Veterans Radio

Navy Capt. John Cordle and LCDR Reuben Keith Green, both retired, talk with Veterans Radio host Jim Fausone. They discuss the lack of African-American nominations to the U.S. Naval academy, the importance of officer diversity, and more Black ensigns graduating from the academy so that 30 yrs later there will be more Black Admirals.

This week we talk with author Tom Williams about his new book, “Doorsteps of Hell”Lt. Col. Tom Williams, USMC Veteran and author, joins us to talk about the first part of his series “Heart of a Marine,” a book titled “Doorsteps of Hell.”“Doorsteps of Hell focuses on Tom’s service during his first tour of duty in the Vietnam War, 1969 – 1970 as an infantry platoon commander then later, a recon platoon commander. It is an enthralling account of what really took place on the battlefield. The hardships, the misery, the deprivation of amenities, the perils, the bloodshed, but more importantly the lessons learned.” We also learn about Elder Warriors, a healing experience for VeteransWe’re joined by Michael Patrick Brewer and Peter Sternberg, who serve on the Board of Directors for Elder Warriors. This organization provides a guided journey of reckoning and reconciliation between Veterans and civilians for healing associated with PTSD.

(Previously Aired on 8/27/2019) The battle at Tam Ky and Nui Yon Hill in Vietnam on May 13-15, 1969 is retold by the surviving medic Jim "Doc" McCloughan. His rescue of the wounded is recounted as are other battlefield acts of bravery. He explains also to host Jim Fausone the 47-year odyssey after the battle to upgrade his Bronze Star "V" to a Distinguished Service Cross but ultimately elevated to the Medal of Honor. His Lieutenant never let this issue go and it took over 6 years to get all the necessary signatures and work through the Army boards. McCloughan made a deal with God that if he survived he would tell his Dad he loved him, and be the best coach, father, and husband possible. He honored that deal as he explains in this candid interview. Jim McCloughan is an honest, direct, and humble guy.

The USS Stennis is named after a Mississippi Senator John Stennis (1901-1995) who was an avowed segregationist and racist. Navy veterans Capt. John Cordle and LCdr R Keith Green, both retired, talk about Stennis, his history and the afront it is to still have an aircraft carrier named after him.

In a program originally aired on January 24, 2016, host Dale Throneberry speaks with Douglas Bradley, US Army Veteran and author. Bradley has written three books, including “We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War” which Rolling Stone magazine named “the best music book of 2015.” Visit the original program page to learn more about the episode. Today is also our annual fundraiser, Radio on the River!Visit www.givebutter.com/rotr2024 for event information and tickets. Join us for an afternoon with Doug Bradley and supporting the future of Veterans Radio!

(Previously Aired on 5/25/2017) Fr. Vincent Capodanno, known as Grunt Padre, died in a firefight in Vietnam. His heroic service to others resulted in his being awarded the Medal of Honor and being advanced for Canonization in the Catholic Church. Listen to George Phillips, Marine Corps, tell of his personal experience with the Grunt Padre, and recount Fr. Vincent's life.

US Marine Corps Colonel Jason K. Fettig (ret) was the 28th Director of the "The President's Own" USMC Band. He talks with Veterans Radio host Jim Fausone about his career, famous composer John Philip Sousa, tradition, and music in the military.

Listen this week for a program from the archives: Army Flight Training with two former US Army Pilots!In a program originally aired on April 18, 2021, former Army aviators Kate Melcher, an AH 64D-Apache Longbow Attack Helicopter, and Phil Marshall, a Medivac Pilot in Vietnam, talk with Dale about their experiences during flight training right up to the day they soloed. Read more about the program on the original program’s page.We also have our monthly NVBCD Highlight, featuring Todd McCrackenTodd McCracken is the President and CEO of the National Small Business Association (NSBA). Todd was featured as the keynote speaker at the 8th Annual “Doing Business with the Federal Reserve and Corporate America” Conference hosted by the National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC). The NSBA is a nonpartisan organization that advocates on behalf of America’s entrepreneurs. As the nation’s first small-business advocacy organization, NSBA is dedicated to promoting the interests of small businesses and developing economic opportunities for growth.

