1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: They're just like us, right. I think a lot of 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: times what we do is we look at these men 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: and women who wear uniforms, or you look at stories 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: like David Belvie's and they're painted in a way of like, oh, 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: they're just larger than life. And I could never do that. 6 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: And you know, the one thing I want to say 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: is is the medal of Honor is nothing more. The 8 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: story of that day is nothing more than what all 9 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: the people who are listening to this, Any human being 10 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: that has err inside their lungs is capable of if 11 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: they believe in a cause bigger than themselves, and they 12 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 1: love people so much that they're willing to stop the 13 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: suffering and do whatever it takes to stop suffering of 14 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: other human beings, even if it's at the cost of 15 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: their lives. That's what the potential, the untapped potential in 16 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: every human being that walks to face the planet. 17 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 2: Welcome to an army of normal folks. I'm Bill Fortney. 18 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 2: I'm a normal guy. I'm a husband, I'm a father, 19 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 2: I'm an entrepreneur, and I've been a football coach an 20 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 2: inner City Memphis. And somehow that last part it led 21 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 2: to us getting an Oscar for the film about our team. 22 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 2: That movie's called Undefeated. Guys, I believe our country's problems 23 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: will never be solved by a bunch of fancy people 24 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 2: and nice suits using big words that nobody ever uses 25 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 2: on Cinan in Fox, but rather by an army of 26 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 2: normal folks. That's us, just you and me deciding, Hey, 27 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 2: you know what I can help. That's what Dakota Meyer, 28 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: the voice you just heard, has done. When his fellow 29 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: soldiers were ambushed by over fifty Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 2: Dakota disregarded orders not to enter the fight, and he did. 31 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: He and his driver risked their lives to rescue get this, 32 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: over two dozen Afghan soldiers. He saved their lives, and 33 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 2: after he suffered a shrapne a wound to his arm, 34 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 2: he still continued on and brought back the dead bodies 35 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: of four American soldiers. Dakota is not exactly normal, given 36 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 2: that he's a Medal of Honor recipient, but we're featuring 37 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: him as part of our special series Supporting Greatness, where 38 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 2: we interview not so normal folks like Mike Rowe. You 39 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: may remember that, but instead of blowing smoke up there, well, 40 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: you know what, we celebrate the normal folks and unsung 41 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 2: heroes who supported them and shaped their lives. I cannot 42 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 2: wait for you to meet Dakota and his own army 43 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 2: in normal folks who supported him. Right after these brief 44 00:02:43,400 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: messages from our generous sponsors, Dakota Meyer, Welcome to Memphis. 45 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: Glad to be here. Thank you. 46 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 2: So what did you do this morning? 47 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 1: You know, I went over I gave a little speech 48 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: over at City Current. You know what an awesome organization doing, 49 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: you know, great work for uh you know Memphis. I 50 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 1: mean it's just such an incredible all the people are incredible. 51 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, listen, this is ah, I guess free publicity, but 52 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 2: Lipscomb and Pitts Insurance Company has supported a number of 53 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: things and that that breakfast is one of them. And 54 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 2: my buddy Jeremy Parker, I know you've spent some time 55 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: with handles all of that stuff, and every quarter they 56 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: bring some pretty impressive people to Memphis for a breakfast 57 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 2: and you're it. 58 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, well here I am. You know it's you know, 59 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: I have to usually I apologize. I didn't do it 60 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: this morning. I forgot except like he put me. You know, Jeremy, 61 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: he's a he is a he's a driver, right, like, 62 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: I mean he puts timelines on everything to cut you off. 63 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: I mean he's like he's like like he like, let 64 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: me tell you something. He is the schedules, the schedule, right, 65 00:03:59,360 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: they don't. 66 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, schedule those progressive black glasses and a buoy jacket 67 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: and just driving. 68 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: He's all business business. I got you. There's no relaxation, Jerremy, 69 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: you know so. But but no, it was. It was 70 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: truly incredible to be part of it and to see 71 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,359 Speaker 1: what they're doing and the work that they're doing about 72 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: you know, building community and service and just I mean 73 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: really really incredible. 74 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 2: It's a blessing for Memphis. So why the hell do 75 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 2: they want you to speak? Who are you? What's up 76 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 2: with your world? Man? 77 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: I don't know, Like I think they had a cancelation. 