Welcome to Patriot to the Core Podcast

Patriot to the Core 2018

This podcast exists b/c of my little brother Mark Forester. While he was serving as a full-time missionary in California, our nation was attacked on 9/11. He felt the calling then to complete his service to God with his next mission being to serve his country. He knew God wanted him to help control the world's terrorists population.

On September 29, 2010, he was killed in action on his first deployment. From his death notification to my family, to the Dignified Transfer ceremony at Dover, to his viewing, funeral, and subsequent memorials, I was amazed at the new world of heroes and warriors we met. These men and women have become close to our family and been huge supports. But they also stood out because of their willingness to voluntarily fight evil. They believed in freedom and liberty. Because of their actions, I started this podcast to interview great Americans who serve their country and communities.

By supporting this podcast, you help support The Mark Forester Foundation and its cause.

I interview those from all branches of the military, serving multiple roles (combat controllers, PJs, Green Berets, SEALs, Rangers, Infantrymen, Marines, Pilots, etc) and the US government. In addition, I speak with your everyday mom who goes about doing good--from starting a non-profit to fighting for freedom in our communities and schools. I also get to talk with Gold Star Parents, Siblings and Spouses, and Medal of Honor recipients.

This provides an opportunity to learn about everyday Americans who go above and beyond to protect us and to help others. As a Gold Star brother, many of my guests have a military connection, but I still have a wide variety of people who answer the call to serve in various ways.

We talk fighting terrorism, self-protection, exercise, mental toughness, charity, parenting, fugitives and occasionally pop culture and politics (like government overreach).

Please follow and subscribe so we can have many episodes to come. Send suggestions and questions to me at thad@patriottothecore.com. Hope you enjoy!

You can also become a patron. Your support is not considered a donation--it's a way to get something in return for helping support my cause. See link below:

Become a Patron!

Ep 057 – “I’ve Got a Man Down!” | Memorial Day 2018

May 27, 2018 By Thad Forester

“As a senior AH-64D Longbow Apache aviator rated as Pilot in Command and qualified as Air Mission Commander, I have never witnessed such an act of heroism in my three years of fighting in combat…. My only regret is that I was unable to prevent Jag 28’s death. I will carry that burden indefinitely. Jag 28 continued to advance on the enemy while taking intense enemy fire, and continuously fired his weapon in an attempt to get to his fallen teammate and destroy the enemy. I can only hope to live up to such an example.”

In today’s Memorial Day episode, I describe some of my brother Mark’s final moments on 29 Sept 2010 as he and his team fought terrorists in a remote village in Afghanistan. The particulars I cover are from the book “My Brother in Arms” and testimony provided by one of the Apache pilots who watched it all go down with his naked eye.

I also report on last weekend’s “Jag 28 Birthday Walk” in Haleyville. Man, it was a great time.

To learn more about Mark Forester, here are a few links:

National Geographic Eyewitness War on Mark Forester or official site here

Lifetime Channel Coming Home

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Ep 056 – Lauren Tinker | Price of Freedom Race: Behind the Scenes

May 7, 2018 By Thad Forester

lauren tinker

Since The Mark Forester Foundation’s annual race and 28-mile birthday walk is May 19, I wanted to have family friend and race director Lauren Tinker on the show. Lauren shares why she wants to lead the races each year and what Mark Forester means to her. She and her family dedicate countless hours throughout the year to make this race happen.

Tinker also tells us about last minute emergencies and miracles, and praises the many people who sponsor and support our foundation and her efforts.

We end by talking about the JAG 28 Birthday Walk, which takes place at the same time as the races. Since she’s not around for the walk and I’m not around for the race, we both had questions about each.

Up until two years ago, the Price of Freedom Race and Birthday Walk were our only fundraisers each year. In 2016, we had our first Mark Forester Charity Golf Tournament, which has been a great fundraiser too.

Here is a listing of all the events taking place on May 19, 2018:

Half marathon
-5k
-10k
-Double-dip (both 5k and 10k)
-1-mile fun run
-JAG 28 Birthday Walk

For more details and registration, visit The Mark Forester Foundation

*My podcast is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause and get insider access!

