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Ep 074 – Memorial Day Special: Bobby Bonello Escorting Mark’s Body to Dover – The Angel Flight

May 24, 2020 By Thad Forester

Today Mark’s friend and teammate tells us what it was like to get the news of Mark’s death, how he got a risky flight out of his FOB and met up with Mark so he could escort his buddy back to the states as part of the Angel Flight.

This episode is solely about Bobby Bonello and Mark Forester.  Even though much of what is discussed is written in my book, I wanted to have an oral history and capture Bobby’s feelings and some details that were left out of the book.

Seeing Bobby at Dover AFB for the Dignified Transfer was somewhat comforting.  He knew Mark and knew us.  Up until then, our notifications had been from those who knew Mark, but we didn’t really know.

Bobby was visibly shaken and had a sort of blank look in his face when we first saw him.  Probably how we looked too.

The picture above is Bobby at Mark’s casket/transfer case in a C-17 in Kandahar, just before leaving for Dover AFB.  Although barely being able to see Bobby’s face, he looks shaken, worn and upset.  I still can’t tell you who took these pictures, but they were a friend of a family friend who happened to be there.  Amazingly this person found out who it was and made the connection, got the pics to his friend, who then sent to me.  It was only a matter a days after this happened.

And hope you enjoy clips of the song used.  Credit to Radney Foster, Angel Flight.

**originally aired Sept. 29, 2017 as episode 038**

*PTC is on Patreon.  If you like what you’re hearing please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

Copyright 2020 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

https://media.blubrry.com/podcast_patriot_to_the_core/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/827008840-user-645944549-memorialday2020-074.mp3

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: angel flight, dignified transfer, memorial day

This year’s JAG 28 Birthday Walk will be VERY different, and not just because of COVID-19.

May 10, 2020 By Thad Forester

Walkers at stop 2 in 2018

I’ve led this event since the beginning.

I start training for the JAG 28 Memorial Birthday Walk each Jan or Feb. Since I stay active throughout the year, I’m mostly concerned with prepping my feet and hips. Fortunately I’ve never had an injury during this event–from 30 up to 36 miles, I think it’s b/c I always train.

In fact, I always felt like I had an extra push each year on event day. I contribute that mostly to the energy from everyone–they are there b/c they chose to be, not out of obligation. Why would someone choose to walk this distance continually, even coming from many miles and states away? It’s b/c they want to honor my brother Mark and support his foundation.

This year was no different. I started walking with my trusty 20 lb weight plate in my GR2 in January. Then, when social distancing hit in mid-March, even better–I got to get in a quick few miles during the middle of the day. I even started playing tennis with a local high school player. He’s good and I really enjoyed playing with him.

Then, on March 21, I went for a forehand. When I pushed with my left foot, “POP” and I hit the ground probably sounding like a wounded wild animal. Ironic how I was going on earlier with him about staying active and feeling young…

At first I thought someone had hit me with a bat. As I was falling to the ground, I confirmed no one was behind me. My next thought was my lower leg snapped, like a Tyrone Prothro moment, but I quickly felt and knew it was my third option–achilles. I cringe every time I think about it happening.

Crutches, scooter, peg leg and shower seat

These last almost two months have been interesting–I use a shower seat, hobble around and watched my wife do the weed-eating and edging. Yard work has always been my job.

I had surgery April 9. My achilles is healing just fine and I got my final cast off last week. I can now put a little weight on it and will progress daily until I use no crutches by the end of the month.

Since I can’t walk, I won’t be doing Mark’s birthday walk this year. That’s tough to accept. But, my plan is to get ready for next year’s walk. In fact, I have a GoRuck Star Course event in Huntsville in Oct that I have to get ready for. It’s 26 miles.

For all my friends that will be walking in Mark’s honor Saturday, I say thank you. You’ll be all over the country and I look forward to the pictures. Thank you for continuing to support Mark’s foundation even when things are virtual. I hope this makes it easier for many more to participate.

For those who want to sign up and walk the JAG 28 Memorial Birthday Walk, go to this link and sign up. Then, post pictures on social media Saturday.