Veterans Radio has a partnership with the Literature of War Foundation to exchange podcast content to reach a wider audience. This week, Marine Corps veteran and author Mac Caltrider sits down with the LitWar Podcast to discuss his memoir DOUBLE KNOT: A War Memoir in Seven Essays. It approaches his time in service as an infantryman, but the moments he chooses to write about might surprise you. He covers his experiences in combat but also the quieter moments and everything that comes after.MAC CALTRIDER is a Baltimore-based writer and educator. His award-winning work has previously appeared in Coffee or Die Magazine, Leatherneck Magazine, Dirtbag Magazine, and a poetry collection In Love... & War: The Anthology of Poet Warriors. Before pursuing writing, Caltrider served in the United States Marine Corps. Learn more about our Platoon Book Club Initiative in which we are funding and facilitating platoon-sized book clubs for active duty and reserve platoons in every branch of the military.

Jim Fausone talks to Phillip Fry of the All About Pigeons podcast about the use of pigeons to communicate in World War I and in particular about Cher Ami and her mission to help the Lost Battalion.

(Previously Aired on 5/25/2017) "Delay, Deny, Hope You Die" is a new Burn Pits documentary produced by Greg Lovett. It tells the story of military contractor KBR's use of hundreds of giant waste burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan which poisoned soldiers with toxic fumes. Greg discusses with host Jim Fausone what is now being denied by DoD, KBR, and VA.

Army veteran Pazzella Colton Bonner tells her story of service, struggling to get VA benefits and turning into an advocate for homeless veterans to host Jim Fausone.

We’ll also learn about the Veterans Bridge Home buddy program:Host Dale Throneberry talks with Nicole French, Clinical Director for Veterans Bridge Home (VBH). VBH is a non-profit organization that connects veterans and their families, in any state of transition, to the community, and has a unique program that pairs veterans receiving services through them with a “buddy.” The buddies are veterans who have received basic mental health training that can be there for their friends and are equipped to know the difference between a bad day and a situation that requires more professional help.GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL!Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans RadioBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help for VeteransDavid Saims – Director, Washtenaw County Veterans Affairs

(Previously Aired on 9/12/2017) Army veteran Andrew Wilson talks about the advantages of veterans owning a franchise business with host Jim Fausone. Wilson owns a " You Move Me" franchise in Oklahoma. He offers to mentor veterans looking to go into business.

Army Ranger/Green Beret Jason Van Camp talks about Warrior Rising's mission to assist veterans start their own businesses. He explains to host Jim Fausone the Warrior Academy, a free on line course, and the other offerings of Warrior Rising.

This week we feature a program from the archives, “Medal of Honor Heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan”Host Dale Throneberry talks with James Kitfield, author of “In the Company of Heroes: The Inspiring Stories of Medal of Honor Recipients from America’s Longest Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.“An award-winning military journalist tells the amazing stories of 22 soldiers who’ve won the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award.In the Company of Heroes will feature in-depth narrative profiles of the 23 post-9/11 Medal of Honor awardees who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. This book will focus on the stories of these extraordinary people, expressed in their own voices through one-on-one interviews, and in the case of posthumous awards, through interviews with their brothers-in-arms and their families. The public affairs offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the individual armed services, as well as the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, have expressed their support for this project.Stories include Marine Corps Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter, who purposely lunged toward a Taliban hand grenade in order to shield his buddy from the blast; Navy SEAL team leader Britt Slabinski, who, after being ambushed and retreating in the Hindu Kush, returned against monumental odds in order to try to save one of his team who was inadvertently lost in the fight; and Ranger Staff Sergeant Leroy Petry, who lunged for a live grenade, threw it back at the enemy, and saved his two Ranger brothers.Book description and image from Amazon.com. Episode originally aired in on October 17, 2021.

