1 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: Ah beaute force. If it doesn't work, you're just not 2 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: using enough. You're listening to Software Radio Special Operations, Military 3 00:00:25,520 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: news and straight talk with the guys and the community 4 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 1: Software Radio on Time, on Target. Very excited to once 5 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,279 Speaker 1: again we're doing video on this one. Have Renee Nickel 6 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: on with us. Author of Always My Hero, The Road 7 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: to Hope and Healing Following My Brother's Death in Afghanistan 8 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: came out earlier this year independently published UM and and 9 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: I know you say in the book, Renee, that it 10 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: like publishers were telling you this is gonna take years, 11 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: and you got it done relatively quickly, and it's doing 12 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: well and getting great reviews. Yeah. I UM started the 13 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: process UM a year ago, so I UM, you know, 14 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: had no experience writing books, mostly just college papers. And 15 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: UM I started probably October and of two thousand seventeen 16 00:01:54,840 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: and contacted UH an author coach, so she kind of 17 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: UM just guided me through my outline and then UM 18 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: gave me deadlines so she would tell me, you know, 19 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: I need this many words or this much done by 20 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: in the next thirty days. And I pretty much had 21 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: the full manuscript done in three months. That's fast. Yeah, 22 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: really fast, especially something like this, which I mean, this 23 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: is an easy subject matter to write. Yeah, I had. UM, 24 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,079 Speaker 1: I didn't plan on it being such a short amount 25 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: of time to write. But the way my publisher explained 26 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 1: it to me was, you know, it would just be 27 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: better to rip the band aid off a lot quicker 28 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: than it would to, um basically relive all the trauma 29 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: for the next nine months to a year. Um. It 30 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: was better for my family. I got four kids, so 31 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: it was just a lot better to, um, you know, 32 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: get it done. So to give some background here, your 33 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: brother was Marine Corps Major Samuel Griffith, Marine Corps officer 34 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: and F eighteen aviator. He died in two thousand eleven 35 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: in Afghanistan. So I think the first thing to start 36 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: with that would be great. It's just the background of 37 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: who your brother was. Uh. He was. He was a 38 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:21,119 Speaker 1: pretty incredible person. He was determined from a very young age. UM, 39 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: at the age of five, you know, he made the 40 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: decision that he was going to be a fighter pilot. 41 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: And you know, I think all five year olds think 42 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: they want to do something really grand with their life. UM, 43 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: but he did. He just he kept pursuing that goal 44 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: and UM, he went to Penn State University. After he 45 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: graduated UM from high school and then got an r 46 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: OTC scholarship. UM became a UM you know marine officer, 47 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: went into flight school, went to Pensacola for flight school 48 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: as a as an aviator, and he deployed to Iraq 49 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: in two thousand three as an F A teen pilot. 50 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: So the UM you know, that deployment was pretty much 51 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: cut and dry. He just went over there, UM dropped 52 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: some artillery for three months and and came back and 53 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: then UM he uh just he had a hard time 54 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: UM requalifying to fly that to continue to fly. So 55 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 1: it was it was really a commander issue, a personality 56 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: issue with the with the commander not wanting to requalify him. 57 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: So at that point he was he was in bufort Um, 58 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: South Carolina, and he was going to transfer. He was 59 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: looking at transferring to Dallas Fort Worth area to fly UM, 60 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: but he decided that he wanted to join the fourth 61 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: Banklico with West and with UH in West Bond Beach. 62 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: I love that I was reading the book today that 63 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: part where the as You're saying, your brother when he's 64 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: like five years old, and other kids are like, I 65 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: want to be a soldier. I want to be a firefighter, 66 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: and he's like, I want to be a fighter pilot. 67 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: Like I just made his mind up a deal. Yeah 68 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 1: that was him. He Um, there was no change in 69 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: his mind, so he uh, he just he just knew 70 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: what he wanted to do and he accomplished it. So 71 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 1: he was a He was a very unique individual. He 72 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: had a lot of perseverance and grit um. But man, 73 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: he was a troublemaker too. He never got caught. You know, 74 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: I'm the I'm the one who always got caught. He 75 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: always got away with it. I like that. In the book, 76 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: you spend a lot of time talking about you know, 77 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: you guys growing up together and uh and humanizing him. 78 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: You know when we see casualties, uh, you know, military 79 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: casualties in the newspapers. You know, you get a name 80 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: and age, a unit affiliation, but you don't really know 81 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: who that person was. And I think books like this 82 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 1: are great. Um, We've had a We've been lucky enough 83 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: to have a number of different gold Star Family members 84 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,679 Speaker 1: on the show before are and each time you weren't 85 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: so much more about who these individuals actually are. And 86 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: in your book is right there, uh with UM, I 87 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: think it really accomplishes that goal. Thank you. Yeah. You know, uh, 88 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: you know what you see the news and we hear 89 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: about the stories of of what they did in action, 90 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: when they died, how they died. You know, we just 91 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: we see the war hero, um, you know, and we 92 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 1: can we can kind of idolize that and not really 93 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 1: not really get to know who these these men and 94 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: women were as people and who they worked to their 95 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: families and um, you know, the the man that my 96 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: brother was to his marines was different than what you 97 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: know we saw personally. UM. I mean, they got to 98 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: see some of the some of the funny sides of 99 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: my brother and you know, he was kind of a 100 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: fatherly figure to his marines and kind of a big 101 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: brother type type deal. But um, you know he was 102 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: he was an officer, and and I think I think 103 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: if they read how he was, you know, I know 104 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: some of them have said that, you know, they have 105 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: a hard time reading the book. They don't they don't 106 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: really want to, um kind of open that. They have 107 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: everything compartmentalized and they don't want to open up that 108 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: that part of his life. Um, but you know, he 109 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: was he was a really really incredible person. I think, um, 110 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: I think you referred to it a little bit in 111 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: the