1 00:00:15,356 --> 00:00:15,796 Speaker 1: Pushkin. 2 00:00:19,676 --> 00:00:22,716 Speaker 2: Hey everyone, We've put together a survey for listeners of 3 00:00:22,756 --> 00:00:24,996 Speaker 2: Medal of Honor and we want to hear from you. 4 00:00:25,516 --> 00:00:27,476 Speaker 2: Tell us what you love about the show, what we 5 00:00:27,516 --> 00:00:30,996 Speaker 2: can improve on, or stories you think we've missed. We're 6 00:00:30,996 --> 00:00:34,076 Speaker 2: committed to making this show even better and you can 7 00:00:34,156 --> 00:00:38,196 Speaker 2: help to take the survey. Visit bit dot lee slash 8 00:00:38,956 --> 00:00:45,556 Speaker 2: h survey. That's bit dot l y slash mh survey. 9 00:00:46,076 --> 00:00:56,916 Speaker 2: The link is also in our show notes below. Today 10 00:00:56,956 --> 00:00:59,956 Speaker 2: we celebrate Veterans Day. It's a time for us to 11 00:00:59,956 --> 00:01:02,956 Speaker 2: reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women 12 00:01:03,196 --> 00:01:06,996 Speaker 2: who have served and protected this country across generations. 13 00:01:08,036 --> 00:01:09,036 Speaker 1: I'm JR. Martinez. 14 00:01:09,676 --> 00:01:12,636 Speaker 2: In the last season A Medal of Honor Stories of Courage, 15 00:01:12,836 --> 00:01:15,676 Speaker 2: I had the privilege of telling the heroic stories of 16 00:01:15,716 --> 00:01:19,116 Speaker 2: some of the bravest veterans to ever put on the uniform, 17 00:01:19,516 --> 00:01:22,836 Speaker 2: like sal Junta, who ran through a hell of bullets 18 00:01:22,876 --> 00:01:26,636 Speaker 2: to save his best friend from capture, or Carl Sitter, 19 00:01:27,156 --> 00:01:31,396 Speaker 2: the wounded marine captain who refused to be evacuated until 20 00:01:31,476 --> 00:01:35,716 Speaker 2: the job was done. Ordinary men who were thrust into 21 00:01:35,796 --> 00:01:39,676 Speaker 2: impossible situations, who didn't just meet the challenge of the day, 22 00:01:40,036 --> 00:01:44,356 Speaker 2: but plowed through it. If you've been listening to our show, 23 00:01:44,676 --> 00:01:47,596 Speaker 2: you know the value of that kind of courage. But 24 00:01:47,636 --> 00:01:49,876 Speaker 2: I'm here to tell you that everyone who has ever 25 00:01:49,916 --> 00:01:53,156 Speaker 2: put on the uniform has a story. So today I'd 26 00:01:53,156 --> 00:01:55,436 Speaker 2: like to encourage you to talk to the veterans in 27 00:01:55,476 --> 00:01:58,356 Speaker 2: your life and don't just thank them for their service. 28 00:01:59,036 --> 00:02:01,676 Speaker 2: Ask them about it. It shouldn't end with just the 29 00:02:01,796 --> 00:02:05,116 Speaker 2: thank you. We're hard at work on the next season, 30 00:02:05,116 --> 00:02:06,916 Speaker 2: a Medal of Honor, and it's coming in May of 31 00:02:06,996 --> 00:02:09,676 Speaker 2: next year. But in the meantime want to hear from 32 00:02:09,716 --> 00:02:12,076 Speaker 2: you about what you'd like to hear from us. 33 00:02:12,556 --> 00:02:14,156 Speaker 1: We put together a listener survey. 34 00:02:14,796 --> 00:02:16,916 Speaker 2: Tell us what you love about the show, what we 35 00:02:16,956 --> 00:02:20,756 Speaker 2: can improve on, stories you think we've missed. As we 36 00:02:20,796 --> 00:02:24,436 Speaker 2: observe this Veterans Day, we're recommitting ourselves to not just 37 00:02:24,556 --> 00:02:28,156 Speaker 2: making the show, but making it better. And you can 38 00:02:28,196 --> 00:02:31,036 Speaker 2: help us to take the survey. Head to bit dot 39 00:02:31,116 --> 00:02:35,436 Speaker 2: lee slash m oh survey. That's bit dot l y 40 00:02:36,036 --> 00:02:39,796 Speaker 2: slash m o h survey. That link is also in 41 00:02:39,836 --> 00:02:44,236 Speaker 2: our show notes. For this episode, I sat down with 42 00:02:44,276 --> 00:02:47,516 Speaker 2: my producer Ryan Swikert to talk about what we owe 43 00:02:47,556 --> 00:02:50,676 Speaker 2: our veterans today and what we can expect in the 44 00:02:50,756 --> 00:02:52,716 Speaker 2: upcoming season of Medal of Honor. 45 00:02:56,316 --> 00:02:58,316 Speaker 3: Well, Jr. I am so happy to be sitting with 46 00:02:58,396 --> 00:03:01,996 Speaker 3: you here in Pushkin Industries in beautiful New York City. 47 00:03:02,076 --> 00:03:06,756 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, it's nice, beautiful cool outside here. I am walking, 48 00:03:06,996 --> 00:03:08,756 Speaker 2: you know, in New York and I'm like, and a 49 00:03:08,836 --> 00:03:09,676 Speaker 2: lady sneeze. 50 00:03:09,676 --> 00:03:11,796 Speaker 1: I was like, bless you, and she just kind of 51 00:03:11,836 --> 00:03:12,756 Speaker 1: looked at me, you. 52 00:03:12,676 --> 00:03:15,396 Speaker 4: Know, and just kept it moving, and I was like, Oh, 53 00:03:15,436 --> 00:03:17,316 Speaker 4: I love New York right like, And it's. 54 00:03:18,916 --> 00:03:21,316 Speaker 3: I'm really excited to be talking to you about, you know, 55 00:03:21,396 --> 00:03:23,836 Speaker 3: the things that you learned making this show and what 56 00:03:23,876 --> 00:03:27,476 Speaker 3: the listeners can expect this upcoming season and today's Veterans Day. 57 00:03:27,756 --> 00:03:30,916 Speaker 3: It's interesting, Like I have veterans in my life, and 58 00:03:31,516 --> 00:03:33,876 Speaker 3: you know, as a civilian, sometimes it feels like maybe 59 00:03:34,316 --> 00:03:37,716 Speaker 3: you don't want to broach the subject with somebody to 60 00:03:37,716 --> 00:03:40,196 Speaker 3: get them to talk about bad things that happened to them. Yeah, 61 00:03:40,196 --> 00:03:41,076 Speaker 3: what would you say to that. 62 00:03:42,676 --> 00:03:44,636 Speaker 1: Let them tell you, let them dictate. 