Veterans Radio

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.

Our guest today is Rick Briggs, Veterans Program DirectorJoin host Dale Throneberry and his guest, Rick Briggs, Veterans Program Director for the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, to learn about some of the challenges faced by individuals who have experienced Traumatic Brain Injuries and what is being done to help our returning veterans recover. We will also be talking with some survivors of TBI and hear their stories about how they are coping with this devastating and mostly “Invisible Wound”.

Bob Feller / Baseball Hall of Famer & WWII Navy VeteranJoin host Gary Lillie and guest Bob Feller, the only retired Navy Chief who is a member of a major sports Hall of Fame. Nicknamed “The Heater from Van Meter,” Bob Feller’s 1936 debut in the major leagues was explosive, when, as a 17-year old rookie he struck out eight St. Louis Cardinals in three innings. He struck out 15 St Louis Brown batters later that year and then 17 Philadelphia Athletics. Before he left his teens his 100-MPH fastball sent 18 Detroit Tigers back to the dugout.Feller lost 3 1/2 years in the prime of his career when, after the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he was the first major leaguer to enlist in the military. Still, by the time he retired in 1956 he had played 18 years, won 266 games, hurled 3 no-hitters, struck out 2,581 batters and earned a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Joseph Galloway (born November 13, 1941), is an American newspaper correspondent and columnist. Galloway is a native of Refugio, Texas.He is the former Military Affairs consultant for the Knight-Ridder chain of newspapers and was a columnist with McClatchy Newspapers. During the Vietnam War, Galloway worked as a reporter for UPI, beginning in early 1965. Thirty-five years later, he was decorated with the Bronze Star for helping to rescue wounded American soldiers under fire during the battle at Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley.Joe Galloway retired as a weekly columnist for McClatchy Newspapers in January 2010, writing, “I have loved being a reporter; loved it when we got it right; understood it when we got it wrong…In the end, it all comes down to the people, both those you cover and those you work for, with or alongside during 50 years.Along with Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore, Galloway co-authored a detailed account of those experiences in the best-selling 1992 book, “We Were Soldiers Once… And Young.” A sequel was released in 2008: “We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam.”

War is hell…that’s why we have the “DOC”.The grunts will tell you the “Docs” were the bravest men they ever knew, and this Saturday you will learn why. Join host Gary Lillie as he interviews Army Medic Ray Essenmacher and Navy Corpsman Rick Whitson; both of them combat ‘docs’ of the Vietnam War. Their stories will be graphic; and may wring out raw emotion. One thing is for sure; once you hear the stories they tell, you will thank every military person and veteran you meet for your freedom.Learn more about Army Medic Ray Essenmacher.

Why did warriors leave “home” to serve in the Vietnam War, but “came back” when their tour was over? Why didn’t they go “home?” Perhaps the main reason was the treatment they received from citizens who reviled our warriors, while praising those of other countries. What brought about that attitude? Did the protestors and our country hear the truth about our warriors? Join Gary Lillie as he hosts lively interviews on a very controversial subject. Did John Kerry receive funding from Jane Fonda to gather lies about our troops in Vietnam? The notarized statements he presented were entered into the Congressional Record. If they are lies, does that constitute perjury to congress? And just what is Jimmy Carter up to these days? Is he connected with Winter Soldier II? Why is his picture posted on one of their web sites?

These Scars Are Sacred, Part II. These Scars are Sacred was written to heal, and inform to give the American public some idea of what it was like to come home to a place where one was not wanted nor welcome. This story will take you from an extreme place of combat and fear, so realistic you will feel yourself there, to an ending that never finishes.Elliott Storm is a 100% combat-disabled veteran and a decorated Vietnam combat veteran who served with the 1st Marine Division. Since we last talked with Elliott, These Scars Are Sacred has been picked up by Borders and is being marketed around the World. Storm has lectured at Yale University, the Navy War College, and just about every Veterans organization in Connecticut and Rhode Island.