book about you know, how the people worked with 112 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: him in the Marine Corps, they had one relationship with them, 113 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: and then you had your relationship with him. And I 114 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: guess what I'm getting at, And I would bring it 115 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: up because I've seen it in the past also that 116 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: people form different types of relationships with them at different 117 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: periods of time, different places in their life. And uh, 118 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: it's interesting, how you know, after something like this happens, 119 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: we all remember that person in different ways, and we 120 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: have different So I just I just think it's interesting 121 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: how you know we remember people in different ways after 122 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: they're gone, And I guess it speaks towards how these 123 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: are three dimensional, multifaceted people. Yeah, I'm just gonna go 124 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: over here. Good. Maybe we could see your dog on 125 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: ken Yeah, well, you know the dog. The dog ate 126 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: the the Thanksgiving ham and the honey got stuck in 127 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: his beard and we had to shave him down the 128 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: next day. So he doesn't look like a miniature sneer anymore. 129 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: He looks like like some rat terrier. But I'm glad 130 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: he had. It's a good Thanksgiving though, Yeah he did. 131 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 1: He Um, somebody was knocking on the door. So he 132 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: was going a little crazy. But sorry about that. There's 133 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: that's life. Yeah, not a problem. So I'd like to 134 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 1: get a little bit more into um, Samuel's actual military 135 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: career and what he did and first deploying and your 136 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: reaction to that that type of thing. So, um, so 137 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: he deployed three times, you know, two times to Iraq 138 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: and at one time to Afghanistan, and and uh, you 139 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: know he was just he was just my big brother. 140 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: You know, that's that's just how I saw him. Um 141 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: he uh, you know, I mentioned a little bit of 142 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:23,199 Speaker 1: the first deployment to Iraq and the second deployment. Um, 143 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: you know, he went to he went to he was 144 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: going to Iraq with the Fourth Anglico, and UM, I 145 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:29,559 Speaker 1: knew he was going to be on the ground. I 146 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: had a conversation with my dad and in the kitchen 147 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: before he was the deploy and my dad was really 148 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: concerned and and I just didn't have any concern. Um. 149 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: He was just invincible to me. And UM he did 150 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: end up, you know, I mean he came home and um, 151 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 1: there was no issues or anything, and I, you know, 152 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: I just kind of felt like my dad was overreacting 153 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: a little bit in that moment. You know, I was 154 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: just like, you know, this is Sam. You know, he 155 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: can he gets things done. So he kept the second 156 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:08,079 Speaker 1: or the third deployment, which was to Afghanistan. Um just 157 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: kind of kept it under wraps a little while. He 158 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: didn't He didn't even tell my mom about it for 159 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: quite some time. And my mom lives in in West 160 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: Palm Beach or actually Jupiter and UM and so he 161 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: was traveling from Virginia Beach to West Palm as a reservist. So, 162 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:30,719 Speaker 1: you know, once she h he had all these boxes 163 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: of equipment being shipped to her house, and so she 164 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: had no idea what was in these boxes, and so 165 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: she would just put it in the back bedroom. And 166 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: then one day he's in there and he's got just 167 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 1: you know, all of his equipment, you know, spread out 168 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: all over the bedroom. And she walks in. She's like, 169 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 1: what is going on and he's like, you know, well, Mom, 170 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: I'm being deployed. And he said, I told you about that, 171 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: And she said, no, I think I would know. You 172 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: told me you were being deployed. And she said, we're 173 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: are you going? And he said, I'm going to Afghanistan, 174 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: and you know, she she maintained good composure, but she 175 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: was she was worried. And then, um, you know, then 176 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: he called me up and and told me that he 177 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: was going to Afghanistan. And again, you know, I didn't 178 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: really understand what he did at the time. UM, I 179 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 1: wasn't really worried about his his safety, you know, I 180 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 1: just I felt like he was an expert at what 181 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: he did and he was. UM but um, you know, 182 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: he was training that entire summer before he went to 183 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: on his deployment to Afghanistan. And um, he was the 184 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,239 Speaker 1: he was the the d C. He was the detachment 185 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 1: officer in charge UM as a forward air controller. So 186 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: he took his expertise as a UM, you know, a 187 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 1: fighter pilot and took that into his field into with 188 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: the fourth Anglico. So he basically, uh, he would be 189 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: at a larger base and he would be watching a 190 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: live feed and he would be communicating with the aircraft. 191 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: UM and then you know, pretty much try to make 192 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: a contact with a visual contact with the enemy and 193 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: then you know, calling the air support and and try 194 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: to prosecute the enemy. So I mean that was his job. 195 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: And then if you want me to you know, I 196 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: can I can discuss a little bit or you know, 197 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: I can go into the details of that day, um 198 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: and talk about that. So um he uh. You know, 199 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: his team was only allowed to take um two men, 200 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: you know, so it was two guys from a forma 201 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: team and and Jason Hartzel was the or Sergeant Hartstel. 202 00:12:55,360 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: He um. He was going out for three or four 203 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:04,839 Speaker 1: days and he was under a lot of a lot 204 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: of gunfire from the tip from the Taliban. And so 205 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: my brother was viewing all of this on the video 206 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: screen and he was only he was five weeks into 207 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 1: the deployment. And so you know the type of guy 208 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: my brother is, you know, they knew that my brother 209 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: wasn't gonna want Sergeant Hartstel to continue to just remain 210 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: under fire after he's already been you know, under heavy 211 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: fire for several days. So um, you know, he kind 212 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: of sat everybody down and and said, hey, you know, 213 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: I'm going to go out there the next day. I'll 214 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: take your shift and um and so, and that's what 215 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: he did. He went out with Sergeant Winters and they 216 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: were about two hundred I want to say, about two 217 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: hundred feet from the camp and they just began to 218 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: come under heavy fire and U UM Winters and my 219 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: brother got behind a amount and UM they couldn't make 220 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: kind contact as to where the the enemy gun fire 221 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: was coming from. And my brother exposed himself to