1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: Oh, beat force. If it doesn't work, you're just not 2 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: using enough. You're listening to Software up Radio Special Operations, 3 00:00:24,920 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: military news and straight talk with the guys and the community. 4 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: And Hello and everyone, Welcome back to software radio dot com. 5 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: I'm your host today, Steve Alstrei joining me. We're very 6 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: pleased to have c Freeman, vice President of the Board 7 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: of Directors of the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association. 8 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: See and I are gonna be talking about there's a 9 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: big push on getting a Desert Storm memorial built in 10 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 1: the Washington, d C. Area. We're gonna get into all that, 11 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: but we're also going to talk to See about his 12 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: own personal history. I guess you could say he served 13 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: in the eighty second Airborne as a member of I 14 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: believe it was eighty second Signal Battalion and Desert Storm. 15 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: He also served in Company GIF one forty three Infantry, 16 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: which is a long range of aillance unit of the 17 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: Texas Army National Guard as an eleven Bravo for Treuman. 18 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: So we have a lot to talk about before we 19 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: go any further. Let's welcome See to the podcast. See 20 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: how you doing this afternoon, I'm doing sir. Let's talk 21 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: a little bit about you. I know you live in Texas. 22 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,399 Speaker 1: Are you a Texas native? I am. I was born 23 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: and raised in Dallas, and in eight moved to Houston, 24 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 1: and I've been here now going on thirty years. I'm 25 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: sorry forty I'm I'm turning fifty in May, So forty years, 26 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: you're still You're still a young guy, Yes, sir. So 27 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: you grew up in Texas, you joined the Army of 28 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: what you okay, and then you went right to uh 29 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: Airborne School. I take it from there, Yes, sir, basic 30 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: training A I t at Fort Gordon and then and 31 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: then right into airyone School. And you were a thirty 32 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 1: one charlie I'm reading here, a single channel radio teletype operator. 33 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: So you went right to the eighty second Signal Battalion. 34 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: Did you operate in the battalion or were you farmed 35 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: out to one of the line units. I actually operated 36 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: in the battalion itself. I was. I was in the 37 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 1: General GP platoon, you know, purpose platoon, and then when 38 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 1: does a shield kicked off? I got transferred over to 39 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: third Fast but it was in the batalion Bravo Company actually. 40 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: So yeah, so let's talk about that time, because a 41 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: lot of our listeners, some of them weren't even alive 42 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: back then, you know, because we're dating ourselves. I was 43 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: in the military at that time as well, and you know, 44 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: the summer of eighty nine, the eighty second was being sent, 45 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: you know, first over to Kuwait, and that was the 46 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: whole Desert Shield thing, and you know, uh, at that time, 47 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: there was a lot of talk that the eighty second 48 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: was nothing more than a speed bump for the Iraqi Army. 49 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: So let's talk about that. What was it like at 50 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: that time? Remember the eight second, you know, heading over 51 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: to the desert. That was actually my second field exercise 52 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: if you can believe that. I was training in at 53 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: Fort Chaffee, Arkansas if at j RTC when Desert Shield 54 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: kicked off, and so we were pulled out of the 55 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: field that field exercise, and you know, Patune sergeant brought 56 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: us all together and let us know what we're about 57 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: to embark on. And things changed quite drastically from that 58 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: point on. So I was like, Wow, these guys are 59 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: really fired up. I finally realized what, you know, what 60 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: we had signed up for. And so up to that point, 61 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: I'm literally I was at the division for only June 62 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: two July, just a month and a half before Desert 63 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: Shield kicked off. They had just recently got back from Panama, 64 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: jumping into Panama, so you know they were you know, 65 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: fired up about that. But then this happened, and um, 66 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: I was like, oh boy, here we go. So I 67 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: was just a private I wasn't even a private class. 68 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: So as E two, new to the Army, new to 69 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 1: the division, new to everything, it was quite the eye 70 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: opening experience. But it's what I signed up for. And 71 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: so we went back to Fort Bragg and started getting 72 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: everyone to in the deployment mode. Yeah, you know, it's 73 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: funny you mentioned that because in was when you know, 74 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: we were all finishing. I was stationed in Panama, so 75 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: eighty second was down there for you know, the whole 76 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: uh operation just we used to call it just because 77 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: it's just cause and the whole Noriega mess, and you know, 78 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: as a member of the seven Special Forces Group, we 79 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: were assigned there. We were still cleaning up all that 80 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: mess from Panama. Went all this kicked off, and we 81 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: were we were watching you guys on the news, deploye 82 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: out of fat fell in Fort Bragg, pulled Air Force 83 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 1: Base and heading over there. So you were brand new 84 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: to the unit. You've only been there a very short time. Yes, sir, 85 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 1: I was the cherry. How was the newbie? And uh 86 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 1: and I even you know, like I said, I would 87 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: started out at g p platun and then Third Fast 88 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: needed a thirty one Charlie, a rat rig operator, so 89 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,679 Speaker 1: I got transferred over to their patun. So I really 90 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: was the newbie then. That always makes it difficult than 91 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: especially being a private. I mean it's you're an n 92 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: c O, but if you're a private, I would imagine 93 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: all the bad details went your way. They did. Yes, 94 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: I had the night duties I had, you know, I 95 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: was instructed I was going to be the one to 96 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: take off my gas mask if if we didn't have 97 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: any alarms out there. So the tree, So that's what 98 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: I had in my mind. I'm gonna end up sitting 99 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: under the tree and they're not gonna take my mask off, 100 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: They're gonna shoot me. So so I was that guy. Yes, yeah, yeah, 101 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: So let's talk about that. I mean, you guys were 102 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: there obviously for many months before everything finally kicked off. 103 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: Can you talk a little at about that time when 104 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: it was like in the eighty second starting out. I mean, 105 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: you know that a lot of the listeners know the 106 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: history of the eighty second, but very high standards and 107 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: soldiering and so the one distinct thing that I always 108 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: bring up to everybody over there. When we got there, 109 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: everybody else had booty caps except for the eighty second. 