1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Buck Sexton and you're listening to the 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: Tutor Dixon Podcast, part of the Clay Travers and Buck 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Sexton podcast Network. 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Tutor Dixon Podcast. I'm Tutor Dixon, and 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 2: I'm so glad you are joining me today for this 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 2: very special conversation on Memorial Day with Staff Sergeant Joey Jones. 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 2: He is a Fox News contributor and the author of 8 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 2: the upcoming book Unbroken Bonds of Battle. Joey, thank you 9 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 2: so much for coming on today. 10 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: Oh, thanks for having me, thanks for asking me to 11 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: be on on the special day. And yeah, you know, 12 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: just like the book, I like to brag on my 13 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,200 Speaker 1: buddies and my heroes and enjoyedever minute of my service 14 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: and like to talk about it. So well. 15 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 2: I'm glad I saw that you said you were a 16 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 2: little bit leery about writing a book at first, because 17 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 2: you felt like there were already a lot of books 18 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: out there about service and war and that you felt like, 19 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 2: do I want to add to that? But yours is 20 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 2: a little bit different, isn't it. 21 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's exactly right. You know, people have told me 22 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: for years or well for the years that i've been 23 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: especially in media, they said, you know, you should write 24 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: a book or we'd love to read your story sometime. 25 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: And although I'm flattered by it, I feel like the 26 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: war stories are out there, you know, they're on a 27 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: white book with a gold emblem usually it's tried it 28 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: and from a Navy seal, and that those war stories 29 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: are bombastic and they're true, but they're big and larger life, 30 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: and they're movie worthy. And for me, I just felt like, 31 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: you know, my combat experience was had gravity to it, 32 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: and obviously it had some combat involved in it, but 33 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: I was writing another story in my life and my 34 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: recovery and the people that was so fortunate to be 35 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: around before and after my injury, and that was the 36 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: story I wanted to tell, but I had to learn 37 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: how to tell it. And so over the years I've 38 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 1: kind of organized those thoughts and really what happened. And 39 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 1: I don't know if you are asking this question, but 40 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: the way this book came to be my buddy Pete 41 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,919 Speaker 1: Hegseth did this book called Modern Warriors where he detailed 42 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: different what he calls modern warriors, and the idea of 43 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: that book inspired me to like tell my story through 44 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: the lens of a handful or more service members, warriors, 45 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: heroes who were instrumental in my life and had an 46 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: impact on my life in my recovery, And from it 47 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 1: came this book, which is just even so much more 48 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: than that. 49 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: You talk about your recovery, and I think that for 50 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: those of us who watch you all the time, I 51 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: have to remind myself that you went through this because 52 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: you are so positive and you seem like such a 53 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 2: light coming out there speaking on behalf of service members 54 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: but also people who've passed, and it seems like I 55 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 2: think that someone who hasn't served, like in my position, 56 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: I can look at you and go, he must not 57 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: have been affected by this because he's just so positive. 58 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,639 Speaker 2: But it's really a journey that some of us will 59 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 2: never understand. So if you could just walk us through, 60 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 2: because I'm sure there have been moments that haven't been 61 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 2: just like Okay, I'm going to get through this. I'm 62 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 2: sure there have been tough moments and we don't really 63 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: see that side of you because you're just so positive 64 00:02:57,639 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 2: and joyful. 65 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: Well, first of all, thank you for the cop and 66 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: I'm glad that that's what you see. I don't put 67 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: effort into it in the sense that it's fake, but 68 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: I definitely care about showing people that you can get 69 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: through something and be happy on the other side. You know, 70 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: adversity trauma. We don't want trauma for our kids, but 71 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: trauma is what builds you strong, That's what makes you 72 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: a better version of yourself. You know, the least prepared 73 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: person in the world as someone who's never had a 74 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: hard ship to go through because they don't have the 75 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: tools to work with it on a day to day basis. 76 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: So I'm very fortunate not only to have survived being 77 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 1: blown up, but to have gone through something traumatic and 78 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: been able to reason through it and to get stronger 79 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: on the other side. Where they're tough days. Of course, 80 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: they're still tough days. They're physically tough days, and they're 81 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: emotionally tough days and mentally tough days. But I don't 82 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: think I wouldn't have those days even without the injury. 