63 00:03:45,556 --> 00:03:50,236 Speaker 2: You'll know immediately if this individual wants to talk, and 64 00:03:50,276 --> 00:03:53,196 Speaker 2: if they do, how much they want to share. Why 65 00:03:53,196 --> 00:03:56,956 Speaker 2: are we underestimating that they're capable of telling us a 66 00:03:56,956 --> 00:04:00,436 Speaker 2: lot of us don't want to infringe because they don't 67 00:04:00,436 --> 00:04:02,836 Speaker 2: want to pry because they're afraid, you know. But I 68 00:04:02,876 --> 00:04:05,716 Speaker 2: think a lot of people don't want to infringe because 69 00:04:05,716 --> 00:04:08,356 Speaker 2: they're they don't want that vet to be like, it's 70 00:04:08,396 --> 00:04:10,396 Speaker 2: none of your business. I don't want to talk about 71 00:04:10,396 --> 00:04:13,196 Speaker 2: it because how it's going to make us feel exactly. 72 00:04:13,956 --> 00:04:15,956 Speaker 1: You know, you do these. 73 00:04:15,756 --> 00:04:18,236 Speaker 2: Little events and you know, you get get around kids 74 00:04:18,236 --> 00:04:20,836 Speaker 2: and kids are like kids have no filter, man. I 75 00:04:20,836 --> 00:04:23,916 Speaker 2: mean as brutally, as raw as it may be at 76 00:04:23,956 --> 00:04:26,236 Speaker 2: times when a kid would come up to me and like. 77 00:04:26,236 --> 00:04:29,516 Speaker 1: What happened to your face? I mean, straight up, man, 78 00:04:29,916 --> 00:04:30,916 Speaker 1: these kids are brutal. 79 00:04:31,436 --> 00:04:33,236 Speaker 2: But at the end of the day, I mean it's 80 00:04:33,276 --> 00:04:35,356 Speaker 2: inspiring to see these kids that are doing that. And 81 00:04:35,636 --> 00:04:38,316 Speaker 2: that's I think as adults to some degree, like we 82 00:04:38,356 --> 00:04:40,236 Speaker 2: need to kind of like still carry a little bit 83 00:04:40,276 --> 00:04:44,876 Speaker 2: of that inner child in us because they're curious, fearless. 84 00:04:44,676 --> 00:04:47,036 Speaker 3: Just ask the questions, just go shoot. 85 00:04:46,716 --> 00:04:49,036 Speaker 1: From the hip man and veterans day. 86 00:04:49,276 --> 00:04:51,236 Speaker 2: You know, again, we're so used to going up to 87 00:04:51,276 --> 00:04:54,036 Speaker 2: a vat, you know, and say thank you for your service, 88 00:04:54,636 --> 00:04:57,636 Speaker 2: and what do they say? Thank you? And they're like, 89 00:04:57,716 --> 00:05:01,196 Speaker 2: all right, have a good day. Walk away, right, what 90 00:05:01,436 --> 00:05:04,476 Speaker 2: happened there? Yes, you allow someone to feel appreciated, and 91 00:05:04,476 --> 00:05:08,916 Speaker 2: then that is equally important. However, you just walked away 92 00:05:09,236 --> 00:05:12,236 Speaker 2: not knowing what that person did, not knowing what you 93 00:05:12,356 --> 00:05:16,516 Speaker 2: really thank them for. That person now doesn't really know you, 94 00:05:17,516 --> 00:05:19,676 Speaker 2: versus if you approached them and said, you know, yes, 95 00:05:19,796 --> 00:05:21,076 Speaker 2: if you want to lead with the hey, I just 96 00:05:21,116 --> 00:05:23,156 Speaker 2: want to say thank you for your service, really appreciated. 97 00:05:23,156 --> 00:05:24,956 Speaker 2: And they're like, thank you, and wou do you mind 98 00:05:24,996 --> 00:05:26,756 Speaker 2: telling me? Like, what what'd you do in the military? 99 00:05:27,676 --> 00:05:28,596 Speaker 2: You know, where'd you serve? 100 00:05:29,236 --> 00:05:31,596 Speaker 3: Just starting a conversation with the veterans in your life, right, 101 00:05:31,596 --> 00:05:31,916 Speaker 3: that's it. 102 00:05:32,356 --> 00:05:33,316 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's it man. 103 00:05:34,596 --> 00:05:37,876 Speaker 2: I just tell people like, don't make the decision for 104 00:05:37,956 --> 00:05:42,036 Speaker 2: that individual. Let that individual tell you if they're ready 105 00:05:42,076 --> 00:05:42,476 Speaker 2: to talk. 106 00:05:43,716 --> 00:05:45,436 Speaker 3: I want to back up just a little bit. Of course, 107 00:05:46,076 --> 00:05:48,876 Speaker 3: So a lot of listeners are familiar with your story, 108 00:05:49,196 --> 00:05:51,156 Speaker 3: but I think a lot of new listeners might not be. 109 00:05:52,196 --> 00:05:54,996 Speaker 3: And being that it's Veterans Day today, I was wondering 110 00:05:54,996 --> 00:05:57,076 Speaker 3: if you could just tell me the story of when 111 00:05:57,116 --> 00:05:58,076 Speaker 3: you became a veteran. 112 00:05:58,156 --> 00:06:00,636 Speaker 1: Absolutely not all right. 113 00:06:00,556 --> 00:06:02,316 Speaker 3: That's okay. I just wanted to ask, there we. 114 00:06:02,276 --> 00:06:04,836 Speaker 1: Go, there it is put it in practice already. I 115 00:06:04,836 --> 00:06:08,436 Speaker 1: love it, man, understand that. Yeah, I wouldn't want to 116 00:06:08,436 --> 00:06:09,636 Speaker 1: talk about it yet. Yeah, exactly. 117 00:06:09,636 --> 00:06:12,356 Speaker 2: There you go see, and that's but that's that's the 118 00:06:12,356 --> 00:06:16,516 Speaker 2: way to do it. So essentially, I was a senior 119 00:06:16,556 --> 00:06:19,316 Speaker 2: in high school in nine to eleven. Took place, and 120 00:06:19,396 --> 00:06:24,756 Speaker 2: like everybody, of course, confused, afraid, but also I think 121 00:06:25,116 --> 00:06:29,596 Speaker 2: just felt this deep patriotism of what can I do? 122 00:06:29,676 --> 00:06:33,196 Speaker 2: I want to do something, and so the military now 123 00:06:33,396 --> 00:06:34,836 Speaker 2: became that opportunity for me. 124 00:06:35,636 --> 00:06:37,316 Speaker 1: It was an opportunity for me to go serve. 125 00:06:37,596 --> 00:06:39,516 Speaker 2: It was an opportunity for me to get more disciplined, 126 00:06:39,516 --> 00:06:42,156 Speaker 2: as opportunity for me to travel, get money for college. 