110 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: The eighty sewod wore their kevlars. So I I like 111 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: to tell everybody started out as like any good soldiers. 112 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: We were griping about having to wear our k pod 113 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: you know, the whole time. So that's what started out 114 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: in country, you know, getting in there and the heat 115 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:41,679 Speaker 1: just hitting you and getting acclimated was chore. I deployed 116 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: with my lieutenant and um he was gung ho and 117 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: wanted to get everybody acclimated. So that's what we did 118 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: when we first got there. So it was I open experience. 119 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 1: I've never been anywhere outside of the country like that. 120 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: Oh actually that was my first time out of the country, 121 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: so oh wow. Yeah, and to go to the Middle 122 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: East at it's pretty different than what we're used to 123 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: here in the United States. Yeah, a little different. So 124 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: everything was not set up so it just was different. 125 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: So but anyways, yes, sir, it was quite the experience 126 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: to begin and and think youmcast signed up here for 127 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: this for college money, right, And so here we were 128 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: and then and then of course desert storm kicks off. 129 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: You know, our guys, including the coalition guys who were 130 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: with us, I mean, they kicked some serious but over 131 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: there and one through the Iraqi is pretty fast. Can 132 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: you talk a little bit about what you were doing 133 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: at that time? I was blessed by being on a 134 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: base called Champion, Maine. That's where the eight swond was. 135 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: That was their base. And so starting out from I 136 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: guess auguste when I got there, we moved to that base. 137 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: We would go out, you know days at the time. 138 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: We used the time and go train and get prepared 139 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: for this, and then we would come back get ready, 140 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: you know, get cleaned up and get ready for the 141 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: next exercise to go out. So we've been on that 142 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:11,199 Speaker 1: base for a long time, considering August to January sixteenth 143 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: we were there. So we we had perimeters set up 144 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: around a Ramco old fields if you're or the Ramco 145 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: compound I would call it. But that was a part 146 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: of our mission, is what I understood as a private 147 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 1: So as a private, I understood we were guarding a Ramco. 148 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: So the ventry was out in the field guarding them, 149 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: and we would you know, provide comms for him. So 150 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: we would go out and train and train and train 151 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: and train. So everybody had heard rumors, Okay, we're going home. 152 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: Now we're going home. This this is not our mission. 153 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: This is we got over here. We stopped the halts, 154 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: you know, speed bumps all that. I heard that a lot. 155 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: But we were so brainwashed that we're like, I don't 156 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: know what they're talking about. We can take them on, 157 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: you know. That's the way that was our mentality is 158 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: like we got some laws, we got them sixties, we 159 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 1: got grenades, were good, you know, whole missiles, I mean 160 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: all that. So that was what was going through our heads. 161 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: So we were there training a whole lot. So come 162 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: January the seventeenth, we were ready. We were we were 163 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: trained up. Everybody was itching to go. Apprehensive, yes, because 164 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: of the you know, you heard all the casualty reports 165 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: that were supposed to happen. They were even telling us 166 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: we were gonna be you know, killed, So we were prepared. 167 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: Who was signed our wheels. We did our last videos 168 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: to our families as a twenty year old. That's pretty tough. 169 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: I just remember that, Okay, who who's my money gonna 170 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: go to? You know? And that's the truth. And so 171 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: you know, mom and mom and dad got half and 172 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: sister got half, and um, that's the way. Not my 173 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: fiance did. I was supposed to get married in December 174 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: during that time, so I spent my first wedding night. 175 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: There is how I always portray it. But he was 176 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: getting half, I forgot. My sister was not. But but 177 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: then I'm to tell you we were we were trained up, 178 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 1: ready to go. We knew what our mission was and 179 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: we were ready. And that's how I believe everybody felt. 180 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: Everybody was ready to get it on. That's that's very good. 181 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 1: So how long did you stay in for your enlistment, 182 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: because I know you went to college afterwards that uh, 183 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: you just do the one hitch, yes or And I 184 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: actually was a three year man, which was odd. I 185 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: mean most people are four years. But when I was 186 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:30,319 Speaker 1: at the you know, at going and signing up, my 187 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 1: my stepdad went with me, and being a young kid, 188 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: I was wanting just get some college money and and go. 189 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: So it was laid out by the recruiter that okay, 190 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: for a two year enlistment you get this much, three 191 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: year you get this much, four year, you get this much. 192 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: And but on the two year enlistment, the training was 193 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: not counted for on your enlistment, so you would go 194 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 1: through and a half years with your training, six months 195 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: of training, and only get paid for two years. So 196 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: my stepdad was smart enough to say, hey, you might 197 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: want to sign up for six more months and get 