83 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: We all have them. You Know. One thing I always 84 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: say when I speak to a crowd is you have 85 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: this reverence for me because I lost my legs in 86 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: combat and I'm not upset about it, and I appreciate that. 87 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: But if I'm standing in front of a crowd, at 88 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: a convention or a gala. Chances are they put on 89 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: nice clothes, they have a date, they've made a good dinner, 90 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: they're giving money if it's a gala, they're learning about 91 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: their industry, if it's something like a convention. I'm speaking. 92 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: They have this reverence for me, But what they don't 93 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: understand is I don't know what it's like to file 94 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: for bankruptcy or lose a business, or you know, go 95 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: through a rough divorce, or lose a child or both 96 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: my parents, or you know, have cancer, or I'm not 97 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,799 Speaker 1: dealing with an illness that might yet take my life. 98 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 1: But all of those things are present in that audience, 99 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: in that moment, and the resilience that you have to 100 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: have to be a human being is inspirational, not just 101 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: a service member or not just someone who was combat injured. 102 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: So for me, all I'm trying to do when I 103 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: point that out is one point out to people how 104 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: strong and inspirational they are, and to point out that 105 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: we all have a battle. Whatever that battle is, we 106 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: all have it and none of us is going to 107 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: let it define us. You know, hopefully, if we're healthy 108 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: mentally and emotionally, it's going to be what controls our emotions. 109 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: I think that's a scary thing for some people to 110 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 2: think because they haven't been through that. And we are 111 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: in a world right now where it's oftentimes pushed that 112 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 2: you won't have any struggles. We're going to accept everything 113 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 2: is going to be easy. We're going to try to 114 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: make things easy. 115 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: You know. 116 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 2: It's funny because just this morning I was at an 117 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: event where a bunch of businesses we're talking, and one 118 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 2: of the girls in the crowd, a young woman, said 119 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: she was a student, and she said to the businesses, 120 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 2: how are you going to change to understand my generation? 121 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 2: We need flex time, We need people to consider what 122 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: benefits we need. We're just a different generation. We need 123 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: you to come around us rather than us conform to 124 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 2: what you are as a business. And I think, gosh, 125 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 2: when you're that age, you've never Many people are fortunate 126 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: enough to have never experienced some type of tragedy, and 127 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: I think that not having these discussions, I mean, it 128 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 2: was amazing. The whole crowd erupted in applause. They said, yes, 129 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: we've got to make sure that the students lead that 130 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 2: the workforce and that we listen to them going forward. 131 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: But that's not really reality. So how do you talk 132 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 2: to people about the fact that inevitably, inevitably, you are 133 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: going to have something tough happen to you. And this 134 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 2: generation doesn't necessarily seem like they're prepared for that. 135 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: It certainly feels that way sometimes. I think ultimately history 136 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: proves tough times happen. You know, two thousand and eight 137 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 1: happened to my generation, and what may come of you know, 138 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: not to get too political at one time, and what 139 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: may come of all the spending from COVID may happen 140 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: to their generation. I don't know. We're still undecided. We 141 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: don't have a we don't have a good pulse on that. 142 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: So tough times will happen. It might be economic, it 143 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: might be in your life. But you're going to go 144 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: through something that you don't want to have to go through. 145 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: The best thing you can do is be prepared for it. 146 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: And the best way to be prepared for it is 147 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: not to be averse to try or tough times, you know, 148 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 1: to learn how to get through it. I was born 149 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: in the nineteen sixty six single wide. My dad laid 150 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: brick and block and my mom cleaned houses. And no, 151 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: I'm not running for office. That's not why I'm telling 152 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: you that, but I love talking about it because that's 153 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: who I was for eighteen years of my life before 154 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: I found the Marine Corps, and certainly before I found 155 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: a camera and words to put in front of it. 156 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: That is the foundation of who I am. That is 157 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: the type of people I come from. In the background 158 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: I have. Adversity is innate when you're poor, it's a 159 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: part of it, but it's also opportunity. You can't go 160 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: anywhere but up, and you can't help but to appreciate 161 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: the simplest things in life, because it's about all you 162 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: have sometimes. And you know what, we were super happy. 