get 222 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: um an I d and unfortunately, you know that risk 223 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: UM ultimately you know, took his life. So but he 224 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: ended up, you know, saving all these guys. You know, 225 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: they were able to get the enemy and and um 226 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: they all came home. So that was the goal. That 227 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: was my brother's ultimate goal, was to make sure all 228 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: his men came home. What happened as far as where 229 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: the story picks up, um with you know how you 230 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: found out about this, and you know, your your family 231 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: then had to go through this arduous process of you know, 232 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: obviously there's the practical things that have to be done 233 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: when you lose a service member in your family, but 234 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: also just processing this over the subsequent days and weeks. Yeah, 235 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's still just kind of feels like 236 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: a dream. UM. You know, it's just one of those uh, 237 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: surreal moments where you are really just going through the motions. UM. 238 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: It's you know, unless you've really experienced a state of 239 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: shock you know, it's really hard to to describe, but um, 240 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: it's I mean, I just related to like an out 241 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: of body experience. Uh, for probably a good year. Um. 242 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: They always say the second year is harder than the 243 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: first year because the first year you're you're living in 244 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: shock from the trauma. And you know, um, you know, 245 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: crap just hits the fan after someone dies. And you know, 246 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: I've talked to a lot of gold Star families and 247 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: and it's tragic enough to lose somebody in war. Um, 248 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: you know, someone who is defending our freedoms and our 249 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: country and who has a love for our country. And 250 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: I don't think, um, I don't think civilians really understand 251 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: the magnitude of the sacrifice the family makes, because it's 252 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: not just the sacrifice isn't just losing the you know, 253 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: the loved member of the family. Um. The sacrifice is 254 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: having to live in this in this turmoil for you 255 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: know however long. Um, And there's a lot of turmoil 256 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: that happens, you know, and there's you know, a military 257 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: loss is a loss in in its own is difficult, 258 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: but a military loss has so many different aspects to 259 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: it that that just it's just I'm not going to 260 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: say it's harder. It's just different and UM, and a 261 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: lot of families just go through a really really difficult 262 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:00,080 Speaker 1: time afterwards. Yeah you said it in the book, you know. 263 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: I mean, the families are never going to be the 264 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,439 Speaker 1: same regardless, but you know, sometimes it brings them closer together. 265 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: Sometimes it you know, drives a wedge between the family members. Yeah, yeah, it. UM. 266 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: You know, there are certain family members I grew a 267 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:19,680 Speaker 1: lot closer with, and then there's there's ones that you know, 268 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 1: I just don't talk to anymore. UM. But I got 269 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,239 Speaker 1: to the place where, you know, I'm at peace with that. 270 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: You know, it is it is what it is, and 271 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 1: and I just want everybody else to UM, to be 272 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: able to go on with their lives as as best 273 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 1: as they can. UM. So and that's what I had 274 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 1: to do. You know. It's just it's a relearning how 275 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: to live, you know, without that person. I mean, he 276 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: was two years older than me and UM, and we 277 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: were really close. And UM. You know now you know, 278 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: I don't have any sibling relationships, so you know that 279 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: that in itself is is difficult. What was your family's 280 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: reaction to publishing the book. UM, While my mom was 281 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 1: really supportive. I don't I don't have a relationship with 282 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: my father or my uh my half siblings. UM, so 283 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:15,360 Speaker 1: I don't really know, but um my, my mom, my 284 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: extended family, my cousins, everybody was was really excited. UM. 285 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: I think my mom's probably read the book like three 286 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: or four times. UM, and close friends and family were 287 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: really supportive. His marines were contributors to the book. Uh, 288 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: and I know that was really really difficult for them, 289 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: So I am. I am just so grateful that they were, UM, 290 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: just so willing to be a part of this project. 291 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: And UM, but you know, the family that I communicate with, 292 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: UM thought it was really well written, you know, and 293 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: that I did a really great job describing my brother. 294 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: I've had a lot of other siblings write me and 295 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: tell me, hey, you know, UM, you're the relationship with 296 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: you and your brother just reminds me so much of 297 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 1: my sibling relationship. And and that's really what I wanted. 298 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: I didn't I didn't want, you know, an American Sniper book. 299 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: I didn't want a book that was just going to, 300 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: um talk about my brother's career and UM I wanted 301 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: I wanted people to walk away from the book feeling 302 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,199 Speaker 1: like they knew him. Was there a little bit I 303 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: hate to use the term silver lining, but a little 304 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: bit of, um, something positive for you in researching this book, 305 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: and that you got to go and talk to the 306 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 1: marines who served with and and probably weren't all kinds 307 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: of stories and things about him that you didn't know before. Yeah, 308 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 1: that was that was pretty incredible. Um. It was a 309 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: We did an impromptu trip December of two thousand seventeen, 310 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 1: so a year ago. Uh, just by circumstance, UM, some 311 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 1: guys who knew him and back in two thousand three 312 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:01,679 Speaker 1: and had deployed with him. Um, they invited me to 313 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: come to view for South Carolina and take me around 314 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: his old old squadron, and so you know, they were 315 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: just incredible hosts. I brought the whole family. We got 316 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: to go out on the flight line with all the 317 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: F eight teens and see exactly where he used to 318 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 1: taxi out of and and fly out of. And it 319 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: was just it was just an amazing journey to see 320 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,400 Speaker 1: and hear these stories, um that I felt were kind 321 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: of kept in a volt and and and even with 322 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 1: his marines, to just sit down with them and and 323 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: hear these stories. I don't think I would have ever 324 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: known otherwise, So that was a real guess what what 325 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: was the funniest story, the funniest thing you learned about 326 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 1: your brother after the fact while you were doing the 327 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 1: research for the book. Um there, well, you know, I mean, 328 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: he was just a really funny guy all around. Um, 329 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: I don't know if I if I learned anything funnier 330 