iraq Archives -

Ep 111 | Don Stevens – Security Forces, Combat Control, Burn the Ships, PTSD

November 6, 2023 By Thad Forester

Don Stevens is one of those rare operators who retrained into the Air Force combat control (CCT) pipeline at the age of 32, after being in security forces. This required uncommon humility since leadership said, “What are we gonna do with a MSgt. who doesn’t know squat (many different strong words could be inserted here)?”

Even though I’ve had several CCT’s on this show, we haven’t talked much about their humanitarian roles. Don tells us how he got a team ready to deploy to Haiti in less than 4 hours, when the earthquake in 2010 happened.

Stevens provides advice to new guys entering the CCT pipeline, why PTSD doesn’t have to be a big deal, and shared the scariest thing he’s ever done. Hint, it wasn’t in Afghanistan or Africa.

You can also learn more about Don as the co-founder of FoxTrot 3.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thai Soccer Team Rescue

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Ep 108 | Rich Brown – Marine, Author, American Warrior Society Co-Founder, Savage Somm

July 31, 2023 By Thad Forester

Retired U. S. Marine and former Policeman, bouncer, Corrections Officer and more Rich Brown (@american_warrior_society) is back on the show so I can dig into his new Memoir “On Violence & Varietals“.

We cover many areas of his life: fighting as a boy, the Gulf War, sleeping with one eye open, interacting with prisoners as a corrections officer while safeguarding his family, marriage trials, combatives, Highway of Death, 80’s music, dominating at Police Academy, pepper spray, and so much more.

An excerpt from his book states: “At the moment of cease-fire, I emerged from the metal-skinned C-7 changed. I looked at my hands and the hands of the men around me. During the last several days, I had brought death, yet I had emerged from the land of the dead. I was reborn, transformed from the Rich Brown that began the assault to a man ready to take his place in the tribe.”

Brown would give anything to have journals from his ancestors. Since he kept good records while deployed and beyond, he wanted to leave this record for his posterity; at least this is one reason he wrote the book.

Rich is almost a jack of all trades, and holds belts in Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kinami Ryu Aiki Jujutsu, Judo, MCMAP, and Okinawan Freestyle Karate.

You can also listen to Rich on Episode 51
American Warrior Society

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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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

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Episode 035 – Creating a National Symbol of Remembrance | George Lutz

August 21, 2017 By Thad Forester

In 2005, George Lutz opened his door to two uniformed Army officers who spoke these five devastating words: “We regret to inform you…” His son Tony had been KIA on 12/29 at just 25 years old. A short time later, Honor and Remember was born.

Since starting Honor and Remember, George’s goal has been to have the Honor and Remember flag recognized nationally. Currently 23 states have officially adopted it as a symbol of remembrance. He encourages us to help him get more states on board.

All Gold Star families qualify for one of their flags. Unfortunately, there are 1000 families on the waiting list today because of lack of funds.

Run for the Fallen

Beginning in April of 2018, Honor and Remember is teaming up with Run for the Fallen to run over 6000 miles across America to honor all our fallen service members since the USS Cole. It will start in San Diego and end in Arlington National Cemetery 120 days later. Their web site will show you where they will be each day and you can search by death date of your loved one to see where in their route the runners will be when representing a specific death date.

See below how you can get involved, if you so desire. It’s pretty remarkable to see so many people run this monumental distance. Throw in all the volunteers and it’s moving to see and/or take part in.

Learn more about George, his organization, and Run for the Fallen:

http://www.honorandremember.org/

Run for the Fallen

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Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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