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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Ep 055 – Brant Ireland | One-Legged Beast

April 23, 2018 By Thad Forester

Brant Ireland-Invictus Games

I first learned of Brant Ireland in an ESPN interview prior to the 2017 Warrior Games. That’s when I knew he needed to be on the show.

Here he is sharing how he made it thru the grueling pipeline to become a Green Beret, then loosing his leg in a bazaar accident in Afghanistan in 2013. Ireland will describe in painful detail how it happened and his long recovery. I mean, your leg isn’t supposed to bend backward where you kick yourself in the groin.

Now he finds purpose and healing thru sports, which has been a constant his entire life. Sled Hockey – this has become his favorite. Brant says, “When I was at a very low point, sled hockey kind of found me. ‘I was kind of closed-minded to adapted sports because I wanted to play real sports. Those are for people who can’t compete at real sports, but I’m going to find a way to compete at real reports.’ Looking back, how silly I was and how wrong I was.”

I loved talking to this family man who continues to take care of his men in the 3rd Special Forces Group (A) and his family. At the same time, showing his wife and children that there are always ways to adapt so you can continue to do what you love and prevail. In Brant’s case, it’s sports.

Ireland won a silver medal in the 2017 Warrior Games and bronze medal in the 2017 Invictus Games.

*My podcast is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause and get insider access!

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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Ep 054 – Doug Sterner | Military Times Hall of Valor

April 9, 2018 By Thad Forester

Ever wondered if your deceased father received any awards for valor while serving in the military? Ever been told a relative received a medal, but you’ve never seen it? Or, do you feel someone is flat-out lying to you about their service accomplishments? My guest today is helping answer all those questions. Doug Sterner has created a searchable database of valor award citations. Sterner, a Vietnam veteran and Military Times contributing editor has consumed himself with verifying this data by source material such as official award citations, narratives and/or synopses from individuals or records from the National Archives.

The Hall of Valor is an ongoing project. It is a monumental effort to identify the half-million men and women who received the highest U.S. military awards, in addition to the millions of others who received other awards.

The Hall of Valor database currently includes all recipients of the Medal of Honor and all of the second-tier valor awards: Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross. They are also in the midst of a multi-year effort to identify recipients of Silver Star and below.

Doug and his wife Pam also created the Stolen Valor Act (SVA) that was signed into law by George W. Bush in 2006.

Additionally, Sterner warns us of calling out stolen valor; because, what if you’re wrong? Is it worth it?

I had a great time talking with this Patriot today. He even surprised me by the amount of info he had on my brother Mark.

Doug Sterner’s Amazon Author Page with his numerous books.

*My podcast is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause and get insider access!

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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Ep 053 – Chaplain Justin Roberts – Director of No Greater Love movie

March 26, 2018 By Thad Forester

justin roberts

Justin Roberts is our first Chaplain on the show. I thought we were going to mainly talk about his new movie, “No Greater Love“, but I also got educated on the emotional roller coaster roles of an Army Chaplain.

Roberts, the director and producer of No Greater Love, has experienced the reality of war and its aftermath first hand. While deployed in Afghanistan with the legendary “No Slack” Battalion, he witnessed brave men and women sacrifice themselves to protect others. Justin also witnessed suicide, the first occurring just two days after arriving at his new battalion. Then, at Brooks Army Medical Center he witnessed the physical and emotional struggle veterans experience even after returning home, including their intense sense of isolation.

This award-winning documentary shares the experiences of Chaplain Roberts and other soldiers through combat footage and emotional interviews.

It was released in theaters in Nov 2017, and will be available on DVD March 27, 2018.

You can order the movie here.

If you’re not sure of a trustworthy organization to support, Justin has provided a solution here where you can select a non-profit he has listed or search for one near you.

Nogreaterlovemovie.com/give

*My podcast is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause and get insider access!

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

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download