78 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:36,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, they Maybe it has to do with the fact, yeah, 79 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 2: that you're one of the three living Medal of Honor 80 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 2: recipients in our country, well from from the Marines. 81 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: On the marine side, there was there's only been three 82 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 1: Marines get the Medal of Honor, one one passed away. 83 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: Two of us. But I think there's there's I think 84 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 1: there's thirteen now I don't know, Honestly, I don't know, 85 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: but yeah, I think that's yeah, that's probably what got it. 86 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: It's pretty thin air, bro, Yeah, rare right, But you know, look, 87 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: it's just a it was just an opportunity that was 88 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: put in front of me, and you know, I I 89 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: was just their right time, right place. 90 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 2: So I only got to find out less than twenty 91 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 2: four hours ago that we were going to have time 92 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 2: to do this. Yeah, So my prep on you, Well, 93 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 2: first of all, I'd already known your name because of 94 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: David Bellavia, my buddy who has also a Medal of 95 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,919 Speaker 2: Honor recipient, who mentioned you, and so I looked you 96 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 2: up six months ago or a year ago. Never thought 97 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 2: I'd sit down across from you. So it really is 98 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 2: an honor to be with you. But when David was 99 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 2: a guest on the show, he mentioned. 100 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 1: You, and I just want to say this, David is 101 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: a guy that we all look. 102 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: Up to, we as an other Medal Honor I. 103 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: Mean, I think, I mean, if they don't, they're not 104 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: looking at the right place, right, I Mean, David is 105 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 1: a David not only David's story, but David's passion towards 106 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 1: doing you know, the greater good in America, in our communities. 107 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: And you know, I mean, David is a guy that 108 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: we could all get better by knowing he is. 109 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: He's incredible, but all of you guys are incredible. Let's 110 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 2: get into the incredible. This is an army of normal folks, 111 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: and Medal of honor winners just can't be considered normal folks. 112 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: But inside our show we do an occasional kind of 113 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: sub segment called Sporting Greatness, which is what today is. 114 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 2: And I really want to talk to you about the 115 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 2: folks in your life that supported you getting to a 116 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 2: place that you could even achieve the greatness you've achieved. 117 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 2: But for our listeners who don't know you, could you 118 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 2: briefly tell me the events that led to you being 119 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 2: nomin nominated for and receiving a Bend recipient of the medal. 120 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, so I was. I was in the Marine Corps. 121 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: I was a sniper in the Marine Corps and was 122 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: detached from my snipers unit and went over to what 123 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: was called an embedded training team. And this was in 124 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: two thousand and nine, and I'd already been to Iraq 125 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 1: September September eighty, two thousand and nine. But I'd already been. 126 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: After I've been, I'd already been to Iraq and then 127 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: was going to Afghanistan. And you know, we were on 128 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: an embedded training team and so basically the mission for 129 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: US is there was four US and eighty Afghans on 130 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: a base and we were going into a valley called 131 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: the Ganggul Valley on September eight, two thousand and nine 132 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: and going in to basically do a chi leader engagement. 133 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: And so I was taken out of my team. I 134 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: was left with the trucks as my As the team 135 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: went in, it was a ninety man patrol. They went in, 136 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: they'd been set up, and uh, it was just a 137 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: huge gunfight. And then you know, we meet a driver. 138 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: We knew we had to do something to help out 139 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: the team, and so we made multiple trips in. 140 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 2: Uh what does make multiple trips in? Mean? 141 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: Just basically you know, the first trip in, we went 142 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: in a gun truck with a fifty cow. We went 143 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: in and the idea was if we could shove that 144 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: gun truck as far as we could up in the valley, 145 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: we could hope hopefully push off and hold the enemy 146 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: down so that people could get out. 147 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 2: And people as an Afghan. 148 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: Soldiers or Marines, army, everybody, you know, all all of 149 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: our all of our coalition forces. 