Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories

Sgt. Bill True enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, and served throughout World War II in a Parachute Infantry Regiment. He fought in nearly every major campaign as the Allies advanced across Europe, including the Normandy Invasion, the invasion of Holland (Operation Market Garden), and the Battle of The Bulge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we interviewed Nikolay, who’s a volunteer soldier in Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces. Shortly after the war began, his family was able to flee to the U.S., but despite having no military experience, Nikolay decided he had to stay and fight for his country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sgt. Bill Taylor is a Marine who was sent to Vietnam in 1967 as an 18-year-old. During his 13-month deployment, he narrowly escaped death on multiple occasions and was wounded three times. Every platoon commander, sergeant, and squad leader he served with was either wounded or killed. To hear more of Bill’s stories from Vietnam, read his book, On Full Automatic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For today’s episode, we want to share another update on the war in Ukraine, from a former Naval Aviator and expert in military aviation. Like our last Ukraine update, about the realities of urban warfare, this one departs from our typical Warriors In Their Own Words format. A s always, we welcome your feedback, either in an iTunes reviews, or by email at [email protected]. Ward Carroll spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an F-14 Radar Intercept Officer, retired at the rank of commander, and went on to serve as the editor of Military.com. He now hosts a popular YouTube channel on military aviation. To hear more from Ward, visit his YouTube channel, or follow him on Twitter @wardcarroll Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week’s episode, we’ve decided to air an interview, in its entirety, with a former Navy SEAL. This was recorded for our other podcast, Burn the Boats, so you’ll notice the format is quite different. The spirit of this interview, however, is what you have come to expect from Warriors in their Own Words – an unfiltered, unsanitized perspective on war. I wanted to share this interview with this audience, because it is so timely, and so important. You’ll see why. Dan Barkhoff is a former Navy SEAL with multiple combat deployments, and an expert in urban warfare. In this interview, he discusses what the Russian invasion force is likely to face. For more interviews like this, and to learn more about this invasion as it unfolds, listen to our other podcast, Burn the Boats. If you want to help, two of the most efficient organizations doing front-line work are Spirit of America and Team Rubicon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sgt. Josh Remillard served in the Army as a mortarman. He deployed twice to Iraq, in 2007 and 2010. During his first tour, he earned a Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Remillard describes how he defied orders to protect civilian lives, as well as the horror of experiencing war up close. To learn more about Josh, listen to his interview on Burn the Boats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt. Col. Bogan joined the Air Force reserves because he saw it as an opportunity to rise above tough circumstances growing up in Chicago. He became a flight medic, and thanks to the military, was the first person in the history of his family to graduate college. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following medical school, Dr. Donnelly Wilkes was commissioned in the U.S. Navy, completed residency training in family medicine at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, and served seven years on active duty. Wilkes served two combat tours in Iraq in 2004 and 2008 and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions in the battle of Fallujah in April of 2004. He finished his Naval career as the Senior Medical Officer at Port Hueneme Naval Clinic, where he was responsible for the medical oversight of active duty members, their families, and local Veterans. On the first day of his first tour, a firefight injured a Marine. Unfortunately, Wilkes and his team were unable to save him. Deeply saddened by this loss and their inability to treat him, they circled around the fallen soldier and prayed for him. A photographer captured the moment. The photo went on to become a Pulitzer Prize winning piece and a Life Magazine cover. To learn more about Dr. Wilkes’ deployments, read his book, Code Red Fallujah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Lewis is a US Army veteran. After six years in the infantry, he went to flight school to become an Apache Helicopter pilot, and flew tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warning: This episode contains some inappropriate language. Lt. Col. Fred Wellman served in the Army for 22 years as an aviator and public affairs officer. Fred was a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, and completed four tours during Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He also was a spokesman for General David Petaeus, and General Martin Dempsey in Iraq. To learn more about Fred’s work after his service, listen to his interview on Burn the Boats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warning: This episode contains harsh language and discussions about rape. Col. Charles Bussey was an African American fighter pilot and a member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen in WWII. You can listen to him speak about this experience here. He later fought in the Korean conflict during the Jim Crow era, where he and other African American soldiers were given the worst leadership and equipment due to their race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sir Ludovic Kennedy served as an officer on the HMS Tartar, a battleship in the Royal Navy. The Tartar was one of the ships that chased and sank the Bismarck, the most powerful German battleship in WWII. Kennedy later wrote a book about this experience, titled The Chase and Sinking of the “Bismarck”. After his service, Kennedy had a successful career in Journalism and broadcasting, which earned him his knighthood. Learn more about Kennedy and his life after the war here. Warriors in Their Own Words is proudly brought to you by American Eagle, a web design, development, and digital marketing agency with a passionate belief in the power of technology to positively transform business practices. American Eagle has been reliably creating digital experiences that drive growth since 1978. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re taking a break to spend time with our families for Thanksgiving. From everyone here at Warriors In Their Own Words, we'd like to extend gratitude to you, our listeners. Thank you for making all of this possible, and for helping us honor those who served. If you’d like to help us make the show even better, please email us at [email protected]. We appreciate your feedback. Warriors In Their Own Words will return to its regular schedule on December 9th with an interview with Sir Ludovic Kennedy. Kennedy served as an officer on the HMS Tartar, a battleship in the Royal Navy. The Tartar was one of the ships that chased and sank the Bismark, Germany’s most powerful battleship in WWII. Kennedy later wrote a book about this experience, titled The Chase and Sinking of the “Bismarck”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Captain Joseph K. Taussig Jr. was stationed in Pearl Harbor on board the USS Nevada in 1941. During the Japanese attack, he took his post as starboard anti-aircraft battery officer. Even after being severely wounded, Taussig refused to abandon his post, until his crew forcibly carried him to safety. Taussig later received the Navy Cross for his bravery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joseph Lockard was a radar operator in Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He spotted the incoming Japanese forces an hour before their surprise attack, but his warnings were dismissed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt. Col. Thomas D. Ferran III volunteered to be a part of the first group of trained Marine Corps snipers in the Vietnam War. He spent almost all his time in the field, accompanying various infantry units on their missions. Ferran describes sniping as a personal business, that is simultaneously an art, and a hunt. He was a co-founder and former president of the USMC Scout / Sniper association, and received two Purple Hearts, five presidential Unit Citations, and the Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon. Learn more about Ferran, and his service, here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt. Col. Thomas D. Ferran III volunteered to be a part of the first group of trained Marine Corps snipers in the Vietnam War. He spent almost all his time in the field, accompanying various infantry units on their missions. Ferran describes sniping as both an art, and a personal business. He was a co-founder and former president of the USMC Scout / Sniper association, and received two Purple Hearts, five presidential Unit Citations, and the Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon. Learn more about Ferran, and his service, here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Graduating from the US Naval Academy, McGrath joined the Marine Corps and flew 89 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2002, she became the first woman in the Marine Corps to fly in combat in the F-18. In her new memoir, ‘Honor Bound’, describes her groundbreaking time in the military, her tough political campaigns, and the challenges we face as a country. Follow Amy on Twitter at @AmyMcGrathKY To learn more about Amy, listen to her interview on our other podcast, Burn the Boats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James E.T Hopkins was a surgical intern before he volunteered with the Army Medical Corps. After serving in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, Hopkins volunteered again for what would eventually be known as Merrill’s Marauders. Merrill’s Marauders fought primarily in the jungles of Burma, executing deep penetration missions behind enemy lines. The 1962 film Merrill’s Marauders is based on their experiences. As a combat surgeon, Hopkins was unarmed on the battlefield, and completely exposed as he treated the wounds of fellow Marauders. To hear more stories about the Marauders, listen to our interview with Col. Logan. E. Weston, nicknamed 'The Fightin’ Preacher'. To learn more about Hopkins, click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warning: This episode contains depictions of corpses, substance abuse, a suicide attempt, and some foul language. Viewer discretion is advised. Kris Goldsmith is an Army combat Veteran who served in Iraq. As a 19 year-old, he was assigned the task of photographing corpses and documenting mass graves. He developed severe PTSD, and in 2007, as the result of a suicide attempt that caused him to miss redeployment, he was given a less-than-honorable discharge. After years of legal battles, that discharge was upgraded. Kris went on to become an advocate for veterans with “bad paper” discharges, and helped pass crucial legislation that helps them receive the benefits they deserve. To learn more about Kris, his advocacy, and his work fighting domestic extremism, listen to his episodes of Burn the Boats, out next Wednesday. Learn more about his organization, High Ground Veterans Advocacy, here Find Kris on Twitter at @KrisGoldsmith85 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Col. Logan E. Weston (nicknamed The Fightin’ Preacher) served in WWII in the famous special ops force, called Merrill’s Marauders. The Marauders fought primarily in the jungles of Burma, executing deep-penetration missions behind enemy lines. The 1962 film Merrill’s Marauders is based on their experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Master Sergeant Michael ‘Top’ Washington served in the Gulf War, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan between 1988 and 2004. He worked mainly in counterintelligence, and also became a Firefighter during this time. His son, Mike Jr., followed in his footsteps and joined the Marines. In 2008, Mike Jr. was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan. Mike Jr. 's Battalion, the 2/7, would be the hardest hit battalion in the Corps that year, with 160 men wounded and 20 killed. Since their return, the 2/7 have suffered 13 more casualties due to suicide. After his own severe struggles with mental health, Top found a new calling as a licensed therapist, focusing on fellow military veterans and first responders. To hear more about Top’s mental health recovery and his work as a licensed therapist, listen to his interview on Burn the Boats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lieutenant Colonel Milt Shalinsky served in WWII with the 385th Bomb Group. On June 20th, 1944, Shalinsky’s B-17 bomber was hit and crashed near Brunswick, Germany. Listen as Shalinsky describes the crash and his experience as a prisoner of war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This past Sunday was Father’s Day, so Warriors in Their Own Words host Ken Harbaugh interviewed his dad, Col. Kent Harbaugh. Col. Harbaugh was a Phantom pilot in Vietnam, and later commanded a nuclear missile wing during the cold war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This past Memorial Day, in Hudson, Ohio, retired Army Lt. Col. Barnard Kemter was a guest speaker. He spoke about the meaning of memorial day, and the importance of honoring the fallen. He also spoke about the holiday’s origins, and how one of the earliest examples involved freed black slaves honoring fallen union soldiers after the Civil War. During this part of his speech, Lt. Col. Kemter’s microphone was cut, intentionally, by event organizers from the local American Legion chapter. Today, we bring you Lt. Col. Kemter’s Memorial Day address, in its entirety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices