Thad Forester

Episode 041 – Hershel “Woody” Williams, Medal of Honor Recipient from Iwo Jima

October 30, 2017 By Thad Forester

Woody Williams will never forget the odor of burning human remains.

“There are some things about that 4 hours that have bothered me my whole life… I can’t remember going back and getting the other 5 flamethrowers. It was so horrific, I didn’t want to remember.”

Today’s guest is our first Medal of Honor recipient on Patriot to the Core. I was introduced to death by flamethrower after learning of Mr. Williams. He went thru 5 – 70 lb flamethrowers in a 4-hour battle on Iwo Jima. Two of the Marines assigned to him were killed that day protecting his life. He is the last surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor from that battle, and the last surviving Marine to receive the MOH for heroism in World War II.

You could say Mr. Williams lived a sheltered life up until his time in the military. Prior, he’d never heard of Pearl Harbor, the Pacific Ocean, or Japan. He joined the Marines to protect his country and protect his freedom. He thought he’d be staying in the U.S., but after boot camp he learned they’d be fighting the Japanese in the Pacific.

I asked, “What did you know about Iwo Jima before you got there?” His response, “Not a thing!” Later he saw the flag raised on Mount Suribachi, but didn’t consider the significance at that time. He had a job to do and wasn’t reveling in the moment.

His story is remarkable. He was awarded the MOH by Pres. Truman, but admits being more nervous to meet the Commandant of the Marine Corp than the President. He shares with us what both these men told him regarding the medal. He didn’t know anything about the MOH. Even the day he received it he didn’t know what it was about.

I even get his opinion on the NFL controversies over kneeling during the National Anthem. Awesome interview. You should read his medal citation below and learn more about him at these links:

Read his Medal of Honor Citation

Learn about his foundation:

Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation

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

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Episode 040 – CCT Mark Lauren | You Are Your Own Gym

October 16, 2017 By Thad Forester

mark lauren

Mark Lauren is a bodyweight expert. His fitness method is for “real men and women with real lives … giving the ability to train alone anywhere, any time, without the crutch of personal trainers and gyms.”

Mark honed the programs and myriad exercises in his book, “You Are Your Own Gym“, while preparing hundreds of trainees for the extreme demands of the most elite levels of the US Special Operations community. The military’s most advanced forces – from Navy SEALs to Army Green Berets to Air Force Special Tactics Operators – use these exercises as the backbone to their strength training.

Lauren says, “What if I told you that you already have the most advanced fitness machine ever created? Your own body.”
We have a great discussion about his time in the Air Force combat control pipeline, failing by one push up and having to start over. Then becoming an instructor in that same pipeline and developing a specific physical training program for AFSOC warriors.

A few topics we cover:

What movements do you need in order to survive?
Developing skills not muscles
Mobility and stability
Spending more time on the ground
His thoughts on CrossFit
One dumb decision in Thailand got his mouth wired shut

This guy is unique. This guy is cyborg. I really like what he teaches. Maybe you will too. And I can’t wait for his app to come out in Jan 2018.

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

Learn more about Mark, his programs, books and videos below:

MarkLauren.com

YouTube

Give Mark a shoutout on Instagram and Twitter

*PTC is now 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 039 – Noah Galloway | Living with No Excuses

October 3, 2017 By Thad Forester

Noah Galloway

“You wanna be a leader? It starts at home.”

When I say Noah Galloway quit college to join the Army after the attacks of 9/11, he literally didn’t go back to class and joined officially in October of 2001.

He was in shape and felt impressed to do his part by taking the fight to the enemy. On his second deployment to Iraq, he was hit with an IED and lost his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee.

Fast forward just a little: he went thru two divorces, depression, and got out of shape. Thanks to his children, he finally made the decision to get back in shape, be healthier and inspire others. That’s exactly what he’s done.

I remember in 2014 when he was working to be on the cover of Men’s Health magazine. I voted for him and so did countless others. He was chosen for the cover and as Men’s Health magazine’s 2014 Ultimate Guy.

Life for him exploded after this – Dancing with the Stars finalist, talk show appearances and a cadre on Fox’s American Grit, where his team won Season 1.

Here are a few questions I ask Noah Galloway today:

-Why quit college (mid-semester) to join military?

-Who was your rock during your darkest times?

-Did you talk openly about your struggles?

-What can someone who is suffering with depression or anxiety do right now to ease their pain?

-How did exercise help you recover mentally?

His children are his priority. He turns down opportunities regularly if it takes him away from his kids too long.

Hear him talk about future plans. I recommended he do a show with Bear Grylls’ (my dream). I had a great time with Noah. Watch out, you may see him and one of his sons on the professional bowlers circuit soon.

We talked in person at Sheepdog Firearms. I really appreciate their support of the podcast and The Mark Forester Foundation.

Learn more about Noah, his book, his charity or give him a shout-out below:

No Excuses Charitable Fund

His book – Living with No Excuses

On Instagram

On Twitter @Noah_Galloway

*Patriot to the Core is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and guests like Noah.*

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 038 – SPECIAL: Bobby Bonello Escorting Mark’s Body to Dover – Angel Flight

September 29, 2017 By Thad Forester

Bonello_Forester Angel Flight

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 back to the states as part of the Angel Flight.

September 29, 2017 makes seven years since Mark was killed in Afghanistan. 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.

*PTC is now 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!

hughes_forester

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SPECIAL: Michael Andrew on the ground in US Virgin Islands | Hurricane Irma

September 19, 2017 By Thad Forester

michael_andrew st. thomas

In my second interview with someone on the ground, in the action, helping with hurricane relief, Michael Andrew talks with me from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands following the destruction of Hurricane Irma. This is the kind of work he was made for. Michael thrives in these environments.

He arrived there Wednesday via charter flight and is on a disaster aid trip, partnering with The Salvation Army and his organization Red Lightning.

He was recently asked if he wanted to evacuate since another hurricane is headed that way (Maria), but he’s staying put so he can help.

Michael tells us what work he’s specifically doing, how he geotags specific locations, what supplies are needed, etc. He’s doing great work – something he feels he was born to do and was blessed with necessary skills to accomplish.

Michael also explains why sending supplies isn’t the best action right now, but donate to an organization who knows the needs in real time- since the needs can change quickly.

We talk sanitation, security, water, clothing and how taking a few days to serve will make your problems seem so small.

To learn more about Michael and if you want to donate to his non-profit, which will directly help people in the areas he’s serving, see links below:

Michael the Maven

Red Lightning

On Instagram @michaelthemaven

On Twitter @michaelthemaven

The Salvation Army

Hear our first interview on Episode 002

You can also follow Michael on his podcast The Maven Nation

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

Artist: http://audionautix.com/