150 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 2: That were pinned down. 151 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, so they're pinned down in this valley. They were 152 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: stuck because like they're already surrounded on three sides. And 153 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: then I mean the enemy was just we'd been set up, 154 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: so basically they were he was ready, and so trying 155 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: to go in and help them, they were all pinned down. 156 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: And uh so we went in multiple trips. You know, 157 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: I don't know, four or five. Who knows, Like you 158 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: can't say numbers because then people people out there that 159 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: are like, ah, well it wasn't four, it was five, 160 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: or it was three and a half. And I mean 161 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: it's just but anyway, who knows multiple trips and multiple 162 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: vehicles and with the with the concept of trying to cover, 163 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: shield and then help out the injured, the wounded, uh, 164 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: recovering get out. 165 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 2: Of that valley. 166 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean there's bodies everywhere. I mean, there's bodies everywhere, 167 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: you know, and it was just it was just it 168 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: was the most chaotic day of my life. Like when 169 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: you talk about when you talk about a range of 170 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: just emotions of a situation. First off bigger than you 171 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: could have ever imagined, and uh, you're not having enough resources, 172 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: not being feeling like you can do everything you want 173 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: to do, help people at the level you want to help. 174 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,719 Speaker 1: I mean, it was just a chaotic day of of 175 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,319 Speaker 1: of just chaos. 176 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: How old were you? 177 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: I was twenty one. 178 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 2: Twenty one is when you're supposed to be a junior 179 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 2: senior in college drinking upside down of a keg. 180 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I think I think for some people, right, 181 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: I mean I think, you know, we we have a 182 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 1: demographic of human beings that that choose to be greater 183 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: people and not not not greater, but they choose to 184 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: They're just it's like us, right. I think a lot 185 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: of times what we do is we look at these 186 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 1: men and women who wear uniforms, or you look at 187 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: stories like David Belvie's and they're painted in a way 188 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: of like, oh, they're just larger than life. And I 189 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: could never do that. And you know, the one thing 190 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: I want to say is is the medal of honor 191 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: is nothing more. The story of that day is nothing 192 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: more than what all the people who are listening to this, 193 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: any human being that has air inside their lungs is 194 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: capable of if they believe in a cause bigger than themselves, 195 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: and they love people so much that they're willing to 196 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: stop the suffering and do whatever it takes to stop 197 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: suffering of other human beings, even if it's at the 198 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:41,199 Speaker 1: cost of their lives. That's what the potential, the untapped 199 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: potential in every human being that walks the face of 200 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: the planet. 201 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,439 Speaker 2: You know, when you say something like that, chills run 202 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 2: up my spine, because that's exactly what we talk about 203 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,559 Speaker 2: as this army of normal folks is really what can 204 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 2: change the world. And what you're saying is it's no 205 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: different than the real army of normal folks. 206 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: The sheer power. I mean, I don't care what anybody says, 207 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: the sheer like America's military is the most powerful organization 208 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 1: on the planet. Like you can get into whatever you 209 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: want to. I disagree. You can't show me facts. That's 210 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: show anything other than that. 211 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 2: As David Bellavia would say, we are the best force 212 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 2: on the face of the planet, and we are there 213 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 2: for good. But if you screw if us, someone else 214 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 2: will raise your children. 215 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: And he's right, and and but but let me tell 216 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: you what makes us different than any other military it's 217 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 1: it's two things. And I want to tell you this 218 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: for a reason, because you know, our military is the 219 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: only military that this swears allegiance to a piece of paper, 220 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 1: not to a political affiliation, not to a person, not 221 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: to single seat. It's the Constitution of the United States. 222 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: And in that constitution, the only allegiance that the military 223 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: makes an oath to is we the people, the people 224 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: of America. Period. The second pieces is that commitment that 225 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: we make when we raise their right hand to choose 226 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:07,439 Speaker 1: to be that there's no conditions on it. It's forever. 227 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: And so the sheer power of the American military comes 228 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: from the power unity of people, of the American people. 229 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: The American people are the most resilient, strongest people. It's 230 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 1: not the technology, it's not the weapons that we have, 231 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: none of that is what makes us the most lethal 232 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 1: fighting force on the planet. It is the sheer power 233 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 1: of what is capable when people come together for a 234 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: common belief of the greater good of people. And that 235 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: is the potential of Americans out there if we all 236 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: come together and were united. 237 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 2: And now a few messages from our general sponsors, But 238 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 2: first I hope you'll consider signing up to join the 239 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 2: Army at normal folks dot us. By signing up, you'll 240 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 2: receive a weekly email with short episode summaries in case 241 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 2: you happen to miss an episode or if you prefer 242 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 2: reading about our incredible guests. We'll be right back on 243 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 2: that day in September. As you keep going in and 244 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 2: out and your words, there's bodies everywhere. You're very important 245 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 2: for people to remember. We didn't invade Afghanistan. We went 246 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 2: to fight along Afghanis trying to fight for their country 247 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 2: against a terrorist insurgeons called the Taliban. And so what 248 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 2: a lot of people fail to recognize is your brothers 249 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 2: in arms weren't just Americans, they were Afghans. Yeah. 250 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 1: I mean my Afghan soldiers were just as close to 251 00:13:56,440 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: me as the Marines. I mean I worked with those 252 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: those guys every day, and they were, I mean incredible people. 253 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: And you know what a lot of people don't realize 254 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: is is and I think they see it now, But 255 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: what a lot of people don't realize is there's nobody 256 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: who wants the Taliban gone more than the people of Afghanistan. 257 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, no kidding. If we had that in the United States, 258 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 2: we would want them gone worse than anybody are. 259 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, So it's like when you're right, you're right. Like 260 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: a lot of people, they just repeat what they've heard. 261 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: It's weaponization of words and half truths and all this 262 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: for political agendas or media agendas or whatever. Right, but 263 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: but but the real facts are is that that that 264 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: the people of Afghanistan wanted the Taliban gone more than anybody, 265 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: and and when we were there, we did that. You 266 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: know what I mean, we listen, we gave an entire generation. 267 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 1: So I hate when I hear people say, oh, we 268 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 1: lost Afghanistan. I don't know what like, No, we didn't. 269 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: When American when there was an American flag on the 270 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: soul of Afghanistan, the place was safer, and we didn't 271 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: lose Afghanistan. We we, like most people don't even know 272 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 1: we intended to go over there and do. But what 273 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: we intended to do and what we did while we 274 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: were there, we made that place safer. We gave an 275 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: entire generation freedom, We gave an entire generation to go 276 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: to women to be able to go to school and 277 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: be educated. We gave them the best shot at democracy 278 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: that they've ever had. And that's what we do as Americans. 279 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 2: So you have an Afghani brother in arms down and 280 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 2: you go to render aid or at least retrieve his body, 281 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 2: and you shoot a guy that you think is dead, 282 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 2: and then something really fateful happens. 283 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was dont A Lee. You know, Dottal Lee 284 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: was he was an n c O, So like we 285 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: were closer with the n c os because that you 286 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: know that that was who we were mentoring. The troops 287 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: below him, obviously we knew a lot of them, but 288 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: Dottallely was an NCO and he spoke a lot of English, 289 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: so it was easier to communicate with him, and I 290 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: used him a lot to help me. He taught me 291 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: a lot of his language and just naturally we could 292 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: communicate with each other. So yeah, I came up on 293 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: him and he had been killed as I was trying 294 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: to get his body out. And first of. 295 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 2: All, yeah, before we go to the next part, which 296 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 2: as I listened to this morning, I gotta tell you, 297 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 2: not like a boo hoo cry, but tears streamed down 298 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 2: my eyes. A twenty one year old looking at a 299 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 2: dude you forged a relationship with. That's an Afghany, that's 300 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 2: kind of like one of your guys in its middle 301 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 2: of this horrific firefight that you keep going in and 302 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 2: out and there's bodies everywhere, and now he's dead and 303 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 2: you're risking your life. Just get his body. I have 304 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 2: a hard time even fathoming that as a twenty one 305 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 2: year old kid. 306 00:16:55,800 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: Listen, I watched every everything that I love to get 307 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 1: killed right in front of me that day, Like, I 308 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:12,959 Speaker 1: mean everything that I cared about, everything from my career 309 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: all the way down to I mean, I left the 310 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 1: room on a Monday that we all lived in in 311 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: my house, and I