1 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: Mute force. If it doesn't work, you're just not using enough. 2 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: You're listening to soft web Radio Special Operations, Military Nails. 3 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: I'm straight talk with the guys in the community. 4 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,599 Speaker 2: Hey, what's going on? This is rad and you are 5 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 2: watching soft rep Radio and I am the host. Yet again, 6 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 2: you have tuned in to watch this guy interview someone awesome, 7 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: and today is no different. I have a very very 8 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 2: awesome guest to talk about. But first I want to 9 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: mention that we have merch. Some of you know that 10 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 2: already because I've been getting tagged on the internet at 11 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 2: soft rep Mafia, So feel free to keep doing hashtag 12 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: software ap Mafia with all the brand items, the shirts, 13 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 2: those soft Reap radio soft rep shirts, the torchlights that 14 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 2: we have, so thanks so much for going to the 15 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 2: merch store at soft rep dot com. Second, we have 16 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 2: a book club, okay, and a lot of us read 17 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 2: and it's okay to read. It's okay to rob dog 18 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 2: a flight with a book. And if you want to 19 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 2: do that, choose soft rep dot com Forward slash book 20 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: hyphen Club for your library. That's book hyphen Club. You 21 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: come check out our books that are curated by operators 22 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 2: people in the field folks from the CIA who are 23 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 2: like I read this, it's like okay cool. So now 24 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 2: with that said, thanks for tuning in, and thanks to 25 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 2: Brandon Webb and my producers who always make sure that 26 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: we go out and get on all of the platforms 27 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 2: that you guys find us, including soft rep dot com. 28 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: But today I have a pretty cool conversation to talk 29 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 2: with a fellow American. Her name is Beth King. She 30 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 2: comes from the Army. She was a crew chief on Chinook's. 31 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: She was injured. I can get into it. Probably during 32 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 2: some type of a transport situation. There was prey transporting 33 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 2: something in a helicopter and she was involved in the situation. 34 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: And I'm going to let Beth say hello to us. Hello, Beth, Hey, 35 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 2: how's it going? Oh it's going great? Am I close 36 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: so far? Crew chief? United States Army. 37 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 3: Yes, I was a crew chief on the Chinook two 38 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 3: thousand and nine till twenty fourteen. 39 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 4: When I was Mike retired. 40 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, you were medically retired. What year did you 41 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: go in the military. How old were you when you enlisted? 42 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 3: I turned thirty in basic training in U two and nine. 43 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 4: Yep, Grandma, Yeah, you called that pretty much pretty much. 44 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 2: Did you realized that there were seventeen year olds in 45 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 2: boot camp while you were turning thirty who had already 46 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: picked that course? Were you like, where was I at seventeen? 47 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 3: Well, at seventeen, I'm an identical twin, so I couldn't 48 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 3: get my twin to go into the military with me, 49 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 3: and we had never lived separately, and I was I 50 00:02:58,800 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 3: just struggled with the. 51 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 4: Idea of leaving, so I didn't go. 52 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 3: Then I went to college and live that life for 53 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 3: a little bit, and then I had my son at 54 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 3: twenty five, and by thirty was like, I really need 55 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 3: a better way to support this kid. 56 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 4: I wasn't wasn't making enough money in the civilian sector. 57 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 4: I didn't have a trade. So I grew up military. 58 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 3: So my dad had five of us little navy brats, 59 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 3: so I knew the military could support us. 60 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, and you did. You got in, So you 61 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 2: got in. You you really just pulled your bootstraps right 62 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 2: up at an older age, like pushing thirty. Yeah. 63 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 3: I like to think that that's actually what made me 64 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 3: so successful so quickly, is that I had already done 65 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 3: all the dumb stuff you do when you're young. I 66 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 3: was focused and I know, I left my five yearl 67 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 3: at home, so I was like, I'm getting this, I'm 68 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 3: going in, I'm getting the mission complete, I'm getting back 69 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 3: to my kid. And you know, it wasn't I wasn't 70 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 3: playing around. I was serious and uh focused, and all 71 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: the younger kids were just kind of like first time 72 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 3: away from home having a hard time. 73 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 4: And I'd already lived I'd already lived through that part. 74 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 2: So yeah, but by the time your boys five, you know, 75 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 2: he's had you. He can handle you being gone for 76 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: a little bit, and then you can come back and 77 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 2: just reinsert right back in. You know, here's mom. 78 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, and because of my identical twin, that's where I 79 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 3: sent him. So he looks like all the Yeah, he 80 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 3: looks like all our kids. So no one the whole 81 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 3: time I was gone for Basic training, ai T, pre 82 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 3: deployment training, and deployment, he lived with her. No one 83 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 3: ever realized he wasn't hers until I would come back 84 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 3: to get him and they'd be like, wait, who is this, Like, oh, 85 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 3: this is not his mom, you know, so. 86 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 4: It was perfect. He fit right in. 87 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 3: He didn't have anyone pointing out that his family had 88 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 3: been broken apart, so it was pretty nice. 89 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: I think I love your story the most. This is 90 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 2: so just that right there, the fact that you like 91 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,799 Speaker 2: freaky fridayed your son, your sister. 92 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, pretty much too. 93 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 2: Like here you go. He probably didn't even know you 94 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:03,679 Speaker 2: just transitioned to him and said. 95 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 3: He said there were moments when it was comforting because 96 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,119 Speaker 3: he knew it was her and he could just crawl 97 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 3: up in her lap and pretend like it was me. 98 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 3: But then there were moments where she would yell to 99 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 3: him and he would for a second think it was 100 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 3: me and gets super exciting come running down the stairs 101 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 3: and see her and be like, so it was. 102 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 4: It was both good and bad. 103 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 3: You know. 104 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 2: Wow? Did he get to go see you graduate at 105 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 2: the you know, at your final Oh yep, boy, Well, 106 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 2: I know y'all are in uniform. Y'all look the same 107 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 2: with your braves or your hats on and everything on 108 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: your bomb run walk run. So I'm sure he's like, 109 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 2: which one's mom, Which one's mom? 110 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 4: But bro, I mean I was the short one. 111 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: Okay, okay, how tall are you? 112 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 4: Five three? 113 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: Do you think five to three was beneficial to be 114 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 2: a crew chief on a chinook? 115 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 3: I would have to say yes, only because we have 116 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 3: one wreck. Everyone calls it the headache rack that our 117 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,159 Speaker 3: radios go on that everyone bangs her head on. 118 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 4: I walk right under it. 119 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 2: Right, That's what I'm thinking. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So my 120 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: dad being a Green Beret growing up around Chinook's where 121 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 2: he would jump off of them, he said his favorite platform. 122 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 4: Yeah yeah, it. 123 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 3: Really is the best aircraft. Climb higher, fly, faster, carry moore. Yeah, 124 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 3: you can't get a better aircraft. 125 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 2: I used to call them potato bugs, you know, the 126 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 2: little potato bugs. I roll up the ball that you 127 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:23,840 Speaker 2: could like roll around on the ground and then when 128 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: they come back out there walk. I used to think 129 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 2: they were flying potato bugs as a little a little 130 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: errand with Dad, and we'd be like potato bugs, you know, 131 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 2: such a legitm Now, so I work in combat year. 132 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 2: I saw a lot of equipment to people who do 133 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: war games, and a lot of us have replica or 134 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 2: authentic kit such as like retentions lanyard. So we're out 135 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 2: playing war games in the desert and someone's got like 136 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 2: a London Bridge retention lanyard hooked onto their rig just 137 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 2: for the maybe a photo if it never pops up, 138 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 2: you know, like did you run one of those. Did 139 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 2: you have a retention lanyard on you at all times 140 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: on a chinook while you're moving. 