127 00:06:41,836 --> 00:06:43,276 Speaker 1: All the things. It was a one stop shop. 128 00:06:43,916 --> 00:06:46,316 Speaker 2: And so off I go to the army as an 129 00:06:46,316 --> 00:06:51,356 Speaker 2: Infertruman and six months after I enlisted, I found myself 130 00:06:51,676 --> 00:06:53,036 Speaker 2: in combat in Iraq. 131 00:06:53,756 --> 00:06:55,796 Speaker 1: At first, I didn't really feel like I played a role. 132 00:06:56,556 --> 00:06:58,516 Speaker 2: I was like, what I mean, I'm not really doing 133 00:06:58,556 --> 00:07:01,476 Speaker 2: anything here, Like I mean, not helpful to anybody. 134 00:07:02,436 --> 00:07:04,356 Speaker 1: I don't know any of this stuff. 135 00:07:05,156 --> 00:07:08,076 Speaker 2: And it took one of my leaders to give a 136 00:07:08,076 --> 00:07:11,956 Speaker 2: briefing to our unit, and in that briefing he talked 137 00:07:11,956 --> 00:07:14,196 Speaker 2: about the importance of service. He talked about the importance 138 00:07:14,196 --> 00:07:16,036 Speaker 2: of every single person in the role that they played 139 00:07:16,036 --> 00:07:18,636 Speaker 2: and accomplishing our mission. And he was giving this whole 140 00:07:18,636 --> 00:07:20,956 Speaker 2: speech Man, and I literally was like, oh my god, 141 00:07:21,236 --> 00:07:23,676 Speaker 2: all right, I get it. Now, I do play a role, 142 00:07:23,756 --> 00:07:27,956 Speaker 2: I do matter. I am part of this team. And 143 00:07:28,196 --> 00:07:30,236 Speaker 2: you know, I was only in country Man for three 144 00:07:30,316 --> 00:07:33,716 Speaker 2: and a half weeks, that's it. And then on the 145 00:07:33,716 --> 00:07:35,676 Speaker 2: fifth of April of two thousand and three, I'm driving 146 00:07:35,676 --> 00:07:37,836 Speaker 2: a humvey through a city called Carbala when the front 147 00:07:37,876 --> 00:07:40,356 Speaker 2: left tire runs over a roadside bomb. 148 00:07:40,876 --> 00:07:42,436 Speaker 1: There were three other guys in the humvy. 149 00:07:42,516 --> 00:07:45,156 Speaker 2: They were all thrown out, but I was trapped aside, 150 00:07:45,196 --> 00:07:47,036 Speaker 2: and within a matter of seconds, this humvy was now 151 00:07:47,036 --> 00:07:48,396 Speaker 2: in gulfed in flames, and you. 152 00:07:48,356 --> 00:07:50,756 Speaker 1: Know, I can't get out. 153 00:07:51,636 --> 00:07:53,276 Speaker 2: For five minutes that I was trapped inside of this 154 00:07:53,316 --> 00:07:56,796 Speaker 2: burning humvey, I was in and out of consciousness because. 155 00:07:56,596 --> 00:07:58,116 Speaker 1: I had thirty degree burns. 156 00:07:58,436 --> 00:08:00,076 Speaker 2: But the biggest thing that was threatening whether I was 157 00:08:00,116 --> 00:08:01,796 Speaker 2: going to survive or not was the fact that I 158 00:08:01,836 --> 00:08:04,996 Speaker 2: had inhalation damage. So I was inhaling all the smoke 159 00:08:05,036 --> 00:08:07,596 Speaker 2: from the fire. I had broken ribs. It was hard 160 00:08:07,596 --> 00:08:10,556 Speaker 2: for me to breathe, So this is what it sounded like. 161 00:08:10,636 --> 00:08:17,996 Speaker 2: It was like help, help, like that. And then there 162 00:08:17,996 --> 00:08:21,196 Speaker 2: would be these moments where my body would get really heavy, 163 00:08:21,476 --> 00:08:23,716 Speaker 2: like my eyes would get heavy, my body would start 164 00:08:23,756 --> 00:08:25,676 Speaker 2: to kind of get weak, and my eyes would be 165 00:08:25,716 --> 00:08:29,116 Speaker 2: on the verge of closing and they would close. But 166 00:08:29,156 --> 00:08:33,116 Speaker 2: when my eyes closed, there's two things that I vividly remember. 167 00:08:33,716 --> 00:08:38,196 Speaker 2: One is feeling my breath. I could feel myself breathing 168 00:08:38,796 --> 00:08:42,036 Speaker 2: or trying to. And the second thing is my thoughts. 169 00:08:43,596 --> 00:08:46,596 Speaker 2: And then I would tell myself, don't keep your eyes closed, 170 00:08:47,196 --> 00:08:49,556 Speaker 2: because if you do, that's it. You're giving up. Someone's 171 00:08:49,596 --> 00:08:51,356 Speaker 2: gonna pull you out. Open your eyes and I would 172 00:08:51,396 --> 00:08:53,796 Speaker 2: open my eyes and I would continue to screaming. Yet, 173 00:08:53,996 --> 00:08:57,076 Speaker 2: but what I learned from the fifth of Abel of 174 00:08:57,116 --> 00:09:00,516 Speaker 2: two thousand and three is that hopefully I and the 175 00:09:00,596 --> 00:09:04,876 Speaker 2: listener we won't find ourselves in a burning situation right 176 00:09:04,916 --> 00:09:09,356 Speaker 2: where we're trapped. Hopefully that's not the case. However, life 177 00:09:09,396 --> 00:09:12,516 Speaker 2: in itself, because it could be overwhelming and a lot 178 00:09:12,516 --> 00:09:15,836 Speaker 2: of pressures can feel like we're in a burning situation. 179 00:09:18,956 --> 00:09:21,836 Speaker 2: And so what I've learned from that five minutes that 180 00:09:21,876 --> 00:09:24,476 Speaker 2: I was trapped inside of that humvey is that when 181 00:09:24,516 --> 00:09:27,436 Speaker 2: things start to feel a little overwhelming, when things start 182 00:09:27,476 --> 00:09:29,196 Speaker 2: to feel a little out of control. 183 00:09:29,836 --> 00:09:31,236 Speaker 1: I just like to close my eyes. 184 00:09:32,196 --> 00:09:34,796 Speaker 2: I like to connect with my breath, and I like 185 00:09:34,836 --> 00:09:38,716 Speaker 2: to connect with my thoughts well and ask for help 186 00:09:38,796 --> 00:09:41,676 Speaker 2: right and ask for other things and trust that people 187 00:09:41,716 --> 00:09:45,516 Speaker 2: will show up for you. I had to trust in 188 00:09:45,556 --> 00:09:47,436 Speaker 2: those five minutes that somebody was going to show up. 189 00:09:47,636 --> 00:09:50,716 Speaker 2: I had this false sense of hope that someone was 190 00:09:50,756 --> 00:09:53,516 Speaker 2: going to come pull me out, and they did, and 191 00:09:53,556 --> 00:09:56,476 Speaker 2: I was pulled out of the humbee, started the metavac process, 192 00:09:56,596 --> 00:09:59,836 Speaker 2: put into a medical induce coma, ended up in San Antonio, Texas, 193 00:10:00,356 --> 00:10:02,596 Speaker 2: and then three weeks later, came out of my medical 194 00:10:02,636 --> 00:10:19,196 Speaker 2: induce coma to my new reality. You know, after my injury, 195 00:10:19,996 --> 00:10:21,916 Speaker 2: I was in a medical induce coma for three weeks. 