163 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: We were happy, we were full of love and clothes. 164 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: We had drama like every other family. You know. I 165 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: didn't grow up in the trailer park. I grew up 166 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: in a park trailer and so if I hadn't have 167 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: started there, I don't think my personality. I don't think 168 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: I would have made near as much out of what 169 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: I was given. And so for my son, for example, 170 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: he's a part of this latter gen z. I guess 171 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: he's going to be fourteen, and I think all the time, 172 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: like man, am I making life hard? Enough for him. 173 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: He's a lot like me and stuff. He's a whole 174 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: lot smarter and a whole lot more talented. And I worry, like, 175 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: you know, if he doesn't have the struggle I had, 176 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: can he be you know, a better version of me? 177 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: Which is what you want from your son. And then 178 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: I really think about, well, not all trauma is the same, 179 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: but all trauma can be of equal value. And so 180 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: his mom and I were not together when he was conceived. 181 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 1: We've never been together. We have raised him, co parented 182 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,479 Speaker 1: in a really healthy way, but there have been some struggles, 183 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: and there have been days where I wanted to be 184 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: there for him and I couldn't. We've had to FaceTime 185 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: or miss each other. And you know what, that's not easy. 186 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: That's a little bit traumatic, and I wish that weren't 187 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: the case. But him going through it and us talking 188 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: about it and him understanding it, that's trauma. But it's 189 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: building him to be a stronger man when he becomes 190 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: a man. So my hope is that this generation, as 191 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: they mature, and it's not age but experience that brings 192 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: that wisdom, they understand the value of going through tough 193 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:11,319 Speaker 1: times or tough tough situations rather than working so hard 194 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: to avoid them. 195 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 2: Let's take a quick commercial break. We'll continue next on 196 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 2: the Tutor Dixon Podcast. We're talking about Memorial Day and 197 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 2: people that are lost in battle, and you know, I mean, 198 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 2: you experience that you lived through losing friends, and I haven't. 199 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: I obviously have. I'm not a service member, I haven't served. 200 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 2: I haven't lived through that. When you think of this day, 201 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 2: what do you tell people who? I mean, I think 202 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 2: a lot of times people walk into this weekend thinking, oh, 203 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 2: it's a three day weekend and not really fully feeling 204 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 2: the gravity of what we're talking about here. So how 205 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 2: do you bring that to people, not in a scary way, 206 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: but in a way to say these people were there 207 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: for you in ways you will maybe never understand. 208 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: I do it every other day, and at three hundred 209 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: and sixty five days a year. Every time. Back to 210 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: this kind of original comment, you asked me about telling 211 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: my story or a book. Anytime I talk about me, 212 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: I talk about my buddy Daniel Greer. The bomb I 213 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: stepped on that took my legs, took his life, and 214 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 1: I cannot tell the events of that day without singing 215 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: his praises and making sure people remember his legacy, and 216 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: it is different for me, and I'm glad it's different 217 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 1: for me and not this way for everyone. Memorial Day. 218 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: For me, a lot of people like to say, hey, 219 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: Memorial Day has names, you know, there are names that 220 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: are attached more to day. Well, for me, Memorial Day 221 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: has memories. You know, I've witnessed what made someone who 222 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: you celebrate on Memorial Day. I've seen people die in 223 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: combat and I've experienced some of their last solemn moments 224 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: before they went off on an operation that took their life. 225 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 1: And so Memorial Day is a full breath for me, 226 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: and it's twofold one grateful that if somebody has to 227 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: know that that I'm the one that gets to that, 228 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: I'm the one that I guess to use the term 229 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: bears that cross in a way, and everybody has to 230 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: then on the other side, I am honored that I 231 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: get to share that with people. And Memorial Day is 232 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,079 Speaker 1: not about making people feel bad. I mean, if you 233 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: know anything about the military, our funerals are not about 234 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: making you feel bad. It's the time to celebrate and 235 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: tell jokes and tell stories and remember who we were 236 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 1: in the full breath of our life. Not the one 237 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: moment that we expired. And so Memorial Day for me 238 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: is that too. You know, like I have multiple text groups. 