(Previously Aired on 6/8/2016) Dr. Juan Quintana is a USAF Reserves veteran and President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Dr. Quintana holds a Doctorate from Texas Christian University (TCU) and a Master's degree from Texas Wesleyan University. He talks about his time in the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland Air Force Base with host Jim Fausone.

Dr LaMarre is the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry at the VA. She discusses with host Jim Fausone the qualifications for dental services from VA, the availability of services , the 5.5 million annual procedures and the VA dental insurance program.

Tune in for an interview with Charles Lachman, author of “Codename Nemo”Host Dale Throneberry talks with Charles Lachman, author of “Codename Nemo: The Hunt for a Nazi U-Boat and the Elusive Enigma Machine.”On June 4, 1944—two days before D-Day—the course of World War II was forever changed. That day, a US Navy task force achieved the impossible—capturing a German U-Boat, its crew, all its technology, Nazi encryption codes, and an Enigma cipher machine. Led by a nine-man boarding party and the maverick Captain Daniel Gallery, US antisubmarine Task Group 22.3’s capture of U-505 in what was called Operation Nemo was the first seizure of an enemy ship in battle since the War of 1812, one of the greatest achievements of the US Navy, and a victory that shortened the duration of the war.Charles Lachman’s white-knuckled war saga and thrilling cat-and-mouse game is told through the eyes of the men on both sides of Operation Nemo—German U-Boaters and American heroes like Lieutenant Albert David (“Mustang”), who led the boarding party that took control of U-505 and became the only sailor to be awarded the Medal of Honor in the Battle of the Atlantic; and Chief Motor Machinist Zenon Lukosius (“Zeke”), a Lithuanian immigrant’s son from Chicago who dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy and whose quick thinking saved the day when he plugged a hole of gushing water that was threatening to sink U-505.Three thousand American sailors participated in this extraordinary adventure; nine ordinary American men channeling extraordinary skill and bravery finished the job; and then—like everyone involved—breathed not a word of it until after the war was over. Nothing leaked out. In Berlin, the German Kriegsmarine assumed that U-505 had been blown to bits by depth charges, with all hands lost at sea. They were unaware that the U-Boat and its secrets, to be used in cracking Nazi coded messages, were now in American hands. They were also unaware that the 59 German sailors captured on the high seas were imprisoned in a POW camp in Ruston, Louisiana, until their release in 1946 when they were permitted to return home to family and friends who thought they had perished.We also feature an interview with leadership from the Wounded Warrior Project to recognize National Nonprofit Day.

As National Nonprofit Day approaches (Aug. 17), it’s important to recognize the powerful role business-nonprofit partnerships can play in changing and saving lives in our community. Wounded Warrior Project partners with organizations across the country to expand reach, enhance programs, and improve advocacy efforts for post-9/11 injured veterans and their families. In return, the organization provides companies with a way to support their communities, involve their employees, and make an impact in the lives of wounded, ill, and injured veterans.

Veterans Radio has a partnership with the Literature of War Foundation to exchange podcast content to reach a wider audience. This week, Army Ranger, editor, and author Marty Skovlund, Jr., sits down with the LitWar Podcast to discuss his book, SEND ME. It tells the powerful story of Shannon Kent, a Cryptologic Technician who rose to the apex of the military as an intelligence operative in elite special operations units. She spent a career hunting the world's most ruthless terrorists while navigating a multitude of other roles and challenges. It is a story that will resonate with future generations of servicemen and women.MARTY SKOVLUND, JR. is the editor-in-chief of Task & Purpose, a military news and cultural publication. He is a former Army Ranger and an experienced conflict reporter who has reported on assignments from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine in addition to embedding with the U.S. military around the world.Learn more about our Platoon Book Club Initiative in which we are funding and facilitating platoon-sized book clubs for active duty and reserve platoons in every branch of the military.