141 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 3: Around, we're into the aircraft. So the length of your 142 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 3: we call it a monkey tail. It clips in between 143 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 3: the shoulder blades on our flight vest. And so the 144 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 3: idea is, should anything happen or you get knocked out 145 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 3: of the aircraft, you don't plumb it to your death. 146 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 3: So a lot of people keep them like six feet 147 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 3: or shorter because you don't you don't want that to. 148 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 4: Fall too far. 149 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 3: But you can't keep it too short because then every 150 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 3: time you go do your cabin checks. You we like, 151 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 3: as a crew chief, one of our jobs is, you know, 152 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 3: we checked the aircraft for vibes, like vibrations, check for leakage, 153 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 3: check all the system pressures, all that. 154 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 4: So we're walking up and down the cabin. 155 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 3: So you can't have it too short or you're constantly 156 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 3: bending over to unconnected and reconnect it so you can 157 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 3: go a little bit further. But yeah, you're supposed to 158 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 3: have that clipped in at all times. 159 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, did that ever come in handy for you? Oh? 160 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, that night we were flying mission in the Peeshure 161 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 3: River Valley and uh, just re positioning people, getting them 162 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 3: closer for an airsult. They were going to run, and 163 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 3: when we got hit with the rocket propelled grenade, it 164 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 3: went into through the belly into we were carrying a 165 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 3: John Deere gator, so it it ended up launching in 166 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 3: the engine of the John Deere, which ignited the aircraft. 167 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 3: So had the John Deear not been there, it would 168 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 3: have hit our dry shafting due to the angle it 169 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 3: came in at, and we probably all would have plummeted 170 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 3: and I don't think any of us would have survived. 171 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 3: So that John Deere saved our lives. But the aircraft, 172 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 3: the way the air flows through it was pushing all 173 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 3: the fire back. I was on the ramp, so I 174 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 3: was walking out of trying to get out of the 175 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 3: fire and I ended up getting right on the edge 176 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 3: of the ramp and it was super jostily because like 177 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 3: all the all the instruments were gone. 178 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 2: You got fireworks. 179 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 4: I have no idea what just happened. 180 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 2: That's awesome. As we're talking. If you're listening, she had 181 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 2: fireworks go off behind her on her screen. Sorry, so 182 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 2: you're crazy. So so that's crazy because you're talking about 183 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 2: fire blown at you aw some firelight start having so 184 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 2: you're on the edge. It's jostling. 185 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 4: There was a whole. 186 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 3: Lot of the pilots ended up landing it manually, so 187 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 3: we it's classified as a hard landing. 188 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 4: They had no instrumentation. 189 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 3: Everything had been severed with the like the bundle of 190 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 3: cords wiring took everything else, so they had nothing. I 191 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 3: got knocked out the back at about one hundred and 192 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 3: fifty feet off the ground, and so I just kind 193 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 3: of dangled by my monkey tail until he got on 194 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 3: the ground and then I had to climb back in 195 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 3: and undo myself so I could get out. 196 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 2: When the aircraft aircraft came down the helicopter. Was it 197 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,079 Speaker 2: just kind of like a flat feather being landed hard, 198 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 2: you know, like? Or was it just pretty controlled? 199 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 3: If I'm hunchon honest, I don't Once I went out 200 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 3: the back, I don't really remember much until I was. 201 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 4: On the ground. 202 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 3: I know, before I went out it was pretty jostly. 203 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 3: It wasn't smooth at all, but it was. They were 204 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 3: able to land it right side high, so all the 205 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 3: rotor blades were like smashing off the ground and breaking 206 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 3: off because they were there aren't too much of an incline. 207 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, let me just add jostling to your medical evaluation. Yeah, 208 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 2: real quick, attribute jostling there, Okay, to your rating. All right, Va, 209 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,439 Speaker 2: you hear jostling. Okay, let's add that. I'm just trying 210 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:26,959 Speaker 2: to help you here. Don't mind me. 211 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 3: If you need civilian math. I'm over three hundred percent, 212 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 3: so I'm good. 213 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 2: That's awesome. Congratulations, congratulations. If it's going to be that way, 214 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 2: it's going to be that way. Okay. If it's going 215 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 2: to be that way, it's gonna be that way. All right. 216 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 2: And so as long as your son's got school paid 217 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 2: for now, hey exactly, which you're one hundred percent, so 218 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 2: you're one hundred percent rated, then then you have all 219 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 2: of those benefits that like my father bestowed upon me. 220 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 2: In fact, your son could get track care for life, 221 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 2: a good job. 222 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 3: There are a lot of things, a lot of benefits 223 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 3: that go with it. Some way, I think the struggle 224 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:08,839 Speaker 3: for me is I've worked really hard to regain some 225 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,199 Speaker 3: of what I lost, Like the my biggest my biggest 226 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 3: rating is my brain damage. So you know, I spent 227 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 3: eight years in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy 228 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 3: getting rid of the stutter working on the aphasia. 229 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 2: So you know, I across a loud and clear you 230 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,839 Speaker 2: know what I'm saying A lot, it's been a lot 231 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 2: of effort. 232 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:33,839 Speaker 4: I really appreciate you acknowledging that. 233 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know. I just want you to know. You know, 234 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 2: it's not going to be an easy road to recovery. 235 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 2: Rehab is like pushing to pain and then stopping and 236 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 2: then trying to get the next day and the next day. 237 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 2: It's not about breaking through the pain, you know. And 238 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 2: uh so we love you. We love you as an American. 239 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 2: I love you as an American. I just want you 240 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 2: to know straight up you get nothing but love for 241 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 2: me and everybody here, A soft rep just for you know. 242 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 2: You took an oath to give up some or all 243 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 2: of you. Yeah, that's what's up. 244 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 4: I appreciate it. 245 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 2: And here you are though, Yeah, that's what's up. And 246 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 2: I know that you're awesome. And I saw you flex 247 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 2: for a second. I don't know if you realize you flexed, 248 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 2: but you like were flexing, and I saw like a 249 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 2: tat on your arm right there, like an eye? Is 250 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: there an eye? Yeah? Check that out right there. 251 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 4: It's good. A crew chief in the sitting on the 252 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 4: ramp with some mountains. 253 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:22,199 Speaker 2: I was gonna say, is that a Is that a weapon? 254 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 2: He's like you see on a fifty or something. Yeah, forty, 255 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 2: that's legit. Now. Now, now we're talking with Beth about, 256 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 2: you know, her injuries and what she does to help, 257 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 2: you know, kind of recover and you know, maybe heal 258 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 2: from some of that. And and she goes against tattoos. Right, 259 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 2: Are you into getting a tattoo at least once a 260 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 2: year if I understand correctly. 261 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I get it. 262 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 3: I started when I first got back, I had a 263 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 3: lot of I didn't understand what was happening. First of all, 264 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 3: I had the brain injury, which it took us eighteen 265 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 3: months to even get diagnosed. So I was kind of 266 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 3: like falling apart, and I was really struggling with a 267 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 3: lot of things. 268 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 4: But I love tattoos. I just was trying. 269 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 3: I think I was trying to process and work through it. 270 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 3: You know, the military has come a long way and 271 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 3: trying to help you with or making it acceptable to 272 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,559 Speaker 3: have mental health issues. But at the same time, it's 273 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 3: hard to go seek treatment because while they are making 274 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 3: it more available, there is still a stigma there. 275 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 4: So I think that's how it started. Was I was 276 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 4: just trying to process. 277 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 3: My first tattoo I got on my anniversary was a 278 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 3: phoenix on my ribs, so it was a bird of 279 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 3: fire and I had had a person dangling from its 280 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 3: claws with the with the tail number. 