196 00:10:22,036 --> 00:10:24,396 Speaker 2: And when I came out of my medical induce coma, 197 00:10:25,116 --> 00:10:27,756 Speaker 2: the first question, no different than any other service member 198 00:10:27,956 --> 00:10:30,436 Speaker 2: that I asked the medical team, was when can I 199 00:10:30,556 --> 00:10:32,316 Speaker 2: get out? And when can I get back with my 200 00:10:32,436 --> 00:10:37,196 Speaker 2: unit and finish my tour. And the first bombshell, if 201 00:10:37,196 --> 00:10:39,796 Speaker 2: you will, that they dropped on me was they told 202 00:10:39,836 --> 00:10:41,156 Speaker 2: me that I wasn't going to be allowed to stay 203 00:10:41,156 --> 00:10:41,636 Speaker 2: in the Army. 204 00:10:41,916 --> 00:10:43,516 Speaker 1: I was going to be medically discharged. 205 00:10:44,356 --> 00:10:47,716 Speaker 2: That was really hard for me because I started to 206 00:10:47,796 --> 00:10:52,196 Speaker 2: create this identity of Okay, I love this military thing, 207 00:10:53,036 --> 00:10:57,116 Speaker 2: I love this uniform, I love this concept of service, 208 00:10:57,276 --> 00:11:00,796 Speaker 2: like I love being a part of this, and now 209 00:11:00,796 --> 00:11:04,116 Speaker 2: you're taking that away from me. Also, within the same 210 00:11:04,236 --> 00:11:07,076 Speaker 2: like week and a half, I saw my face and 211 00:11:07,116 --> 00:11:10,116 Speaker 2: my body for the first time understood this of my injury. 212 00:11:10,636 --> 00:11:13,516 Speaker 2: And so I always say to people, you know, two 213 00:11:13,516 --> 00:11:15,356 Speaker 2: weeks after I came out of my coma, I lost 214 00:11:15,396 --> 00:11:17,116 Speaker 2: both of my identities. 215 00:11:16,836 --> 00:11:18,316 Speaker 1: Like I didn't know who I was. 216 00:11:19,636 --> 00:11:22,076 Speaker 2: And I mean at that point, I was just kind 217 00:11:22,076 --> 00:11:24,356 Speaker 2: of going through the motions, just kind of surviving the day. 218 00:11:24,436 --> 00:11:26,996 Speaker 2: I had to really like go of the pressure of 219 00:11:27,036 --> 00:11:29,556 Speaker 2: what long term was going to look like, and I 220 00:11:29,596 --> 00:11:32,956 Speaker 2: started to really focus on just the short term, the now, 221 00:11:33,116 --> 00:11:36,716 Speaker 2: the today. And six months later, I'm asked to visit 222 00:11:36,756 --> 00:11:40,236 Speaker 2: a patient who was in the hospital essentially navigating the 223 00:11:40,276 --> 00:11:43,996 Speaker 2: same thing I was navigating six months prior, and I 224 00:11:44,076 --> 00:11:45,916 Speaker 2: was encouraged to go in and talk to him, and 225 00:11:45,996 --> 00:11:48,836 Speaker 2: you know, like a typical twenty year old, I was like, now, now, now, 226 00:11:48,916 --> 00:11:51,316 Speaker 2: And you know, the staff who had at that point 227 00:11:51,436 --> 00:11:55,996 Speaker 2: became more like my friends and family and this nurse, 228 00:11:56,036 --> 00:11:59,316 Speaker 2: Miss Walker, she was like, no, go in there, and 229 00:11:59,356 --> 00:12:01,356 Speaker 2: I was like, fine, I'll do it. Gosh, I mean 230 00:12:01,676 --> 00:12:04,156 Speaker 2: literally like a mother's son dynamic. 231 00:12:04,236 --> 00:12:06,316 Speaker 3: And do you know why you were so reluctant to go? 232 00:12:06,476 --> 00:12:08,876 Speaker 2: Because I was like, I'm twenty, what am I going 233 00:12:08,916 --> 00:12:11,196 Speaker 2: to say say? I don't know what I'm going to 234 00:12:11,236 --> 00:12:14,756 Speaker 2: say to this individual, like nothing to offer. And that 235 00:12:14,876 --> 00:12:18,876 Speaker 2: was my first mistake because what I realized when I 236 00:12:18,916 --> 00:12:21,076 Speaker 2: walked into that room and he was definitely in a 237 00:12:21,076 --> 00:12:24,316 Speaker 2: bad place, I realized all I needed to do is 238 00:12:24,356 --> 00:12:26,916 Speaker 2: just show up. And I remember having a forty five 239 00:12:26,916 --> 00:12:29,716 Speaker 2: minute conversation with this patient and when I left, I. 240 00:12:29,636 --> 00:12:31,436 Speaker 4: Was like, hey, man, I'll come back tomorrow. He's like, yeah, man, 241 00:12:31,436 --> 00:12:34,436 Speaker 4: I'd appreciate that. Like it was a completely different vibe 242 00:12:34,756 --> 00:12:37,236 Speaker 4: in his room. And I started visiting patients every day. 243 00:12:38,236 --> 00:12:40,196 Speaker 4: And what that did is that gave me what part 244 00:12:40,236 --> 00:12:43,756 Speaker 4: of my identity back, the ability to serve. I realize 245 00:12:43,796 --> 00:12:46,076 Speaker 4: I can serve again in a different way, in a 246 00:12:46,076 --> 00:12:47,636 Speaker 4: different capacity, but I can serve. 247 00:12:48,836 --> 00:12:50,916 Speaker 1: I learned that I needed to be vulnerable. 248 00:12:51,796 --> 00:12:54,556 Speaker 2: The more that I've done that, I have found some 249 00:12:54,716 --> 00:12:58,516 Speaker 2: really incredible people that I call my family. Now I 250 00:12:58,556 --> 00:13:02,636 Speaker 2: have created deeper connections with people that I probably never 251 00:13:02,676 --> 00:13:05,676 Speaker 2: would have had. I continue to keep this sort of 252 00:13:05,716 --> 00:13:10,836 Speaker 2: shield in front of me, just trusting that you know, 253 00:13:10,956 --> 00:13:13,276 Speaker 2: not everybody, but there are a hell of a lot 254 00:13:13,276 --> 00:13:16,876 Speaker 2: of people out there that are equipped to show up 255 00:13:16,876 --> 00:13:19,596 Speaker 2: for you, but you also have to equally let them 256 00:13:19,636 --> 00:13:20,836 Speaker 2: know that you need that. 257 00:13:21,916 --> 00:13:24,036 Speaker 3: It sounds like a Veteran's day message. 