This forced down time has allowed me more cuddle time with little Will

Filed Under: Events, Life of Thad, The Mark Forester Foundation Tagged With: achilles, memorial birthday walk, training

Ep 073 – Linda Ambard | Courageously Alive

May 4, 2020 By Thad Forester

It seemed Linda Ambard was the last person to find out about her husband, Maj. Philip Ambard’s death. The media knew, her co-workers knew and even some of her children found out via social media.

Linda shares why her late husband immigrated to the United States, learned English, along with 7 other languages, and then chose to join the Air Force.

Her notification and details of this death were far from effective, but we know who his killer was. It was an insider–someone he and his teammates trusted. Since, she’s been on a mission to help the Air Force know where to improve and to help military spouses understand how to avoid some of the challenges she faced in the days following his death.

Linda still doesn’t have clear answers, but she’s forgiven Phil’s killer (who killed a total of 9 Americans that day) and has “hope” for the Afghan people.

Since his death, she’s run 55 marathons (total of 200) on six continents. She’s been on the Antarctica Marathon waiting list and will accomplish that goal in 2021. She’s a champion of getting outside, running, and relying on your faith to get thru challenges. She’s a woman of action and change. It was great having her on Patriot to the Core!

You can get her book here and learn more about her husband Maj. Phil Ambard:

Courageously Alive

Afghan Pilot wanted to kill Americans

Copyright 2020 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

https://media.blubrry.com/podcast_patriot_to_the_core/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/812979106-user-645944549-linda-ambard.mp3

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: air force, green on blue, marathons, notification, outdoor healing, outdoor therapy, resiliency

Ep 072 – Mark Lauren | Bodyweight Master & Best-selling Fitness Author

March 30, 2020 By Thad Forester

I know I’m not the only one who is getting an increased amount of target marketing on alternatives to gyms. Our current situation that has caused gyms to close didn’t change my routine at all b/c I don’t rely on one. The reason; my exercise strategy changed when I began following Mark Lauren’s programs in January of 2018.

His quote to me in this episode, which originally aired July 2018, has proven to be ahead of it’s time: “A critical and essential piece to long term fitness is being independent.” Here we discuss how to be independent of a gym membership, unnecessary equipment and much more.

Back on the show is former Air Force combat controller (CCT) Mark Lauren.  In episode 40, we discussed his early life, time in military and how he implemented his workouts in the CCT pipeline.  Now, we’re talking a little more about how he observed that the fitness industry at large was backward, ineffective, and unsustainable in it’s approach.  So, he created fitness programming that improves performance outside of the gym.

Lauren’s understanding of athletic fundamentals allows him to create exercise programs for all ability groups that improve performance and physical condition in record time, injury free, by mastering the fundamentals.

Bodyweight training is Mark’s calling in life.  And I’m a big believer in his philosophy and movements.

Today we talk about those programs and the success of his app at MarkLauren.com.

Sign up for Mark’s community and get 20% by using coupon code PATRIOT, by going here: https://bodyweight.marklauren.com

Follow Mark on Instagram

*Originally aired July 9, 2018*

Copyright 2020 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

https://media.blubrry.com/podcast_patriot_to_the_core/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/785764552-user-645944549-marklauren3-072.mp3

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: cct, fitness, flexibility, locomotion, mobility, socialdistance

Ep 071 – Jeff Kyle: Marine & Gold Star brother

March 16, 2020 By Thad Forester

Most of you have heard of Chris Kyle or seen the movie “American Sniper“, directed by Clint Eastwood. It was a very popular book and movie.

But I always wondered about his brother Jeff. What made him serve in the military? How close were he and Chris and how did Chris’ death affect him?

Today is one Gold Star brother talking with another about his life growing up and how he was “set straight” by a veteran at the VA who told him he’s all talk and no action. That was a turning point for Jeff.

We also discuss the great work he and his family are doing with https://www.chriskylememorialbenefit.com/ and American Valor Foundation, in addition, his job at United States Tactical

If you enjoy this podcast or any of my other 70 episodes, please give me a rating on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are big help in the success of the show. Thank you.

Copyright 2020 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/



https://media.blubrry.com/podcast_patriot_to_the_core/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/776729662-user-645944549-jeffkyle-71.mp3

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: american sniper, chris kyle, marines, united states tactical

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