281 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 4: Of my aircraft chests. 282 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 3: So it was you know, it started. They wanted it started. 283 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 3: They were all those type of tattoos. And then as 284 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 3: I got further along in my recovery and I started, uh, 285 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 3: this getting more positive, not just aircraft specific or incident specific, 286 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 3: but just you know, it's been it's been a road. 287 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 4: You know, it's thirteen years ago, so. 288 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 2: You like it emotional. Somebody talked to me about tattoos. 289 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 2: A friend of mine, he's an arty, He draw, he 290 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: does tattoos, and he's like, so you want something behind 291 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 2: each of your tats? Huh rat because I'm like, if 292 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 2: I ever got tattoos, it would be this, because of 293 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: this and this, And he's like, oh, so you're sentimental. 294 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 2: So you're saying that you're kind of sentimental when you're like, 295 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 2: what am I gonna get? It's got to mean every 296 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 2: day I look at it, I wanted to I want 297 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: to see what it sees, you know, or whatever the 298 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 2: case is. 299 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 3: If you look at all my tattoos in line, it's 300 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 3: a story of my recovery. One of my tattoos actually 301 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 3: is actually exactly my story of the incident. I went 302 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 3: through prolonged exposure therapy and we had to record our 303 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 3: story and I printed it. I threw it through an 304 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 3: audioalizer and I printed it out, so it's just my 305 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 3: sound waves of my story. And I have a tattooed 306 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 3: from my right hip all the way down to halfway 307 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 3: down my shint. It is a yeah, it's like over 308 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 3: eleven feet long. 309 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, yeah it was. 310 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 4: It was insane that but you know. 311 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 2: But all of that's a lot of lines. That's a 312 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 2: lot of lines going in your skin. That's like. 313 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 4: Over five hours of tattooing. 314 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, that's commitment right there. 315 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, that was the That was the tattoo that I 316 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 4: found my limit. 317 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 3: But I know, I don't I don't get tattooed if 318 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 3: it's gonna be over four hours. 319 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 4: I break it into two sessions. 320 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 3: I could do three and a half like nothing, but 321 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 3: get that hour four and I started getting cranky. 322 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 2: You're like little blood sugar I want to. 323 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 4: Strangle people and want to hurry up, but I wanted to. 324 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 2: Look for it, and they're just like pushing a little harder. 325 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 2: Are you sure you want me to keep going? Are 326 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 2: you sure they have a date that night? You know, 327 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 2: they're like pushing on the patient or the skin a 328 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 2: little bit more. Now, that's awesome. Yeah, these guys are 329 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 2: trying to, uh get me to get a tattoo of 330 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 2: some things with them together. They're like, let's get it 331 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 2: together tattoo. Yeah, I still want words and letters. I 332 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 2: don't know it's me, but one of these days I'll 333 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 2: get something. I think, I think, I think. 334 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, for me, it's they all tell a story. Like 335 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 3: for my first tattoo, when I was eighteen and I 336 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 3: got my first tattoo, I got it with my twin sister, 337 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 3: so she got thing one because she was born first. 338 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 4: I got think too. 339 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 3: And they're running and they're running in opposite directions, but 340 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 3: the kites come back so that when we stand next 341 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 3: to each other, our kites are touching. 342 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 4: But you know, because we knew life was eventually going 343 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 4: to have to split us up. 344 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was just kind of symbolic that we have 345 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 3: this connection, which is true. 346 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 4: I mean we are closer probably than any of my 347 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 4: other siblings. 348 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 2: Did she go the route of like law enforcement, firefighter, 349 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 2: E M T or anything like that. 350 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 3: No, she is right now, she is a er tech. 351 00:16:53,920 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 3: But during during her husband actually joined the military before 352 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 3: for me, and I was nervous about joining because of 353 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 3: my five year old son. I was like, I'm not 354 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 3: sure I can do this, and he really encouraged me. 355 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 3: And then she's like, look, we'll be here for you. 356 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 4: We will help you make this happen. 357 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: You know. 358 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 3: I was a single parent at the time, so I 359 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 3: was really nervous about joining and leaving him behind. 360 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 4: So probably if it wasn't for her. 361 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 3: And her husband, I may not have ever joined, just 362 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 3: because it was It was a hard It was hard 363 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 3: with a. 364 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 4: Five year old. 365 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 2: They have to somebody has to be responsible for your 366 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 2: child while you're in boot camp, Like you have to 367 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 2: sign paper saying that my son or my daughters are 368 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:35,360 Speaker 2: good in this position. 369 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 3: Like and then any time I went for training or deployment, 370 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 3: I had to have like a line of procession, like 371 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 3: so my son is staying with this person. If something 372 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 3: happens to them, then he goes here. If something happens. 373 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 3: So it was like it was really like a I mean, 374 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:52,440 Speaker 3: it's good to have the plan, but at the same time, 375 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 3: it was kind of like, man, you know, what has 376 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 3: to happen for him to end up with the fourth person? 377 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 4: Tragedy tragedy tragedy tragedy? 378 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, It's like, you know, at nineteen seventeen, 379 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 2: nineteen or almost thirty, you're writing your will. You know 380 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 2: what I'm saying, it really is. 381 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 4: Ye, that was hard. 382 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 2: You know, hey, don't forget sign on the SLGI, you know, 383 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 2: don't forget your life insurance and who that's going to 384 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 2: go to, your mama or your daddy or your girlfriend 385 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 2: or whatever whoever it is. It's just how it is. 386 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 2: You know, you are now writing like to human make concern. 387 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,360 Speaker 2: You took that off well when you got the rock 388 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 2: and repel grenade to what year was this going on 389 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 2: when that aircraft It. 390 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 4: Was July of twenty and eleven. 391 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, so it's popping off this Afghanistan. 392 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:38,119 Speaker 3: Yep, yeah, Afghanistan. We were r ceast and the mission 393 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 3: was in the Peishu River Valley. We were flying into 394 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 3: Nagalomnag A. 395 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 2: Lot of FARPs out there right for you guys, Ford 396 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,400 Speaker 2: Air Base refueling bases. 397 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 4: There were a few. I wouldn't say, we didn't really well. 398 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 3: A lot of times we set up the FARPs because 399 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 3: or chinooks, so we would bring the X the extended 400 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 3: ranges and we'd run them. But really most of our 401 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 3: missions were between fobs, and a lot of the fobs 402 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 3: the Ford operation basis would also have a gas station 403 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 3: for us, so we ransom FARPs, but we didn't really 404 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 3: we never fuel let them. 405 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 2: You just set them up or load up because you 406 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 2: guys can halt so much like what's the weight capacity 407 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 2: of a chinook? It can take? 408 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 4: Oh man, my fee would kill me right now because 409 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 4: of brain damage. Brain damage. It's a lot. 410 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 2: No, it's okay, I see. It could take a Zodiac 411 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 2: boat and a bunch. 412 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 3: Of twenty six thousand externally if we use both hooks. Yeah, yeah, 413 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 3: I mean it's it's insane because we have we have 414 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 3: three hooks on there, so you could go just center 415 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 3: hook or acting Ford together. I mean all kinds of configurations. 416 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 3: You know, you can get a hum V inside of chinook. 