239 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: One of them is a set of Marine Bomb texts 240 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: that I served with, and within that text group, Momorld 241 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: Day can be really heavy, but some of those same 242 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: guys will be in another text group, and mom World 243 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: Day is jovial and it's fun and we're telling stories 244 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: about these guys. And so for me, what I explain 245 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: to people is just make it mean something. You know, 246 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: take that opportunity. If there was somebody you worked with 247 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: whose son passed away, if there's somebody in your face, 248 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: if there's somebody in your church, your community, make it 249 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 1: mean something. Add a name to it, and then add 250 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: a memory to it. And if that memory is after 251 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 1: the fact because you've reached out to a family member 252 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: or you learned that person's story, make it personal because 253 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: it is personal. 254 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 2: What is it like to go from to go from combat, 255 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 2: to go from that brotherhood and then come back. You 256 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 2: obviously had a lot of healing to do, but now 257 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 2: you're like everybody knows you, You're in our family rooms 258 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 2: every day. What is it like to make that transition 259 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 2: and have this big platform, because I think people like me, 260 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 2: like I said, who haven't served, and I don't have 261 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 2: anybody in my immediate family who've served. I mean, we 262 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 2: look up to you, we look at you, and we 263 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 2: go look at what this man has been able to do. 264 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 2: And it's important for us to see that, to know 265 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 2: that we are able to raise people up and honor them. 266 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 2: But also, like, what is it like from your perspective 267 00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: to suddenly have this huge platform be out there on 268 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 2: Fox every day and be able to tell these stories. 269 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: That's a multi fasty question, and I appreciate you asking it. 270 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: So first of all, to be on Fox every day 271 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: is very surreal. I live on a forty acre cal 272 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: farm in rural Gordon County, Georgia. That's where I laid 273 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: my head when it's where I want it to be, 274 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: when it's where I chose today to go to sleep. 275 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: And I live among people who majoritily knew me before 276 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 1: I was on television or lost my legs. And it 277 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: got to the point where it was like, Hey, if 278 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: I'm going to walk into a restaurant, people are going 279 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: to know me. I'd rather be people that knew me 280 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: before TV. And so that's kind of where I what 281 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: I have decided. So I get to work in New 282 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: York and work in this big city and work in 283 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: this big way. But it's only to the extent that 284 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 1: I get to represent the couple of communities that made 285 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: me who I am. And one of them is the military, 286 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: the other one are rural Southern Americans. And so that's 287 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: where my heart is, and that's where my experiences lay, 288 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: that's where my days off are. And so for me, 289 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: it's just responsibility, honor and responsibility. I have a responsibility 290 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: to reflect those two communities and how I carry myself 291 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 1: and how I speak about things, and I have the 292 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: honor of representing them in that way. You know, when 293 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: you go on television to discuss topics that people are 294 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,199 Speaker 1: really passionate about, it's not your job to tell them 295 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: what to think. All you can do is show them 296 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: that someone they identify with, someone with a similar background 297 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: and with similar you know, experiences, has had a chance 298 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: to provide a perspective one They feel heard. They feel 299 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: like somebody is speaking for them to somebody's actually speaking 300 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: to them. All too often, analysts and commentators almost talk 301 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: over our head and speak to one another, and that 302 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: I couldn't do it if I wanted to. I'm not 303 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: that sophisticated, I guess, but that's also my not my goal. 304 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: My goal is to talk to my mom or my 305 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: uncle Jeff and to make sure they understand why this 306 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: important thing can have an effect in their life. And 307 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: that's where it starts and stops, and and I get 308 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: positiveeedback on that. So I guess I figured out a 309 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: way to do it. 310 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 2: So what is your message in the book? I mean, 311 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 2: what should people expect when they get the book? It's 312 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 2: coming out? When is it coming out? 313 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: June twenty seventh, so it's on pre order right now. 314 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: That's as much as I know. I don't know how 315 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: this whole process works. There are people that get paid 316 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: to know that part. But I am just so excited 317 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: about it and what to expect. You learn that relationships 318 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: are to keep to life and you don't get through 319 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 1: anything on your own. This book profiles or interviews ten 320 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: people that are really important in my life, some of 321 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: them for the last twenty years and some of them 322 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: for the last couple of years. Some of them don't recognize. 323 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: Nate Boyer or Wesley Hunt are people I've known and 324 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:46,479 Speaker 1: gotten to know, and they're in the book because specific 325 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: experiences with them were so impactful to me that it 326 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: colored how I see things or how I respond to 327 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: things just by knowing them and sharing an experience with them. 328 00:15:55,600 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: Others like Keith Stancel Danny Ridgeway have been my best 329 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: friend for ten twenty thirty years now, Keith, since high school. 330 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: We've been through it all together. We've survived a best 331 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: friend committing suicide, survived joining the military, survived getting blown up, 332 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: survived bearing friends, and in all of that, they have 333 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: gone through their own trials and tribulations, most of it 334 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: connected to military service, but were there for me during mine. 335 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: And so I'm telling my story through the lens of 336 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 1: these relationships that were vitally important that we're also service members. 337 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: Along the way, a couple of others in there. A 338 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: guy named Lacy Cano that's Air Force, I don't know 339 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: what's called cargo plane pilot, refueler pilot, big plane pilot. 340 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: And he's from West Virginia. He grew up like me, 341 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: real poor out in what we call a holler. And 342 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 1: for him to learn what self confidence is and self 343 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: assurance to be a lieutenant commander and to be teaching 344 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: twenty year olds how to fly a multimillion dollar plane 345 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: and to have that moment of realization that sometimes you 346 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: don't know how important you can be in someone's life 347 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: until you're in the middle of it. And you don't 348 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: know that you're prepared for something until you have to 349 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: do it. And just so many lessons like that that 350 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: go back to how we relate to the people in 351 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 1: our lives, how we treat them, and what we learn 352 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: from them. 353 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 2: You've done some work in government, You've helped to direct 354 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 2: policy change veterment for veterans and worked with the Department 355 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 2: of Defense. What was that like? How I mean, that's 356 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 2: something that we hear. I think from the outside perspective. 357 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 2: We hear that in campaigns a lot. We hear people 358 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 2: saying we're going to stand up for our veterans. Right now, 359 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 2: I think there is a bit of concern over whether 360 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: or not our veterans are being taken care of when 361 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 2: all this money is going being directed into different places. 362 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 2: So we have not only the concern of whether our 363 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,199 Speaker 2: veterans are being taken care of, but also whether or 364 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,719 Speaker 2: not people are going to join the military in the future. 365 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 2: And enrollment is down, we see some weird things going 366 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 2: on there, and I think there's overall uneasiness. What was 367 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 2: it like to be working on the side of policy 368 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 2: helping to do that, and what were some of the 369 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 2: impactful changes that you think you had. 370 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: Well, first of all, I'm old. It's been ten years 371 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: since I was up there in Congress or more, I 372 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 1: guess two thousand and eleven and twelve is when I 373 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: worked for the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and. 374 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 2: So government moves slow. So let's face it, that's not 375 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 2: that long. 376 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: Fair. But this identity crisis that our Department of Defense 377 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: is going through right now, which kind of mirrors but 378 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: maybe even a more severe way, the identity crisis of 379 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: our society that worries me because I don't have experience 380 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: with that. That wasn't yet taking hold when I was 381 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: working with Department of Defense in BA. But back to 382 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: my time on Capitol Hill working with the VA. You know, 383 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: back then, way back then, the House Veterans Affairs Committee 384 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 1: was still a committee, a little bit immune to the 385 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: most awful partisan politics. Tim Waltz was a representative the governor. 386 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: Tim Wats was a representative, a Democratic representative on the 387 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 1: House Burns Affairs Committee, and back then he was a 388 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: pretty reasonable, middle of the road guy when it came 389 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:04,439 Speaker 1: to the stuff we were working on, and if you 390 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,479 Speaker 1: know him in the headlines now he's a pretty partisan governor. 