258 00:13:24,276 --> 00:13:25,076 Speaker 1: That's it, man. 259 00:13:25,476 --> 00:13:27,476 Speaker 2: You know, as much as I'm putting you know, we're 260 00:13:27,516 --> 00:13:31,916 Speaker 2: talking to the listener that's potentially civilian, I'm also talking. 261 00:13:31,676 --> 00:13:33,596 Speaker 1: To that vet. 262 00:13:33,756 --> 00:13:36,596 Speaker 2: It's hard walking the streets of the world, even if 263 00:13:36,596 --> 00:13:39,476 Speaker 2: there's only five hundred people that live in your town, 264 00:13:39,716 --> 00:13:42,756 Speaker 2: or there's five million people in New York City, you know, 265 00:13:43,116 --> 00:13:46,436 Speaker 2: in the same borough as you right now. It's hard, 266 00:13:47,116 --> 00:13:51,636 Speaker 2: and it's easy to feel isolated, and it's probably feels 267 00:13:51,676 --> 00:13:54,796 Speaker 2: and the short term better to isolate yourself. But the 268 00:13:54,836 --> 00:13:58,436 Speaker 2: long term, in order for you to be what you 269 00:13:58,516 --> 00:14:01,756 Speaker 2: are destined to be, we have to be willing to 270 00:14:01,796 --> 00:14:05,716 Speaker 2: like just keep showing up. And the military they taught 271 00:14:05,756 --> 00:14:08,356 Speaker 2: us that, and just because we're not in it anymore 272 00:14:08,396 --> 00:14:12,236 Speaker 2: doesn't mean that goes away. Show up for others and 273 00:14:12,356 --> 00:14:14,876 Speaker 2: through that you start to kind of discover more about yourself. 274 00:14:14,916 --> 00:14:17,116 Speaker 2: And that was true for me as I started to 275 00:14:17,116 --> 00:14:20,636 Speaker 2: discover so much more about myself by just showing up 276 00:14:20,676 --> 00:14:21,196 Speaker 2: for others. 277 00:14:22,396 --> 00:14:24,956 Speaker 3: You talk about showing up, and you know, working on 278 00:14:24,996 --> 00:14:28,236 Speaker 3: this podcast, you've seen that, Like, yes, a lot of 279 00:14:28,276 --> 00:14:30,276 Speaker 3: these guys are very heroic and a lot of the 280 00:14:30,316 --> 00:14:33,396 Speaker 3: things they did were amazing, but they got in those 281 00:14:33,436 --> 00:14:35,996 Speaker 3: positions in the first place by just showing up. Yeah, 282 00:14:36,076 --> 00:14:37,436 Speaker 3: do you want to talk a little bit about that? 283 00:14:37,556 --> 00:14:41,396 Speaker 2: Yeah, man, I mean working on season two of Medal 284 00:14:41,436 --> 00:14:45,676 Speaker 2: of Honor and listening to season one with Malcolm, it 285 00:14:45,796 --> 00:14:50,396 Speaker 2: just reminded me of how important it is to simply 286 00:14:50,516 --> 00:14:54,636 Speaker 2: just show up, to just be there, Like you don't 287 00:14:54,676 --> 00:14:57,116 Speaker 2: have to have all the answers. I mean, you listen 288 00:14:57,196 --> 00:15:00,596 Speaker 2: to some of these individuals in season two and they 289 00:15:00,636 --> 00:15:03,836 Speaker 2: didn't have extensive training, they didn't have combat training, they 290 00:15:03,836 --> 00:15:06,436 Speaker 2: didn't get the luxury to go to this school and 291 00:15:06,476 --> 00:15:09,116 Speaker 2: that school. I did it right, Like that's a common 292 00:15:09,276 --> 00:15:13,196 Speaker 2: and theme in some of these stories. Yet when a 293 00:15:13,356 --> 00:15:18,236 Speaker 2: moment asked somebody to show up, they just showed up 294 00:15:18,596 --> 00:15:19,836 Speaker 2: and they figured it out. 295 00:15:19,956 --> 00:15:23,676 Speaker 4: Like guys were able to just navigate it and do 296 00:15:23,756 --> 00:15:27,276 Speaker 4: some incredible things that I think they surprise themselves, which 297 00:15:27,316 --> 00:15:29,516 Speaker 4: is why I think many of them are like why 298 00:15:29,516 --> 00:15:33,516 Speaker 4: am I being awarded this incredible honor? 299 00:15:33,636 --> 00:15:36,396 Speaker 2: Like why do I deserve this right? I think anybody 300 00:15:36,436 --> 00:15:37,916 Speaker 2: would have done that. I think we all would have 301 00:15:37,956 --> 00:15:41,356 Speaker 2: tried to, you know, navigate it the same way. And 302 00:15:41,476 --> 00:15:45,156 Speaker 2: if there's anything you take away from this podcast, it's 303 00:15:45,236 --> 00:15:49,876 Speaker 2: simply being inspired by these stories that for some of us, 304 00:15:49,916 --> 00:15:54,476 Speaker 2: including myself, they feel like, no, these are fictional stories. 305 00:15:54,516 --> 00:15:58,076 Speaker 1: There's I can't no, that's not real, that happened. 306 00:15:58,396 --> 00:15:59,756 Speaker 3: I mean, it's easy to look at the things that 307 00:15:59,796 --> 00:16:03,956 Speaker 3: these guys do. It's just sort of like these amazing heroics. Yeah, 308 00:16:04,036 --> 00:16:07,076 Speaker 3: but really it's just the confluence of like this training, 309 00:16:07,476 --> 00:16:10,196 Speaker 3: this ability, and the right moment. 310 00:16:10,476 --> 00:16:12,236 Speaker 2: Yeah you're I mean, and a lot of them it's 311 00:16:12,276 --> 00:16:15,076 Speaker 2: just like what would I have done? What would I 312 00:16:15,076 --> 00:16:17,876 Speaker 2: have done if there was someone with a machine gun? 313 00:16:17,996 --> 00:16:20,596 Speaker 2: Like in a position, like what I have charged in? 314 00:16:20,876 --> 00:16:24,156 Speaker 2: What would I have done? And so you easily start 315 00:16:24,196 --> 00:16:28,476 Speaker 2: to kind of think these are like just superheroes and 316 00:16:28,516 --> 00:16:28,916 Speaker 2: they're not. 317 00:16:29,076 --> 00:16:35,596 Speaker 1: They're human beings. We all have this, we really do. 318 00:16:36,196 --> 00:16:38,716 Speaker 2: And I just love that I get to be part 319 00:16:38,756 --> 00:16:42,196 Speaker 2: of the team to help keep these legacies alive and 320 00:16:42,236 --> 00:16:45,556 Speaker 2: then help people that are listening realize that they too 321 00:16:45,596 --> 00:16:48,796 Speaker 2: can be like Carl Sitter, they can be like Jefferson 322 00:16:48,796 --> 00:16:50,916 Speaker 2: de Blanc, they can be like all these individuals that 323 00:16:50,956 --> 00:16:53,396 Speaker 2: we've covered in the first two seasons of Medal of Honor. 