417 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:51,640 Speaker 2: Yeah no, And that's what I was gonna ask, right, 418 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 2: plus some troops to go along with that. 419 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 4: Yeah. 420 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's like if we're just carrying troops thirty one 421 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 3: thirty one pack and then only the center aisle is 422 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 3: just all their gear. 423 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 4: So it can haul. 424 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 2: They can and and it can it can fly. I've 425 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 2: seen some videos of the chinks just like coming in 426 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 2: super low. You know, we're just like right off the deck. 427 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, it is, it is. It is a funny aircraft. 428 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. It can bank and it can do a three sixty. 429 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 3: Right, I don't know about I've never been anyone who's 430 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:23,959 Speaker 3: done at three sixty. 431 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 4: It can bank. 432 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 3: And an auto rotate. It has enough power that you 433 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 3: can turn the engines off. It can come in for 434 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 3: a landing, touchdown, pull back up, do a one eighty, 435 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 3: and land again, all on just the drive of the 436 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 3: propellers of the rotors. 437 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's gnarly. 438 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's insane. It's an amazing aircraft. 439 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 2: And are you are you weapons qualified on what's going 440 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 2: down on the vehicle as a crew chief? Are you 441 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 2: able to get to the two forty? Is that you? 442 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 4: Yeah? Yeah? 443 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:56,160 Speaker 2: The door? 444 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 3: Have we have a there was a two forty on 445 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,680 Speaker 3: the ramp and one in the cabin door and one 446 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 3: in the left side window. 447 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:12,199 Speaker 4: So the gunner. The usually is not aircraft qualified. They 448 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 4: could be any ms. 449 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 3: We just they sit in the left, they clear us left, 450 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 3: and they shoot the crew. Then there's a crew chief 451 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 3: and a flight engineer, So the flight engineer is UH 452 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 3: in charge basically, and they can either be at the 453 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 3: cabin door or the ramp, and the crew. 454 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:30,400 Speaker 4: Chief will either be at the other location. 455 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 3: So in in in country, in Afghanistan or Iraq or 456 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 3: wherever we are, it takes three members in the back 457 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 3: of the aircraft plus the two pilots. Here in the 458 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 3: US it needs UH two back enders and two pilots, 459 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 3: so we don't need. 460 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:48,399 Speaker 4: A gunner in the US. 461 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 2: But yeah, well without a crew. 462 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 4: Chief and a flight engineer. 463 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 2: So flight engineer takes president over everybody on the aircraft 464 00:21:57,560 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 2: like they are in control right, and then it would 465 00:21:59,560 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 2: go to. 466 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:04,439 Speaker 4: You as first back enders. Yes, yeah, it's weird. 467 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 3: It's weird because the pilots are The pilots have to 468 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 3: clear movement through us right because they can only see 469 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 3: to their back right. The aircraft is so long, there's 470 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:15,639 Speaker 3: no windows for them to look at like. They have 471 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:19,160 Speaker 3: very limited view, so if they want to go left, right, 472 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:21,399 Speaker 3: up or down, they have to call over the radio, 473 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 3: Am I clear left? Am I clear up? Am I 474 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 3: clear down? And then they have to wait for us 475 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:30,199 Speaker 3: to respond before moving. So it really is more of 476 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 3: a team atmosphere and crew coordination. It's not really any 477 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 3: one person really truly in charge. And at the end 478 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 3: of the night, when the roads stopped turning, it's very 479 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:44,879 Speaker 3: much pilots piloting, piloting demand, you know, and then it 480 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 3: goes downhill, right, So while roads are turning and we're 481 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 3: in the air, it is very. 482 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 4: Much everyone depends on everyone because. 483 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 3: They they can't they could, they could want to come down, 484 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 3: and I can tell them they can't. They have to 485 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 3: come forward or they have to come here, and they 486 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 3: have to do what is being asked of them because 487 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 3: they can't see what I see. And it really is 488 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 3: about trying to avoid, you know, bad outcomes that are everybody. 489 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 490 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 2: You are literally hanging out probably the side of it. 491 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 2: If there's a door, looking looking down, watching cables coming up, 492 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 2: watching baskets, whatever, you're like, left left aft, aft, you 493 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 2: know what we're doing. 494 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 3: If we're doing slingload operations, then either the crew tree 495 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 3: or the flight engineer actually could most likely be hanging 496 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 3: out of the hell hole where the Middleicina focus. There's 497 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 3: a hole on the floor. A lot of times we're 498 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 3: hanging from our waist up out of that hole to 499 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 3: line it up. So yeah, yeah, it's a lot of fun. 500 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 2: Times hit a lot of good bro that's like, oh nine, 501 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 2: So your son was five, today's twenty twenty four. So 502 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:53,399 Speaker 2: now your sounds like what fifteen? Almost? How's your son? 503 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 2: Shut the hell up about it? Math listen. So you 504 00:23:57,960 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 2: must think mobs the ship. 505 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 4: Uh yeah, I mean. 506 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 2: I think so. 507 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 4: He tells people all the time. I mean, I don't 508 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 4: it sounds it sounds. 509 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 2: A it does. 510 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 4: Got a big head. But yes, yeah, he's very proud 511 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 4: of me. 512 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 2: Yes, I'm very proud of you. No, it's badass. You're badass. 513 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 2: That's bad ass. We get people on the show all 514 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 2: the time and everybody's rockstar and you just shine. It's 515 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 2: just like bam, you know. Uh, I know that we're 516 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 2: supposed to talk about tattoos and all that, but you're 517 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 2: a rock star. Okay, So whether you were in a 518 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 2: chinook or on a stage, you're a rock star wherever 519 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 2: you're going. That's why you know that. I feel it. 520 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 2: I get it. I have a lot of people. Yeah, 521 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 2: you're welcome. Yeah, what's your next tattoo? When is that? 522 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 2: What's the date? What's the anniversary that you know the 523 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 2: RPG went into your job. 524 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 3: July twenty fifth is the anniversary date. So I actually 525 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 3: just got it and it is I don't know if 526 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 3: you can see it? 527 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 2: Well, oh is it on your o your forearm right there? 528 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, it's a it's hard to get it around there. 529 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 4: It's a light bulb. 530 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 2: It is a light bulb. 531 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, a light bulb. My life should have gone out 532 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 3: that night, but it's doesn't. 533 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 4: I'm here. 534 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 2: I'm here with the plants. 535 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 3: So it's kind it's gotta sho it's got a chinook 536 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,679 Speaker 3: in a mountain scene and then a guy sitting huddled 537 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 3: up in the on the bottom. 538 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 4: But it was kind of like you know that, yeah, 539 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,399 Speaker 4: because you know that night none of us should have 540 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 4: made it. 541 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 3: There were thirteen people that walked away, and uh, you know, 542 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 3: it was a miracle for all of us. And it 543 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 3: kind of feels like there is trying to find a 544 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 3: better purpose, something more to do with my life, because 545 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 3: like I said, I was, I was, Uh, substantially my 546 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:34,880 Speaker 3: life changed that night. 547 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 4: Fit mentally medically physically. Yeah, you know, it's been along road. 548 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 3: I just in December had my right leg amputative, and 549 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 3: I'm learning to walk again. And you know, I spent 550 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 3: ten years with a weird gait. I couldn't really walk right. 551 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,879 Speaker 3: My right leg wasn't working because of the brain injury, 552 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 3: so my whole right side went weak. 553 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 4: I had all these other neurological stuff happened. 554 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 3: So it's getting back up there, you know, trying to 555 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 3: what's my next plan, what's the next way to impact 556 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 3: the world, because I'm I. 557 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 4: I shouldn't have made it back, and I did, and 558 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 4: I need to. I need to keep giving. I need 559 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 4: to keep giving. And I think that's what I really 560 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,359 Speaker 4: love about my affiliation with Wounded Wire Project is that 561 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 4: one they were there when I was struggling to leave 562 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 4: my house. 