Thad Forester

Episode 048 – Bart Decker | Original Horse Soldier in Afghanistan

January 18, 2018 By Thad Forester

With the release of “12 Strong“, I’m replaying my interview with Bart Decker (Episode 008). He and his Special Operations team were some of the first men inserted into Afghanistan after 9/11. They arrived by helicopter and then realized horseback was the only way to move to their target location since many of the ledges were 2′-3′ wide. These men were covert operators named Task Force Dagger that joined up with the Northern Alliance to defeat the Taliban.

The team rode on horseback to capture the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Once they arrived, the Taliban had moved out and his team were welcomed as liberators. Bart also tells us how he controlled his emotions when interacting with John Walker Lindh, the American who converted to Islam and took part in a violent uprising after his capture in Afghanistan.

Decker is now retired after 20+ years serving in the Air Force. He said he wouldn’t go back and change a thing. He loved his time serving his country and has no regrets.

He and his team are forever honored at One World Trade center with a 13’ bronze statue of an American Commando on a horse. Glad to see this story finally making the big screen. I’m sure Decker won’t be mentioned or portrayed in the movie. After all, would you be surprised that an AF guy be highlighted whenever there are SF and/or SEALs in the picture? I don’t think Bart is complaining.

And here is a good article by Jack Murphy describing some controversies with the movie.

More info here:

“First In” by Gary Schroen

“Horse Soldiers” by Doug Stanton

Americas Response Monument at One World Trade Center

Sgt Macs Bar on Horse Soldiers and Bart Decker

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

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Episode 047 – Darren Sapp | Fire on the Flight Deck

January 15, 2018 By Thad Forester

Darren Sapp What would a fire on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier that’s miles from land be like? You have nowhere to go and it’s up to you (the crew, especially those trained) to handle it.

There have only been 5 major flight deck fires in our history and fortunately Darren Sapp never experienced one, but he did write about it. After many years of being asked about the dangers and adventures of working on an aircraft carrier, he wrote a novel that explores that experience and climatic nature of a huge fire on the flight deck.

Before this interview, I’d never heard of the different color shirts on aircraft carriers (yellow, red, blue, etc). Sapp was on the inaugural crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the 80’s and we cover several topics:

naval aviation in late 1980’s
being plankowner of USS Roosevelt
Darren’s in-depth study of Aaron Bank, Father of the Special Forces (Green Berets)
death of shipmates – blown off deck and another hit by propeller (very sad)
his work with orphans and trafficked children in Ghana
his connection with former guest Ron White on the Afghanistan Memorial Wall and creation of book
Sapp’s other books
WWII history

Visit DarrenSapp.com

Update from interview: Darren later corrected the date of the Green Beret’s birth to 1952

*PTC is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

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

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Episode 046 – Roger Long – From Cane to Conquering Kilimanjaro

January 1, 2018 By Thad Forester

Roger Long - kili

Roger Long was living the American dream in his 30’s–good, stable job with very profitable company, home like they’d always wanted, 2 healthy boys and married to the love of his life. Then, Young onset Parkinson’s disease attacked and changed his life forever.

He gained a lot of weight, walked with a cane and medically retired. Then, a phone call from his deployed son in Afghanistan gave him the kick in the tail he needed. When his oldest said “Dad, I don’t think I’m going to make it out of here alive”, Roger knew he had to be available to walk with his son when/if he came home.

So, he started walking with a goal in mind – to walk a continuous 10 miles in his neighborhood. He dropped his cane and did it. He also quit all his meds and got to the point where the effects of Parkinson’s would come back only when he didn’t exercise regularly. Roger had to walk most days of the week in order to feel good.

In 2012 he completed the Bataan Memorial Death March with this oldest son, physically aiding him across the finish line. Later, reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro ten years after his Parkinson’s diagnosis was the culmination of a life-changing turnaround that set him on a new life course. Africa changed him. It showed Long what’s really possible and to think beyond himself. In the end Roger said goals help us recover.

He documented his diagnosis and journey climaxing with standing on top of Kili in his book:

Push the Rock: Second Chances on the Road to Kilimanjaro

Read more about Roger at First Summit Project

*PTC is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

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

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Week off for Christmas, Upcoming Guests

December 25, 2017 By Thad Forester

bassProshops-Christmas 2017 I’m taking this week off to enjoy Christmas with my family. This means eating too much sugar and wrestling with the boys.

Got some very interesting guests coming up – I’ll describe them in the audio of this one.

If you’re looking for some Christmas cheer, here is the link to last year’s episode on this day: “Christmas from Heaven” with Hal Halvorsen, aka, “The Candy Bomber”.

In addition, here are links to some of my most popular episodes over the last year and a half:

CCT Mark Lauren – You are your own Gym

Bobby Escorting Mark’s body to Dover – Angel Flight

Kyle Defoor – former SEAL, sniper

CCT Bart Decker – Horse Soldier in Afghanistan

Dave Grossman – Killology 101

Tune in next week for Roger Long – Marine dad and still kicking Parkinson’s butt.

If you’re still in the spirit of giving, check out my Patreon page to see how a very small donation can help with my mission here at Patriot to the Core podcast.

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Ep 045 – BONUS: Michael Andrew Finally Leaving Puerto Rico

December 21, 2017 By Thad Forester

michael andrew-salvation army

After being in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands for over 3-1/2 months, Michael Andrew is sitting at the airport saying “Service is the ultimate drug with no negative side effects.”

This was an early morning call while Michael was at the airport waiting to fly back to the states after “leaving it all on the field in Puerto Rico.” He’s been a volunteer, working mostly with the Salvation Army. They ended up making him an Operations Chief. Michael is leaving the island exhausted and said his soul is on fire.

Here are some things we discuss:

-What he learned as a leader

-His weaknesses that were exposed and that he was able to make strengths

-Delivering food and water was really delivering hope

-Miracles he witnessed, almost daily

-How he’s the luckiest and richest man in the world and it has nothing to do with money

Great episode, especially since he didn’t have much time to think about it. It’s really his raw answers and thoughts. He’ll elaborate much more on his podcast and future videos and blog posts.

Here is my last interview with Michael Andrew after he arrived in St. Martin to help after Hurricane Irma, before going to PR, but he tells me in that interview that he needs to get to PR. Below are more links to follow him:

Michael the Maven

Red Lightning

On Instagram @michaelthemaven

On Twitter @michaelthemaven

Hear our first interview on Episode 002

You can also follow Michael on his podcast The Maven Nation