324 00:16:54,316 --> 00:16:57,716 Speaker 2: It's a reminder for all of us as human beings, 325 00:16:57,436 --> 00:17:01,276 Speaker 2: as Americans, as listeners of this podcast where we're listening 326 00:17:01,316 --> 00:17:06,396 Speaker 2: to these stories, to just keep showing up. We want 327 00:17:06,396 --> 00:17:11,516 Speaker 2: to run away, but showing up might actually allow you 328 00:17:11,556 --> 00:17:14,636 Speaker 2: to realize the true hero that is in you, that 329 00:17:14,796 --> 00:17:25,036 Speaker 2: is just waiting for that moment to come out. 330 00:17:26,476 --> 00:17:29,436 Speaker 3: Jare I actually recently learned that you were on Dancing 331 00:17:29,436 --> 00:17:32,476 Speaker 3: with the Stars. I did not know this about you. 332 00:17:32,476 --> 00:17:33,836 Speaker 3: You're a man of many talents, you know. 333 00:17:33,916 --> 00:17:35,996 Speaker 2: Man, sometimes I forget that I was on Dancing with 334 00:17:36,036 --> 00:17:36,636 Speaker 2: the Stars. 335 00:17:36,836 --> 00:17:39,356 Speaker 3: Not only were you on Dancing with the Stars, my friend, 336 00:17:39,716 --> 00:17:40,396 Speaker 3: but you won. 337 00:17:40,836 --> 00:17:44,316 Speaker 2: The winners and new champions of Dancing with the Stars 338 00:17:44,996 --> 00:17:50,316 Speaker 2: shut Out and cry. 339 00:17:46,116 --> 00:17:50,676 Speaker 3: Out, which makes you infinitely a better dancer than I 340 00:17:50,676 --> 00:17:53,996 Speaker 3: could ever be. How did this come about? And like, 341 00:17:54,596 --> 00:17:57,676 Speaker 3: I'm just curious about how and if you talked about 342 00:17:57,716 --> 00:17:58,836 Speaker 3: being a veteran on the show. 343 00:17:59,236 --> 00:18:03,076 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was on that show and it was veteran first. 344 00:18:03,756 --> 00:18:07,116 Speaker 2: It really was promoted like we have this veteran on 345 00:18:07,156 --> 00:18:10,596 Speaker 2: the show. And what was cool about it is, yes, 346 00:18:10,756 --> 00:18:13,516 Speaker 2: I went on to show the world that I have 347 00:18:13,556 --> 00:18:17,916 Speaker 2: a personality. Obviously I could dance, but it was just 348 00:18:17,956 --> 00:18:21,916 Speaker 2: like this character like I just I'm silly of goofy, 349 00:18:22,516 --> 00:18:25,676 Speaker 2: and but people were like, oh, that's cool. Here's a 350 00:18:25,716 --> 00:18:28,676 Speaker 2: guy that you know, some people will look at me 351 00:18:28,756 --> 00:18:32,036 Speaker 2: like scary to see, you know, like the scars and whatever. 352 00:18:32,636 --> 00:18:36,156 Speaker 2: But look at him, he's actually like clowning, laughing, silly, 353 00:18:36,276 --> 00:18:40,396 Speaker 2: like he's just a goofball. And so it was, it was, 354 00:18:40,516 --> 00:18:44,196 Speaker 2: it was awesome. And I remember week three, I did 355 00:18:44,196 --> 00:18:48,396 Speaker 2: a rumba. We danced to the song Tim McGraths song. 356 00:18:48,556 --> 00:18:49,676 Speaker 2: If you're reading. 357 00:18:49,356 --> 00:18:52,676 Speaker 3: This, you did a rumba to a Tim McGraw song, Yeah, okay, 358 00:18:52,756 --> 00:18:54,796 Speaker 3: I gotta look at that reading. 359 00:18:56,476 --> 00:18:59,876 Speaker 2: The lyrics are he's telling the story of a service member. 360 00:19:00,876 --> 00:19:04,956 Speaker 2: So he writes a letter to his wife. Essentially he's saying, 361 00:19:05,036 --> 00:19:08,876 Speaker 2: if you're reading this, I passed away while in the military. 362 00:19:10,236 --> 00:19:14,036 Speaker 2: I remember sitting in the rehearsal room with Karina spurnt Off, 363 00:19:14,036 --> 00:19:16,876 Speaker 2: my partner, and I was like, yeah, this is an 364 00:19:16,876 --> 00:19:20,916 Speaker 2: important story to tell. Before we danced, they showed up 365 00:19:20,996 --> 00:19:25,396 Speaker 2: the package again and it was about my recovery and 366 00:19:26,356 --> 00:19:29,356 Speaker 2: oh man, just thinking about it, like they showed all 367 00:19:29,396 --> 00:19:33,076 Speaker 2: these people, they interviewed them behind my back. I had 368 00:19:33,076 --> 00:19:35,236 Speaker 2: no clue they put this package together, which is the 369 00:19:35,236 --> 00:19:37,276 Speaker 2: worst thing to do to somebody. That's about the dance 370 00:19:37,316 --> 00:19:38,516 Speaker 2: in front of millions of people. 371 00:19:39,036 --> 00:19:40,116 Speaker 3: You read to watch us before you. 372 00:19:40,276 --> 00:19:43,236 Speaker 2: I had to watch it, and so I'm standing there 373 00:19:43,316 --> 00:19:46,596 Speaker 2: watching it, waiting for this package to end, the announce 374 00:19:46,636 --> 00:19:48,756 Speaker 2: her to introduce us, and then the music starts playing 375 00:19:48,836 --> 00:19:52,236 Speaker 2: we go, and I tell you, by the time we started, 376 00:19:52,436 --> 00:19:55,356 Speaker 2: I had tears in my eyes, like and it wasn't 377 00:19:55,396 --> 00:19:57,996 Speaker 2: just about me. It was like, I'm telling the story 378 00:19:57,996 --> 00:20:01,836 Speaker 2: of so many men and women. I finished the routine, man, 379 00:20:01,876 --> 00:20:05,276 Speaker 2: and I'm crying. I only like ninety seconds, that's how 380 00:20:05,276 --> 00:20:07,716 Speaker 2: long we dance on the show, and probably the last 381 00:20:07,716 --> 00:20:11,076 Speaker 2: forty five seconds of that routine, I'm crying. In the 382 00:20:11,116 --> 00:20:14,916 Speaker 2: ballroom where they film Dance with the Stars, every single 383 00:20:14,916 --> 00:20:24,316 Speaker 2: person was standing out. The response that we got from that, 384 00:20:24,796 --> 00:20:27,836 Speaker 2: what people told us, what thank you? 385 00:20:28,836 --> 00:20:30,276 Speaker 1: Thank you for telling that story. 