35, the Second Byrd Expedition explored much further inland and also “wintered over.” The third Byrd Expedition, in 1940, charted the Ross Sea.After World War II, from 1946–1947, the Navy’s Operation Highjump charted most of the Antarctic coastline. In 1955-1956, Operation Deep Freeze I established a permanent research station, which has been manned ever since to conduct scientific research.But, what is it like to live in the Antarctic in summer…and then winter over? Is it possible to go swimming on the glacier in nothing but a swimsuit? Join Host Gary Lillie and hear from his two guests, former Seabees, as they share the humor and drama of serving our country down at the bottom.

Agent Orange, the gift that keeps on giving!Operation Ranch Hand was the code name of the Air Force Agent Orange spraying missions in Vietnam. Aircrews assigned to spray the defolient used a sardonic motto: “Only you can prevent forests”. But there were four other agents sprayed depending on what foliage or crop was to be destroyed. Host Gary Lillie and former Ranch Hand crew member Jack McManus talk about his job and other things we never knew about the defolients used in Vietnam and the legacy left behind, not only for American G.I.s, but for the Vietnamese people as well.

Tear In The Desert with Father Ron Moses Camarda.Don’t miss this powerful story of Navy Chaplain Father Ron Moses Camarda and his tour of duty at the Surgical Hospital in Fallujah, Iraq, during late 2004. He shares firsthand experiences from the Battle of Fallujah, where he ministered to more than 1,500 casualties and 81 fallen service members, including 12 who died in front of him. His unwavering faith and compassion extended to everyone he encountered—friend or foe alike—making his story a true inspiration.Tune in as Father Ron joins host Dale Throneberry to share the unforgettable people and moments from his time serving in Iraq.

Left For DeadIt was almost 21:00 hours on 29 January 1968, the night before the “Tet Offensive,” when Wendell Skinner’s helicopter crashed in Cambodia attempting to extract a Special Forces Long Range Patrol Team that had come in contact with a large force of Viet Cong and NVA. The LZ was a burned-out area in the jungle that was covered with ashes. As the helicopter made its approach, the ashes flew up around the aircraft, blinding the pilot, and he made a hard landing, resulting in the pilot being thrown through the windshield, still strapped in his seat, almost tearing his arm off. The co-pilot and door gunner were thrown against the dashboard and suffered broken bones.Skinner was thrown under the Huey as it rolled over and started to burn. Thinking Skinner was dead, another Huey picked up the wounded crew and the SF Team and left the area, leaving Skinner. Major Earl Carson, CO of the 195th Assault Helicopter Company, was awakened shortly after midnight and told of the crash and the loss of Skinner. Carlson was outraged.”You don’t leave a soldier, dead or alive, behind.” He had never lost a man under his command. He gathered a crew together and went to find Skinner. “I was just doing what a commanding officer is supposed to do.” Hosted by Dale Throneberry.

Jonathan Myer / Forward Air ControllersJoin host Gary Lillie and guest Jonathon Myer, an O-1E “Bird Dog” pilot who flew low and slow over the jungles, spotting and marking targets, while dodging anti-aircraft fire.One FAC pilot, Captain Hilliard A. Wilbanks, USAF, a friend of our guest, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for what he did to save an ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) company from annihilation by an NVA (North Vietnamese Army) ambush. We will hear that story and others.“Pink Elephant Polka” tells the story of the day our guest spotted two pink elephants on a jungle trail. When he made his report he was warned of the dangers of the bottle. There really is an explanation for what he saw.

A Legacy of Two FathersJerry Yellin is an author and member of the Military Writers Society of America. Born in Newark, New Jersey on February 15, 1924, he graduated from high school in 1941 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps on his 18th birthday. After training at Luke Field, he became a fighter pilot in August 1943 and went on to serve in the Pacific Theater, including combat missions over Iwo Jima with the 78th Fighter Squadron. Yellin flew in the first land-based fighter mission over Japan on April 7, 1945, and also participated in the final mission of the war on August 14, 1945. For his service, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and he was discharged as a Captain in December 1945.In Of War & Weddings: A Legacy of Two Fathers, Yellin shares not only his wartime experiences but also a moving story of reconciliation. The book follows two former military pilots—one Japanese and one American—who carry the scars and prejudices of war until the marriage of their children brings their families together. Through that bond, both fathers learn to confront the past, find peace, and let go of long-held hatred.This episode also features the announcement of the 2009 Military Writers Society of America award nominees. Join host Dale Throneberry, along with MWSOA President Joyce Faulkner, Founder Bill McDonald, and Chief Reviewer Rob Ballister, as they reveal this year’s nominees and announce the winners of the 2009 Founder’s Award and 2009 President’s Award, with full award results to be shared on the September 12th program.

The GI Bill, Then and Now.Formally known as the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, it was far from an obvious, straightforward piece of legislation, but resulted from tense political maneuvering and complex negotiations. Unlikely coalitions emerged to shape and pass the bill, bringing together both New Deal Democrats and conservatives who had vehemently opposed Roosevelt’s social-welfare agenda. For the first time in American history, returning soldiers were not only supported, but enabled to pursue success—a revolution in America’s policy towards its veterans.Once enacted, the G.I. Bill had far-reaching consequences. By providing job training, unemployment compensation, housing loans, and tuition assistance, it allowed millions of Americans to fulfill long-held dreams of social mobility, reshaping the national landscape. The huge influx of veterans and federal money transformed the modern university and the surge in single home ownership vastly expanded America’s suburbs.”Anyone who has doubts about what government ‘can do’ should read this book. It provides a detailed example of the successes that were achieved when government ‘did.’”–The American ChronicleJoin host Dale Throneberry and author Glenn Altschuler as they talk about the history and importance of the original GI Bill and the new Post 9/11 GI Bill.Learn more about the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Medal of Honor Recipient Sammy L. DavisHost Gary Lillie interviews Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L. Davis, who shares the gripping story of his extraordinary heroism during a brutal Viet Cong attack on a remote fire support base in Vietnam. Under intense mortar fire and a ground assault that closed in within yards of friendly positions, Davis fought back with relentless courage—manning a machine gun, firing a burning howitzer repeatedly despite being knocked down and wounded, and refusing to give up as the battle raged around him. Even after sustaining painful injuries, he risked his life again by crossing a deep river to rescue wounded comrades and provide cover as he brought them to safety. Davis’ actions reflect the very highest traditions of military service and stand as a powerful example of bravery, sacrifice, and devotion to fellow soldiers.

Jon Voight—From Vietnam War Protester to Vietnam Veteran PromoterCongress has declared March 29 of each year as National Vietnam Veterans Day. This year it falls on a Monday, so actor Jon Voight is spearheading a national movement to recognize Vietnam Veterans in a nationwide celebration on March 28, 2010.Jon Voight won an Academy Award for portraying a paraplegic Vietnam Veteran in the film Coming Home (1978), a film portraying the best and worst of Vietnam Veterans; the worst being Hollywood’s stereotypical image of the Vietnam Veteran and the War itself. It has been said that Jon Voight believed in that stereotype. In a speech at the Vietnam Veterans of America convention in 2009, Voight expressed his regrets for those days and his admiration of those he now calls warriors.Join host Gary Lillie and guest Jon Voight to hear Voight’s call to action for a national party on March 29, 2010 —along with his reflections on the past and present.