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Episode 016 – Marc Esposito, Wounded Warrior, CCT, biked across CA with Robin Williams

November 28, 2016 By Thad Forester

Marc EspositoMarc Esposito’s vehicle was hit by an IED when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009.  After being in a wheelchair for almost five months, he was finally able to stand.

By 2011, he competed in the Warrior Games and won Gold in pistol shooting.  Shortly thereafter, rode his bike across the country, from the pacific in San Francisco to the Atlantic in Virginia Beach.

Marc said cycling changed his life, even though he was hit by a car along the route.  He made an early decision to not let his injuries ever haunt him.

You’ll enjoy hearing Marc tell about his life since his injury on the battlefield.

 

Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.
Copyright 2016 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

http://media.blubrry.com/podcast_patriot_to_the_core/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/292687579-user-645944549-episode-016-marc-esposito-wounded-warrior-cct-biked-across-ca-with-robin-williams.mp3

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: combat control, cycling, ied, purple heart, sea to shining sea, warrior games, wounded warrior

Episode 015 – Ronnie Rains, owner of Granite Ranch, host of numerous Wounded Warrior Retreats

November 14, 2016 By Thad Forester

Ronnie RainsIf you want to hear from someone who is a great example of the American Dream, this is it.  Ronnie Rains grew up poor, was drafted to serve in Vietnam, and later in life started businesses that have allowed him to be very generous to many people today – specifically our military and their families.

Regularly, Ronnie hosts wounded warriors at his ranch from all branches of our military.  He wants them to have a place to relax, hunt, fish, kayak, eat good food, and be away from cameras and photo ops.  He says putting those injured with someone in worse conditions than their own lifts their spirits.  I’ve been there and know first-hand the care he takes of our heroes.

This humble man helps our warriors in ways doctors and medicine can’t.  He shows us how to walk the talk by serving quietly, while impacting many.

Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.

Copyright 2016 Thad Forester

www.patriottothecore.com

email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

 

http://media.blubrry.com/podcast_patriot_to_the_core/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/290169735-user-645944549-episode-015-ronnie-rains-owner-of-granite-ranch-host-of-numerous-wounded-warrior-retreats.mp3

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: brothers keepers, draft, granite ranch, outdoor healing, ptsd, wounded warrior retreat

Episode 014 – Dan Hammond, US Duathlon Team, Adventure Racer, Entrepreneur

October 31, 2016 By Thad Forester

dan hammondAt age 56, Dan Hammond qualified for the US National Team to compete in the Duathlon World Championship in Aviles, Spain. He shares how he overcame injuries to quality for team and then found motivation to finish the big race, despite his body telling him to quit shortly after starting.

He also started “American Profile” magazine to distribute the good news of life in hometown America. It was the largest publishing launch in the US and spotlighted heroes that most of us never knew about; or those we did know, but never knew the selfless work they did for others. Goes to show that every town and every person have great stories.

Read more about Dan here:

http://markaforester.com/?postID=1904&tennessee-athlete-honors-mark-in-duathlon-world-championship

http://www.americanhometownmedia.com/

Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.

Copyright 2016 Thad Forester

www.patriottothecore.com

email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

http://media.blubrry.com/podcast_patriot_to_the_core/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/284507946-user-645944549-episode-014-dan-hammond-us-duathlon-team-adventure-racer-entrepreneur.mp3

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: american hometown media, american profile, duathlon, good news of life, us national team

Mark Forester Action Figure

October 28, 2016 By Thad Forester

Black Ops ToysEarly this year, I was contacted by Black Ops Toys about doing a collectible, 1/6th scale figurine of Mark.  My first question…: “Why do you want to do Mark?”  I didn’t ask this b/c I didn’t think it should be done.  I asked b/c I wanted to know why THEY thought it was important.  After all, Mark isn’t a household name yet.  What would they benefit from investing so much money and time to honor a fallen hero who wouldn’t generate the return as a Chris Kyle, Michael Murphy, Marcus Luttrell, etc.

Turns out they just released Chris Kyle’s figure, but no other real people’s have been done (living or dead).  So Mark’s is #2 for their company.

They said they were just drawn to his story and image (or that’s mainly what I remember).  They also knew another company had already made a 1/6 scale warrior in Mark’s image a few years ago; even though they didn’t use his name–it was Mark.  I mean, how many companies in China make an action figure of a CCT with the state of Alabama patch??

But this time it would be right.  The face will actually be molded to match Mark’s image.  All the gear will match what he was actually wearing–both what you can and can’t see.  And of course, they will advertise Mark and his foundation.

Black Ops Toys has been great to work with.  It’s taken many months to get this right.  They also worked directly with one of Mark’s teammates who was deployed down range with him, so the equipment would be right.  This has been their most expensive figure so far.  There may even be a surprise item with each collectible (notice I keep interchanging collectible and figure.  I’m trying to keep from using the same word over and over.  However, I asked Black Ops Toys and they said the official/proper term is “collectible”).

They are on pre-sale now.  Only 500 will be produced worldwide.  They will be sold online and in some retail stores.  Should ship in December.  What do you think?  Did they capture Mark?  I will say, his hair looks magnificent.  You can view more pics here.

Mark Forester Black Ops Toys

Filed Under: Patriots Tagged With: 1/6 scale warrior, action figure, black ops toys, cct, collectible, figurine, jag 28, mark forester, mission specific equipment

Episode 013 – Michael Yon, War Correspondent, author

October 17, 2016 By Thad Forester

Photo of US soldier carrying an Iraqi girl wounded in an SVBIED attackDennis Miller called Michael Yon the “Premier Combat Journalist”.  You want captivating?? This is it.  We cover topics from hand-to-hand combat, North Korean’s kidnapping Japanese and presumably Americans, the United States’ biggest threat, pedophilia among our mid-east enemies, WWII 442nd Infantry Regiment, war crimes, and much more.

After getting out of the Army Special Forces, Michael embedded with our troops for longer than any other war correspondent, according to the New York Times.  He deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Thailand, Philippines and elsewhere.

Learn more about Michael here:

https://www.michaelyon-online.com/

And his book “Gates of Fire”:

https://www.michaelyon-online.com/gates-of-fire.htm
Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.

Copyright 2016 Thad Forester

www.patriottothecore.com

email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

 

http://media.blubrry.com/podcast_patriot_to_the_core/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/287251052-user-645944549-episode-013-michael-yon.mp3

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: 442nd Infantry Regiment, afghanistan, battle of tinian, combat journalist, danger close, deuce four, gates of fire, go for broke, hand to hand combat, iraq, north korea, Operation Phantom Fury, revenge, war crimes

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