healing Archives -

Matthew Roland was killed-in-action in Afghanistan in August 2015 in an insider attack (aka “green on blue”) at an Afghan-led security checkpoint. Killed alongside him was teammate SSgt Forrest Sibley, both Air Force Combat Controllers attached to an Army Special Forces team.

Matthew’s father Mark, shares what happened, how Matthew responded instantly and what his and Forrest’s final moments were like. In addition, we talk about the notification process, grief, healing and the CCT community and support.

Matthew was awarded the Silver Star for his actions that day. You can read the citation here.

Also mentioned in this episode is Danny Sanchez, who was another CCT killed in a green on blue attack. His mother was a guest in episode 99.

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You can watch this interview with Mark Roland here: https://youtu.be/XLhUOs8_9JE

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Scott’s younger brother, Steven, was killed-in-action in Afghanistan in Aug. 2010 at the same time that Scott was deployed just miles away.

Not only did Scott (@scottdeluzio) have to receive the news of Steven’s death while Scott and his unit were outside the wire, his teammates had to engage in combat until he could get on a bird and to his brother’s body.

Anger immediately ensued, almost a homicidal rage. Scott opens up about the next few days of getting home to his parents before Steven’s body, dealing with the media, using alcohol to cope and sleep, and how he got to a point where he had to make some changes. Thankfully he had a supportive wife and found the right people at the VA to help him out.

You can learn more about Scott and Steven by reading his book, Surviving Son. His parents lost one of their two sons for the price of freedom. And in Scott’s words, speaking of Afghans: “The gift of freedom is priceless, even if the recipients only experience it for a short time.”

Mentioned in this episode:

Drive On Podcast
Scott on PUT6 podcast
Scott on HeroFront podcast

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Ep 119 | Mark Roland – Insider Attack!

Ep 097 | Scott DeLuzio – Surviving Son