Dr. Mark Moyar has written books on military history involving Vietnam, special operations, counterinsurgency and recently "Masters of Corruption". He is a professor at Hillsdale College and heads it Center for Military History and Strategy. He talks to host Jim Fausone about lessons learned .

This week we talk with two authors and Veterans of the War in Afghanistan.Staff Sergeant Travis Harman, U.S. Army Pennsylvania National Guard (medically retired), writes about going to war with his father. Travis was in Afghanistan while his dad, Dean, was in Iraq. Travis explains to host Jim Fausone the life at Outpost Nigel and discusses his book “Remote Outpost: Fighting with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.”Staff Sergeant Mikael Cook, U.S. Army (ret.) writes about the fall of Afghanistan and the Operation to Save our Afghan allies in “Life and Death at Abbey Gate: The Fall of Afghanistan and the Operation to Save our Allies.” He tells host Jim Fausone about the failure of American policy and the ‘Digital Dunkirk’ efforts of many to try to get a few more Afghan allies and families out.

(Previously Aired on 2/18/2020) Jocko Willink is a retired Navy SEAL commander. He spent 20 years as an enlisted man and officer. He shares lessons of leadership the SEAL team experiences taught him with host Jim Fausone. Jocko has written a new leadership field manual with instructions in simple, clear, step-by-step language to help soldiers complete their mission. In the civilian sector, books offer information on everything from fixing a leaky faucet to developing an effective workout program to cooking a good steak. He's co-authored other books, including "Extreme Ownership" and "The Dichotomy of Leadership". But "Leadership Strategy and Tactics" is the first leadership field manual with a direct and situational how-to guide anyone can instantly put to use. It explains how to take leadership theory, quickly translate that theory into applicable strategy, and then put leadership into action at a tactical level. This book is the solution that leaders at every level need, not just to understand the leadership game, but also how to play the leadership game, and win it.

Jim Cowper has had a long career in placing temporary technical talent in jobs for major companies. He explains up to 15% of the workforce is in "temporary" slots which provides companies and individuals with flexibility and great pay. He talks about the value of NVBDC with host Jim Fausone and about why veterans should look at such positions.

GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL!Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans RadioBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help for VeteransDavid Saims – Director, Washtenaw County Veterans AffairsChris Arbino – Assistant Communications Director, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare SystemMike Cox – Attorney, Former MI Attorney General, USMC VeteranTopics include; Camp Lejeune Deadline, Pact Act Deadline, Survivors benefits, Burn Pit Registry, and much more. DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER GIVEN. THIS PROGRAM WAS RECORDED ON 4 August 2024

(Previously Aired on 3/23/2021) We talk to James Carl Nelson, author of "The York Patrol - The Real Story of Alvin York and the Unsung Heroes Who Made Him World War I's Most Famous Soldier." York grew up in the backwoods of Tennessee. After being a hell-raiser in his teens, he found his way to a fundamentalist Christian church. When drafted in World War I, he struggled to take arms with the commandment "Thou Shall Not Kill." He did his duty and found himself in a bloody offensive in the Argonne Forest in October 1918. His platoon leadership was decimated, and he found himself in charge. They captured roughly 130 Germans after a harrowing firefight. This is a story of the other men and what Sgt. Alvin York went through for the rest of his life. He became the poster boy of WWI, with books and movies were made of his efforts. Gary Cooper starred in "Sergeant York" a blockbuster biopic in 1941 when the country needed a shot in the patriotic arm while heading into WWII. Listen to James Carl Nelson tell his story to host Jim Fausone.

August 10, 2024 is the last date to file toxic water contamination claims for Marines, families , civilians that spent time at Camp LeJeune from 8/1953 to 12/1987. Attorney Mike Cox, a Marine, explains the deadline and who can file. He tells host Jim Fausone about the toxic chemicals in the water and health conditions covered .