returned on a Thursday and everybody 312 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: that lived in that house with me was dead. But 313 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 1: this is part of life, you know, and it the 314 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: more you go through, the more you learn, and the 315 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: more you can help others go through it. There's an 316 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: opportunity in all of it. And so you know, I 317 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: came up on Dotally Dolly was. I'd seen him that morning, 318 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: like he was always laughing and joking, and yeah, the 319 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: next minute he's dead, right, and and you know, so 320 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: I'm trying to get him out and a guy comes 321 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: up behind me. I'm on my knee and he hits 322 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 1: me with a like I feel like I feel a 323 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: hit on the back of my head. I don't know 324 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: if you ever hit your head, but you see like 325 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 1: the little stars, and. 326 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 2: That's that's what kind of what I read football knows it. 327 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, there you go. I turned around. This guy's standing 328 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: over me with the gun and he's waiting for me 329 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: to go with him. You know, I turned and ended up. 330 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 1: You know, long story short, I pulled the trigger on 331 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: my gun. I'm like, well, I'm gonna make this guy 332 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 1: kill me. Like I had already decided, I'm not going anywhere, 333 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: like like I'm like, I don't want anybody else to 334 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: get killed, and and like this guy's gonna have to 335 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 1: earn it. And so I turned around. I ended up 336 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 1: squeezing the trigger on my my rifle hit the guy 337 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,679 Speaker 1: in the chest and I thought he was dead. And 338 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: so now I'm back, I'm getting shot at. I'm laying down. 339 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: I'm trying to get dot a lee up and this 340 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: guy starts to choke me out. 341 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 2: And the whole time this is going on, there's a 342 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 2: machine gun position just raining fire down on you. 343 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 1: Right, And that's why I was laying down on the 344 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: ground because I was trying to get lower. And yeah, 345 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: I get little and I was trying this guy's next 346 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 1: to me, you know, he starts to choke me out, 347 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 1: and I yeah, and I just like because I thought 348 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: he was like and and look, I mean you look 349 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:04,360 Speaker 1: back at it. I think about it all the time, 350 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 1: and you know, anyways, so he starts choking me out, 351 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,919 Speaker 1: and I thought I was gonna pass out, and I 352 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,399 Speaker 1: just like relax. And who knows, who knows why he 353 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: let up. I mean, he could have been bleeding out. 354 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: Who knows, right, Like, there could have been a lot 355 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 1: of factors to it, but he ended up letting out. 356 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 1: I got around him, and I just I couldn't get 357 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: my gun. I couldn't get anything to kill this guy with, 358 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: and so I grab a rock and I just start like, 359 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: I just start like, I'm on this guy and fighting 360 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: back and forth, and I'm on top of him, and 361 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: I just grab his rock and I just start beating 362 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 1: him and and I just I just beat his I 363 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:43,919 Speaker 1: just beat him until he until he died. But I 364 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: tell you, like, the only guy, out of anything I've 365 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 1: ever done, the only guy I think about or see 366 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: is him, And and that guy changed my life more 367 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: than anything else. There's no other single event that changed 368 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: my life and my perspective of the world more than 369 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: that guy. And I appreciate that guy so much. I 370 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: appreciate that guy giving his life to teach me the 371 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:17,439 Speaker 1: lessons that he taught me, which was unconditional love. You know. 372 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 1: It's not like there's a thing that you know, the 373 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 1: one thing I there's a thing that people there's a 374 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: look on somebody's face when they know they're going to die, 375 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: you know, And people don't like to talk about this. 376 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 1: People don't like that. Everybody likes to talk about people 377 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: coming in this world, but they don't like to talk 378 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 1: about going out. And I think that when you're with 379 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: somebody when they're going out of the world, it's such 380 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: an honor, such an honor for you to be able 381 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 1: to share those last moments on earth with people. And 382 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: and you know, I remember being over this guy and 383 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,439 Speaker 1: he realized that it was his life that was gonna end. 384 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 1: One of us was going to die, right, And he 385 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: realized there was a spot to where I'd hit him 386 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,479 Speaker 1: about three times that I remember looking his face of 387 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 1: like defeat. He knew he was going to die. And 388 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: I'll never forget I just I didn't know this guy. 389 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: We were more like than we were different. I didn't 390 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: hate this guy. I wasn't killing this guy because I 391 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:11,959 Speaker 1: hated him, because like that's what people think about fighting, 392 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 1: fighting is out of hate, and it's not. And so like, 393 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: as I'm about to take this guy's life, it's like, 394 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 1: this guy has a mom and dad that's going to 395 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: miss him, just like mine would. This guy believes in 396 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: his cause as much as I do. You can't argue 397 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: a guy who's willing to give his life for a cause. 