198 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: you know whatever it was back then, ten thousand more 199 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: for college. And I'm like, well that's pretty bright. So 200 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: as a kid, I would have signed up for the 201 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: two year and missed out on six more months of 202 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: college fund. But yes, so I was a three year guy. 203 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: So when I got out, we got back April first, 204 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: nineteen one, went home, got married in June eight, which 205 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: was kind of funny. When I started working with the 206 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: Desert Store Memorial, they kept saying June eighth was They 207 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: just kept saying, were you part of the National Victory 208 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: Parade in Washington, D C. And I said, I don't 209 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: remember that at all. I mean, eighty second was always 210 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: asking the march here there or whatever, so you know, 211 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 1: I just didn't remember it. So I googled it researched it. Well, 212 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: it was my wedding day, so I got herry in 213 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: June eighth n and that's when the National Parade was 214 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: in d C. Which I had no clue of because 215 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 1: I was getting married. So kind of cool story. But anyways, 216 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: I got out. My wife came and joined me for 217 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: about eight months there. You know, we did our stint. 218 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: I got out, I came back home. I went back 219 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:21,199 Speaker 1: to work for UPS and started my uh junior college career. 220 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: I guess took me about two and after three years 221 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: got that done and then I transferred to a college 222 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,319 Speaker 1: called Eterno, got my other two years out of the way, 223 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: and got my Bachelor of Science degree. So I had 224 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: my wife pushing me to get it done. And in 225 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: order to get the military pay, you had to take 226 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: twelve hours twelve semester hours of college, so that that helped, 227 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: you know, get my Army college fund and the g 228 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: I bill just by staying in school. So she held 229 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: me to it and got me through it. So, yes, Sir, 230 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:56,199 Speaker 1: graduated in So it took me a little while. Yeah, 231 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: well it took on us a long time through college. 232 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,559 Speaker 1: I mean I took classes the whole time I was 233 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: in the military. I probably you know, if you look 234 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: at my transcripts, you're like, this guy went to college everywhere, 235 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:14,439 Speaker 1: because we're whatever college was offering courses on the base 236 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 1: would be at Fort Bragg or you know, down in Panama. 237 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: I take it, of course, whenever the opportunity availed itself, 238 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: which wasn't often, but you had to do what you 239 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: had to do. But yeah, during that time, you served 240 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: with the Texas National Garden. Uh was that that was 241 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: a long race of ailance unit? Right, it was, yes? 242 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: Or And funny story is just you know, I got 243 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: out and I was in the inactive reserves, our are 244 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: I had, I had my son, and you know, times 245 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: were you know, it was tight back then. I was 246 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: a full time college student, worked for UPS part time, 247 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: and I said this. You know, I've been ingrained to 248 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: be airborne and nothing else but airborne. So I was 249 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: not gonna go join the regular you know, uh, National 250 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: Guard or reserve unit. But luckily I found out about 251 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 1: you know, Company G one, forty third Infantry to infantry 252 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: unit and it was alersed unit. So I went down 253 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: there and they were jumped qualified, so they jumped So 254 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: I went down there, told him in MS. There was 255 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: a thirty one Charlie slot available, and so I had 256 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: to do a PT test. I still could run back then, 257 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: and do you know, but anyways, I had to prove 258 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: to him I was still in shape. So I joined them. 259 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: I kept saying, hey, I want to go to p LDC. 260 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: You know p LDC. That was my big deal, you know, 261 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: to get promoted sergeant. So I was a specialist then 262 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: and long story short, Uh, they put me in a 263 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: lem Bravo slot. Come time to go, they said, well, 264 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: you're not MS qualified, So I said, well what does 265 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: that mean? So where you're a thirty one Charlie and 266 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: a lem Bravo slot, you know you can't go to 267 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: PLDC without that. So that's well what I need to do. 268 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: So what you want to go to school? I'm since, yeah, 269 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: I'll do it. So long story short, I went out 270 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: my leven Bravo identifier, so I became infantry. So that 271 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: was the National Guard tour and then come time for 272 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: p LDC school. We we had a mission come up 273 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: that we were going to Australia and so all funds 274 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: were going towards you know, it's called Operation Tandem Thrust. 275 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: We were gonna go to show Bay and do some 276 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: training with the ass's And so the school went away 277 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: and I jumped into Australia, got my Australian jump wings 278 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: which was pretty cool, did that and then got out. 279 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: So I only did my two and a half years 280 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: or two years roughly in UM National Guard. But it 281 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: was a high speed unit. Gung ho guys, I mean, 282 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: great group group of guys, and I believe now they 283 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: they're under the hundred seventy three if you can believe 284 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: that out of Italy, I believe. Yeah, that would have 285 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: been nice, definitely. Yeah. Yeah, alright, well now you're on 286 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: your own construction firm, that is correct. My brother in 287 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: law and myself are co owners of company called Mako Construction. 288 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: Were designed build down here in Houston, Texas. Our niche 289 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: market is church construction. So I always tell everybody I'd 290 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: build the Lord's house all over the state of Texas. 291 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 1: And yeah, but anyway, so yes, sirry, that's what I 292 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,679 Speaker 1: do now. Yeah, you know it was funny when uh, 293 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: when I was stationed down south, there was I wanted 294 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: to buy it. Um there was this old stone church, 295 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: a tiny like a tiny stone church, and uh it 296 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 1: was for sale. I guess they, you know, something whatever 297 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:41,919 Speaker 1: came up and they decided they were going to close 298 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: it down. But oh my god, whenever I think of 299 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: church construction, I was like, because I actually saw her 300 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: inside of that. It was all stone. It was absolutely beautiful. 