00:20:56,280 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: than what I already knew. I think one of the 331 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: one of the funniest stories, um that I heard was 332 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: from one of his marines that what what what made 333 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: it funny was that he said, their stories that are 334 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 1: so funny that he can never tell me. So um, 335 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 1: you know, just just the fact that he he honors 336 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: my brother that way, that he's not gonna he's still 337 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: going to share the best stories about him. But um, 338 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know, there's there's just so many, 339 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 1: um funny stories. You know. He my brother was was 340 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 1: famous for never making it through a joke. So I 341 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: think the most endearing quality about him to his friends 342 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: and family and his marines were was the fact that 343 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 1: he he tried to tell a funny joke, but he 344 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,360 Speaker 1: always thought it was so funny, Like he would literally 345 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: be like shaking, laughing so hard, and everybody's just waiting 346 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:05,919 Speaker 1: for this punchline, and he just never could get to 347 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 1: the punchline. And so you know, he could just make 348 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: a room full of people just burst out laughing because 349 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: he's laughing so hard at this stupid joke he can't 350 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 1: even get through. So, um, you know, everybody just loved 351 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: that quality about him, you know, just his horrible joke telling. 352 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: That's great. Um. So, what's the main thing that you 353 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 1: want people to get out of this book once they 354 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,439 Speaker 1: read it? Once they pick it up, whether they're you know, 355 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 1: someone who has served or someone who wants to know 356 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 1: what it's like to have a sibling who served and 357 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:41,359 Speaker 1: made the ultimate sacrifice. Um, well, you know I wrote this. 358 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: I wrote this book from the standpoint of a sibling, 359 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: from my perspective. After my brother died, I realized there's 360 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 1: just no content out there whatsoever on sibling loss. Um. 361 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 1: I'm sure there's books written by psychologists on you know, 362 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: overcoming grief as a sibling, but um, I just didn't 363 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 1: find a whole lot of personal stories on what it's 364 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: like to go through a traumatic death of losing a sibling. 365 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: So what I really wanted to create was Um My 366 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 1: my first goal was to make sure that the reader 367 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: knew what the kind of person my brother was, Um, 368 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: you know, who he was as a man and as 369 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: a brother and as a son, and um, you know, 370 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 1: just for them to to be able to make him 371 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 1: relatable to their own sibling. And you know, secondly, it 372 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: was for them to feel validated in their grief. Um. 373 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: You know a lot of siblings just they put off 374 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: their grief to support the parents and the widow and 375 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:53,920 Speaker 1: the surviving children, and um, you know they typically siblings 376 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: don't really start dealing with their grief until about two 377 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:02,199 Speaker 1: years post loss. UM. And so I wanted to have 378 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 1: a book that that really just acknowledges the pain that 379 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 1: siblings may or have, you know, after losing somebody so close. 380 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:13,239 Speaker 1: I think an excellent thing about it, too, is just 381 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: the future generations. You never got to meet your brother 382 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 1: that are in your family, They're going to get to 383 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: know him through your work. Yeah. Yeah, that's um, that's 384 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: probably the best thing that that will come out of this. Um. 385 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,879 Speaker 1: You know, I didn't write a book to to get rich. Um. 386 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,919 Speaker 1: I've I've actually given away a lot more books than 387 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 1: I've sold Um, you know, I'm promoting it like crazy 388 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,479 Speaker 1: and trying to get it out there. But you know, 389 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: my my goal is to hopefully get this book into 390 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 1: as many Americans, especially hands, as possible, just so they 391 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: can they can know, you know, the type of person 392 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: he was. You know he was. He was a really 393 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: really great guy. Um, not just because he died in war, 394 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 1: but because he lived his life in a way that 395 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: deserves to be written about, and it's a story that 396 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,879 Speaker 1: deserves to be told. You also mentioned that you have 397 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 1: children yourself as just wondering because I struggle with this 398 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,159 Speaker 1: myself sometimes. Is what do you tell your kids about 399 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 1: your brother and about war. Um. Well, my my eight 400 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: year old son was one at the time that my 401 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:28,720 Speaker 1: brother died, and we talk about my brother so much 402 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: that my eight year old feels like he knows him. Um. 403 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: He refers to him as uncle Sammy. He talks about them. 404 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: We take him to Arlington, you know, we walk around Arlington. 405 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: We don't just go to my brother's grave. You know, 406 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:50,719 Speaker 1: they they are growing up in an atmosphere of understanding, Um, 407 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: the sacrifice that our military men and women make. So 408 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 1: you know, we you know, war is a real thing. 409 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: We don't shelter them. Um, I mean, we don't watch 410 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 1: a whole lot of news, but um, which is probably 411 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,920 Speaker 1: a good thing. Yeah, it's probably it's it's one side 412 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:12,919 Speaker 1: of anyway. But I won't get into that, so you know, um, 413 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: you know, we're just honest with them. It was it 414 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 1: was a really difficult time after after Sam died. You know, 415 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,200 Speaker 1: I don't remember the first three years of my son's life, 416 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: so I mean I have pictures, but I really rely 417 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: a lot on my nineteen year old, who was twelve 418 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: at the time, to kind of fill in the details 419 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:36,479 Speaker 1: of of what happened during that time. So there's a 420 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 1: lot of moments in those first two to three years 421 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: that are are blurs. And but you know, we're just 422 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:49,679 Speaker 1: honest with them as as much as possible about you know, 423 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: the sacrifices and war and you know, they don't need 424 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: to know the glory details, but um, you know we don't. 425 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 1: We don't shelter them from that. That's real life. Yeah, 426 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: it is. And I'm I'm grateful that you you wrote 427 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 1: this book because as as I was getting into a 428 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: little bit earlier, I mean, it's unfortunate that all too 429 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:19,160 Speaker 1: often the casualties are just statistics, Uh, not out of malice. Um, 430 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 1: it's just that we don't necessarily have the opportunity to 431 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: get to know these people on a personal level. And Um, 432 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:27,119 Speaker 1: when you write a book like this, it really, I 433 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 1: think touches a nerve. You know. Obviously the service member, 434 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: serviceman or woman pays a steep price, but oftentimes we 435 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:40,400 Speaker 1: don't