Staff Sergeant Travis Harman, U.S. Army Pennsylvania National Guard (medically retired), writes about going to war with his father. Travis was in Afghanistan while dad, Dean, was in Iraq. Travis explains to host Jim Fausone the life at Outpost Nigel and his book "Remote Outpost - Fighting with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan."

This week we hear the incredible story of Father Philip Salois, Vietnam Veteran and Silver Star recipient.In this episode, host Dale Throneberry speaks with Fr. Phil, as well as the two authors of the book that tells his tale. In the Shadows of Vietnam: The Gallant Life of Fr. Philip Salois, written by Julien Ayotte and Paul F. Caranci, is the true story of Fr. Phil’s experience in Vietnam and his lifelong dedication to fellow servicemen. From the book’s description: In 1970, an infantryman and his platoon encountered a horseshoe-shaped ambush in the jungles of Vietnam.Six members of the young soldier’s unit were trapped behind enemy lines, facing no chance for survival if rescue were not imminent. Twenty-one-year-old Specialist 4 Philip Salois and a fellow grunt were determined to save their six comrades. Before crawling out into the line of fire, Phil asked God to protect him and see him through this ordeal unharmed in return for a promise to do anything wanted of him afterwards. It is a promise that many men about to do battle make, but few keep.Four years later, while attending a Catholic seminary in California, this Rhode Island native heard an inner voice reminding him of the promise he had made, and informing him of what God had planned for his life. Fourteen years after the ambush and rescue, that young soldier became Fr. Philip Salois, a Catholic priest about to embark on a new charge. This time, the mission was to rescue veterans who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by the horrors of their deployment in Vietnam.Over nearly forty years, Fr. Phil brought spiritual healing to countless troubled veterans, from infantrymen to chaplains alike, in his role as the Chief of Chaplains in the Boston VA Healthcare System, and in numerous retreats and conferences that he organized all over the U.S.This is the awe-inspiring true story of the life of a gentle giant, a man who received the Silver Star for his acts of valor in Vietnam, and a man who has merited the highest distinction for his service, from veterans’ organizations to religious and civic groups alike.

(Previously Aired on 10/13/2020) LCDR Reuben Keith Green (ret.) from Florida talks about his book "Black Officer, White Navy" (2017). It is likely the first memoir of a Black naval officer who rose from high school dropout to unrestricted line officer in the post-Vietnam War era. Reuben's unique career path/insightful analysis of personal experiences and others give a clear picture of what was happening in the service. Including how the forces of discrimination, institutional denial, and damage control efforts can make a career in the military fraught with obstacles. But there are also opportunities for well-qualified minorities of any gender, race, or ethnic origin. Reuben talks about what it was like being a minority sailor or officer between 1975 and the mid-1990s. Great opportunities and great challenges are explained and explored by LCDR Green with the host Jim Fausone.

Staff Sergeant Mikael Cook, U.S. Army (ret.) writes about the fall of Afghanistan and the Operation to Save our Afghan allies in "Life and Death at Abbey Gate". He tells host Jim Fausone about the failure of American policy, the #DigitalDunkirk efforts of many to try to get a few more Afghan allies and families out. Cook tells a candid story that should cause shame and reflection by the policy makers.

This week we share an interview from VVA Veteran “Dispatches” series, hosted by Marc Leepson.Marc Leepson interviewed author Kristin Hannah about “The Women,” her new novel, which shot to the top of all the bestseller lists when it came out February 6 and has remained there ever since. It’s the compelling story of a young woman who joins the Army Nurse Corps at twenty and within months finds herself in just about the worst that war can offer in an evac hospital in South Vietnam—as well as what she faced after coming home from the war. The full interview can also be found on the archive.In this episode, Vietnam War veteran Diane Carlson Evans, who served as a U.S. Army nurse in Vietnam and later was the driving force behind the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, discusses her intense tour of duty; her adjustment problems after she came home; the amazing story of her successful fight to have a memorial to the American women who served in the Vietnam War installed on the National Mall in our Nation’s Capital; and much more.For the full interview, visit the VVA Veteran Dispatches Archive. We thank VVA Veteran Dispatches for sharing these interviews for our Veterans Radio audience!Jim Fausone talks with Jim Cowper of the NVBDC for our monthly NVBDC Council Highlight.