301 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: And then I saw it later on. The guy who 302 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: ended up buying it, he was pretty wealthy, so he 303 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 1: was able to keep at of that construction the same, 304 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: with all those stained glass windows in there, and he 305 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: made it into a beautiful place. But well, that's off 306 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: to you. You're doing what we call, I guess the 307 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: Lord's work. So yes, sir, but let's switch it over 308 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: to the other thing that you're up to, and that 309 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 1: is the National Desert Storm War Memorial. How did you 310 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 1: get involved with this? I got involved with it one 311 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: of my one of my friends, and I wasn't great 312 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,399 Speaker 1: friends with him, but I was good friends with his brother. 313 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 1: His name is Stephen we. Steve we wrote a book 314 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 1: called g Day Rendezvous with the Eagles, and it was 315 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 1: a chronological book on Desert Storm and his Desert Shield. 316 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 1: Desert Storm, I guess his journey and he was an 317 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: older guy at that time, as was his second go 318 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: around to get into the into the army, and so 319 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: he was very detailed. He was afford deserver, so he 320 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:01,119 Speaker 1: took very good notes and so he wrote this book. 321 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: And um, one day I was given the book on 322 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: Sunday and I read the whole book the whole day. 323 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 1: I never put it down. It was a great book. 324 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:13,879 Speaker 1: So I started following him on Facebook and one day 325 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:18,120 Speaker 1: popped up National Desert Storm War Memorial Association first annual 326 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: golf tournament to build the National Desert Storm and Desert 327 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: Shield Memorial, And I'm like, oh, And it was in Austin. 328 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: So I called Steve and asked him if I could help. 329 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 1: I wanted to, you know, bring some money down from 330 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 1: Houston raise money for it. And I didn't want to golf. 331 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: I just wanted to work because I've helped a few 332 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: golf tournaments like a church, you know are our churches 333 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 1: I have been involved with. We do golf tournaments and 334 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 1: things like that to raise money, so I know how 335 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 1: much work it is. I just said, I just want 336 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:52,159 Speaker 1: to work. So that's how I got involved with IS. 337 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: I went down there on a Thursday and helped Steve. 338 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: I was like his right hand man and anything he 339 00:19:58,040 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: needs done I tried to do it and got to 340 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: to meet the board of directors at that time. I 341 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: believe three of them came down for the for the 342 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 1: golf tournament, and that's where I met Scott Stump. The 343 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: president of the board, Bill Kerrigan was there, I believe, 344 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: and another gentleman was there that's no longer with us. 345 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: But long story short, we held the golf tournament. I 346 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: worked my tail off. They saw the work ethic. I 347 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: told him what I did for a living, My brother 348 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,439 Speaker 1: in law and myself wanted to do a promotional video 349 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: for him to help it when that time came, and 350 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: just told him we would donate it to the memorial 351 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: at that time. So I guess they wait. Scott describes 352 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: is they took note of what I did and my 353 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 1: work ethic, and they called me about I would say 354 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: two or maybe a two or three days or maybe 355 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: a week. I don't remember. It's all a blur now, 356 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,919 Speaker 1: but he asked me if I would join and be 357 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: part of the design team. So there was a spot 358 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: available and I jumped right on it. So that's how 359 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 1: the journey started, just by volunteering at the at the 360 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 1: golf tournament. So let's talk about the you know, the 361 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: war memorial project that you guys are involved in, and 362 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: so you know, explain to our our listeners what it's 363 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,679 Speaker 1: all about, Uh, what you guys are planning to do 364 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:15,880 Speaker 1: and what you hope to accomplish, and you know how 365 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: far along you are up at this point? Okay? Sure? Um. 366 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 1: Back in two thousand ten, Scott Stuck Uh, he's a 367 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: marine out of North Carolina, had this idea of commemorating 368 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: U Desert Storm and Desert Shield in our nation's capital, 369 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 1: which we didn't have a presence in. He just said, 370 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: it's time to do something like this, I mean the 371 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: Desert Shield and Desert Storm betters that we know, I 372 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: mean during some ceremonies, there's times where it's you know, 373 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: just not thought of and not brought up. So you know, 374 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 1: he didn't want this to go away, the victory that 375 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: was there to go away in history. And that's what 376 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: he felt like it would do if if we didn't, 377 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: if he didn't do something something like this. So he 378 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:06,120 Speaker 1: started the process throughout the years. Back in two thousand twelve, 379 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: met up with an architect firm up in Indiana, which 380 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 1: it's called CSO Architects. They're more of a partner than 381 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: than a consultant with us because they jumped right on it. 382 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 1: Um you know, we didn't have any Scott didn't have 383 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: any money back then needed the Memorial Association. So they 384 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: worked for us for years for for pro bono. So 385 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: they partnered up with They saw that this was worthy 386 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 1: of it, partnered up with us and really got us 387 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: along on the design. And through this process it's a 388 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: it's a really long process to do. And Scott always mentions, 389 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:46,479 Speaker 1: you know, why is there the Commemorative Works Act Is 390 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: because to keep people from building memorials in d C. 391 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: So we've been navigating through it for quite some time. 392 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:59,440 Speaker 1: And um on, I guess. Two thousand thirteen, Congressman Phil Roe, 393 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 1: great congressman that helped us out. He wrote our I 394 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: guess you would call it the the he introduced the 395 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 1: HR four PAIN which it states the National Desert Storm 396 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: and Desert Shield War Memorial Act, which states that the 397 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 1: National Desert Storm War Memorial Association may establish the National 398 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial as a commemorative work 399 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: on federal land in the District of Columbia to commemorate 400 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: and honor those who as a member of the Armed 401 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 1: Forces served on active duty in support of Operation Desert 402 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,479 Speaker 1: Storm or Operation Desert Shield. So that's the law that 403 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 1: enabled us to move forward with the Desert Storm and 404 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: Desert Shield memorial. Do you already have a piece of 405 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:47,719 Speaker 1: land set aside for this, yep. So in we got 406 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: the law passed and that enabled us to start the process. 