398 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:28,199 Speaker 1: And then you go on a little bit further with it. 399 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 1: And really, the only reason that we are in the 400 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: position we're in is because we were born in two 401 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: different places. The only reason we're here at this point 402 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: and next to each other is the one single thing 403 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: that's out of her control. And there's no doubt in 404 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: my mind that if he had been born in America 405 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 1: or I had been born in his country, we would 406 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 1: have been standing on the same side of the fence. 407 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: And you know, when you look at these things, and 408 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: so for me, it made me realize I didn't hate 409 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: this guy. I didn't even know this guy. But I 410 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: just loved my cause and I loved the people around me, 411 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: and that was why I was doing the job that 412 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: I did, And it was at that point that fighting 413 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: was no longer fun to me. It was no longer 414 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: a game to me. It was no longer just to 415 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: do it, to do it like it was real. It 416 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 1: was the most intimate. It was the most intimate life 417 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 1: that I have ever taken. 418 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 2: The God. Let's see, I gotta phrase this right to 419 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 2: hear you speak about that incident and the first words 420 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,360 Speaker 2: that come out of your mouth are love, are are 421 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 2: are shockingly polar options, really, but when you explain it, 422 00:22:54,000 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 2: it makes so much sense. We'll be right back. You 423 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:10,719 Speaker 2: say there are only two kinds of people in this 424 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:12,920 Speaker 2: world when it all boils down to it, We've got 425 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 2: Democrats Republicans. We've got black, white, Asian, Latino, Hispanic. We've 426 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 2: got gay and straight. We've got Christian and Muslim and 427 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 2: Jewish and agnostic and all these subcategories that sing in 428 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 2: and Fox are inspired by a lot of money and 429 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 2: power to continue to craft narratives that divide us into 430 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: these categories. And people in DC are constantly dividing us 431 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 2: into these categories that here in America we tended to 432 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 2: find ourselves on into time to separate ourselves into. But 433 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 2: you say, none of that matters. You say there's two 434 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 2: kinds of people. 435 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's only two, good and evil. And it's not 436 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: about and I'll tell you too often we judge people 437 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: in a based off of for their character of who 438 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:05,199 Speaker 1: they are forever. There's only two types of people, and 439 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: it's not their actions that necessarily show it. Sometimes it's 440 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 1: their intentions, and it's good and evil. People make mistakes, 441 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: people hurt people, that's normal, but it's their intentions. It's 442 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 1: good and evil. There's only two types of people that 443 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,920 Speaker 1: exist and walk to face the planet, and it's good 444 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 1: and evil. And we have to get back to that 445 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: because you know all this division stuff that is stoked 446 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 1: by I call it weaponization. I mean people weaponize. People 447 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: weaponize religion all the time. They weaponize the Bible, they 448 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: weaponize the Koran. 449 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 2: You were in Afghanistan because people repgnize the religion. 450 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,959 Speaker 1: And look, we need all we need all types. Like 451 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: the worst thing that could ever happen to our country 452 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: of America is that everybody is a Republican or everybody's 453 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: a Democrat. That's the worst thing that could happen. We 454 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,399 Speaker 1: need all kinds. It takes everybody, It takes everybody to 455 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: sit here and listen and to hear other people and 456 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: to to to care. But and so you know, you 457 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:04,919 Speaker 1: go back to it. The most important thing that we 458 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: can do is is being for something will always take 459 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: you further than being against something. 460 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 2: All day long, you say, no, calls built on hate 461 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 2: will survive, but only those built on love. Love is 462 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 2: while we fought overseas what love is while we fought. Now, 463 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 2: just I heard that, and again that's an interesting juxtaposition. 