563 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 3: They got me out, they got me active, they got 564 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,760 Speaker 3: me connected to other veterans. But now they're giving me 565 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 3: a way to give back. They're giving me a way 566 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:29,239 Speaker 3: to help others find help. And you know, you know, 567 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 3: meeting Mars and getting doing that whole tattoo documentary with 568 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 3: him was phenomenal. One I probably never would I met him. 569 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 3: He's from Pennsylvania. I'm currently in Missouri, but I was 570 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 3: in New Mexico for a decade before that, so like 571 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 3: our worlds were worlds apart, right, but then went in 572 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 3: talking and our during the tattoo, you know, we were 573 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,879 Speaker 3: in Afghanistan pretty close to each other, in similar locations, 574 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 3: you know, during the same time period, and I was 575 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,879 Speaker 3: just so crazy. And I think a big piece of 576 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 3: my recovery really has been finding other people that are 577 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:08,399 Speaker 3: having similar struggles, because it's hard to come into the 578 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 3: civilian sector, especially as a female, to come back after 579 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 3: war after seeing some of the things I've seen, after 580 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 3: going through what I have gone through, it's hard to 581 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:20,440 Speaker 3: relate back to the civilian world. And PCSD is a 582 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 3: big part of that for me, because I saw threats 583 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 3: that everywhere, and. 584 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 4: I had a hard time letting my guard down. 585 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 3: And you know, I just it changes you in a 586 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,919 Speaker 3: way that I can't really I don't know that I 587 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,640 Speaker 3: have the words to explain, but it just made being 588 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 3: a civilian really hard. Like I didn't fit in. I 589 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 3: didn't fit in with the other females at my church. 590 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 3: I didn't fit in with the other you know, I 591 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:47,160 Speaker 3: just I don't really quite fit and you know. Yeah, 592 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 3: I mean I think sometimes that's more important how you 593 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:52,679 Speaker 3: feel about it. You could fit somewhere and feel like 594 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 3: you don't. You know, it's like you're in a room 595 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 3: full of people and you feel completely alone, and that 596 00:27:57,760 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 3: is one of the worst feelings. 597 00:27:59,400 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 4: You know. 598 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 3: I always say it's it's easier to be alone when 599 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:03,400 Speaker 3: you're actually alone. 600 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:05,639 Speaker 4: When you're in a room full of people and you're alone. 601 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 4: It is. It is menacing, it is you know, it 602 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 4: is it is, right, Yeah. 603 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:13,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it's true. I mean it just it can 604 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 2: hitch it and some people who go on stage have 605 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:19,439 Speaker 2: it and they still force themselves to go into this 606 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 2: crowded environment to be in this group full of people. Right, 607 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 2: But at the end of it all, they're just like 608 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 2: I want to just like go crawl into a closet 609 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 2: somewhere and not see anybody for a minute. Yeah, you know, 610 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 2: you got to pull you got to push through that, 611 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 2: and so wanted warriors helping you to push through, uh, 612 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 2: getting out of the house and not just kind of 613 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 2: sitting around on yourself. 614 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it started with a Souldier ride, right, 615 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 3: they called every year on my birthday. 616 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 4: When I was going through the PTSD program. 617 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 3: I got signed up for Wounder Warrior Project, and it 618 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 3: took me four years to do anything with them because 619 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 3: I had all my lambs at that time. 620 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 4: I had because of the brain injury. 621 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 3: I had balance issues, so I walked with a cane 622 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 3: and I struggled. 623 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 4: I had drop foot. My speech was really impaired. 624 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 2: So your speech was impaired. Is that what you're telling me? 625 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 2: And so you've really worked hard to get that just yeah? Right. 626 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 3: I think if I was sitting in a room and 627 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 3: I wasn't speaking, you wouldn't know anything was wrong with me. 628 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 3: But the second I'd go to speak or I'd stand 629 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 3: up to move, you could tell. 630 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 4: Because it was all neurological stuff. 631 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 3: But because I looked on the outside like I was whole, 632 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 3: I really struggled to use the resources that were there 633 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 3: for me. I felt like, you know, there were people 634 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 3: who were so much worse off, And so it took 635 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 3: me four years before I reached out to Wundawarre Project 636 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 3: to see if they could. 637 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 4: Help me at all. 638 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 3: They called me every year on my birthday just to 639 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 3: check in and see how I was doing, and you know, 640 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 3: do you need anything? 641 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 4: And I was like, no, I'm fine, right, I was miserable. 642 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 3: I resented at a breath I took, I didn't want 643 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 3: to be here anymore. But I have the son at 644 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 3: home that if I if I unlive myself at that point, 645 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:04,160 Speaker 3: that would be traumatic for him. Right, Like, I really 646 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 3: struggled with the fact that I made it back, and 647 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 3: I think that's where A wound to Warrior Project when 648 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 3: they found when I finally reached out and said, actually, 649 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 3: I do need help, you know, and they got me 650 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 3: to a soldier ride and I met other people that 651 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 3: were dealing with the same things. 652 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 4: That felt like that was. 653 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 3: A shell of who I was before and I couldn't 654 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 3: figure out how to get back. And the truth is, 655 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 3: I'm never going to be who I was, But you know, 656 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 3: Windawar Project really helped me learn how to build on 657 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 3: where I am and how to become the next best 658 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 3: version of myself. Right, I'm never going to be best 659 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 3: before Afghanistan. That's never going to happen. And that's okay, 660 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 3: because to be honest, I really like who I am today. 661 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 3: I really like there is there are some struggles and 662 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:48,440 Speaker 3: there are some real hardships that I never had to 663 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 3: deal with before. But you know, I get to stand 664 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:54,640 Speaker 3: here and go as a single parent, my son could 665 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 3: be like my mom has taught me how to persevere, 666 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 3: and as a man, that's an important thing to know, right, 667 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 3: Like I can have some pride in the fact that 668 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 3: even in my struggle and my inability might me not 669 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 3: allowing myself to quit has been such a role model, 670 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 3: even just to my son. 671 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 4: But now we add other warriors that I deal with, 672 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 4: you know. And so I started cycling. WUND thewarri Project 673 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 4: then sent me to a sports clinic. I got to 674 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 4: learn other things I could do, and and pretty soon the. 675 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 3: Realization was I can do anything I could do before. 676 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 3: It's gonna look different, right, Yeah, I'm gonna need adaptive equipment. 677 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 4: I'm gonna need some extra support along the way. 678 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 3: But you know, I'm sitting here today, ten years after 679 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 3: my retirement, getting ready to go back to welding school. 680 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:43,640 Speaker 3: And that was something, you know, like that was something 681 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:44,960 Speaker 3: I didn't think I was ever gonna be able to 682 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 3: do another work, a real job again, you know. 683 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:51,080 Speaker 4: And and and I've put the time in. I've put 684 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:52,719 Speaker 4: the work in, and it hasn't been easy. 685 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 3: But you know, wonder wearor Project themselves and the people 686 00:31:56,720 --> 00:31:59,560 Speaker 3: that they have UH linked me up with have been 687 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 3: a huge part of me getting to where. 688 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 4: I am today. 689 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 2: I love that, you know. It just caught you welding 690 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 2: going back. Losing a leg reminds me of that movie 691 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:10,200 Speaker 2: with Cuba Gooding Junior and Rob de Niro where he's like, 692 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,640 Speaker 2: damn it, just get gamut. Cookie'll want done steps and 693 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:15,360 Speaker 2: I want them now. You're gonna give you them ten 694 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 2: steps in this court room right now? You know, I can't. 695 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 2: What's that show called? He had lost his leg in 696 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 2: an accident in the military and still wanted to prove 697 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 2: that he can continue through, like you can't stop me. 698 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 2: You're not gonna stop me. Only he can stop himself. 