407 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: So it's a twenty three step process. First process is 408 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: to get the site selection. So we hired some consultant 409 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: out of the see A Coom and they've been a 410 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 1: great partner of ours two and they've navigated us through 411 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,679 Speaker 1: this process along with our design team and um So. 412 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: We took about a hundred sites that were available in 413 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: the district Columbia area and in the surrounding areas that 414 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: are designated for future memorial sites. We narrowed it down 415 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 1: to thirty, narrowed it down to fifteen, ten, all the 416 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: way down to two and those sites. One was really 417 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: close to Arlington National Cemetery and the Ladybird Johnson I've 418 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: called the forest, but it's a it's a memorial site. 419 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: And then we the preferred site that we wanted was 420 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 1: at twenty three Avenue and Constitution, which is at the 421 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 1: corner if you're facing the Lincoln Memorial. It's directly to 422 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: the right of it, about four d fifty meters from 423 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: the Lincoln Memorial. It's directly across the street from one 424 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 1: lot in between of the of the Vietnam Memorial. So 425 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: we felt that was the spot we wanted to go. 426 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 1: After long story short, after about three and a half years, 427 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 1: we got that site. I could bore you with all 428 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 1: the details about how many we've had with so many 429 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:16,400 Speaker 1: different commissions, but it's you know, it's a very hollow ground. 430 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 1: Any of that ground is very hollow, especially that piece 431 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: of property. So absolutely that I don't know the area 432 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 1: that you're talking because for a very short time I 433 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: was up with the Old Guard up in Washington that 434 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,199 Speaker 1: does all the ceremonies and uh that area around the 435 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: Lincoln And that's a beautiful site too. That will be 436 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:42,399 Speaker 1: a tremendous spot for it once the actual I guess 437 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:46,679 Speaker 1: construction begins, right, that's correct, sir. Do you guys have 438 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 1: a plan yet of what you want to construct there? Yes, sir, 439 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: we we have already gone through and so the next 440 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 1: step is the design approval process. So we've been doing 441 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 1: that since two thousand and eighteen, and and really before that, 442 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 1: I mean we started. You have to show them at 443 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: least what we were thinking to go there. So long 444 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: story short, yet we do. It's we like to call it. 445 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 1: It's not over the top, you know, because of the 446 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 1: site where we're at, we can't have something that's over 447 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 1: the top. We have to be very respectful to the 448 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:22,679 Speaker 1: Lincoln Memorial and to all the other surrounding areas in 449 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: that spot. So it is a very I don't know 450 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 1: how to describe it other than its um profound simplicity 451 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 1: is what we like determine as. But it is on 452 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: our website you can see some of the design we 453 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 1: we unveiled the what we are trying to push for, 454 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: the not the final design, but the conceptual design approval process. 455 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: We had to show this and this is what it 456 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 1: looks like. It's you know, commemorate Desert Shield, the veterans, 457 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 1: Desert Storm veterans, the fallen of course, the Remembrance Wall, 458 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 1: and the coalition. You know. Desert Storm was very very 459 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 1: instru mental in that we had over thirty five countries 460 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: come together too um complete the mission. So the coalition 461 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:11,479 Speaker 1: is going to be recognized at the memorial too. So 462 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:15,920 Speaker 1: those four elements are what we are wanting to represent 463 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: and to portray and show what happened in Desert Shield 464 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 1: that storm, to tell the story and to commemorate all 465 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 1: of those aspects. Okay, and then now, you know, when 466 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 1: you're talking about this the coalition, I mean you think 467 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 1: back to that time and uh, General Schwartzkoff, who was 468 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: the you know, overall commander there, what a job he 469 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 1: had of trying to hold that because you know, we 470 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 1: kind of work in coalitions a lot these days, a 471 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: lot of our military operations now working coalitions. And when 472 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,880 Speaker 1: you go back to that time frame, the job General 473 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 1: schwartzkov did trying to hold all that together and that 474 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 1: was kind of uncharted territory at that time. Yes, or 475 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 1: it's the first time where the un actually worked is 476 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: what we always portray And yes, and it was from 477 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:07,159 Speaker 1: the top down from you know President Herbert Walker Bush, 478 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 1: you know forty one, all the way down to you 479 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:15,199 Speaker 1: know General schwartz Coough And I mean the diplomacy was huge, 480 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:19,879 Speaker 1: it was unheard of. Just the the master I guess 481 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: how they conducted that was unprecedented. So yeah, and you 482 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: know you had well you know the dynamics of it. 483 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: So I'm assuming that the design, once you have it finalized, 484 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 1: will take any consideration all the the countries that were 485 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 1: involved in the coalition that will be recognized as well. 486 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 1: That is correct, Yes, sir, there's a center element that 487 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 1: actually has every one of the country's name and there 488 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 1: the at least it's what we're wanting to present. So 489 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 1: it's not nothing is final final yet, but you know, 490 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: the center pieces, the coalition piece, and um it will 491 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: have every country's name on it in their language and 492 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:05,520 Speaker 1: in ours, so they can go up anybody from that 493 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 1: country who's you know, visiting d C, which is over 494 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: close to eight and nine million that that visit the 495 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 1: Lincoln Memorial every year all across the world. So you 496 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,240 Speaker 1: can actually go to their spot, touch it, feel it, 497 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 1: take pictures with it, know that their country had a 498 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 1: piece in history that we haven't seen that kind of mission. 