really understand or feel the impact that it has 436 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: on the entire family. Yeah. Um, you know, I think 437 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 1: my immediate family, you know, to include my husband and 438 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 1: my four kids. Um, the probably my oldest daughter probably 439 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 1: had the most amount of PTSD. UM. She was twelve 440 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:05,879 Speaker 1: years old when when I got the phone call that 441 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 1: sam had been killed. And you know, it's really even 442 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:15,400 Speaker 1: hard just going back into into that memory of that 443 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: day and her just stepping into action, you know, into 444 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: an adult role and taking her little siblings and her 445 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 1: little you know, five year old sister at the time 446 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,160 Speaker 1: and putting them in a corner in a room because 447 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 1: Mommy was screaming on the floor and couldn't even get up. 448 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 1: And and and then she comes out and she's making 449 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: phone calls, and she's calling her dad telling her that 450 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: uncle Sammy had been killed. And and you know, and 451 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: other other close friends, so they can kind of you know, 452 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: they can come to the house. And you know, she 453 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 1: doesn't she doesn't talk about that that day at all. Um. 454 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 1: She's still a bit disconnected, um in regards to that. 455 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: And she's you know, she's gone through, um, just a 456 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: lot of healing in her own way, you know. But 457 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: you know, we just you know, we just make it 458 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: through the best we can, and we try to be 459 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: the best we can and and try to make a 460 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 1: difference with what we have left. Absolutely, I think it's 461 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 1: great when these books are written. As Jack said, we 462 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: had on Jeff Falcol once who talked about his son 463 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: Chris Falcol who was a Green Beret died in combat. 464 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 1: And I think it's important to keep these legacies going 465 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 1: for future generations. As I said, Um, And and it's 466 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 1: great that you're getting the book out there. So you're 467 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 1: doing like a lot of press for it, and for 468 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: something independent, it's it's hard to get the word out um, 469 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: and you're doing a great job of it. So the 470 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: website is U Renee Nickel dot com. R E N 471 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 1: E N I c K E l L dot com. 472 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: The book is always my hero. The road to hope 473 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 1: and healing following my brother's death and Afghanistan. Anything else 474 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: you want to get out there or there any organizations 475 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 1: helping out gold Star families or anything like that right now. Actually, 476 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 1: there's an organization. It's called Belief with Me and it's 477 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 1: Believed with Me dot com. The founder Liett Reback. Every 478 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 1: year she provides Christmas presents for gold Star Kids. So 479 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 1: right now they have over a thousand gold Star kids 480 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: signed up for presents. And this is a nonprofit, so 481 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 1: they do you know, they rely solely on donations. But 482 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: you know, I remember what it was like that Christmas 483 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: that my brother died and wondering how we're gonna have 484 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 1: Christmas for the kids, and you know we had Toys 485 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:41,480 Speaker 1: for Tots come in and save the day for us. 486 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 1: But Leett, you know there they need about a hundred 487 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: and fifty thousand dollars to get all these gifts out 488 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 1: to these gold Star kids by Christmas. Their ship day 489 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: is December. So you know, if I can just get 490 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 1: it out there that you can go to her website 491 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 1: and you can sponsor a gold Star child, um and 492 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 1: it makes an incredible impact on their life. I mean 493 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 1: it's it's great to know that you're not forgotten at 494 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 1: Christmas time. So um, and that America is remembering you, 495 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 1: they're remembering the sacrifice. Excellent. What's the website again, it's 496 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,320 Speaker 1: believed with me dot com. Cool, all right, I'm sure 497 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 1: a lot of people will check that out. That's that's 498 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: a great thing to do. Great organization. Is here about 499 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: the time a year ago and do that? Yeah, oh excellent, Yeah, 500 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: you know it's it doesn't take a large chunk of 501 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 1: your budget to change, you know, to help a kid. Absolutely, 502 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 1: Thanks again so much for doing this. So we appreciate 503 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: your Yeah, thanks for having me. I really appreciate it 504 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: was great. All right, So I'm gonna wrap up the 505 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:40,520 Speaker 1: rest of what we're doing with Jack and I'll have 506 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 1: this up tomorrow and I'll send it over to you. Excellent, 507 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thank you. Feel free to reach out any time, 508 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 1: all right, thank you, Thanks bye bye. So that that 509 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: one excellent. I mean, like I said, this was kind 510 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:56,720 Speaker 1: of similar to when we had Jeff falcol On to 511 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 1: speak about Chris falcol And I'm glad that people are 512 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: writing these types of books. And I think you even 513 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: had not well, I wasn't here, you had that marine 514 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 1: who worked in More to Weary, and I mean these 515 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: are kind of like some dark stories, man. But on 516 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: the other hand, it's look, we're we're at war. We've 517 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:16,440 Speaker 1: been at war for seventeen years. Like people need to 518 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 1: hear this stuff. Yeah, what I was gonna say is, 519 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 1: I think it's almost a newer thing. People were writing. 520 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 1: People have written books as Vietnam veterans and you know 521 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:27,760 Speaker 1: that type of thing. But I think gold Star family 522 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:30,920 Speaker 1: members writing books about their loved ones because of the 523 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 1: fact that now you could self published and the type 524 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: of thing, because you know, it's uncase, it's unfortunately. I 525 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 1: don't think know what publishers will pick up on that type. 526 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 1: I know Ta Kyle is a book out, but for 527 00:32:41,160 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 1: the most part, it's not something a major publisher. No, 528 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:45,800 Speaker 1: I know exactly what you're saying in and I mean, 529 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 1: but yeah, I mean no one. I'm probably there's no 530 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: publisher out there that wants to say this out loud. 531 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:54,920 Speaker 1: But this is difficult subject matter. And I mean, quite frankly, 532 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: it's not necessarily commercial because it's not the big flag 533 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 1: waving or maybe maybe maybe it is. I I can't 534 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 1: necessarily say I'm not describing any of these gold star 535 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 1: books is unpatriotic by any stretch of the coordination. I'm 536 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 1: just saying that, Yeah, you're never gonna be able to 537 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 1: make it into an action movie probably. You know. It 538 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,440 Speaker 1: has a lot to do with what the families go 539 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: through in their feelings and the sentimentality they have with 540 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:21,920 Speaker 1: their loved one. So I mean it's not necessarily the 541 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: most commercial material, but