464 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, do you think we go over there 465 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,159 Speaker 1: and like, I wasn't fighting for Republicans or Democrats. I 466 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 1: wasn't fighting for Christians or Muslims. I wasn't I was 467 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: fighting for the greater good. And I'll tell you, the 468 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: way that America does business is different than anybody else. 469 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: And don't you know what people, I'm sure if you, 470 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure you've heard people say, well, why why is it? 471 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: Why are we getting involved? Why is this our business? Right, 472 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: I'm sure you've heard that. And I'll tell you we 473 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: have to because we're the only country on the planet 474 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:58,399 Speaker 1: that fights for the greater good, not just what's in 475 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: our best interest. That's why it doesn't make sense to 476 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: a lot of Americans sometimes or people across the globe. 477 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,360 Speaker 1: Go look at how Russians are doing the business. Go look, 478 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: I mean look, everybody else only does what's good for them. 479 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,879 Speaker 1: Israel is only fighting Hamash right now because they have to. 480 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: It's in their backyard. Russia is only going into Ukraine 481 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: right now because they want that land. Everybody else only 482 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:20,679 Speaker 1: fights for that. When we go in, we fight for 483 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: the greater good. Where there is an American flag across 484 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: the globe, the world's a better place. 485 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:31,199 Speaker 2: I've often said this is my this is this is 486 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 2: my own, Okay, I've often said that, you know, back 487 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 2: in the wild wild West, each of these little towns 488 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 2: that typically cropped up around a gold mine or a 489 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 2: silver mine and started building up. The toughest kind of 490 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 2: town was the sheriff because he had to be, because 491 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 2: they had the brothels and the saloons and everything else. 492 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 2: And honestly, when you saw the sheriff coming down the boardwalk, 493 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:59,880 Speaker 2: he was he was basically a badge away from being 494 00:26:59,880 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 2: an outlaw himself. He was a bad ac dude, right, 495 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,439 Speaker 2: but he was also you know the guy that you know, 496 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,479 Speaker 2: you just on Saturday afternoon when nothing was going on, 497 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 2: you really didn't want to talk to the sheriff much. 498 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 2: But when all hell broke loose, everybody in town was 499 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 2: banging on his door and he was the best guy 500 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 2: on earth. And thank God for the sheriff. And without 501 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 2: the United States, there's not a sheriff in the United 502 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 2: States and in the world. And it drives me freaking 503 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 2: nuts how everybody wants to talk crap about us until 504 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 2: all hell breaks loose and then everybody's standing in line. 505 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 2: Where's America? Well? 506 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 1: I think, I think. I think in life you have 507 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: to decide. So I hate fence sitters. I call him 508 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: fence sitters. You know, people who want both or people 509 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,880 Speaker 1: you know if you because if you how you do 510 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,679 Speaker 1: one thing is how you do everything. The rest of 511 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:58,919 Speaker 1: it's just acting if you do it any outside of that, 512 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,439 Speaker 1: I believe that in life you have to decide and 513 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 1: pick one or the other. Do you want to be 514 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 1: liked or do you want to be trusted? Because they 515 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:11,199 Speaker 1: don't co exist. It's like parenting, like do you want 516 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:12,399 Speaker 1: to be liked? Do you want to be friends with 517 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 1: your kids or do you want to be trusted by 518 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 1: your kids? 519 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:14,959 Speaker 2: Right? 520 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 1: Because they don't. They don't always coexist. And trust respect well, 521 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 1: I mean, you have to. 522 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 2: Trust somebody your respect, not like them, respect them. 523 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 1: And so you know, I think you have to pick 524 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: because you can't be both right and and I think 525 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: that America. When America is strong, the world hates us. 526 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: But when America is weak, the world suffers. And I 527 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: think that, you know, the only thing that's providing stabilization, 528 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 1: any stability on the globe right now is the fact 529 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 1: is that that the enemy is out there, and the 530 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: evil that's trying to do evil out there knows that 531 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 1: if Americans show up, that they will get there be 532 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: twenty four to seven. And that's the only thing that's 533 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,040 Speaker 1: keeping the evil at bay. 534 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 2: As David Bellivy would say, they know someone else will 535 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 2: raise their. 536 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 1: Children, because we have proven that over and over and 537 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: we've got men and women who are willing to go 538 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: give their life at a moment's notice for the greater 539 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: good of humanity. No matter what country, no matter what religion, 540 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 1: no matter what political party. We still have men and 541 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: women in this country, in the United States of America 542 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: that they're unconditional in a conditional world, I sleep. 