499 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: I guess victory since if yes me, yeah, well that's uh, 500 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: that's pretty awesome, you know when you think back of that, 501 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, it's funny because like I said, 502 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 1: we we we're used to seeing our guys now operating coalition. 503 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 1: So that was that was really the first time. As 504 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: you said, everything worked, you know, uh, and it's great 505 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 1: to see that. You know, you guys are going forward 506 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: with this now, do you You have an organization obviously 507 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: that's putting this together. It's not just a certain group 508 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,880 Speaker 1: of guys. This is open to the public where you 509 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:04,959 Speaker 1: know they can donate to the to the cause, so 510 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: to speak. Yes, sir, And if I could back up 511 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 1: a little bit, just part of the coalition. We as 512 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: a board like to always talk about the pivot. There 513 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: is the pivot moment in the memorial also, and that 514 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 1: pivot is from the Vietnam syndrome, coming from the Vietnam 515 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 1: War and then going into this and the great victory 516 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 1: that we had, and we attribute that too. All of 517 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: our senior leaders were Vietnam veterans, from Colon Powell, all 518 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 1: the General Powell, all the way down, I mean division commanders, 519 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 1: so you everyone and were Vietnam veterans, and they said 520 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 1: not on this watch. And that is the way the 521 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 1: government handled it. And so we attribute Desert Storm, the 522 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:53,000 Speaker 1: victory and Desert Storm and Desert Shield to the pivot 523 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 1: of the country coming together actually recognizing our veterans the 524 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: way they're treated today. Vietnam veterans were not treated that 525 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:05,960 Speaker 1: way when they came back from Vietnam, and so that 526 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 1: is that's part of this huge history of why we're at, 527 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: why we are where we're at, because we have that 528 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 1: kins that kinsmanship with Vietnam veterans. Veterans from Desert Shield, 529 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 1: Desert Storm on have I say, benefited from the country 530 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: treating them the way they are from the Victorian Desert Storm. Yeah, 531 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 1: you mentioned that, because when the guys came home Vietnam, 532 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: they obviously had a a very different experience than those 533 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,640 Speaker 1: who came back from Desert Storm. We were all witnessed 534 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 1: to that. I think the country as a whole recognized 535 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: that the Vietnam veterans, I mean, we understood that it 536 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 1: was a very unpopular war, but unfortunately a lot of 537 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 1: our citizens took it out upon the guys who represented 538 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 1: our country and soldier, sailors, Marines, airmen, you know, whoever 539 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: went over there. And I think that that's set in 540 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 1: motion kind of what we see today because again, you 541 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 1: look at you know, how those guys were treated when 542 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: they returned from Vietnam, and a lot of them were 543 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 1: draftees who honestly probably didn't want to go there either, 544 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:17,800 Speaker 1: but you know, the country called them to go and 545 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 1: they did. And uh, it's and I like the fact 546 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 1: that where you guys are gonna be located as almost 547 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:28,320 Speaker 1: like catty corner to between the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and 548 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 1: the Lincoln Memorial. I think that's very important because that's 549 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:35,560 Speaker 1: when everything I think changed when you agree with that. Yes, 550 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: or it did, and and we call that change the pivot. 551 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:41,720 Speaker 1: So and that will be represented in uh in the 552 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 1: in the memorial. Is this going to be built with 553 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:49,320 Speaker 1: public funds or is this going to be strictly donations? 554 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: Strictly donations. We could I think we could have acted that, 555 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 1: you know, for help, but we wanted to just keep 556 00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 1: it separate and keep it to where we can design 557 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:03,080 Speaker 1: it and try to get what we feel like should 558 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:05,400 Speaker 1: be there and not what somebody else wanted. I guess 559 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 1: you could say, so, yes, sir, it's all. It's all 560 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 1: individual donations. V s os have donated greatly, you know, individuals, companies, corporations. 561 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: That is where we're gonna that's how in foreign countries, 562 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:22,000 Speaker 1: and that's how we're gonna build it, Yes, sir, So 563 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: you know and from what I read about this when 564 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 1: we spoke earlier at the estimated cost is going to 565 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: be in the neighborhood of forty million dollars, Is that correct? 566 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:35,560 Speaker 1: If that was our budget back then. That you know, 567 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 1: that includes getting to the point of construction also, so 568 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:42,480 Speaker 1: it's you know, the the actual physical sites not gonna 569 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: be forty million total, but from start to finish it's 570 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:48,400 Speaker 1: about a forty million dollar project. So yes, sir, that 571 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:51,800 Speaker 1: that is our budget, and you know we're striving to 572 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:54,960 Speaker 1: get there. Yeah, and how much has the organization raised 573 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 1: up to this point? Up to this point we raised 574 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 1: close to nine million, which that constitutes about five point 575 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:06,320 Speaker 1: eight five million for the land value that we put 576 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 1: that figure to that land, and then about three point 577 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:13,160 Speaker 1: one five million in donations. So I still got a 578 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: long ways to go, right, But you do have a 579 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:21,560 Speaker 1: website where you know, anyone can obviously click on there 580 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 1: and donate. Please tell everyone about that, yes or um. So. 581 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:30,560 Speaker 1: The National Desert Storm War Memorial Association is comprised of 582 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:35,239 Speaker 1: eight volunteer individuals who have started this process and been 583 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:38,439 Speaker 1: with it since the inception pretty much on and off. 584 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:40,840 Speaker 1: But we do have a website where you can go to. 585 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 1: It's www dot in d s w M dot org, 586 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:52,440 Speaker 1: so that stands for National Desert Storm War Memorial dot org. 587 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 1: So that's where they can go to it um. We 588 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:57,759 Speaker 1: sell a lot of merchandise that's been very helpful. We 589 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: have an Air Force Jill ed her. She she was 590 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:04,000 Speaker 1: a veteran of the Air Force. She was a Deadest 591 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:09,399 Speaker 1: Storm era veteran. But she is just unbelievable with her 592 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 1: and her daughters. They do so much force. But they 593 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:16,720 Speaker 1: run our memorial store that is helping to raise money 594 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:20,080 Speaker 1: to I have to fail to mention that. So now 595 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 1: that's awesome and uh, in fact, the merchandise that you 596 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,480 Speaker 1: guys are also selling to to help raise the costs 597 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 1: associated with building this memorial is outstanding. I I invite 598 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:35,359 Speaker 1: all of our listeners to definitely check this out and 599 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: if you're looking for a nice gift for a family 600 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:43,759 Speaker 1: member or a significant other, especially one that may be 601 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:48,080 Speaker 1: served during Desert stormy ME. I want to say there 602 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:52,560 Speaker 1: was probably upwards over half a million soldier, sailors, MN 603 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:55,520 Speaker 1: and marines involved in that. I could be underestimating that. 604 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 1: At my right there was over you know, over seven 605 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:04,600 Speaker 1: hundred thousand that participate there's a lot of veterans who 606 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:08,759 Speaker 1: served during Desert Film and with our forces over there. 607 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:12,400 Speaker 1: And again, if you're if you're looking for a gift 608 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:16,319 Speaker 1: for like I said, a family member, significant other, this 609 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:19,200 Speaker 1: is for a great cause and we definitely encourage all 610 00:36:19,239 --> 00:36:21,680 Speaker 1: of our listeners to do that. So what's the next 611 00:36:21,719 --> 00:36:25,200 Speaker 1: step for you guys in the memorial? The next step 612 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: is to get the final design approve, you know approval. 613 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:31,479 Speaker 1: After we get that approval, then we can go into 614 00:36:31,480 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 1: construction documents, which are the plans. We do the plans, 615 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 1: then we go into permitting and then breaking ground. The 616 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:46,120 Speaker 1: law states we cannot break ground until we raise the 617 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:49,120 Speaker 1: funds to build it. So we have to prove to 618 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:51,719 Speaker 1: them that we have pledges and the money's in the 619 00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:56,600 Speaker 1: bank to cover the construction costs before we can break ground. 620 00:36:56,960 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 1: So that's that's the next hurdle. If any of our 621 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:02,640 Speaker 1: there just want to get involved, I mean, you told 622 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:04,880 Speaker 1: them where they can donate. What if they want to 623 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,960 Speaker 1: get involved with any of this? Can you talk us 624 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,759 Speaker 1: a little bit through that? Yes, sir, I believe on 625 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:13,439 Speaker 1: our website we have a you know, a sign up 626 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:18,880 Speaker 1: for our newsletter and also we have an information email 627 00:37:18,920 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 1: set up to where if you want to volunteer, you know, 628 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:24,640 Speaker 1: you can go to that website describe what you do 629 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:28,239 Speaker 1: and how you can help. And there's eight individuals who 630 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,880 Speaker 1: are on this, but we have a slew of you know, 631 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 1: hundreds of volunteers all across the United States that are 632 00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:39,600 Speaker 1: helping and in other countries. But it it takes an Army, 633 00:37:39,719 --> 00:37:42,960 Speaker 1: Air Force, you know, Navy, Marines and coast Guard to 634 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:46,760 Speaker 1: get this done. So, um, you know, we we always 635 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:50,840 Speaker 1: open to anybody that wants to help. You know, at 636 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:54,759 Speaker 1: this point, I always say somebody knows somebody. So the 637 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 1: more people that say, hey, I know this guy that 638 00:37:57,320 --> 00:37:59,839 Speaker 1: works for anheuser bush, I know this guy that works 639 00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:02,880 Speaker 1: well here, that is what we need is you know, 640 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:06,720 Speaker 1: help with getting some corporate sponsors. You know, the introductions 641 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:09,719 Speaker 1: is what's hard. You don't know somebody, you're not gonna 642 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 1: get there. So I always say, somebody knows somebody, and 643 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:17,400 Speaker 1: you know, put the word out everybody I asked, I 644 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:19,400 Speaker 1: come in contact. So have you ever heard about now? 645 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:22,239 Speaker 1: I hadn't heard about you. Well, we're trying our best 646 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:25,359 Speaker 1: to get it out there. So just you know, you 647 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:27,480 Speaker 1: tell a friend, you tell a friend and it should 648 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:30,600 Speaker 1: just you know, get the word out and it's something 649 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:32,640 Speaker 1: that the Desert field does a storm veterans should be 650 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:35,080 Speaker 1: very proud of, and the and the gold Star families. 651 00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:38,480 Speaker 1: Of course, that's you know, that's huge for us to 652 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:42,480 Speaker 1: to to honor they're falling and talking with them. It 653 00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:46,279 Speaker 1: just humbles you and makes you know that what we're 654 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:49,160 Speaker 1: doing is the right thing. Now I understood that the 655 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:52,719 Speaker 1: country of Kuwait is pledging some money to this Is 656 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:56,160 Speaker 1: this correct? This is correct? In December we announced they 657 00:38:56,440 --> 00:39:01,040 Speaker 1: pledge ten million dollars, but their pledges for instruction costs 658 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:05,399 Speaker 1: only we we could surely use some funds to get 659 00:39:05,480 --> 00:39:10,759 Speaker 1: us through the through the the yes, and so you know, 660 00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:13,480 Speaker 1: I tell everybody we need about one point six million 661 00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 1: to get us to the finish line of when we 662 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:19,600 Speaker 1: can start applying for permits. You know, that's frustrating on 663 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:21,759 Speaker 1: our part. But you know, we know we have this 664 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:24,520 Speaker 1: ten million dollars out there, but yet we've got to 665 00:39:24,560 --> 00:39:27,279 Speaker 1: get to that from point A to B before we 666 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:31,279 Speaker 1: can actually get the donation. So we have not we 667 00:39:31,320 --> 00:39:33,919 Speaker 1: do not have ten million in the bank. So that's 668 00:39:33,960 --> 00:39:37,440 Speaker 1: the hard part, is Okay, how can we get that next? 669 00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:39,440 Speaker 1: You know that one point six to get us through 670 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:42,320 Speaker 1: the finish line. So instead of asking for thirty million 671 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:45,200 Speaker 1: or twenty really we need to balance with their ten million. 