yes, you're right with self publishing, UM, 542 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 1: it opens up a lot of these doors and a 543 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 1: lot of these avenues. UM. We also had on that 544 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:35,440 Speaker 1: UM journalist who wrote a book about the Army ranger, Yes, 545 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 1: Heart of a Ranger about uh ranger. Um. I'm trying 546 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:40,840 Speaker 1: to think of his name. He's the guy that Nick 547 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: Irvan credits saving his wife. Benjamin Copp. Yes, yeah, that 548 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: was That's an incredible book too. I read that one. UM. 549 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 1: But I encourage people to keep writing these books, and 550 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 1: I hope the family members will continue writing these books, UM, 551 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:59,480 Speaker 1: so that their family member is not just a name 552 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:02,480 Speaker 1: in age, in a rank in a list of k 553 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:05,040 Speaker 1: I A s in this war, UM, so that people 554 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:07,160 Speaker 1: can read about them and see who they actually were 555 00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:11,760 Speaker 1: as a man or a woman and really fully understand, um, 556 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:14,759 Speaker 1: you know the nature of their sacrifice, because a lot 557 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 1: of times we don't necessarily watching a news report, you 558 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:21,160 Speaker 1: don't understand what that what happened to that person, you know, um, 559 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:23,760 Speaker 1: and also understanding the impact that it has on the family. 560 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 1: She alluded to her alluded to alluded to it herself. 561 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:30,680 Speaker 1: And we had the other authors I think say the 562 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:33,360 Speaker 1: same thing. These books don't really make money. Um. The 563 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:35,959 Speaker 1: book on Benjamin cop I think he said he's lost 564 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 1: money doing Jeff Falco's book is self published. It's you know, 565 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:43,319 Speaker 1: not making thousands or even millions of dollars. It's kind 566 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:45,600 Speaker 1: It's just it's more about the memory of these people. 567 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 1: If you'll, if you'll bear with my cynicism for a moment, 568 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's telling, isn't it That America they 569 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,239 Speaker 1: want to hear the war stories, but they don't want 570 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 1: to hear about the real life fallout, the real life 571 00:34:56,680 --> 00:35:00,640 Speaker 1: consequences that these families go through and that these people, 572 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:05,319 Speaker 1: these soldiers go through. Um, it's unfortunate. Yeah, I think 573 00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:07,360 Speaker 1: a lot of our audience does want to hear the 574 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: stuff though, so'll pick it up always my hero. It's 575 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:13,720 Speaker 1: available on Amazon, UM and Kindle paperback. I was looking 576 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:16,160 Speaker 1: apparently like they're about to restock. I think of the 577 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 1: paperback and if you left, so you guys might sell 578 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:22,760 Speaker 1: them out after this show hopefully and you know, hopefully 579 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:24,920 Speaker 1: it does well for Renee as well. I want to 580 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:27,279 Speaker 1: talk about some things going on first. I do want 581 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: to talk about what's going on here at Hurricane Media. 582 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:34,040 Speaker 1: Check out Create Club. We have that long anticipated collaboration 583 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: watch with NFW watches out. You're wearing I think you're 584 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:38,960 Speaker 1: about to roll up your sleeve. I was like, you're 585 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 1: wearing it. No, No, I'm not. Um, yeah, I switch off. 586 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:45,480 Speaker 1: Some days I wear watched someone don't today I'm not. 587 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:47,840 Speaker 1: But I've also been looking at the Instagram and I 588 00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:50,799 Speaker 1: see like all the custom shirts were putting out and 589 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,600 Speaker 1: like beanies and stuff like that. I haven't seen them yet. Yeah, 590 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 1: if you go on Instagram, if you go look up 591 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:58,319 Speaker 1: the official Create Club Instagram, we have some gear coming out, 592 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:00,839 Speaker 1: which is cool because when ever you're wearing a soft 593 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:02,919 Speaker 1: up radio shirt or I'm wearing a soft up shirt 594 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:04,360 Speaker 1: on the show, people like where can I get this? 595 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:06,880 Speaker 1: And I happen anymore. But if you remember a Create Club, 596 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:09,600 Speaker 1: you'll be getting some cool Create Club gear. Uh. So 597 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: it's a club foremen by men. We have some stuff 598 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:16,080 Speaker 1: with the Panthera brand coming out as well on their 599 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:20,759 Speaker 1: custom sunglass cases, etc. Bags and other manly products. You 600 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:23,959 Speaker 1: check that all out at Create Club dot Us. Once again, 601 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:27,759 Speaker 1: that's Create Club dot Us. And we were talking about 602 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:30,919 Speaker 1: dogs before. Didn't get to see a video of Renee's dog. 603 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:34,200 Speaker 1: But if you're a dog owner by now many of 604 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:36,560 Speaker 1: you know we have a partnership with Kuna. They have 605 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:39,359 Speaker 1: a team of trained canine handlers picking out a box 606 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,280 Speaker 1: for your dog every month of healthy treats and training aids. 607 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:45,839 Speaker 1: It's custom built through your dogs size and age as well. 608 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:49,240 Speaker 1: Um not only promotes a healthy diet, but also promotes 609 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:51,279 Speaker 1: being active with your dog. So whither we're talking a 610 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:54,040 Speaker 1: pitfull at Chihuahua. What dogs did she have? Said? Like 611 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,799 Speaker 1: a miniature stows er. Yeah, it doesn't matter what type 612 00:36:56,840 --> 00:36:59,040 Speaker 1: of dog you have. Uh. If you want to be 613 00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 1: subscribed with con okay, Yeah, I'm seeing the T shirts 614 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:05,960 Speaker 1: and yeah I'm a fan. I'm looking forward to getting 615 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:09,279 Speaker 1: those hopefully. Uh. But yeah with ConA you can see 616 00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:12,800 Speaker 1: all that at ConA dot Dog SEU and a Dot 617 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:15,280 Speaker 1: d o g. Your dog's gonna love it. It's efficient 618 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:18,279 Speaker 1: for you. And the last thing I'm gonna mention is 619 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:23,160 Speaker 1: the spec Ops Channel. Uh it's still at discounted membership 620 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:25,759 Speaker 1: for only four ninety nine a month. You'll get the 621 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:30,840 Speaker 1: most exclusive shows, documentaries and interviews covering the most exciting 622 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:34,560 Speaker 1: military content today. Uh. If you watch Training Cell on there, 623 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:36,520 Speaker 1: I know a lot of you watched all the episodes. 624 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:41,000 Speaker 1: It's guys training in jungle and winter warfare, defensive driving, 625 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:44,080 Speaker 1: shooting schools, climbing, all different types of stuff and you 626 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:46,160 Speaker 1: can see all of that on the spec Ops channel. 