notification Archives -

Sept 29, 2020 is the 10th anniversary of Mark Forester’s death in Afghanistan. The picture in this post is Mark’s body being taken from the C-17 at Dover AFB for the Dignified Transfer.

My guest is General Robert Armfield who was Mark’s group commander in 2010. Armfield was also at Dover when Mark’s body arrived, he visited our home to provide additional details of his death, and was in the background helping lead the notification activities.

We discuss how they arranged simultaneously notifying our family, how they watched Mom and Dad’s home until Dad got home from work. Why they called the sheriff before they delivered the news and how they prepare to bring this news that rocks someone’s world instantly.

He also shares the purpose of that last big mission Mark and his team were on. It was great to have this experienced, American warfighter on the show and we appreciate him reflecting on Mark’s death from Gwyn’s unique perspective.

“I cannot think of another Air Force general who has more combat time than Brig. Gen. Armfield,” said retired Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel, former commander of Air Force Special Operations Command and officiant of Armfield’s retirement ceremony.

Learn more about Brig. Gen. Armfield here

Mentioned in this show:

HBO original movie: Taking Chance

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It seemed Li nda Ambard was the last person to find out about her husband, Maj. Philip Ambard’s death. The media knew, her co-workers knew and even some of her children found out via social media.

Linda shares why her late husband immigrated to the United States, learned English, along with 7 other languages, and then chose to join the Air Force.

Her notification and details of this death were far from effective, but we know who his killer was. It was an insider–someone he and his teammates trusted. Since, she’s been on a mission to help the Air Force know where to improve and to help military spouses understand how to avoid some of the challenges she faced in the days following his death.

Linda still doesn’t have clear answers, but she’s forgiven Phil’s killer (who killed a total of 9 Americans that day) and has “hope” for the Afghan people.

Since his death, she’s run 55 marathons (total of 200) on six continents. She’s been on the Antarctica Marathon waiting list and will accomplish that goal in 2021. She’s a champion of getting outside, running, and relying on your faith to get thru challenges. She’s a woman of action and change. It was great having her on Patriot to the Core!

You can get her book here and learn more about her husband Maj. Phil Ambard:

Courageously Alive

Afghan Pilot wanted to kill Americans

Copyright 2020 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

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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Ep 076 – Special: Brig. Gen. Gwyn Armfield | Behind the scenes of our Next-of-Kin notifications

Ep 073 – Linda Ambard | Courageously Alive

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