afghanistan Archives - Page 2 of 3 -

Ep 094 | Ish Villegas – 2-time Silver Star Recipient

September 19, 2022 By Thad Forester

Ish Villegas is one of three people who have received the Silver Star twice, since 9/11.

Today he walks us thru the battle in 2009 where he got his first Silver Star. It was a 16 hour fight that resulted in at least 32 enemy insurgents killed. During this fight, Ish ran 200 feet across an open, uncleared IED minefield to more effective position and returned fire with his M-4 and then directed aircraft (rotary and fixed wing) onto the enemy locations in a surgical and lethal manner. It’s an incredible story; one that he completed with two broken arms.

He also trained my brother, Mark Forester, at FOB Cobra/Tinsley and we are forever grateful for his friendship to Mark and for showing him the ropes in one of the most active areas in all of Afghanistan.

Ish is a great American and we’re lucky to have men like him on our side. You can listen to details of his 2nd Silver Star here on Black Rifle Coffee.

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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 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 084 | Zach Asmus and Cress Clippard on Afghanistan and SIV’s

September 6, 2021 By Thad Forester

Afghanistan. What can I say? Well, I have a lot to say, but I’m not unloading my feelings here–much. We lost 13 American lives. At least 18 are injured, last I read (trying to get correct #). My heart goes out to their families. These heroes haven’t gotten the attention they deserve.

Now that our President has declared the war over, what is happening with the thousands of Afghans who are coming to the USA? How are they being vetted? How can we trust them? Why did we leave so many trusted Afghan partners behind? What will happen to them? The questions go on and on for so many of us.

Zach Asmus, former Air Force combat controller, and Cress Clippard, former Marine, have been taking action for several years not only by helping veterans transition from the service, but by helping with the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process to get Afghans and Iraqi’s to the US to live better lives. These are people who have proven themselves as trusted by their US teammates as terrorists hunters and who have been vetted.

I’ve had a ton of anger recently, but that’s not going to solve one of the big problems at hand–what do we do with the SIV’s who are here, and who are coming? Zach and Cress are experts on the SIV process and explain it all. And what were the documents the Afghans were showing to our Marines at the airport and at Taliban checkpoints; and why many of those Afghans who are left have been instructed to burn anything that connects them to the US.

You can learn how Zach and Cress are making Americans by visiting:

Combined Arms

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Ep 080 – Three Wise Men

March 15, 2021 By Thad Forester

In 2010, Beau and Ben Wise buried their big brother Jeremy. Two years later, Beau buried his brother Ben. He went from the youngest son to the only son.

Their parents are the only known U.S. military family to lose two sons in Afghanistan during the 19+ year war.

In this interview, I’m privileged to have Beau Wise and his co-author of “Three Wise Men“, Tom Sileo.

After top U.S. officials realized that two Wise brothers had been lost, Beau, a Marine, was permanently pulled from the battlefield – becoming the only U.S. service member to be removed from combat as a result of such extraordinary events in Afghanistan.

Great Americans, sad and powerful story.

You can read more of Tom Sileo’s books here.

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