627 00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:49,320 Speaker 1: That's spec ops Channel dot com. A lot of stuff 628 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:52,240 Speaker 1: that was previously on YouTube is now on the spec 629 00:37:52,239 --> 00:37:54,720 Speaker 1: Ops channel. So but come remember less than five dollars 630 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:56,719 Speaker 1: a month. Don't know what you're waiting for if you're 631 00:37:56,719 --> 00:37:58,799 Speaker 1: not already a member, and you can watch all that 632 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:00,719 Speaker 1: on the app as well. You look up the spec 633 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:04,160 Speaker 1: Ops Channel app, which Software Radio has its own app 634 00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:07,799 Speaker 1: right now to end website Software radio dot com, which 635 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:09,800 Speaker 1: is really cool and a lot of people are listening 636 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:11,920 Speaker 1: through the app, which I was kind of blown away 637 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:14,359 Speaker 1: by because I'm able to see the numbers on SoundCloud 638 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:18,640 Speaker 1: and on YouTube SoundCloud tracks, the whole RSS feed. But 639 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:21,960 Speaker 1: then Chris, our web guy, gave me the information of 640 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:24,080 Speaker 1: how I could track people listening on the app and 641 00:38:24,080 --> 00:38:27,080 Speaker 1: the website, and it's a lot we're getting, you know, 642 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:29,600 Speaker 1: a lot of listeners each week, more than we ever have. 643 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:32,400 Speaker 1: How many people are listening on the app. On the 644 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:35,040 Speaker 1: app itself, it's about half. So you know, we're getting 645 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 1: like somewhere around twenty thousand listened to the week on 646 00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:41,719 Speaker 1: the Yeah, on SoundCloud and RSS feed, and then kind 647 00:38:41,719 --> 00:38:43,840 Speaker 1: of you know, the same on the app. It's a 648 00:38:43,840 --> 00:38:48,880 Speaker 1: lot in tensives. Yeah, it's great to see. Um, you know, 649 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:51,880 Speaker 1: getting between like fifty thousand and a hundred thousand listens 650 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 1: a week. It's just very cool. Uh. All right with that, 651 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,680 Speaker 1: I want to talk about your latest article, the Green 652 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:01,920 Speaker 1: Ray Foundation. It's funny because we were talking about, you know, 653 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:05,520 Speaker 1: great organization helping gold Star families, Green Beret Foundation, that 654 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:08,800 Speaker 1: seems to be a lot of inner drama a little bit. Yeah, Um, 655 00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:12,040 Speaker 1: they're working to put it behind them. Um. I know 656 00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:14,800 Speaker 1: I said when we talked about this when it first happened, 657 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:17,160 Speaker 1: that I wasn't gonna weigh in at all, um, and 658 00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:19,719 Speaker 1: I kept getting hit up about it, and then I 659 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:23,120 Speaker 1: got forwarded a whole bunch of legal documents. UM, there's 660 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:27,120 Speaker 1: a lawsuit going on. But UM, anyway, I employees, I wrote, 661 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:31,279 Speaker 1: I wrote an article today. UM. I spoke with UM, 662 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:33,759 Speaker 1: you know, one of the board members at the Green 663 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:38,200 Speaker 1: Beret Foundation, current board member, current board member Jason McCarthy, 664 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:41,520 Speaker 1: UM to get, you know, some of the board's perspective 665 00:39:41,680 --> 00:39:46,520 Speaker 1: on things. And I spoke with UH Jennifer Paquette, who 666 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:52,040 Speaker 1: was the executive director up until recently. UM and that 667 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:55,840 Speaker 1: there there's a dispute with jen and with the board 668 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:59,960 Speaker 1: and UM how some things went down. UM what exact 669 00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:03,640 Speaker 1: for people who don't know. There are a number of 670 00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:08,160 Speaker 1: claims UM that she she refutes UM and and it's 671 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:11,000 Speaker 1: gonna end up being settled in court. UM. One of 672 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:14,080 Speaker 1: the big ones is that she locked the Green Beret 673 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:18,440 Speaker 1: Foundation out of their data systems, their data banks, their rosters, 674 00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:21,040 Speaker 1: UM and accounts and things like that, so that they 675 00:40:21,040 --> 00:40:23,880 Speaker 1: couldn't do business. And she says that's not true. They 676 00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:28,680 Speaker 1: always had access. UM. There's another claim that she um 677 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:33,279 Speaker 1: broke in or otherwise unlawfully entered the Green Beret Foundations 678 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:37,560 Speaker 1: building and removed proprietary documents. UM. She says that's also 679 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:39,520 Speaker 1: not true, that she never did that, that she never 680 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:41,960 Speaker 1: entered the premises. Again, these things are going to have 681 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:45,160 Speaker 1: to be UM hashed out in court unless both parties 682 00:40:45,239 --> 00:40:47,759 Speaker 1: you know, dropped the matter UM and agree to go 683 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:51,799 Speaker 1: you know, their separate ways. UM. But like I said, 684 00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:54,960 Speaker 1: I talked to both parties. UM. I think that you know, 685 00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:58,880 Speaker 1: they're both reasonable people at the end of the day, 686 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:02,920 Speaker 1: and that there UM. I hope for the sake of 687 00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:05,600 Speaker 1: the you know, both of for all of those concerned, 688 00:41:05,640 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 1: as well as the Green Beret Foundation itself, that they're 689 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:11,239 Speaker 1: able to kind of drop the matter, drop the lawsuits 690 00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:16,200 Speaker 1: UM and counterclaims, etcetera, etcetera, dropped the allegations, UM, and 691 00:41:16,239 --> 00:41:18,960 Speaker 1: move on. Because the Green Beret Foundation does do some 692 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:23,080 Speaker 1: really great stuff, really do some great work to support UM, 693 00:41:23,120 --> 00:41:27,360 Speaker 1: you know, special Forces soldiers, retired members, guys who have 694 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:34,160 Speaker 1: left UM and need some help. UM. What else was 695 00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:36,399 Speaker 1: I going to mention with that? Oh? Yeah, So then 696 00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:38,239 Speaker 1: the other thing with that is there's a little like 697 00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:41,920 Speaker 1: social media war going on and there's UM members of 698 00:41:41,960 --> 00:41:44,839 Speaker 1: the Special Forces community. UM. I don't know if there 699 00:41:44,880 --> 00:41:48,120 Speaker 1: are any way associated with the Green Beret Foundation or not. 700 00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:51,759 Speaker 1: I really don't know, because they're you know, remaining anonymous 701 00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:55,200 Speaker 1: and using like these burner social media accounts, and they're 702 00:41:55,280 --> 00:41:59,600 Speaker 1: keeping fanning the flames against against Gen and against her 703 00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:03,640 Speaker 1: husband and who is also a disabled former Green Beret. 704 00:42:04,520 --> 00:42:09,880 Speaker 1: And um, someone is sending letters to the hospital where 705 00:42:10,360 --> 00:42:13,600 Speaker 1: Jen's husband works, trying to get him fired, trying to 706 00:42:13,640 --> 00:42:19,920 Speaker 1: smear his character. Just really petty, underhanded stuff, underhanded tactics 707 00:42:19,960 --> 00:42:22,880 Speaker 1: that are whichever way you fall, wherever you fall on 708 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:27,000 Speaker 1: this matter, whatever your opinion is, um of the board 709 00:42:27,040 --> 00:42:31,320 Speaker 1: at the Green Beret Foundation or of um of Jen Paquette, 710 00:42:32,280 --> 00:42:35,960 Speaker 1: these kind of tactics are just unseemly and inappropriate and UM, 711 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:38,400 Speaker 1: and it's wrong. It's it's another case of you know, 712 00:42:38,480 --> 00:42:41,279 Speaker 1: Green Berets eating their own. Um. It's something that we're 713 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:45,160 Speaker 1: very good at. And UM. When I talked to Mr 714 00:42:45,239 --> 00:42:47,799 Speaker 1: McCarthy on the phone yesterday, you know, he agreed, He's like, 715 00:42:47,840 --> 00:42:53,400 Speaker 1: that's deplorable and those personal attacks are wrong and inappropriate. UM. 716 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:55,920 Speaker 1: So I hope that you know, everyone is able to 717 00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:57,920 Speaker 1: move on from this kind of put the drama behind 718 00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:01,359 Speaker 1: them and as cliche as it sounds, the healing begin, yeah, 719 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:03,920 Speaker 1: and do good work, I mean, because that's what it's about. 720 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:07,480 Speaker 1: Today's helping families of green Berets, helping I believe like 721 00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:10,440 Speaker 1: homeless green Berets. I know that's more talent few. But yeah, 722 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:14,960 Speaker 1: and uh and uh and gen and uh and Jason 723 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:18,040 Speaker 1: McCarthy both are I think, on the same sheet of 724 00:43:18,120 --> 00:43:20,360 Speaker 1: music when it comes to that. They're both supportive of 725 00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:22,759 Speaker 1: the foundation and the good work that they do there 726 00:43:23,120 --> 00:43:26,040 Speaker 1: and um and hope that they can continue to do that. Yeah. 727 00:43:26,239 --> 00:43:29,040 Speaker 1: And and also when people are donating to a foundation, 728 00:43:29,120 --> 00:43:31,759 Speaker 1: they want to know that, you know, people are on 729 00:43:31,760 --> 00:43:33,319 Speaker 1: the same page and the money is going to a 730 00:43:33,320 --> 00:43:35,880 Speaker 1: good cause. And when they hear about drama, it's just 731 00:43:35,920 --> 00:43:37,520 Speaker 1: not what you want to hear when you're donating to 732 00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:40,640 Speaker 1: an origanization. Yeah, it's It's an unfortunate turn of events, 733 00:43:40,680 --> 00:43:43,319 Speaker 1: for sure. And again I'm still not going to weigh 734 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:46,600 Speaker 1: in with who's right and who's wrong, because I don't know. 735 00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:49,600 Speaker 1: I've reviewed, I've reviewed the legal documents. I've looked at 736 00:43:49,640 --> 00:43:55,600 Speaker 1: the claims, the counterclaims, the filing of a temperar or 737 00:43:55,680 --> 00:44:00,680 Speaker 1: a a restraining order, um, and then the our claims 738 00:44:00,719 --> 00:44:04,040 Speaker 1: against that. And so I've gone through