(Previously Aired on 11/10/2020) Col. Clifford Worthy, the great-grandson of slaves, was one of the first African-American men of his generation to be accepted and excel as a Black Knight of the Hudson, a traditional nickname for West Point cadets. In the late 1940s, the doors to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point were closed to most young African-American men. The few who had attended before were subjected to relentless abuse and few survived. Worthy took the chance of reaching out to U.S. Rep. John Dingell Sr., who had been a proud part of the New Deal in Washington, D.C., and was ready to unlock closed doors.Col. Clifford Worthy’s commitment to faith, family, and service included his loving support of his son Mark, who was born with developmental disabilities at a time when they were not widely understood. That part of this memoir is already inspiring readers who share the journey of loved ones living with disabilities. Cliff talks to host Jim Fausone about life over 5 decades and the lessons he has learned.

Veterans Radio has a partnership with the Literature of War Foundation to exchange podcast content to reach a wider audience. This week, New York Times best-selling author Sebastian Junger sits down with the LitWar Podcast to discuss his thoughts on death, the healing power of having a stage with an audience that is willing to listen, and his new book, In My Time of Dying.SEBASTIAN JUNGER is the New York Times bestselling author of Tribe, War, Freedom, A Death in Belmont, Fire, and The Perfect Storm, and co-director of the documentary film Restrepo, which was nominated for an Academy Award. He is also the winner of a Peabody Award and the National Magazine Award for Reporting.Learn more about our Platoon Book Club Initiative in which we are funding and facilitating platoon-sized book clubs for active duty and reserve platoons in every branch of the military.

Army Veteran Mark Kelm suffers from Parkinson's Disease, and John Lehr is CEO of the Parkinson's Foundation. Both talk with host Jim Fausone about the disease, veterans who have it from Agent Orange exposure, TBI, or other environmental pathways. Kelm talks about living well with Parkinson's and Lehr discusses resources available at the Parkinson's Foundation.

Join host Jim Fausone and our two guests for an episode on the Air Force and Navy fleet condition and effects on National Security.We hear from Heather “Lucky” Penney, former F-16 pilot and a Senior Resident Fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Penney talks about the aging air frames and needs of the Air Force. Jim also talks with VADM Kevin Green (USN, ret) about Naval fleet readiness. Our guests discuss how fleet readiness impacts National Security.

(Previously Aired on 10/5/2020) Another 22 Helicopter Rescue missions from the Vietnam War as told by the very youthful aircrews who flew those missions in their wondrous machines. All stories are told with no holds barred. Climb into the aircraft with them and re-live their “adventures”! Phil Marshall was a 21-year-old Warrant Officer in Vietnam as a Huey Dustoff pilot. In November of 1969, he was wounded on an insecure night rescue of 3 seriously wounded soldiers. Marshall’s ever-growing series of Vietnam Helicopter Rescues documents the helicopter rescue missions that were flown by very youthful crews. The stories are all told by the men who flew the missions and are not embellished. They are as true as they can be remembered; a truly amazing series of missions flown by very humble men doing uncommon things.

Author Michel Paradis offers a fresh look into General Dwight D. Eisenhower in "The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower". Paradis' research shines as he discusses Ike's relationships with Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Thurgood Marshall, Omar Bradley, James H. Doolittle, etc. He talks with host Jim Fausone about how he faced adversity, dealt with ethical issues on race & chemical weapons, and carried the pressures of D-Day.

