green beret Archives -

Ep 110 | Special: Kenny Alicea & Mark Forester – Beautiful Symphony of Death and Destruction

September 29, 2023 By Thad Forester

On this 13th anniversary of the death of my brother, SrA Mark Forester, I have the opportunity to talk with Kenny Alicea who was the Senior Weapons Sergeant for his Army Special Forces team (ODA 7212) where Mark was attached.

Kenny contacted me a few weeks ago and told me he was on that final mission when Mark and Calvin were killed. He was a few hundred meters away with the mounted element, but he heard the radio calls and helped clear the area after their deaths. He helps piece together a few more details about Mark’s final moments.

In addition, Alicea told me about some initial disagreements and arguments he and Mark had and how they resolved those and worked together to bring destruction to terrorists and protect their teams. Hint: both of them said they own the airspace. Once they started working together, he said Mark was phenomenal at his job.

You can connect with Kenny on his YouTube Channel that helps vets in the private security contracting field: https://www.youtube.com/@VetsToPSC

For those watching the YouTube version, I hope you enjoy the slideshow at the very end of the interview.

Mentioned in this episode:

Ep 60: Captain Wes Wilson – Ken’s team captain gives lots of detail on that battle too

Ep 38: Bobby Bonello – Mark’s good friend escorting him home to Dover AFB – Angel Flight

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
https://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Watch this interview on YouTube

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Ep 102 | Darrell Utt – Army Special Forces (Ret.) and National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Chief of Bus. Ops

March 13, 2023 By Thad Forester

MSG Darrell Utt retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces in January of 2017 after 26.5 years in the Army.

For this episode, he joins me in person and we have a great time covering the purpose of the National Medal of Honor Museum being constructed in Arlington, TX and why TX was chosen over Colorado. It seems Jerry Jones had something to do with it too.

He shares some Medal of Honor recipients who most resonate with him and what the Medal of Honor recipients want this museum to actually be–focus on courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship and patriotism.

We also discuss his time in Iraq in 2006 with Operation Parliament. He and his team were able to rescue a hostage unharmed after letting the kidnappers know in no uncertain terms that it would be in their best interest to release her to avoid further action against them.

In addition, we cover his favorite books, IEDs, his Alive Day of April 17, 2006–how 1″ made the difference, leadership lessons from Iraq, control what you can control, can’t fake preparation, calm breeds calm and more. Thanks for visiting me in Huntsville Darrell!

Mentioned in this podcast:

Burn the Boats book
Darrell on Combat Story podcast
Where the Red Fern Grows book
Last Out – Elegy of a Green Beret by Scott Mann
Ep 29: Larry and Janice Brown, parents of Adam Brown
Ep. 69: Woody Williams
Ep. 62: Sammy Davis

*Big thanks to M. Troy Bye at Our Town Podcast for hosting us in his studio.

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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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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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Episode 025 – Blayne Smith, Executive Director of Team RWB

April 3, 2017 By Thad Forester

Blayne Smith-Team RWB Blayne Smith is the Executive Director of Team RWB (red, white and blue), a nonprofit that has become one the nation’s fastest growing veteran service organizations by “enriching the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.”

In this episode, Blayne discusses his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a Scout Platoon Leader, and SF ODA officer, respectively. We dive into some details of leadership on the battlefield while down range. He shares how his team worked to be unified, even though they had several members attached who weren’t Green Berets who’d worked together for a few years. This was common with their Air Force combat controllers (JTAC’s), Special Operations Weathermen, dog trainers, etc.

Blayne struggled after he returned home and separated from the Army. He found he couldn’t push aside his memories and friendships during his time serving. Smith also needed to deal with the feelings of losing teammates during his final deployment. He became a different person: the tires on his mountain bike went flat. The soles of his golf shoes rotted. His guitar sat silent, and he lost confidence in himself.

Team RWB

He found therapy in getting out in his community, running, and thanks to a friend, joined Team RWB. He counsels those who are struggling (veteran or not) to “take care of it. Talk to somebody.” He also found great success at the VA. Additionally, Team RWB is in over 200 cities across the country and their shirts are easy to spot at any running event in the US.

This West Point grad was in college when we were attacked on 9/11. After his first deployment, he cross-trained to special forces and deployed to Afghanistan as a detachment commander for the 3rd Special Forces Group. It was an honor to talk to this Patriot who has dedicated his days to serving others.

You’ll also enjoy hearing Blayne Smith and J.J. Pinter on Eagle Nation podcast. Links with more info below:

https://www.teamrwb.org/

Eagle Nation podcast

Here is a little more background on Blayne:

www.teamrwb.org/blog/blayne-smith-a-soldier-in-parts/

Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.
Copyright 2017 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

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