386 00:20:31,636 --> 00:20:34,076 Speaker 3: I think that's interesting because that's pretty much what you're 387 00:20:34,076 --> 00:20:37,276 Speaker 3: doing on this show too. You know, you are in 388 00:20:37,356 --> 00:20:40,156 Speaker 3: conversation with these interviews with these veterans who have done 389 00:20:40,196 --> 00:20:42,556 Speaker 3: these amazing things, and you're telling their stories. 390 00:20:42,796 --> 00:20:43,356 Speaker 4: Yeah. 391 00:20:43,516 --> 00:20:45,916 Speaker 3: I think one theme we're circling here in this conversation 392 00:20:46,076 --> 00:20:50,716 Speaker 3: is storytelling. How important that is to the veteran experience, right. 393 00:20:50,676 --> 00:20:51,516 Speaker 1: One hundred percent. 394 00:20:52,196 --> 00:20:56,396 Speaker 2: And we need more vets to be willing to share 395 00:20:56,716 --> 00:20:58,756 Speaker 2: and to talk as much as they. 396 00:20:58,636 --> 00:20:59,596 Speaker 1: Feel comfortable with. 397 00:21:00,796 --> 00:21:01,756 Speaker 3: Why is that important? 398 00:21:03,396 --> 00:21:05,676 Speaker 2: Because it is important for people to learn about who 399 00:21:05,676 --> 00:21:10,316 Speaker 2: we are one so again we can have a connection. 400 00:21:11,236 --> 00:21:12,836 Speaker 2: But you know, we'd like to say in the military, 401 00:21:12,916 --> 00:21:15,276 Speaker 2: we fought for your freedom, We fought for your right, 402 00:21:16,756 --> 00:21:18,996 Speaker 2: and I think some of us we lose sight of 403 00:21:18,996 --> 00:21:22,516 Speaker 2: that when we come home and we're struggling. And what 404 00:21:22,556 --> 00:21:24,836 Speaker 2: I like to remind them is like, Okay, it's easy 405 00:21:24,876 --> 00:21:26,836 Speaker 2: to say you fought for everyone else's right, but you 406 00:21:26,876 --> 00:21:31,396 Speaker 2: also fought for your own. You deserve to live, you 407 00:21:31,436 --> 00:21:35,516 Speaker 2: deserve to heal, you deserve to go through your process 408 00:21:35,556 --> 00:21:38,836 Speaker 2: to get the out. You deserve that you fought for yourself, man, like, 409 00:21:39,156 --> 00:21:40,236 Speaker 2: not just everybody else. 410 00:21:40,276 --> 00:21:40,956 Speaker 1: But for you too. 411 00:21:42,436 --> 00:21:44,396 Speaker 2: I tell my story and I'm hoping that there's a 412 00:21:44,436 --> 00:21:46,516 Speaker 2: VET that's listening right now, or a loved one of 413 00:21:46,556 --> 00:21:48,916 Speaker 2: a vet, and they're like, you know what, all right, 414 00:21:49,636 --> 00:21:51,436 Speaker 2: maybe what I'm struggling with it's. 415 00:21:51,276 --> 00:21:54,396 Speaker 1: Okay, but I should reach out. 416 00:21:54,636 --> 00:21:56,836 Speaker 2: Maybe it encourages the listener right now to say, you 417 00:21:56,876 --> 00:21:58,196 Speaker 2: know what, oh man man, I need to have a 418 00:21:58,236 --> 00:22:00,956 Speaker 2: little bit more compassion and not just look at them 419 00:22:00,956 --> 00:22:04,996 Speaker 2: as like trained robots that just know they're human beings 420 00:22:05,036 --> 00:22:07,316 Speaker 2: that have lives, that have emotions, that have feelings, that 421 00:22:07,356 --> 00:22:10,676 Speaker 2: have the same desires that we do. They have aspirations, 422 00:22:10,796 --> 00:22:13,596 Speaker 2: right like they have those same things, but they also 423 00:22:13,596 --> 00:22:15,476 Speaker 2: still have those complications like we all do. 424 00:22:16,996 --> 00:22:19,276 Speaker 3: One of the things I noticed you said earlier was 425 00:22:19,316 --> 00:22:23,116 Speaker 3: that you would developed this identity as a soldier, right, 426 00:22:23,636 --> 00:22:25,236 Speaker 3: And that was something that didn't come easy to you. 427 00:22:25,276 --> 00:22:25,676 Speaker 1: At first. 428 00:22:25,716 --> 00:22:27,476 Speaker 3: You weren't really sure what you were doing there, and 429 00:22:27,516 --> 00:22:30,396 Speaker 3: then you got leadership that helped you find that identity, right. 430 00:22:31,076 --> 00:22:35,436 Speaker 3: But then you get injured and you have a new identity, right. 431 00:22:36,556 --> 00:22:38,716 Speaker 3: And for the past twenty years you've been a veteran, 432 00:22:38,796 --> 00:22:41,236 Speaker 3: and I just wonder you know what you've learned in 433 00:22:41,276 --> 00:22:44,276 Speaker 3: those twenty years with this identity of being a veteran. 434 00:22:45,716 --> 00:22:47,476 Speaker 1: I'm proud. 435 00:22:48,596 --> 00:22:55,036 Speaker 2: I'm proud of the initial decision to join the military, 436 00:22:56,156 --> 00:23:03,316 Speaker 2: not really understanding this fraternity that I was joining. I'm 437 00:23:03,356 --> 00:23:08,636 Speaker 2: grateful because it gave me the opportunity to discover myself. 438 00:23:10,276 --> 00:23:13,556 Speaker 2: It gave me a space, a platform to identify the 439 00:23:13,596 --> 00:23:16,116 Speaker 2: greatness that lied in me. It gave me the avenue 440 00:23:16,156 --> 00:23:19,996 Speaker 2: to discover that. And the military helped me find this 441 00:23:20,116 --> 00:23:24,396 Speaker 2: concept of service, helped me find this importance of teamwork 442 00:23:24,476 --> 00:23:27,116 Speaker 2: and how to show up and how to be a leader, 443 00:23:27,156 --> 00:23:29,116 Speaker 2: and how to get people, you know. 444 00:23:29,116 --> 00:23:31,916 Speaker 1: To buy in. And I'm grateful. 