672 00:39:45,880 --> 00:39:48,879 Speaker 1: Twenty million balance is what we're looking at. But I'd 673 00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:50,920 Speaker 1: like to say we need one point six million to 674 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:54,440 Speaker 1: get us to the finish line. That's h That's doable. 675 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:59,600 Speaker 1: That's definitely doable. Um. You know, with the former the 676 00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:04,920 Speaker 1: first President Bush, obviously you know this was more in 677 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:09,320 Speaker 1: line with him. But have you contacted the second President 678 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:12,319 Speaker 1: Bush about getting behind this? You know, I reached out 679 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:14,879 Speaker 1: to both of them at the same time, and both 680 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:18,680 Speaker 1: President Bush forty one and forty three responded back to me. 681 00:40:18,719 --> 00:40:22,120 Speaker 1: I sent him both challenge coins forty one passing that 682 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:26,400 Speaker 1: was really you know, that was just it touched everybody 683 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:28,799 Speaker 1: around the United States and the world. I mean, he 684 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:32,160 Speaker 1: was very you know, reverenced around the world. But as 685 00:40:32,200 --> 00:40:34,640 Speaker 1: far as forty I personally hadn't reached out to him 686 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:37,560 Speaker 1: except for that. But I would love to have his help. 687 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:42,319 Speaker 1: You know, I think of okay, he can watercolor you know, 688 00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:45,360 Speaker 1: the final design and auction off for one point six million, 689 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:48,680 Speaker 1: you know, I mean that happened. I believe That's how 690 00:40:48,719 --> 00:40:51,400 Speaker 1: I feel. But no sir, I have not got in 691 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:54,080 Speaker 1: touch with him. I would love its just it would 692 00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:56,520 Speaker 1: kind of be nice. Uh. I mean that was more 693 00:40:56,520 --> 00:40:59,560 Speaker 1: of his father's legacy than his, but you know, it 694 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:02,320 Speaker 1: would be kind of nice to see him get involved. 695 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:05,360 Speaker 1: And you know, I think if if he was to 696 00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:09,320 Speaker 1: make a plea, I think people would answer that pretty 697 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:12,000 Speaker 1: pretty quickly. And I think that you know, you guys 698 00:41:12,040 --> 00:41:14,359 Speaker 1: are kind of in the ballpark as it is right now. 699 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:16,839 Speaker 1: I mean, you're you're about a quarter of the way 700 00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 1: of the total amount amount of money that you need, 701 00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:24,880 Speaker 1: and Quait pledging some ten million for construction costs. You're 702 00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:28,920 Speaker 1: kind of getting in that halfway point. So you know, 703 00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:31,880 Speaker 1: we're obviously we want to wish you all the best 704 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:34,759 Speaker 1: with that. I think this is a great organization to 705 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:38,000 Speaker 1: get behind, and uh, you know, when it comes to 706 00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:41,080 Speaker 1: military stuff, you know, one of the things I think 707 00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:45,920 Speaker 1: about the United States is we're not as big on 708 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:50,279 Speaker 1: building monuments as some of our allies are in other 709 00:41:50,360 --> 00:41:53,000 Speaker 1: parts of the world. I mean, we never had a 710 00:41:53,040 --> 00:41:57,000 Speaker 1: World War Two monument or memorial until just a few 711 00:41:57,080 --> 00:42:01,240 Speaker 1: years ago. And I'm glad to see this getting getting done. 712 00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:04,800 Speaker 1: And and please tell all of our listeners again where 713 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:08,200 Speaker 1: they can donate, uh, and how to get involved. Yes 714 00:42:08,280 --> 00:42:10,920 Speaker 1: or thank you so much for that. I really appreciate 715 00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:14,000 Speaker 1: this call. And from the board of directors, we really 716 00:42:14,239 --> 00:42:17,520 Speaker 1: really appreciate you allowing us to do this and get 717 00:42:17,560 --> 00:42:21,760 Speaker 1: this platform and and uh you can you can volunteer 718 00:42:21,840 --> 00:42:26,839 Speaker 1: or donate. Go to uh www dot n D s 719 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:32,640 Speaker 1: w M dot org and if you just google national 720 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:36,200 Speaker 1: or just Desert Storm War Memorial, it comes up. We 721 00:42:36,200 --> 00:42:39,560 Speaker 1: we we have a Facebook page two, the National Desert 722 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:42,800 Speaker 1: Storm War Memorial Association page. You know, if they're on Facebook, 723 00:42:42,840 --> 00:42:45,319 Speaker 1: they can donate through through Facebook. That's a good way 724 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:48,400 Speaker 1: of doing it. That's really been a good, good avenue 725 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:51,600 Speaker 1: force there. But that is how you do it. Oh, 726 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:54,920 Speaker 1: that's that's awesome. See. Uh. You know, for all of 727 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:57,960 Speaker 1: us here at at staff rep dot com, we uh, 728 00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:01,880 Speaker 1: we appreciate everything that you're doing for all of our veterans, 729 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:05,080 Speaker 1: not just the desert stow in veterans, but speaking for 730 00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:07,799 Speaker 1: all veterans. I think, like I said, but we don't 731 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:10,239 Speaker 1: do enough. I feel I always feel like we don't 732 00:43:10,239 --> 00:43:13,560 Speaker 1: do enough when it comes to that for our veterans. 733 00:43:13,600 --> 00:43:16,759 Speaker 1: And of course we're all biased being veterans ourselves but 734 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:19,800 Speaker 1: I think this is a great thing that you guys 735 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:22,719 Speaker 1: are doing and we wish you all the best with that. 736 00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:26,520 Speaker 1: And uh, as a fellow paratrooper, as Airborne guys gotta 737 00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:32,040 Speaker 1: stick together, yes, sir Airborne all the way. Yeah, I 738 00:43:32,760 --> 00:43:36,319 Speaker 1: would be remissing saying that I would love to jump 739 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:38,319 Speaker 1: one more time. I don't know if my knees would 740 00:43:38,360 --> 00:43:42,640 Speaker 1: handle it so well, but yeah, maybe a water jump, 741 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:46,160 Speaker 1: so we'll put that one on the calendar. But yeah, 742 00:43:46,280 --> 00:43:48,520 Speaker 1: we're definitely gonna put this on the calendar from one 743 00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:52,200 Speaker 1: it finally does be completed, and it's gonna be open 744 00:43:52,239 --> 00:43:55,200 Speaker 1: to the public because that's a trip I think gonna 745 00:43:55,239 --> 00:43:58,200 Speaker 1: be definitely on the agenda. I'll do my best and 746 00:43:58,360 --> 00:44:01,279 Speaker 1: keep you informed, so thank you. Yeah, please do that, 747 00:44:01,760 --> 00:44:05,240 Speaker 1: And once again, folks, see Freeman here along with Steve 748 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:09,880 Speaker 1: Balasturie soft Rep Radio dot com, on time on target, 749 00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:13,200 Speaker 1: and uh, if you guys can I know it's a 750 00:44:13,239 --> 00:44:16,880 Speaker 1: tough time for everyone right now with the coronavirus and 751 00:44:16,920 --> 00:44:18,480 Speaker 1: a lot of people are laid off. But if you 752 00:44:18,520 --> 00:44:20,879 Speaker 1: can spare a little bit of change here and there, 753 00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:24,040 Speaker 1: a lot makes a big difference. Please give to this. 754 00:44:24,239 --> 00:44:27,880 Speaker 1: It's a worthy cause and We look forward to seeing 755 00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:33,040 Speaker 1: this built. It'll be right there on the corner of Constitution, 756 00:44:33,440 --> 00:44:36,960 Speaker 1: near the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veteran Memorial, and 757 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:39,520 Speaker 1: we're all looking forward to this see. Thank you once 758 00:44:39,560 --> 00:44:43,520 Speaker 1: again for your time. We really appreciate it, and let's 759 00:44:43,640 --> 00:44:47,279 Speaker 1: keep in touch. I will thank you again, all right. 760 00:44:47,320 --> 00:44:52,040 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us. You've been listening to self Red Radio. 761 00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:56,920 Speaker 1: New episodes up every Wednesday and Friday. Follow the show 762 00:44:56,960 --> 00:44:59,879 Speaker 1: on Instagram on Twitter at self Red Lady