699 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:30,960 Speaker 2: Only you can stop you. Like you said, you know, 700 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:34,000 Speaker 2: I believe in I believe in freedom of choice. You 701 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:35,760 Speaker 2: have the freedom to choose whatever you want to do 702 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 2: to yourself. We don't want you to unlive yourself, We 703 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:40,560 Speaker 2: don't want you to do those things. But I can't 704 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:44,240 Speaker 2: fully stop somebody making a personal decision about a tattoo. 705 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 2: But they want to put in their body and what 706 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 2: they want to do themselves. It should be freedom of choice. 707 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 2: And so all I can tell you is I love you, 708 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 2: and we would miss you, and you're you're really wanted 709 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:55,440 Speaker 2: around here more than you think you are. You know, 710 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 2: don't let your little brain take you out, take you down. 711 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:03,520 Speaker 3: That So that is that is what I've learned in 712 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,959 Speaker 3: the route, you know, like that's where I started. And 713 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 3: you know, I have way more better, great days today 714 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 3: and you know, I still around my anniversary, I get. 715 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 4: I don't know. I think it's weird to call it 716 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 4: survivor's skill, because usually I think survivor's guilt is really 717 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 4: about when someone you know died with you and you 718 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 4: you live through it. 719 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 3: Right For me, even just I think the fact that 720 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 3: I resented being here and knowing all the lives that 721 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:30,440 Speaker 3: had been lost and their families would have done anything 722 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 3: to have them back. I think I had a lot 723 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 3: of guilt around the fact that I resented still living, 724 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 3: you know, and so life, life is much better today 725 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 3: than it's ever been. 726 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 4: Like I'm at my best place. 727 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:42,720 Speaker 2: You're like my helicopter would never fall out of the sky. 728 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 2: Should have fallen out of the sky. This shouldn't have happened. 729 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 2: There should have been an RPG that should I should 730 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 2: have watched better, I should have moved left when I 731 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 2: went right. All these things are always going to be 732 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:55,040 Speaker 2: that your your mental rubs cube of trying to figure out. 733 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:56,880 Speaker 3: Because your your bin always wants to make it a 734 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 3: better scenario and you can't. 735 00:33:58,120 --> 00:33:59,720 Speaker 4: You can't. Sometimes you just have to get to a 736 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:02,000 Speaker 4: point you can accept it. This is what happened, this 737 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 4: is where I'm at now. 738 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 3: And I could either do X, Y and Z and improve, 739 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:10,359 Speaker 3: or I could do nothing and stay stuck. Or I 740 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 3: could choose to destroy my life. Right Like, those are 741 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 3: your three options. You can always stay where you're at 742 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:18,360 Speaker 3: and be miserable. You can get better, you can get worse, 743 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:22,279 Speaker 3: And it really is all dependent on your mindset and 744 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:26,200 Speaker 3: what you really want, because if it's not easy to 745 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 3: do better, you know, it hasn't been easy, you know, 746 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 3: Like just recently with the amputation, that was a long road. 747 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:36,440 Speaker 4: It was thirteen years of dealing with neurological issues and 748 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:41,200 Speaker 4: pain and having to fight and advocate because I wanted 749 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:43,480 Speaker 4: to walk, you know, And at one point the surgeons 750 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 4: were like, but you may not ever be able to, Like, 751 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:48,320 Speaker 4: you have to realize that this is a brain injury. 752 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:50,280 Speaker 3: You may not I was like, but if I don't 753 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:53,719 Speaker 3: do something, I know I know what's ahead of me, right, 754 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:55,240 Speaker 3: I know the misery I'm living. 755 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:58,479 Speaker 4: So I have two options, do nothing and stay here, 756 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:02,000 Speaker 4: or do something and hope for the better. And I 757 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 4: think that really is that's like a perfect example of 758 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:07,879 Speaker 4: just mental health in general, right, Like you can do 759 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 4: something and hope that it gets better. You can work 760 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:13,360 Speaker 4: towards a better solution, or you can do nothing and 761 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 4: be miserable. But it really is one hundred percent on 762 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 4: you to decide, and no one can do the work 763 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 4: for you. You know. 764 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:23,160 Speaker 3: I can encourage people and tell people that I want 765 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:25,680 Speaker 3: what's best for them, and at the end of the day, 766 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,480 Speaker 3: it's on them, you know, it's it's not my control. 767 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:33,759 Speaker 3: And I just love when I get the opportunities to 768 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:37,359 Speaker 3: be the cheerleader, to encourage people and to help them 769 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:39,879 Speaker 3: walk through the hard times because there are people there 770 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 3: for me, you know, and I want to be that 771 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:42,759 Speaker 3: person back. 772 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 4: You know. That's the whole wound a where logo, you 773 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:47,439 Speaker 4: know what I mean. 774 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:49,719 Speaker 3: First you're the one getting carried, and then you get 775 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 3: to you get your strength back, and you get to 776 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:55,000 Speaker 3: carry someone else. And it is it is, it is, truly, 777 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:58,319 Speaker 3: it is truly the epitome of what what we're doing. 778 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:03,440 Speaker 2: You know, I've met so many friends that through my 779 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:08,360 Speaker 2: time in this position who have lost limbs. Okay, so many, 780 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 2: and one of them worked for me for many years 781 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:14,320 Speaker 2: here at my shop, and he would always say, rad 782 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 2: if you're on your podcast. He was blown up from 783 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:20,000 Speaker 2: an ied, both legs gone. You know, he didn't feel 784 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 2: that it was as bad as his friend because his 785 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:26,759 Speaker 2: friend had immediately lost his arm in the situation, he 786 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 2: still had his shredded legs, and so when he looked 787 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:32,879 Speaker 2: down he saw his legs and so he felt like, okay, okay, 788 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,359 Speaker 2: there's people who are worse than me. But they wound up, 789 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:38,560 Speaker 2: you know, they removed him sepsis and all this stuff 790 00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 2: set into him. You know, he would definitely going through 791 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:43,719 Speaker 2: some hard times. But to talk about him quickly here, 792 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:48,440 Speaker 2: he is a hard charging skier and so he has 793 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 2: a bucket or a can which he is able to 794 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:55,000 Speaker 2: get into, which is an adaptive ski monol a mono 795 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:57,560 Speaker 2: sky right, and he is hard. He has his hes, 796 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:00,440 Speaker 2: got his arm skis and those are just for balance 797 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:02,839 Speaker 2: to keep him going, you know, and whatnot. And he's 798 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:05,440 Speaker 2: just like flying off side hits and now death's not 799 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 2: even an option. It's like he's like, off you go, 800 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:13,240 Speaker 2: because he has just freed himself from sitting around okay 801 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:16,160 Speaker 2: and just being wallowing. You can't do that. You got 802 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 2: to get out of that. And so he got into skiing, 803 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:20,560 Speaker 2: and then he started working for us, and he was 804 00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:23,000 Speaker 2: just going so hard that he would show me his knee, 805 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:24,719 Speaker 2: he would pull up his pants say yeah, I'm just 806 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:26,839 Speaker 2: I'm just going on my hands everywhere. You know, I'm 807 00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 2: trying to do everything that I can with both my legs. 808 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:32,799 Speaker 2: And I was like, and he's like, but I have 809 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 2: to realize that I don't have both my legs. And 810 00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:36,799 Speaker 2: I'm like, yeah, buddy, you don't let me grab that 811 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:39,560 Speaker 2: off of the top shelf. Okay, you get down the 812 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:41,520 Speaker 2: lower shelf and get that for me. I'll get this 813 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:45,440 Speaker 2: for you. Okay, we'll work together, my two foot friend, okay, 814 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:48,959 Speaker 2: because right now. But the thing is he'd run around 815 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,360 Speaker 2: our indoor arena in a shoot house where we'd do 816 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:55,160 Speaker 2: war games. He was awesome. He would just like go 817 00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:57,800 Speaker 2: around on his knuckles, pulls pistol out of a holster 818 00:37:57,880 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 2: and shoot you. And when by the time he realized 819 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,520 Speaker 2: who shot you, it was down on the corner at 820 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:05,040 Speaker 2: the ground level and he was shooting you in the chin, 821 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:07,480 Speaker 2: and everybody else is like dead center pretty much, and 822 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:09,000 Speaker 2: he's just like that pap and then he just goes 823 00:38:09,040 --> 00:38:14,600 Speaker 2: around the whole place. So it's yeah, right, So what 824 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 2: he always says is rad you need to push for 825 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:21,040 Speaker 2: recreational therapy with your your folks if they're ever wondering 826 00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:24,399 Speaker 2: on you know what they can do other than like pills, right, 827 00:38:24,840 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 2: So like thrills before pills is soft reps. Big Mantra. 