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 091 | William Markham – One Veteran at a Time

July 18, 2022 By Thad Forester

Retired Chief Master Sergeant William Markham spent 30 years in the Air Force, was inducted in the 2021 Air Commando Hall of Fame and in the 2022 USSOCOM Hall of Heroes.

I know him personally because he was the chief of my brother Mark’s squadron (21st STS out of Pope Field, NC). I never met him until he delivered the notification of Mark’s death to our family on Sept 29, 2010. And he rarely left our home for the next week. Our family has tremendous respect for Markham.

Now, he has found a way to give back to his community and our veterans. He is the Chairman of Project OVAT and Executive Director of The Patriot Fund.

He’s a big believer in service dogs and in helping our vets get the services they need b/c he had several difficult years of figuring out his benefits, insurance and disability.

This man was on the ground in Afghanistan in Oct 2010 and was awarded the Silver Star on that deployment. He’s served our country well and now continues to serve in other ways.

Mentioned in this episode:

Ep 36: Kurt Buller

Ep 48: Bart Decker

Ep 88: Kyle Stanbro

Ep 76: Gen. Gwyn Armfield

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Ep 090 | Troy Bye – The Long Road to Cyber Security, Insider Threat & Intelligence

June 20, 2022 By Thad Forester

M. Troy Bye, is an Executive Director with ManTech and has spent much of his career managing large IT programs for customers within the Intelligence Community in the Washington D.C. area. ManTech has a long history of supporting the FBI. Now, with the FBI’s transition of many of their cyber programs to Huntsville, AL, Troy recently relocated his family to support ManTech’s efforts in transitioning the FBI work to the Huntsville area.

In early 2022, Bye started the “Our Town Podcast” to facilitate his integration into the community as he interviews a wide range of guests on various topics related to business, entertainment, sports, and the arts. Troy and his wife, Wendy, have four children and reside in Madison, AL.

As a very young boy, his father and mother both suffered serious and permanent brain injuries–one year apart. Fortunately, he had family and other role models to help him get where he is today.

Mentioned in this episode:
–Huntsville ranked #1 place to live in US – US News and World Report
–Rocket City Trash Pandas
–ManTech

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Ep 089 | Jennie Taylor – Gold Star Wife and Mother of 7

May 2, 2022 By Thad Forester

Jennie Taylor was taking a much needed break by spending the weekend with friends from college, therefore she wasn’t home when the “knock” came at her door.

In January of 2018, her husband, Major Brent Taylor left his position as Mayor of North Ogden, UT and deployed to Afghanistan with the US Army for what would have been a year-long deployment. On November 3, 2018 Major Taylor was killed in action in a planned, insider attack by one of the Afghan commandos he was training.

In the months and now years since Brent’s shocking death, Jennie has unexpectedly and frequently found herself in a position to speak out about the price of freedom, the value of community support, and the healing that can be found when moving forward with a conviction to find hope and happiness in spite of life’s heartache and pain.

You can read more about Major Brent Taylor below:

Military Times

https://www.majorbrenttaylor.com/

And watch Jennie’s Ted Talk here

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Ep 088 | Combat Controllers – Small Force, Big Impact

February 7, 2022 By Thad Forester

CMSgt (retired) Michael Lamonica and MSG (retired) Kyle Stanbro, both retired Air Force combat controllers join us to break down what CCT’s do and their roles in the war on terror, Afghanistan withdrawal, and humanitarian missions throughout the world. And, why CCTs are arguably the deadliest force to ever walk the planet.

With each of them having over 30 yrs of active service, they’ve experienced a wide range of deployments, both combat related and due to natural disasters. In addition, they’ve trained CCT’s in the pipeline.

We also discuss their fundraising efforts for the Combat Control Association. Mike is the President and Kyle is a member of the board and they have worked tirelessly to raise money thru the Combat Control Foundation so they can support CCT’s and their families in times of need.

Previous episodes mentioned:

Episode 15 – Ronnie Rains

Episode 64 – Dan Schilling – Alone at Dawn

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Ep 087 | Kyle Defoor – Former SEAL, Sniper and current Firearms Instructor

December 27, 2021 By Thad Forester

To end the year, I’m playing my all-time most downloaded episode.

Right after high school graduation, Kyle Defoor @defoorproformanceshooting left for boot camp in Orlando. A few months later, he was in Coronado going thru BUD/S as an 18-year-old kid.

We talk about growing up together in the small town of Haleyville, AL. And since his chances of playing D-1 football were looking slim, he joined the military. He knew he wanted some type of special operations, but all he knew was the Army’s Green Beret’s (from watching Rambo). After meeting with an overweight Army recruiter, he moved along and met a decent Navy recruiter showing the old video “Someone Special”.

Kyle also shares how he prepared for the Navy and BUD/S. These were pre-internet days, so information wasn’t easy to get. He went to the library and talked with a man in town who was a SEAL from the Vietnam era.

After serving 10 years in the Navy, he got out, did some contracting and other odd jobs and then formed his own company in 2010 “Defoor Proformance Shooting”.

This episode is good stuff from an experienced special operator who was part of multiple military operations globally. He also speaks in generalities about the teams he was part of.

If you’re preparing for BUD/S, this is a good one to listen to b/c you get some insight on Kyle’s mindset and advice. He also shares what he’d do differently.

Read more about Kyle and you’ll understand why he says “boot camp was the greatest thing ever” and why he’d do BUD/S again.

Kyle Defoor supports The Mark Forester Foundation

My notes from Kyle’s Scoped Rifle Class

*This is a rebroadcast from 2017*

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