543 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 2: Well and not knowing they're on the wall. How many 544 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 2: lives were saved by your actions on that day. Not enough, 545 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: give me a number, no clue, a bunch. You don't 546 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 2: get the Medal of Honor if you didn't do something remarkable, bro. 547 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 2: And I know the humility, I get the sacrifice. I 548 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 2: don't even have time to go into thanking you for 549 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 2: your service. I know that you don't want to be 550 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 2: thanked for the service. I know that you want me. 551 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 2: You want to thank me for the opportunity to serve me, 552 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 2: which is an incredible perspective. And I wish I had 553 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 2: an hour and a half to even talk about that 554 00:29:55,720 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 2: with you. I get all of it. Why do you 555 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 2: think you won the metal barner one? Why do you 556 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 2: think you were the recipient of the Medal of Honor? 557 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: I think I was the recipient of it because there 558 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: was more good that need to be done, and I 559 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: was given a platform in order to continue to go 560 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 1: and do good and to be able to go and 561 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 1: take the lessons that were learned that day and hopefully 562 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 1: inspire and empower and change the world, and to remind 563 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: people of how great they are based off the sacrifices 564 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: of the men and women that I got to watch firsthand. 565 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: I'm just to trusted with the stories I was just 566 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: getting And the reason I got the medal was because 567 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: was because the legacy of those men and women die 568 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 1: if I'm not able to go out and share it. 569 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: And look, there's some greater plan. But I mean I 570 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 1: do not I do not have a Medal of honor 571 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: because of any of my actions. 572 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 2: I'm not surprised you're the second Medal of honor. Guy 573 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 2: I've spent time with and the humility always just oozes 574 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 2: out guys. So here's the deal. I would say, there 575 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 2: are people along the path of your life who got 576 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:15,840 Speaker 2: you to that day. Were you willing to wish your 577 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 2: twenty one year old life to save your Afghan brother 578 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 2: in arms, to continue to go in and out of 579 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 2: a valley that was spinned down to save lives and 580 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 2: to somehow find the humility and unconditional love and a 581 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 2: hand to hand combatant. I would say, there's people along, 582 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 2: people along the path of your life that got you 583 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:45,719 Speaker 2: to a place that you could even have that perspective. 584 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, look, I when you talk about guys 585 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 1: that deserve the metal, there are people. It's all those people. 586 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, it's one thing what I did 587 00:31:56,720 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: that day was the easiest day of my life, because 588 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 1: I mean it's right there, like it it's you know 589 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,200 Speaker 1: what I mean, Like it's right there, it's in front 590 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,160 Speaker 1: of you. But all I had to do is do it. 591 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: All these other people had to believe me when they 592 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:12,400 Speaker 1: didn't have to. And you know, when I when I 593 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: look at you know, all the way from coaches, my dad, 594 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 1: you know, you take you take my dad, Big Mike. 595 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:19,000 Speaker 2: You know who Big Mike. 596 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean you talk, you talk about a guy 597 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 1: who I mean, we all we all have children, so 598 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:25,240 Speaker 1: we know how hard it is to raise their own children. 599 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:28,920 Speaker 1: Imagine imagine choosing to raise somebody else's and doing it 600 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 1: with honor and integrity and doing it the right way, 601 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 1: and and and you know, and infusing, infusing an uncompromisable 602 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:39,400 Speaker 1: way of life of trying to strive to do what's 603 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 1: right all the time. And obviously we all mess it up, 604 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 1: but but like that is that that is what the 605 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 1: goal is. And so you know that my grandfather, my grandmother, 606 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, you go down the list of 607 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 1: of my coaches, you know, Mike Griffiths. 608 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 2: I mean, let's talk about Big Mike for a second. Yeah, 609 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 2: I find Big Mike interesting. Yeah, well everybody, And that 610 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 2: concludes Part one of my conversation with Dakota Meyer, and 611 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 2: we're going to dive into big mic in part two 612 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 2: that's now available to listen to. Guys, you don't want 613 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 2: to miss it, because we're going to get the entirety 614 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:24,240 Speaker 2: of Dakota's own army of normal folks who supported his greatness. Together, guys, 615 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:27,440 Speaker 2: we can change this country and it starts with you. 616 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 2: I'll see in Part two.