828 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:32,560 Speaker 2: Brandon Webb, former named Seal Sniper Instructor, et cetera, believes 829 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:36,200 Speaker 2: in thrills like skiing, going out surfing, you know, breathing 830 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:38,920 Speaker 2: the water, breathing the air, swimming in the water outside 831 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:41,560 Speaker 2: before you start getting these pills provided to you because 832 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:43,279 Speaker 2: it's so easy to just I went. 833 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:45,480 Speaker 3: From I went from all the soldier ride and then 834 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,120 Speaker 3: I got into endurance racing. So I was doing like 835 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:52,160 Speaker 3: twenty four hour races, one hundred mile races on a 836 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:56,040 Speaker 3: recumbent s trike. Same thing it was, It was that you. 837 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 3: It was I think it was the sunlight. It was 838 00:38:59,239 --> 00:39:03,240 Speaker 3: the dope, the adrenaline, like all of it. Every bombing 839 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:05,120 Speaker 3: down a hill and you're hitting fifty miles an hour 840 00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:07,560 Speaker 3: on a on a track. Man, that's you know, that's 841 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:11,399 Speaker 3: feet first, you know it was. It was a tense 842 00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:12,799 Speaker 3: well yeah, same thing. 843 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:14,879 Speaker 2: It's like, what could go wrong? 844 00:39:15,400 --> 00:39:17,920 Speaker 4: I tell you all the time. I'm invincible, all right, I'm. 845 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:22,879 Speaker 2: Invincible, exactly exactly. And if you could take that start 846 00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:27,279 Speaker 2: tiktoking yourself doing some extreme sports that way, man, get 847 00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:29,719 Speaker 2: you sponsored bat no problem, no problem, you know what 848 00:39:29,800 --> 00:39:33,319 Speaker 2: I mean, some stickers on your chair, go man. I 849 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:35,879 Speaker 2: just want I just want our listener to know that 850 00:39:36,120 --> 00:39:38,279 Speaker 2: if they have any injuries and they go to the VA, 851 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:41,320 Speaker 2: that they can ask their I was gonna say, correspondent, 852 00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:43,800 Speaker 2: but like your liaison at the VA, your representative of 853 00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:48,400 Speaker 2: your advocate for recreational therapy, say hey, what's recreational therapy? 854 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 2: And what does rad keep telling me to ask them 855 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:53,879 Speaker 2: for recreational therapy? Make them? You know, they only want 856 00:39:53,880 --> 00:39:57,360 Speaker 2: to give it to you if you're like severe super severe, 857 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:00,759 Speaker 2: like if you've had such traumatic you know, lots of 858 00:40:00,840 --> 00:40:02,360 Speaker 2: limbs or you know, they don't take it. 859 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:06,360 Speaker 5: Like you said, in consideration, one of the problem is 860 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:11,440 Speaker 5: that the VA as a whole, each VA system is different, 861 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:12,960 Speaker 5: and how you have to get the equipment. 862 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:16,520 Speaker 4: Some of them. It's simple and easy. Like I've been 863 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:20,040 Speaker 4: to three different VA systems and I've had three different 864 00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:24,759 Speaker 4: experiences trying to get adaptive equipment, you know, So it 865 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:28,160 Speaker 4: is it would be great if they could figure out 866 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:31,279 Speaker 4: a way to make it universal across the whole system, 867 00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:34,480 Speaker 4: you know, because it is like I have one doctor 868 00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:36,920 Speaker 4: tell me like, well, that's just exercise equipment. The V 869 00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:40,400 Speaker 4: doesn't provide exercise equipment. I said, no, it's adaptive equipment. 870 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:43,600 Speaker 4: And you do. I know you do because I've worked 871 00:40:43,680 --> 00:40:47,160 Speaker 4: got an equipment from two other VAS, so I know 872 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:50,000 Speaker 4: you do. Let me help you learn how to do this. 873 00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:54,960 Speaker 2: Yes, you know exactly. Let me show you the way exactly, 874 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:57,520 Speaker 2: because they'll just be like, oh, it's just extra paperwork 875 00:40:57,640 --> 00:41:01,319 Speaker 2: I have to do. It's like, look, you're right, Beth 876 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:05,799 Speaker 2: is right. Okay, listener, She's right. There are things that 877 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:08,120 Speaker 2: the VA can provide to you. You just have to 878 00:41:08,160 --> 00:41:10,239 Speaker 2: ask for it, and you have to be persistent about 879 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:13,280 Speaker 2: it because it's you you matter. It's yourself. Advocate for yourself. 880 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:17,440 Speaker 2: And uh, even if you're ten percent or thirty percent, 881 00:41:17,480 --> 00:41:20,120 Speaker 2: you should ask for recreational therapy before they tried giving 882 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:21,840 Speaker 2: you anything else, and the fact that you have to 883 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:24,280 Speaker 2: be sixty or eighty or one hundred percent to get 884 00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:28,400 Speaker 2: into like adaptive things. I find that just funny that 885 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:30,480 Speaker 2: the VA is willing to even just like you should 886 00:41:30,520 --> 00:41:33,040 Speaker 2: just say, hey man, everybody raise their hand. Everybody gets 887 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:35,080 Speaker 2: to come to the VA. They should have the opportunity 888 00:41:35,560 --> 00:41:36,520 Speaker 2: to not take Yeah. 889 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:39,120 Speaker 4: Actually absolutely I agree with one hundred percent. 890 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:40,680 Speaker 2: Okay, So if you have to provide me a mountain 891 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:43,720 Speaker 2: bike that's adaptive for me to crank the chaft because 892 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:46,960 Speaker 2: one arm doesn't work well, then guess what. Okay, if 893 00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:49,440 Speaker 2: we have enough money for the military machine that we 894 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:54,160 Speaker 2: give as taxpayers for a trillion dollars, they can get 895 00:41:54,200 --> 00:41:56,879 Speaker 2: a recombent bike for bes know problem for. 896 00:41:56,840 --> 00:41:59,279 Speaker 3: Mental health reasons too, because that's one thing that they 897 00:41:59,320 --> 00:42:02,680 Speaker 3: don't that's you have to have a physical disability or 898 00:42:02,719 --> 00:42:06,560 Speaker 3: a physical issue, which it would be so helpful, you know, 899 00:42:06,640 --> 00:42:09,839 Speaker 3: because you know they've done the research, and you know, 900 00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:15,960 Speaker 3: getting thirty minutes of exercise of moderate to real exercise, 901 00:42:16,280 --> 00:42:20,000 Speaker 3: five days a week is the same as taking an antidepressant. Now, 902 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:22,239 Speaker 3: let me say this straight, because this is going out 903 00:42:22,280 --> 00:42:23,560 Speaker 3: there for all the interwebs. 904 00:42:24,280 --> 00:42:27,080 Speaker 4: Not everyone is good with just that exercise. 905 00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:30,160 Speaker 3: There are cases that are more severe that need also medication. 906 00:42:30,680 --> 00:42:35,520 Speaker 3: But if you're doing exercise on a routine basis, you're 907 00:42:35,520 --> 00:42:37,600 Speaker 3: going to lower the amount of medication you need. 908 00:42:38,480 --> 00:42:41,280 Speaker 4: Right. So I hate when I don't want. 909 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:43,920 Speaker 3: To just push like exercises the answer, because sometimes some 910 00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:48,560 Speaker 3: people need more and that's okay, and that is okay. 911 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:51,560 Speaker 2: Right, yeah, and Bet, I want to agree with you. 912 00:42:51,600 --> 00:42:53,040 Speaker 2: I want to back you up on that and not 913 00:42:53,080 --> 00:42:56,480 Speaker 2: come out so bold like, oh, you know, recreacial therapies 914 00:42:56,520 --> 00:43:00,239 Speaker 2: to fix all. I agree, there are circumstances, okay. Though 915 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:03,120 Speaker 2: there's a safernard with a with a keg on its 916 00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:06,600 Speaker 2: neck with whiskey, okay, for people in an avalanche. There's 917 00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:08,759 Speaker 2: a reason, there's a there's a rhyme or reason. I 918 00:43:08,840 --> 00:43:11,640 Speaker 2: get it. You know, if you need a little something, 919 00:43:11,800 --> 00:43:13,080 Speaker 2: there it is. But at the end of the day, 920 00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:18,439 Speaker 2: but you know, boxing every day, yeah, yes it does. 921 00:43:18,760 --> 00:43:23,560 Speaker 2: And if you're you know, fighting fighting the chubby chubbies, you. 922 00:43:23,520 --> 00:43:26,680 Speaker 3: Know, everyone, I don't understand you. You never seem to 923 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:29,680 Speaker 3: trim down. It's like, well, the more I exercise, the 924 00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:30,440 Speaker 3: more I'm allowed to eat. 925 00:43:31,120 --> 00:43:34,360 Speaker 2: You know, Yeah, well, were you flexed? I don't know 926 00:43:34,400 --> 00:43:35,880 Speaker 2: if you do. You flexed when you looked at your 927 00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:38,400 Speaker 2: arm up and I was like, okay, A into tattoos 928 00:43:38,480 --> 00:43:40,880 Speaker 2: and b being buff. So when you flex like that, 929 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:43,520 Speaker 2: I could see your tat right there, and I almost 930 00:43:43,520 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 2: want a tat right there now. I almost want this 931 00:43:46,960 --> 00:43:54,480 Speaker 2: interesting ship hunts on the other right for the gun 932 00:43:54,520 --> 00:44:02,719 Speaker 2: show show. How do you like me now, coach hunh Yeah, 933 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:06,799 Speaker 2: I know. I got some rock star friends and we 934 00:44:06,840 --> 00:44:10,680 Speaker 2: go and try to stay friends. Besides rockstar friends, we're 935 00:44:10,920 --> 00:44:12,880 Speaker 2: friends before that. And so we go and have what 936 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:15,320 Speaker 2: we call like a therapy session once a week. We 937 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:17,399 Speaker 2: go sit around and maybe have a beer and talk 938 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:20,360 Speaker 2: and catch up and then set aside all the rockstar attitudes. 939 00:44:20,760 --> 00:44:23,080 Speaker 2: And they're like rad and all what They're like, when 940 00:44:23,120 --> 00:44:25,160 Speaker 2: you're gonna get a tat bro, And I was like, 941 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:29,880 Speaker 2: when I want one when I'm ready, And they're like 942 00:44:30,160 --> 00:44:31,880 Speaker 2: they're all coming up with these tattoos that they're all 943 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:33,600 Speaker 2: going to get, no problem, Like, let's just go do 944 00:44:33,640 --> 00:44:37,359 Speaker 2: it right now, Like whatever it is, we'll just get rad. 945 00:44:37,400 --> 00:44:39,279 Speaker 2: The shirt is what they said. I was like, you 946 00:44:39,360 --> 00:44:41,960 Speaker 2: know what I said. I'm forty six years old, I'm 947 00:44:41,960 --> 00:44:44,200 Speaker 2: a big boy, and I can make my own choices, 948 00:44:44,239 --> 00:44:46,080 Speaker 2: and someone in the bar down the road is like, yeah, 949 00:44:46,120 --> 00:44:48,640 Speaker 2: he's forty six years old, he can make his own choices. 950 00:44:48,760 --> 00:44:51,320 Speaker 2: I was like, I'm just a little kid. I should 951 00:44:51,400 --> 00:44:54,560 Speaker 2: just go get one, but I don't know. My dad 952 00:44:54,680 --> 00:44:56,440 Speaker 2: drove it home to me about tattoos. He was a 953 00:44:56,440 --> 00:44:58,440 Speaker 2: Green Beret. He's like, what if you got captured, if 954 00:44:58,480 --> 00:45:00,160 Speaker 2: you had all these taps and they tried to lay 955 00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:01,880 Speaker 2: it off of you while you were captured. I'm like, 956 00:45:01,880 --> 00:45:03,759 Speaker 2: what do you mean, flay it off me? He's like, 957 00:45:03,880 --> 00:45:07,279 Speaker 2: layer by layer by layer till you tell them who 958 00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:09,680 Speaker 2: you are. And I was like, I have no tattoos. 