445 00:23:33,156 --> 00:23:38,516 Speaker 2: I have no regrets, man, absolutely none. I mean, it's 446 00:23:38,596 --> 00:23:41,956 Speaker 2: kind of hard to really encapsulate like what my life 447 00:23:41,956 --> 00:23:44,156 Speaker 2: has been over the last you know, two decades. I mean, 448 00:23:44,156 --> 00:23:46,836 Speaker 2: it's it's kind of wild, to be honest. I've kind 449 00:23:46,836 --> 00:23:48,516 Speaker 2: of like the Forest Gump in a sense of just 450 00:23:48,596 --> 00:23:50,156 Speaker 2: kind of like just yeah, sure, I'll try that. 451 00:23:50,196 --> 00:23:50,556 Speaker 1: Sure here. 452 00:23:51,076 --> 00:23:53,636 Speaker 2: I mean, I never hosted a podcast like this, you know, 453 00:23:53,716 --> 00:23:56,396 Speaker 2: And here I am doing that, this working with this 454 00:23:56,476 --> 00:24:00,516 Speaker 2: incredible team and telling these incredible stories. And I feel 455 00:24:00,756 --> 00:24:06,076 Speaker 2: the passion and love to tell these stories in such 456 00:24:06,116 --> 00:24:09,476 Speaker 2: a careful way that we do them justice. And it 457 00:24:09,516 --> 00:24:12,076 Speaker 2: makes me feel like I'm kind of back in the 458 00:24:12,116 --> 00:24:15,556 Speaker 2: military in a sense, like I'm part of this team. 459 00:24:15,636 --> 00:24:17,756 Speaker 3: What are you looking forward to in this upcoming season? 460 00:24:17,756 --> 00:24:18,516 Speaker 3: The medal of honor? 461 00:24:18,956 --> 00:24:22,356 Speaker 2: Oh man, what you guys have up your sleeve, what 462 00:24:22,476 --> 00:24:25,596 Speaker 2: you guys do, and how you do all this research 463 00:24:25,676 --> 00:24:28,596 Speaker 2: and put all these stories together, and you know, I'm 464 00:24:28,636 --> 00:24:30,796 Speaker 2: the final piece that comes in and helps, you know, 465 00:24:30,876 --> 00:24:35,196 Speaker 2: try to tell them. It's unfortunate that it's May of 466 00:24:35,236 --> 00:24:37,836 Speaker 2: next year when episode one is going to be released, 467 00:24:37,876 --> 00:24:39,476 Speaker 2: you know, because I feel like I'm like, I want 468 00:24:39,516 --> 00:24:39,916 Speaker 2: this now. 469 00:24:39,996 --> 00:24:41,396 Speaker 1: Well. The good thing is you can go listen to 470 00:24:41,436 --> 00:24:42,596 Speaker 1: season one. It's easy two, right. 471 00:24:43,836 --> 00:24:48,876 Speaker 2: But I'm just I'm excited to just learn and to 472 00:24:48,996 --> 00:24:51,396 Speaker 2: just be inspired because I know there's a lot of 473 00:24:51,436 --> 00:24:53,636 Speaker 2: stories in there that are just going to be incredibly 474 00:24:53,756 --> 00:24:59,516 Speaker 2: motivating and inspiring and a reminder of what humans are 475 00:24:59,596 --> 00:25:00,556 Speaker 2: capable of doing. 476 00:25:01,196 --> 00:25:02,996 Speaker 3: And I can tell you just from having worked on 477 00:25:03,036 --> 00:25:05,356 Speaker 3: some of the stories coming up, that they're capable. 478 00:25:04,956 --> 00:25:08,036 Speaker 1: Of a lot. Yeah. I can't wait, man, I can't 479 00:25:09,156 --> 00:25:09,876 Speaker 1: I can't wait. 480 00:25:10,036 --> 00:25:13,196 Speaker 2: So I hope everyone that's listening now, I hope that 481 00:25:13,276 --> 00:25:16,876 Speaker 2: you put some sort of alert reminder May twenty twenty six, 482 00:25:17,396 --> 00:25:20,116 Speaker 2: Medal of Honor, season three. I hope you tune in 483 00:25:20,156 --> 00:25:22,276 Speaker 2: as well and we can go on this journey together. 484 00:25:22,636 --> 00:25:26,196 Speaker 2: But before that, as I said in the opening, click 485 00:25:26,236 --> 00:25:28,236 Speaker 2: on that link in the show notes, I mean truly 486 00:25:28,276 --> 00:25:30,836 Speaker 2: when we say this, we mean that we want to 487 00:25:30,876 --> 00:25:33,676 Speaker 2: hear from you. We want to understand what are some 488 00:25:33,796 --> 00:25:36,596 Speaker 2: things that you want to know. What are maybe some subjects, 489 00:25:36,676 --> 00:25:39,996 Speaker 2: maybe some individuals, whatever it is like, just this is 490 00:25:39,996 --> 00:25:42,756 Speaker 2: a community and we want our listeners to feel like 491 00:25:43,076 --> 00:25:44,356 Speaker 2: they're part of our community. 492 00:25:44,396 --> 00:25:45,636 Speaker 1: Because they are. They matter. 493 00:25:46,596 --> 00:25:49,316 Speaker 2: We want these stories to continue to live, So reach 494 00:25:49,356 --> 00:25:52,676 Speaker 2: out to us, communicate with us. But set that alert 495 00:25:52,756 --> 00:25:56,556 Speaker 2: that reminder for May twenty twenty six, Season three, episode one. 496 00:25:57,156 --> 00:25:58,836 Speaker 3: All right, jay R, thank you so much for doing this. 497 00:25:58,956 --> 00:26:01,076 Speaker 2: It was a pleasure, my man, Thank you so much. Yeah, 498 00:26:01,156 --> 00:26:10,556 Speaker 2: same here, brother, But thank you again for listening to 499 00:26:10,636 --> 00:26:14,476 Speaker 2: this special episode of Metal of Honor. Once again, we'd 500 00:26:14,516 --> 00:26:17,116 Speaker 2: love to hear from you. If you have a couple 501 00:26:17,116 --> 00:26:20,836 Speaker 2: of minutes, please take our listener survey. Head to bid 502 00:26:20,916 --> 00:26:25,156 Speaker 2: dot lee slash m oh survey. That's bit dot l 503 00:26:25,356 --> 00:26:29,596 Speaker 2: y slash m oh survey. That link is also in 504 00:26:29,676 --> 00:26:33,796 Speaker 2: our show notes. This episode of Metal of Honor Stories 505 00:26:33,796 --> 00:26:36,316 Speaker 2: of Courage was produced by Ryan Schwiker. 506 00:26:36,876 --> 00:26:39,156 Speaker 1: Our editor is Lydia Jean Kott. 507 00:26:39,716 --> 00:26:43,956 Speaker 2: Sound design and additional music by Jake Gorsky. Our executive 508 00:26:43,956 --> 00:26:49,876 Speaker 2: producer is Gonstanza Gayadovio. Original music by Eric Phillips and 509 00:26:49,996 --> 00:26:51,836 Speaker 2: I'm your Host JR. 510 00:26:51,916 --> 00:26:52,516 Speaker 1: Martinez