391 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: And so you know, back then we were able to 392 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,199 Speaker 1: get things done because everyone kind of agreed on the 393 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 1: idea that the VA could be better and there was 394 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 1: a way to get it done. For me, I worked 395 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: on the House Biters Affairs Committee as I was going 396 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: through the back end of my recovery and transition from 397 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: active duty to VA. So I was on like the 398 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: user end and the and the system's creation end, so 399 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: I could see the problems and report those right back 400 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: to the people who have oversight over that entity, the VA. 401 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: And what I learned was kind of twofold Number one. 402 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,479 Speaker 1: Congress says in big broad terms what the VA should do, 403 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: but the bureaucrafts aside how it's done, and then Congress 404 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 1: eats up its time arguing over if it's getting done right. 405 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 1: And so that is a big kind of inefficiency, but 406 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: it's the separation of power, so it's kind of how 407 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,199 Speaker 1: we've designed it. And the other thing I learned that 408 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 1: there is no problem throwing money at fixes. When it 409 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: comes to the VA, the VA has as much money 410 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: as it could ever spend. It's the attempt at oversight 411 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 1: that turns into partisan politics that slows that money down. 412 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: I can give examples that are a little bit kind 413 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: of later and nerdy, but what I'll try to say 414 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: is if the VA writes a piece of legislation that 415 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: says you must provide prosthetic devices that you know, within 416 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:27,640 Speaker 1: six months to every combat mptee, how they implement that 417 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 1: becomes convoluted, and that's due to policy and red tape, 418 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: and one party gets in charge and the other party 419 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: wants to hold them accountable because they think they spend 420 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 1: money wrongly. So then they add another form you have 421 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: to fill out. Now there's twelve forms to make this happen, 422 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: and it takes seven months to get the forums done 423 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: and you're supposed to do it in six so you're 424 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: never meeting the standard. And those are the problems. And 425 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 1: you know, I could get on a tangent about what 426 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: I think should happen, but really we have the intent 427 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: and we have the money. What we don't have is 428 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: the efficiency, and that's the So when people said we 429 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 1: should take care of our veterans better. There's so many 430 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,879 Speaker 1: programs and so many initiatives, and so many pieces of 431 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: legislation and opportunities. So all of that is there. It's 432 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: just getting leaders in there who can see through the 433 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: fog and make things happen efficiently and quickly. That's what 434 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: we need to focus on to take care of our veterans. 435 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 2: Let's take a quick commercial break. We'll continue next on 436 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 2: the Tutor Dixon Podcast. Do you see a type of 437 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 2: leadership that is helpful, that is doing things better or different? 438 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 2: Did you ever feel. 439 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 1: That you know, I've been asked this question, and if 440 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: you've made me come up with a name and be 441 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: hard to do. And I won't name some of them 442 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:44,959 Speaker 1: because their active duty. There are some generals that were 443 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: Klonels when I was in the Marine Corps who still 444 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 1: to this day understand the lessons they learned and how 445 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: important it is to be simple about it and not 446 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: try to make a career out of making a positive change. 447 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 1: At some point, it seems the best of them fall 448 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: victim to what is inside the beltwegh and so I 449 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: don't know. I think the problem that we're transitioning into now. 450 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,880 Speaker 1: We used to say that the marines that get out 451 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: that do really well and get out early, get out 452 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: early because they were successful and they want a new challenge. 453 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:17,919 Speaker 1: The ones that kind of aren't that well and they 454 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 1: stay in forever, they stay in forever because they're used 455 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: to it, and they don't they're scared to have to 456 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 1: be challenged in some other way. I'm starting to believe 457 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: that the folks in charge of our military kind of 458 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,479 Speaker 1: abide by that same rule. So I don't know if 459 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,239 Speaker 1: it's we need talent retention or an overhaul of how 460 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: we promote, but I will tell you this, if you 461 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 1: have a general or a bureaucrat who's as focused on 462 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: their own personal success as the success of their responsibilities, 463 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: that is not the way forward. And that's the concern 464 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: I have. 465 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 2: I think that goes with any anybody. I mean, that's 466 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:53,120 Speaker 2: been my complaint, even having run for office and kind 467 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 2: of seeing the dynamics from a different perspective. Is like, 468 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 2: if you have someone who is trying to personally be 469 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 2: someone rather than someone who is trying to serve and 470 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: do something, then you should have a red flag go up. 471 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 2: But it's sometimes it's hard to tell. I mean, especially 472 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 2: when someone's running for office. You don't always know that 473 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 2: the goal is very self motivated, but it's definitely a 474 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 2: message no matter what industry you're in. That can be 475 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 2: really very toxic if you have somebody that is all 476 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 2: about self, because everything is kind of a team absolutely. 