959 00:45:09,680 --> 00:45:12,880 Speaker 2: You see, no tattoos, farmer tan, Yes, tattoos. I don't have. 960 00:45:13,480 --> 00:45:15,480 Speaker 2: My dad green Beret. He's like, they're gonna flay it 961 00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:18,239 Speaker 2: off you. So maybe a little dad still sits in 962 00:45:18,280 --> 00:45:20,840 Speaker 2: my head. Maybe I should get something flayed. Maybe I 963 00:45:20,840 --> 00:45:27,680 Speaker 2: should get Ramsey from Game of Thrones. Yes, I flay 964 00:45:27,719 --> 00:45:34,080 Speaker 2: you now. Oh stop, Oh my gosh, I'm a vegetarian. 965 00:45:34,840 --> 00:45:38,680 Speaker 2: Funny dude, that is funny. No, No, it's okay, it's okay, 966 00:45:38,719 --> 00:45:41,480 Speaker 2: it's okay. I guess, I guess I'm not really. I 967 00:45:41,480 --> 00:45:43,319 Speaker 2: don't eat mammals. Let me put it that way. I 968 00:45:43,360 --> 00:45:47,480 Speaker 2: eat chicken. I just don't eat the mammals. Anything that's mammal, orca, 969 00:45:47,640 --> 00:45:50,840 Speaker 2: polar bear. I'm just not eating it. Col It's just 970 00:45:50,880 --> 00:45:53,960 Speaker 2: not I'm just not that's me. That's just me. No, 971 00:45:54,000 --> 00:45:56,000 Speaker 2: I don't know that's me. I don't want dolphin. Do 972 00:45:56,000 --> 00:46:03,080 Speaker 2: you want? It's the mammal? Why aren't we eating it? 973 00:46:04,680 --> 00:46:06,479 Speaker 4: I don't know. Probably because it's ill legal. 974 00:46:07,160 --> 00:46:10,160 Speaker 2: You're like, this is not the conversation. Rad tattoos, tattoos 975 00:46:10,600 --> 00:46:14,279 Speaker 2: and chinnooks radoos. Okay, I got you. 976 00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:16,600 Speaker 4: I want to I want to be a post trying it. 977 00:46:17,239 --> 00:46:19,839 Speaker 4: You know, God gave us these animals to eat. 978 00:46:20,880 --> 00:46:23,000 Speaker 2: You know, I've tried it. I've tried it all. I've 979 00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:24,480 Speaker 2: tried it all. I've had it all. I've mean it all. 980 00:46:24,520 --> 00:46:27,560 Speaker 2: I mean it. I've chose. I've chose. Now, going to 981 00:46:27,600 --> 00:46:29,160 Speaker 2: calm it down below. If you got something to say 982 00:46:29,160 --> 00:46:31,600 Speaker 2: to me, though someone listening, it's like Rad, say it 983 00:46:31,680 --> 00:46:33,520 Speaker 2: to me, go ahead, calm it down below. Tell me 984 00:46:33,560 --> 00:46:36,080 Speaker 2: what you think about me not eating meat. Go ahead. 985 00:46:36,800 --> 00:46:40,640 Speaker 2: Sixteen years. Actually, I like to stir a little controversy 986 00:46:40,719 --> 00:46:42,680 Speaker 2: and stir the pot. Here you know what I'm saying. 987 00:46:44,960 --> 00:46:47,239 Speaker 2: I haven't smoked in eighteen years, though. Holy cat, let's 988 00:46:47,239 --> 00:46:53,160 Speaker 2: talk about being strong awesome holy kah, yeah yeah, thanks. 989 00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:54,879 Speaker 2: Not to boast about it, but if we're talking about 990 00:46:54,920 --> 00:46:58,960 Speaker 2: being mentally tough, kick those right and now today, everybody's 991 00:46:58,960 --> 00:47:00,840 Speaker 2: popping those little package it's in their lift. You know. 992 00:47:01,040 --> 00:47:03,040 Speaker 2: Everybody I see in the military is all got like 993 00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:06,480 Speaker 2: they got like a little Kaydex case for their like chew. 994 00:47:06,920 --> 00:47:09,440 Speaker 2: But it's like these dipping packs that they got on 995 00:47:09,520 --> 00:47:11,960 Speaker 2: their uniforms and whatnot. I don't know if you see it, 996 00:47:12,040 --> 00:47:15,399 Speaker 2: but bro, the National Guard is obsessed with Zen. I'll 997 00:47:15,400 --> 00:47:18,600 Speaker 2: tell you what, Hey, Zen, if you're out there and 998 00:47:18,719 --> 00:47:20,840 Speaker 2: you need a sponsor, hit me up. Zen. I should 999 00:47:20,880 --> 00:47:23,120 Speaker 2: just say that, what's up, Zen? How you doing? I'm 1000 00:47:23,160 --> 00:47:26,080 Speaker 2: not sponsored by them? And nicotine is an addictive product. 1001 00:47:26,120 --> 00:47:29,080 Speaker 2: I should Clint disclaim that right there now. Are you 1002 00:47:29,120 --> 00:47:31,680 Speaker 2: going to have any type of like special engagements coming 1003 00:47:31,719 --> 00:47:33,400 Speaker 2: up where people can go and see you? Is there 1004 00:47:33,440 --> 00:47:34,920 Speaker 2: gonna be any meet and greets? Are you gonna have 1005 00:47:34,960 --> 00:47:36,919 Speaker 2: any type of like a book coming out? I usually 1006 00:47:37,480 --> 00:47:39,359 Speaker 2: go that route. You have a website that you want 1007 00:47:39,400 --> 00:47:42,600 Speaker 2: to talk about real quick, you know, I I. 1008 00:47:42,719 --> 00:47:45,320 Speaker 3: Haven't really had any I have had a couple of 1009 00:47:45,320 --> 00:47:47,680 Speaker 3: people ask me about tell me I should write a book, 1010 00:47:47,719 --> 00:47:48,399 Speaker 3: should write a book. 1011 00:47:48,719 --> 00:47:49,080 Speaker 4: I haven't. 1012 00:47:49,120 --> 00:47:51,200 Speaker 3: I haven't gone that route yet. Yeah, I think I'm 1013 00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:53,960 Speaker 3: playing with the idea of it in my head more 1014 00:47:54,040 --> 00:47:56,560 Speaker 3: and more. But really, right now my life is all 1015 00:47:56,640 --> 00:47:59,440 Speaker 3: about you know. One word hits me up and says, hey, 1016 00:47:59,520 --> 00:48:00,960 Speaker 3: can you come to this for us? And I'm like, 1017 00:48:01,080 --> 00:48:04,600 Speaker 3: true thing. But outside of that, really it's like I said, 1018 00:48:04,600 --> 00:48:06,960 Speaker 3: I'm about to go back to one more year to 1019 00:48:07,280 --> 00:48:10,759 Speaker 3: finish my degree and be certified as a welder, and 1020 00:48:11,239 --> 00:48:16,480 Speaker 3: I'm training training for seeded javelin, hoping to make the 1021 00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:18,399 Speaker 3: twenty twenty eight Paralympic team. 1022 00:48:18,920 --> 00:48:20,920 Speaker 2: You know, So I'm busy. 1023 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:25,080 Speaker 3: I'm busy, but I haven't really gotten big into the 1024 00:48:25,400 --> 00:48:28,040 Speaker 3: promoting myself. I still I think I have a hard 1025 00:48:28,080 --> 00:48:30,080 Speaker 3: time with it cause I feel like I have a 1026 00:48:30,120 --> 00:48:32,560 Speaker 3: hard time seeing myself as anything really that great. 1027 00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:33,239 Speaker 4: You know. 1028 00:48:33,320 --> 00:48:36,279 Speaker 3: I feel like I have been given circumstances and which 1029 00:48:36,280 --> 00:48:38,920 Speaker 3: I've had to become great. But I really feel like 1030 00:48:39,040 --> 00:48:42,640 Speaker 3: anyone in my circumstances would have fallen suit Like you 1031 00:48:42,680 --> 00:48:45,440 Speaker 3: don't realize what grit you have until you need it. 1032 00:48:45,560 --> 00:48:49,600 Speaker 3: So I just I really I never thought of I 1033 00:48:50,239 --> 00:48:52,840 Speaker 3: don't see myself the way everyone else does, you know 1034 00:48:53,080 --> 00:48:55,520 Speaker 3: I am. I am just someone who's gone through some 1035 00:48:55,600 --> 00:48:57,480 Speaker 3: hard times that wants other people to know they can 1036 00:48:57,520 --> 00:48:59,000 Speaker 3: make it too, you know. 1037 00:48:59,400 --> 00:49:01,640 Speaker 4: And I didn't do it alone. It's not like I 1038 00:49:02,200 --> 00:49:05,680 Speaker 4: got some awesome formula. You know. I utilize the support 1039 00:49:05,760 --> 00:49:08,520 Speaker 4: around me. And the only thing I did alone was 1040 00:49:08,560 --> 00:49:11,160 Speaker 4: I didn't quit, all right. I chose every day to 1041 00:49:11,600 --> 00:49:14,600 Speaker 4: wade out the storm. And you know, some days the 1042 00:49:14,719 --> 00:49:16,560 Speaker 4: storm comes back for a day or two, and some 1043 00:49:16,760 --> 00:49:19,600 Speaker 4: days it's like I haven't seen it in months. You know, 1044 00:49:19,719 --> 00:49:23,120 Speaker 4: it's it's life is only getting better, and it really 1045 00:49:23,200 --> 00:49:25,479 Speaker 4: is only because I stayed around for that to happen. 1046 00:49:26,000 --> 00:49:29,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right, That's exactly right. And just continue to 1047 00:49:29,080 --> 00:49:31,360 Speaker 2: do so, and just continue to be you and just 1048 00:49:31,400 --> 00:49:33,440 Speaker 2: be as humble as you are, and just continue to 1049 00:49:33,920 --> 00:49:36,759 Speaker 2: just live your life and promote the values that you 1050 00:49:36,840 --> 00:49:39,080 Speaker 2: want to see out there that you want to live around. 1051 00:49:39,239 --> 00:49:41,520 Speaker 2: That's it. And you know you can only be the 1052 00:49:41,560 --> 00:49:43,759 Speaker 2: best steward of what is in front of you and 1053 00:49:43,840 --> 00:49:46,320 Speaker 2: what you have given to you, So you know, continue 1054 00:49:46,360 --> 00:49:49,200 Speaker 2: on with that, appreciate that thank you. Yeah, you're very welcome, 1055 00:49:49,239 --> 00:49:51,040 Speaker 2: and I just want to say that. You know, we've 1056 00:49:51,080 --> 00:49:53,640 Speaker 2: been talking for close to an hour. You're you're awesome. 1057 00:49:53,920 --> 00:49:55,680 Speaker 2: I would love to let you have a platform on 1058 00:49:55,800 --> 00:49:58,080 Speaker 2: soft reap if you ever want to like write something 1059 00:49:58,360 --> 00:50:01,760 Speaker 2: or have something to say, we can always talk behind 1060 00:50:01,800 --> 00:50:04,239 Speaker 2: the scenes and email about getting you on and having 1061 00:50:04,320 --> 00:50:05,960 Speaker 2: you say it on soft reap. If there's something with 1062 00:50:06,080 --> 00:50:08,160 Speaker 2: Wounded Warrior you want to say, we would love to 1063 00:50:08,680 --> 00:50:10,279 Speaker 2: let you have some type of a platform if you 1064 00:50:10,320 --> 00:50:12,400 Speaker 2: want to keyboard it up and type something out to 1065 00:50:12,520 --> 00:50:15,360 Speaker 2: three five hundred words. That's on the side. There's no 1066 00:50:15,560 --> 00:50:17,799 Speaker 2: no no pressure on that. I'm just saying if you're 1067 00:50:17,800 --> 00:50:23,879 Speaker 2: looking for a spot, okay, really truly, Yeah, you're very welcome. Yeah, 1068 00:50:24,360 --> 00:50:27,240 Speaker 2: yeah for sure. Now with that said, you can support 1069 00:50:27,280 --> 00:50:31,360 Speaker 2: Wounded Warrior. You can use Beth King as a reference 1070 00:50:31,440 --> 00:50:33,399 Speaker 2: if you have to email them, say hey, I heard 1071 00:50:33,480 --> 00:50:35,879 Speaker 2: Best talking about Wounded Warrior with rat on soft rep. 1072 00:50:36,040 --> 00:50:38,560 Speaker 2: Can you guys help me? That's all you got to say. 1073 00:50:38,760 --> 00:50:40,160 Speaker 2: And someone's gonna be like, hey, someone just wrote in 1074 00:50:40,160 --> 00:50:42,160 Speaker 2: and said they need help. Oh, let's help them. What 1075 00:50:42,239 --> 00:50:42,880 Speaker 2: do they need help with? 1076 00:50:43,320 --> 00:50:45,359 Speaker 4: And let's also throw those out there for the people 1077 00:50:45,440 --> 00:50:49,759 Speaker 4: that aren't post nine eleven events, wounded Ware Project is 1078 00:50:49,880 --> 00:50:52,640 Speaker 4: limited into who they can throw resources at. But no 1079 00:50:52,760 --> 00:50:56,120 Speaker 4: matter what veteran you are, call the resource center because 1080 00:50:56,200 --> 00:50:59,359 Speaker 4: they have resources to hand back to you. They will 1081 00:50:59,600 --> 00:51:01,399 Speaker 4: tell you where you can go for help. If you're 1082 00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:03,480 Speaker 4: not one of the veterans that they can personally help, 1083 00:51:03,960 --> 00:51:05,160 Speaker 4: So still reach out. 1084 00:51:05,760 --> 00:51:08,359 Speaker 2: That's right, that's right, And make sure you're asking your 1085 00:51:08,560 --> 00:51:13,880 Speaker 2: VA Veterans Administration Hospital advocate for recreational therapy as an 1086 00:51:13,960 --> 00:51:17,600 Speaker 2: option through your process. Just ask what about recreational See 1087 00:51:17,600 --> 00:51:19,280 Speaker 2: what they say, Oh, you got to be sixty percent? 1088 00:51:19,680 --> 00:51:21,880 Speaker 2: Why just get into it? You know, just say what 1089 00:51:22,080 --> 00:51:24,480 Speaker 2: can I just not? Can I just go down a 1090 00:51:24,560 --> 00:51:26,600 Speaker 2: river on a kayak that's been provided by the VA. 1091 00:51:26,960 --> 00:51:29,399 Speaker 4: Just inspired me to talk to my congressman and see 1092 00:51:29,400 --> 00:51:30,160 Speaker 4: if we can change that. 1093 00:51:31,239 --> 00:51:31,840 Speaker 2: Yeah please? 1094 00:51:31,920 --> 00:51:32,080 Speaker 3: Yeah? 1095 00:51:32,120 --> 00:51:34,920 Speaker 2: Okay, Well you've inspired me, and I know that you're 1096 00:51:34,960 --> 00:51:38,720 Speaker 2: inspiring everyone that's listening. So with that, with these positive words. 1097 00:51:39,040 --> 00:51:43,000 Speaker 2: With Beth King on the show, combat veteran shot down, 1098 00:51:43,560 --> 00:51:47,439 Speaker 2: lived by her monkey tale legit mother of a twenty 1099 00:51:47,520 --> 00:51:50,359 Speaker 2: year old son and a twin to a badass twin 1100 00:51:50,480 --> 00:51:53,640 Speaker 2: sister who's an eer tech married to an awesome military 1101 00:51:53,719 --> 00:51:56,920 Speaker 2: personnel as well, to Caitlin who's brought you full circle 1102 00:51:57,000 --> 00:51:59,040 Speaker 2: to us in our lives. Thank you so much for 1103 00:51:59,160 --> 00:52:02,200 Speaker 2: being on software today. And to my main man Brandon Webb, 1104 00:52:02,400 --> 00:52:04,520 Speaker 2: who continues to believe in me to host this show 1105 00:52:04,680 --> 00:52:07,160 Speaker 2: the way that it's been going for the last few years. 1106 00:52:07,440 --> 00:52:09,880 Speaker 2: And for you, the viewer and the listener that just 1107 00:52:10,000 --> 00:52:12,359 Speaker 2: constantly tunes in and checks me out, either to check 1108 00:52:12,400 --> 00:52:15,000 Speaker 2: me out what's up or to check me out? So 1109 00:52:15,120 --> 00:52:19,480 Speaker 2: what's up with that? On behalf of Beth Beth King 1110 00:52:20,120 --> 00:52:23,880 Speaker 2: Badass and my self rad and Soft Rep and my 1111 00:52:24,000 --> 00:52:33,520 Speaker 2: main man, Anton, our producer. I'm gonna say peace, you've 1112 00:52:33,600 --> 00:52:35,760 Speaker 2: been listening to Self Rep Radia