it, and I mean, 739 00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:06,520 Speaker 1: I don't have the facts of the matter, but I 740 00:44:06,560 --> 00:44:08,520 Speaker 1: can look at it and I can see, you know, 741 00:44:09,120 --> 00:44:13,319 Speaker 1: what both parties say, and um, I think, trying to 742 00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:16,120 Speaker 1: look at it objectively, I don't see any reason why 743 00:44:16,360 --> 00:44:18,520 Speaker 1: this puppy couldn't be put to sleep, can't be put 744 00:44:18,520 --> 00:44:21,920 Speaker 1: to bed and then move on. Um, And I hope that. 745 00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:25,920 Speaker 1: I hope that's what ends up happening. Well, So then, UM, 746 00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:28,200 Speaker 1: I saw that Leo Jenkins has a new book out 747 00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:31,480 Speaker 1: that he co authored. It's called Rise of the Unarmed Forces, 748 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:34,719 Speaker 1: and it's actually helping to benefit education for girls in 749 00:44:34,719 --> 00:44:38,040 Speaker 1: Afghanistan part of the proceeds. So that's really cool. Pick 750 00:44:38,120 --> 00:44:41,040 Speaker 1: that up Rise of the Unarmed Forces. And I saw 751 00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:44,319 Speaker 1: that Mark Cuban said something highly of it, which you 752 00:44:44,360 --> 00:44:46,000 Speaker 1: said you believe is co author. May have been in 753 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:49,560 Speaker 1: Shark to handles or something. I think I think Combat 754 00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:51,840 Speaker 1: flip Flops was on Shark. Yeah, and I saw a 755 00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:54,759 Speaker 1: picture of Mark Cuban with Combat flip Flops, so he 756 00:44:54,800 --> 00:44:57,200 Speaker 1: may have been an investor. I actually I don't know 757 00:44:57,239 --> 00:44:59,960 Speaker 1: who it was, but somebody from Combat flip Flops up 758 00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:02,359 Speaker 1: coached me at the shot show like years and years 759 00:45:02,360 --> 00:45:04,959 Speaker 1: ago now, and like I didn't. I had no idea 760 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:06,960 Speaker 1: who they were. It was like talking. I had like 761 00:45:07,120 --> 00:45:10,160 Speaker 1: a five or six minute conversation with the guy, and 762 00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:12,560 Speaker 1: I think he was trying to tell me about one 763 00:45:12,600 --> 00:45:14,960 Speaker 1: thing and I thought it was something else and I 764 00:45:15,000 --> 00:45:17,759 Speaker 1: was talking to him about something completely different. It's just 765 00:45:17,800 --> 00:45:20,120 Speaker 1: one of those weird things. Now I now I know 766 00:45:20,320 --> 00:45:22,359 Speaker 1: who they are, what they do, and the money goes 767 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:24,400 Speaker 1: to a good call. Yeah, yeah, it's great. Um, then 768 00:45:24,680 --> 00:45:27,160 Speaker 1: know they you know, they raised money, I believe for 769 00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:29,600 Speaker 1: for girls schools in Afghanistan. Yeah, and I think the 770 00:45:29,640 --> 00:45:32,400 Speaker 1: book is you know, doing the same things. And you know, 771 00:45:32,600 --> 00:45:34,480 Speaker 1: Leo Jenkins has been a guest on the show a 772 00:45:34,480 --> 00:45:37,239 Speaker 1: few times. He's a terrific guy. Um. So, I mean, 773 00:45:37,360 --> 00:45:39,000 Speaker 1: I think it's great that they did a book together, 774 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:40,960 Speaker 1: and I don't I'd like to read it myself, see 775 00:45:40,960 --> 00:45:43,440 Speaker 1: what they see, what it's about. Yeah, well, I have 776 00:45:43,680 --> 00:45:46,680 Speaker 1: people booked for like, you know, months ahead of time 777 00:45:46,719 --> 00:45:48,400 Speaker 1: at this point, but I'd like to get Leo on 778 00:45:48,600 --> 00:45:52,959 Speaker 1: maybe in late January or February talk about the book. Yeah, 779 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:54,640 Speaker 1: even if we can sneak him in for like ten 780 00:45:54,680 --> 00:45:57,600 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes to to talk about the book, that'd be 781 00:45:57,640 --> 00:45:59,400 Speaker 1: really cool. Yeah, we should make it happen. Maybe his 782 00:45:59,520 --> 00:46:02,160 Speaker 1: co author as well. UM, so it's a Rise of 783 00:46:02,200 --> 00:46:05,640 Speaker 1: the Unarmed Forces. Pick that up. I've been getting a 784 00:46:05,640 --> 00:46:09,920 Speaker 1: lot of emails about suggestions for the show, some British 785 00:46:10,040 --> 00:46:13,719 Speaker 1: essay asked guys, some I d F snipers. I haven't 786 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:15,560 Speaker 1: gotten back to everybody because, like I said, I have 787 00:46:15,680 --> 00:46:19,200 Speaker 1: like so much booked right now, and I'm just deciding 788 00:46:19,239 --> 00:46:22,160 Speaker 1: between Jack and I who do we have because we 789 00:46:22,280 --> 00:46:24,640 Speaker 1: really can have everybody on. It's just like an insane 790 00:46:24,640 --> 00:46:26,799 Speaker 1: amount of people I'm getting So I'm gonna do my 791 00:46:26,840 --> 00:46:29,920 Speaker 1: best figure out who will get on UM. But right now, 792 00:46:29,960 --> 00:46:34,719 Speaker 1: like up until late January, we have everything booked. Our 793 00:46:34,760 --> 00:46:36,800 Speaker 1: next couple of guests are going to be pretty interesting. 794 00:46:36,880 --> 00:46:39,880 Speaker 1: Clint Emerson, I'm really excited for her. And then and 795 00:46:39,920 --> 00:46:43,879 Speaker 1: then after Clint is Uh the guy. He's a guy 796 00:46:43,960 --> 00:46:48,920 Speaker 1: who UM was a big part of the agency contracting 797 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:53,840 Speaker 1: deal that did UH personal security detachments. I know that 798 00:46:53,880 --> 00:46:56,479 Speaker 1: he was referred to us by Dale Comstock. Yeah. Yeah, 799 00:46:56,640 --> 00:46:59,640 Speaker 1: he has a book coming out and he was a 800 00:46:59,719 --> 00:47:02,799 Speaker 1: big part of UM standing up. The predecessor of what 801 00:47:02,840 --> 00:47:05,560 Speaker 1: we now know is g R. S UM. They're like 802 00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:07,719 Speaker 1: the guys who act as the bodyguards for c I 803 00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:10,919 Speaker 1: A case officers overseas. That's gonna be great. It's gonna 804 00:47:10,960 --> 00:47:14,040 Speaker 1: it's gonna be interesting. Yeah. Absolutely, a lot of awesome 805 00:47:14,080 --> 00:47:16,840 Speaker 1: people coming on. I'm excited for it. I'm always excited 806 00:47:16,880 --> 00:47:20,560 Speaker 1: for just then and Clints an interesting guy too. And 807 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:23,560 Speaker 1: you know what, Quint, it's really perfect time to have 808 00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:26,960 Speaker 1: Quint on just this month in general with everything going 809 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:30,080 Speaker 1: on in Saudi Arabia, because Quint was born and raised 810 00:47:30,080 --> 00:47:34,560 Speaker 1: in Saudi Arabia and he's very vocal about his opposition 811 00:47:34,719 --> 00:47:37,680 Speaker 1: to everything over there, and and you know, he's he's 812 00:47:37,880 --> 00:47:41,680 Speaker 1: made some Instagram posts about like, you know, in like 813 00:47:41,800 --> 00:47:43,760 Speaker 1: his type of language, like we don't need your fucking 814 00:47:43,760 --> 00:47:46,879 Speaker 1: oil anymore. Uh, you know, we can start drilling here. 815 00:47:47,560 --> 00:47:50,040 Speaker 1: And he's he's very adamant about that type of stuff. 816 00:47:50,080 --> 00:47:51,960 Speaker 1: And I'd like to hear his opinion of you know, 817 00:47:51,960 --> 00:47:55,840 Speaker 1: the journalism stuff going on there, and and uh, Trump's response, 818 00:47:56,360 --> 00:47:58,440 Speaker 1: which I know you know people have had mixed reacts. 819 00:47:58,719 --> 00:48:00,839 Speaker 1: Were Trump just straight up set like We're not gonna 820 00:48:00,880 --> 00:48:03,680 Speaker 1: flush billions of dollars of weapons contracts down the toilet 821 00:48:03,719 --> 00:48:05,879 Speaker 1: because one dude gets killed. I was like, man, that's 822 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:08,400 Speaker 1: like the most real, honest thing one of our presidents 823 00:48:08,440 --> 00:48:11,799 Speaker 1: has ever said about Saudi Arabia ever. Yeah, he also said, 824 00:48:11,840 --> 00:48:14,759 Speaker 1: I'm that's saying it's like morally right, but it's the 825 00:48:14,840 --> 00:48:18,439 Speaker 1: most honest thing we've ever heard Saudi Arabia. He also 826 00:48:18,440 --> 00:48:21,320 Speaker 1: had that tweet about, you know, oil prices keep going down, 827 00:48:21,760 --> 00:48:23,719 Speaker 1: you know, let's see it keep coming that type of thing. 828 00:48:23,719 --> 00:48:25,760 Speaker 1: It was all about the Saudia. It was in response 829 00:48:25,800 --> 00:48:28,480 Speaker 1: to the Saudi Arabia thing. But you are right in 830 00:48:28,520 --> 00:48:30,960 Speaker 1: the honesty and that We've always had a close relationship 831 00:48:31,040 --> 00:48:33,120 Speaker 1: with the Saudis, and it's always been but we always 832 00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:35,520 Speaker 1: try to lock down play it like well like wag 833 00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:38,480 Speaker 1: our finger, you know, on one hand and then on 834 00:48:38,520 --> 00:48:41,080 Speaker 1: the other we had very close relationship with them. Yeah, 835 00:48:41,280 --> 00:48:45,399 Speaker 1: but it's always been very hypocritical. We've had this opposition 836 00:48:45,480 --> 00:48:49,480 Speaker 1: to Islamic theocracies and uh, we need human rights in Iran, 837 00:48:49,960 --> 00:48:53,160 Speaker 1: but not Saudi Arabia. Like what the funk? Like, how 838 00:48:53,160 --> 00:48:57,160 Speaker 1: does how does this work? Yeah, it's extremely hypocritical. And 839 00:48:57,440 --> 00:48:59,480 Speaker 1: I think once again this is one of those issues 840 00:48:59,480 --> 00:49:02,399 Speaker 1: where people thought Trump would be a departure and it's 841 00:49:02,440 --> 00:49:04,960 Speaker 1: not Trump specifically. We've never seen a departure on this 842 00:49:05,040 --> 00:49:08,200 Speaker 1: issue for any administration in my lifetimes. Too big to 843 00:49:08,239 --> 00:49:11,960 Speaker 1: fail Yeah, I think that oil industry is too big 844 00:49:11,960 --> 00:49:15,920 Speaker 1: to fail absolutely all right, guys, Well, um, keep checking 845 00:49:15,920 --> 00:49:18,960 Speaker 1: this out as always Software radio dot com. If you 846 00:49:19,000 --> 00:49:21,920 Speaker 1: haven't seen the website where you know, right up the descriptions, 847 00:49:21,920 --> 00:49:24,000 Speaker 1: put up the banners which our guy Zak has been 848 00:49:24,000 --> 00:49:27,240 Speaker 1: doing an excellent job with and uh yeah went Emerson. 849 00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:30,640 Speaker 1: Next episode, go pick up always my hero. Yeah, thanks 850 00:49:30,680 --> 00:49:34,200 Speaker 1: for tuning in. It's another interesting show, I think for sure. 851 00:49:34,840 --> 00:49:44,000 Speaker 1: Keeping it personal, you've been listening to Self Rep Radio. 852 00:49:44,760 --> 00:49:48,839 Speaker 1: New episodes up every Wednesday and Friday. Follow the show 853 00:49:48,920 --> 00:50:05,600 Speaker 1: on Instagram and Twitter at self Rep Radio