477 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 1: You know, you look at some of the presidents in 478 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: generals of the past, will say Jackson or Andrew Jackson 479 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: or MacArthur. I mean their faults were they wanted to 480 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: win too much. They pushed too hard to win, you know, 481 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,199 Speaker 1: they pushed too hard to achieve too much. You have 482 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 1: to believe they were driven by a lot of personal ambition, 483 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: but their ambition was a positive thing in a lot 484 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,959 Speaker 1: of ways. They were pushing too hard to strengthen what 485 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 1: they were responsible for. I can work with that. Those people, 486 00:23:57,440 --> 00:23:59,400 Speaker 1: if they existed today, might still need to be held 487 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: in check. If it were up to MacArthur, would probably 488 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: own China and not be fighting against it right now. 489 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: But with that being said, at least the end result 490 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: of their efforts had a positive outcome in some way. 491 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: What we have now are a little bit more astute. 492 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 1: Perhaps leaders who see a weakness in our society and 493 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: say that it's almost like they drill into that weakness. 494 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:27,360 Speaker 1: It's like you drill into a sore tooth to get 495 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: the emotions stirred up. And I don't understand how they 496 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: see that as a positive. You know, the Marine Corps 497 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 1: is going through a big change right now, and the 498 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: big discrepancy or the big dispute over this change is 499 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: the commandant of the Marine Corps realized that the only 500 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 1: way to make Congress happy in the short term was 501 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: to make a big change that said the right things 502 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 1: and then showed them how they wouldn't have to pay 503 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 1: for it so they wouldn't have to be on the 504 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 1: hook for it, And in doing so, it made other 505 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: parts of the Marine Corps weak. And so you know, 506 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: by building his and I don't know this is his motive, 507 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: we're kind of building his name as the man who 508 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: changed the Marine Corps, he's also exposing us in other ways. 509 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 1: Is there a better way to do it? The Congress 510 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: not give him an opportunity to do it better. So 511 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:14,160 Speaker 1: much about the decisions are does this make me look bad? 512 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: Will this stop me from getting re elected? And it 513 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: really should be does this accomplish the mission? 514 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 2: Well, you mentioned something about not really understanding this generation 515 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 2: of what's happening in the military. What's going on. I 516 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 2: don't know if you're referring to some of the things 517 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 2: that we're seeing, but I think from an outsider's perspective, 518 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 2: we see this advertising, this drag person at advertising come 519 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 2: and join the military, and everything inside of me says, 520 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 2: I don't think that that's how you get people there. 521 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 2: I mean, that seems like that's not the right message. 522 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 2: And we keep seeing these things that are happening. I mean, 523 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:56,360 Speaker 2: they're happening in businesses. It seems very strange for this 524 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 2: to be the military. This to be happening in the military, 525 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 2: but there's a lot of equity and diversity and inclusion 526 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 2: and all of this happening in a place where you 527 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 2: think that, wow, the focus really has to be the mission. 528 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 2: And I imagine that you have to be really focused 529 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,679 Speaker 2: out there on the battlefield to make sure that you 530 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,760 Speaker 2: are not only safe, but you're keeping everyone around you safe. 531 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:25,119 Speaker 2: How does that? I mean, when you see that stuff, now, 532 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 2: does that surprise you? 533 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:29,640 Speaker 1: Is it? Does? 534 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 2: It seem almost silly to think that that's the important 535 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:34,159 Speaker 2: thing when you're on on the battlefield. 536 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:39,440 Speaker 1: At face value, it would be surprising A drag queen 537 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: as a spokesperson for the Navy. Sounds like a joke 538 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 1: that we used to tell. But really those are symptoms. 539 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 1: Those aren't the problem, and really they're not even the 540 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: expression of the problem. Or maybe that's all they are. 541 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: And let me explain. We are all connected through these 542 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 1: devices to millions of people. That has never been the 543 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: case before. As a society, we have never felt less 544 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: relevant as human being. And that's a problem. If you 545 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 1: came home from Vietnam, and I look at it from 546 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,360 Speaker 1: a male's perspective, but you can put the script. If 547 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: you came home from Vietnam and you married the high 548 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: school homecoming queen from your senior year, and you took 549 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: over your dad's hardware store and you bought that house 550 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 1: on Main Street. Man, you are a celebrity in your world. 