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 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

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Episode 044 – Will Bardenwerper | Saddam Hussein: Psychological Exploration

December 11, 2017 By Thad Forester

A few weeks after the attacks of 9/11, Will quit his finance job in Midtown Manhattan to join the military. Turns out quitting his job may have been premature since it took about a year to get in the Army.

This Princeton graduate entered basic training 10 years older than most and knew what he wanted to do. He became an Airborne Ranger qualified infantry officer in the US Army.

After leaving the Army and a few other jobs, he pitched the idea to a publisher on a book about “The Twelve” American soldiers who guarded Saddam Hussein during his trial. They liked it and we finish up our discussion about his book “The Prisoner in his Palace“.

“The Twelve” committed not to speak to anyone about their job, nor to write about it. Living alongside, and caring for, their “high value detainee” in a former palace dubbed The Rock and regularly transporting him to his trial, they learned Hussein actually had some charm. He’d have angry outbursts in court cursing Americans, only to tell his guards in the elevator later not to pay attention to that.

Bardenwerper doesn’t skip the fact that the American guards knew Saddam was a killer and deserved what he got. However, they saw another side of him that few Americans have. In fact, as they were taking him to be hanged, Saddam Hussein gave one soldier a significant gift–one that probably wasn’t appropriate to accept, but he didn’t want to do anything that could potentially make the execution not go as planned.

Intriguing book that “shows two Saddams coexisting in one person: the defiant tyrant who uses torture and murder as tools, and a shrewd but contemplative prisoner who exhibits surprising affection, dignity, and courage in the face of looming death.”

Learn more about Will below:

My book tour stop at San Quentin

Hear Will on Team RWB Podcast

Hear Will on Ep 22 of Hazard Ground Podcast

Willbardenwerper.com

*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 043 – MAJ GEN Vinny Boles | Is your Best Getting Better?

November 27, 2017 By Thad Forester

Vinny Boles_Thad Forester After 33 years as an Army officer, Vinny Boles is getting paid to travel the globe to speak on topics he loves- leadership and supply chain.

This 2-star General shed some light on how to lead in a crisis (which applies to any profession) and how do you take bad news. The later is the most critical leadership skill.

I asked him how to keep morale up when your company is downsizing. He has interesting advice. A portion of that was that it’s critical to show empathy.

Episode 042 – TACP “George” on Healing, Forgiving, and Resiliency

November 13, 2017 By Thad Forester

military depressed

On George’s 9^th deployment in 2010, his Humvee rolled over on him a few times, which shattered his hip, broke bones in his back and screwed up his shoulder. He woke up on his way to Walter Reed where he’d spend the next seven months.

We talk in person about his recovery – not physical, but his mental and emotional recovery. Of course, George wasn’t immune to self-medicating because he didn’t want to dream. After talking with a professional, she convinced him that he suffered from Survivor’s Guilt, not Post Traumatic Stress (PTS).

George tells us of his darkest time, lashing out at his nurses and sister, drinking way too much, and then being told by a Priest that he was “being an ass.” That was a wake up call.

This is just a good interview with an American Hero who has seen hell and suffered tremendous injuries and come out even stronger physically, and especially emotionally.

Whether you’re dealing with your own trials or know someone who is, George shares some great insight on overcoming.

If you want to hear more from George, he was my guest on Episode 031.

*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 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!

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