Guests this week include two service nursesBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone USAF (ret) – Legal Help for VeteransLt. Col. Sandie Wilson USA (ret) – Director at Large, Vietnam Veterans of America and Chair of the VVA National Agent Orange and Toxic Exposure Committee. Topics covered in today program included:More presumptive conditions covered by the PACT ACT.Deadline for filing for benefits from Camp Lejeune-August 10th, 2024Effects of Toxic Exposure on Veteran's OffspringAnd much more.The song at the end of the program is God Bless America and America the Beautiful performed by Brothers of the Heart

(Previously Aired on 10/20/2020): Captain John L. Kaul (ret) served as a full-time Navy Catholic chaplain for 26 years. He spent time with Marines, Admirals, and other chaplains of all faiths. Fr. Kaul was born in Wyandotte and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township. He also attended Mercy College in Detroit. He was ordained on May 24, 1975, at St. Joseph Church in Wyandotte. After 7 years of parish ministry, he was allowed to join the Navy full-time. Twice he was stationed as a chaplain at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Upon retirement he worked for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, Fr. Kaul has worked to facilitate contracts and faculties for priests serving the military on a non-active-duty basis and a short time as vocations director. Fr. Kaul has earned several honors and recognitions for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal twice, the Navy Commendation Medal four times, the Overseas Deployment Ribbon four times, and the Joint Service Achievement Medal. He talks about his career and the needs of chaplains with host Jim Fausone.

Army veteran Steve White talks about ROTC, six years of military service, and a 30-year career in franchising for multiple companies. Steve is now President of PuroClean USA a disaster restoration company that is veteran-friendly. Steve talks with host Jim Fausone about what he learned in the military that applies to business today.

What are ethics? What is morality? How can one behave in a moral manner? These are among the most difficult and most interesting questions that face people of any age. What defines a “Warrior” today? We explore these important questions with our guest, Dr. Shannon E. French, (then) Assoc. Prof. Associate Chair, Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at the United States Naval Academy and author of The Code of the Warrior. More info on the book can be found here. About the book:Warrior cultures throughout history have developed unique codes that restrict their behavior and set them apart from the rest of society. But what possible reason could a warrior have for accepting such restraints? Why should those whose profession can force them into hellish kill-or-be-killed conditions care about such lofty concepts as honor, courage, nobility, duty, and sacrifice? And why should it matter so much to the warriors themselves that they be something more than mere murderers? The Code of the Warrior tackles these timely issues and takes the reader on a tour of warrior cultures and their values, from the ancient Greeks and Romans to the Vikings and Celts, from legendary chivalric knights to Native American tribesmen, from Chinese warrior monks pursuing enlightenment to Japanese samurai practicing death. Drawing these rich traditions up to the present, the author quests for a code for the warriors of today, as they do battle in asymmetric conflicts against unconventional forces and the scourge of global terrorism.

(Previously Aired on 9/15/2020) Erica Robertson holds an MBA from the University of Michigan, worked for Accenture Consulting, then at Nike as a Change Agent. She is now a K-12 Education crusader in Metro Detroit. She wrote about her upbringing and intergenerational trauma in her book "The Adventures of a Little Black Detroit Girl". The story of an 18-year-old single mother, working two minimum-wage jobs to make ends meet.Our interview focuses on the reasons why she joined the Navy and what she got out of that service. Erica explains how it was transformational in her life and wishes more young people would consider a few years in service. Erica's now focused on education for children of color and her 501c3 "Education at Scale" and her publishing company "Little Black Girl Adventures". She has a wide-ranging discussion with host Jim Fausone.

Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Beth Kubala is now a professor at Syracuse Law School. Retired Navy Veteran Angela Hamilton earned her MBA and is now attending law school. Both join host Jim Fausone to discuss the US Supreme Court case deciding you can use both Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

We hear from Vietnam Veteran Bill Sheehan, author of “Together We Served,” and a storyteller from his book, Dan Thompson.Sheehan and Thompson served as Navy Corpsmen in the Vietnam War. Sheehan’s book is a collection of stories from combat Navy Hospital Corpsmen serving in the jungles of Vietnam. Sometimes difficult to talk about, but always heart wrenching, these stories are true and a reminder of the consequences of a war that has initiated PTS, various cancers and emotional trauma that they still battle.For more information about the book, click here. Camp Liberty MichiganCamp Liberty is a local Michigan nonprofit that provides access to outdoor recreation for Veterans and their families. They’re hosting fundraiser on June 29th, the Car & Motorcycle Show & Family Picnic with live music, lunch, and activities for all ages.