551 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: You accomplished, over surpassed every goal you could have set 552 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:33,640 Speaker 1: for yourself, and you have made it. You accumulated the 553 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: wealth and notoriety that you could only dream of in 554 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:40,920 Speaker 1: that amazing town that built you. That wouldn't even scratch 555 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: the surface of self relevance that this generation feels, because 556 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: none of those things matter on TikTok or Instagram or 557 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 1: Twitter or to a million people because they haven't heard 558 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:55,640 Speaker 1: of Dalton, Georgia or Georgetown, Texas. And so the problem 559 00:27:55,640 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 1: there in lies when you're asked to join the military, 560 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 1: to give up all those selfish desires to be relevant, 561 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: to be important. You're asked to only stand out through 562 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 1: your actions and merit, not through your individuality. What you're 563 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:11,959 Speaker 1: asked to do is to conform, to look exactly like 564 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 1: the person to your left and right, skin color, notwithstanding haircut, clothes, demeanor, expression, 565 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 1: how you literally the micromannerisms of how you carry your 566 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 1: body should be uniform. You are nothing more and nothing 567 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: less than a cog in this machine that will defend 568 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,919 Speaker 1: our country. You can't do that unless you're raised with 569 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,239 Speaker 1: a certain amount of security and who you are that 570 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 1: this generation doesn't have. They are in a constant drought 571 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: and struggle and thirst for acknowledgment and relevance because they 572 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: are comparing themselves to millions of people at a time, 573 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: so under that lens. It does not surprise me at 574 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: all that regulations are being changed that you can dye 575 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 1: your hair however you want to paint your fingernails, however 576 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: you want to be a drag queen if you want to. 577 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: So for me, it's not the identity politics of it. 578 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 1: It is the personal identity crisis that our entire culture 579 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: is going through. That is also going to affect men 580 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 1: and women joining the military. You can't ask people to 581 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 1: become a number in a crowd unless they have a 582 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: good understanding of who they are already, and we're not 583 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: getting eighteen year olds to have that anymore. That's the problem. 584 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: Of course, it's going to affect infect our military, it's 585 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: going to infect our young leaders, it's going to infect 586 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: a generation that's going to infect our government, our media, 587 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 1: and that's where we are. I don't know what the 588 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:38,680 Speaker 1: solution is other than good parenting and understanding a problem, 589 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 1: but that to me is the root cause I. 590 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 2: Don't think i've ever heard it said that well honestly, 591 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 2: I mean, that was powerful, and I think it's powerful 592 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 2: as a parent. I'm also my oldest is about to 593 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:54,000 Speaker 2: turn fourteen, and so I'm in that same situation right now, 594 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 2: and that alone is an identity crisis. So you're at 595 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 2: an age where everything is hard. But that was very 596 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 2: mean to me as a mom to say, yeah, this 597 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,760 Speaker 2: is something that I need to instill in them. That 598 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 2: their identity is not found in social media, their identity 599 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 2: is not found in a phone. That their identity is 600 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 2: found in their faith and in themselves. And so I 601 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 2: think you might have hit on the solution. How do 602 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 2: we get there is a different thing. But I am 603 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 2: so grateful that you are sharing Memorial Day with us 604 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,840 Speaker 2: and I appreciate you coming on. Staff Sergeant Joey Jones, 605 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,719 Speaker 2: make sure you check out his book, Unbroken Bonds of Battle. 606 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 2: Where when they want to order it? Where do they 607 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 2: get it? 608 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 1: The best way to pre order is Foxnewsbooks dot com 609 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:40,560 Speaker 1: and then come June it'll be available in most bookstores 610 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 1: and pretty much ever where your shot for a book. 611 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, you are amazing. I appreciate you 612 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:48,320 Speaker 2: coming on today. Yes, ma'am, thank you, and thank you 613 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:51,240 Speaker 2: all for joining us on the Tutor Dixon Podcast. As always, 614 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 2: for this episode and others, go to Tutor dixonpodcast dot com. 615 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 2: You can subscribe right there, or you can go to 616 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 2: iHeartRadio app or Apple Podcasts anywhere you get your podcasts. 617 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 2: So thank you so much. We'll see you next time 618 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 2: on the Tutor Dixon Podcast, and everybody have a wonderful 619 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 2: Memorial Day.