(Previously Aired on 7/15/2020) This spotlight on NVBDC-certified business is with Sid E. Taylor. The National Veteran Business Development Council is the leading Veteran-Owned Business Certification organization developed by Veterans, for Veterans. Its purpose is to provide a credible and reliable certifying authority for all sized businesses ensuring that valid documentation exists of a Veterans status, ownership and operational control. Many lucrative business opportunities are available to VOBs through Supplier Diversity programs offered at many corporations and government agencies. The total spend available from corporations to qualifying Veteran businesses is estimated to be more than $80 billion annually. Mr. Taylor is a U.S. Marine and Vietnam combat veteran. He has over 48 years of service in the Automotive Industry. Following a 22-year career with GM, Sid founded SET Enterprises, Inc. in 1989. Through his dynamic leadership, it grew into the 8th-largest African-American-owned company in the United States with revenues exceeding $500 million. An industry leader in Metal Processing Services, SET Enterprises, Inc. expanded to six locations following its acquisition of Noble Metal Forming & Processing-Midwest in 2001, and Michigan Steel Processing in 2003.These acquisitions expanded the company’s range of metal processing services to four states, servicing customers including Ford Motor Co., Chrysler, GM, Honda, Nissan, and FCA to name a few. Built on quality, service, and innovation. Sid talks to host Jim Fausone about his business career and charitable activities.

Robert Middleton talks about the Montford Point Marines history, Association and its upcoming Gala on June 23, 2024 in Livonia, Michigan, and its keynote speaker Maj. Gen. Cornell Wilson (USMC-Ret) with host Jim Fausone.

This week, following the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we’re sharing stories from the archives that remember and honor WWII veterans.First we hear an interview with Len Lomell, originally aired in 2006. SSGT Lomell was a WWII Veteran and the last survivor of the assault on Pointe-Du-Hoc.D-Day, 6 June 1944, was the largest invasion in the history of the world. Pointe-Du-Hoc was a nearly 100-meter high cliff, with perpendicular sides jutting out into the English Channel. You won’t believe the story of this incredible example of American ingenuity as we learn how this small group of Rangers was finally able to accomplish their mission despite all the SNAFUs. Join us as we talk with Len Lomell, the last survivor of the assault on Pointe-Du-Hoc. Len was a Toms River, NJ man. After the war he married and had 3 daughters while building a successful law practice. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 91. Next we hear from author and history scholar Robert Lundgren, author of “The World Wonder’d: What Really Happened off Samar,” in an interview recorded in 2015.This year marks the invasion’s 80th anniversary, and the last of the battle’s veterans are dying off, which makes honoring their sacrifice all the more important.“The battles of WWII are not only part of our immediate heritage; our success in the war is why our heritage survives today,” says Lundgren, who adds that other veterans of the war also deserve to be honored. Throughout a 10-year period, he wrote “The World Wonder’d: What Really Happened Off Samar”. In the process of writing he had to learn how to read Kanji, which, in 1944, was closer to Chinese than what is spoken today in modern Japan.“Accuracy in history matters,” he says. “Not only does it inform our current and future decisions – we also owe that integrity for those who fought for our privileges today.”Lundgren discusses more details from WWII in honor of D-Day.For the original program information, click here.

(Previously Aired on 3/24/2020) Jeffrey Copeland is a professor at the University of Northern Iowa and prolific author. He talks with host Jim Fausone about lessons the military and society should learn from COVID-19, the Spanish Flu of 1918 - its incredible death toll - and the Black Plague of 1924 in LA.