1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: M h foot Force. If it doesn't work, you're just 2 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: not using enough. You're listening to Software Radio, Special Operations, 3 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: Military news and straight talk with the guys and the 4 00:00:28,160 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: community Software app Radio on Time on Target. Does it 5 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: feel good for me to say that after Ian did 6 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: it for so long and now I get to steal 7 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: his thunder. I'm here with Dennis today, Uh, doing a 8 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: first podcast sans Ian. Uh. If you want to get 9 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: ahold of him, you dial one Scott. Oh, that's s 10 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: C O T T O. And here we are and 11 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: Dennis has got everything all tied up. I think we're 12 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: going good. We're gonna have Greg Walker on the show today. 13 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: Greg is a Special Forces veteran and also one of 14 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: our writers at News Rep and he has written a 15 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: number of very interesting and important articles UM arranging from 16 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: soldiers suicide to Special Forces history. UM. One of the 17 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: things I'm excited to get into with him today is 18 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: UM his work on Dave Bayes, who is a seventh 19 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: Special Forces Group soldier who defected and joined the Sandinistas 20 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: and led a column into hon Duras where he was 21 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: eventually captured. And Greg got the real story, got the 22 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: true story of what happened down there and how how 23 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,119 Speaker 1: this whole story unfolded, Uh, something that I had tried 24 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: to get to for quite a while actually, and I 25 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: just did not have the um, the resources. You know, 26 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: Greg was actually down there and you know, work down 27 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: in Panama with three seven Special Forces. He had the 28 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: access and the know how, UM to really get in 29 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: depth in this story and write it in a way 30 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: that nobody has previously. Uh. One of the things that 31 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,839 Speaker 1: I did want to mention was the story of Dave 32 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 1: Bayes has been fictionalized in two novels. This is the 33 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: story is almost like entered into like Special operations mythology. 34 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: It's like an urban myth of like things you hear 35 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: that are half true. Uh. And this part of the 36 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: parts of the story came out in these novels. UM. 37 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: One of the novels is called A Mission for Delta, 38 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: written by L. H. Burris, or he went his UH 39 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: call sign or the nickname that he was known by 40 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: in the military was Bucky Um. And Colonel Burris served 41 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,119 Speaker 1: in Mike Force in Vietnam, and he wrote a terrific 42 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 1: memoir about his time in Vietnam called Mike Force. You 43 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,679 Speaker 1: should look that up and get that book. Because it's 44 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: just it's important and it's one of my top three 45 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: Vietnam memoirs. I mean, it's just uh a terrific and 46 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: even a beautifully written book um about you know, being 47 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: a Special Forces officer in Vietnam. And the novel that 48 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: Burris wrote that fictionalizes, uh, fictional and the novel fictionalizes 49 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: a number of different things and and kind of um 50 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: aggregates them into into a novel, uh in this fictional plotline. 51 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: But Dave Bayes is kind of his story is kind 52 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: of the fulcrum of the novel. It's about this Green 53 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: beret who went missing in Vietnam and then he turns 54 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: up with the communists down in Central America. And there's 55 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: phizzicle material involved and this and that's the fictional aspect 56 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 1: of it. Um. But that that book is called a 57 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: Mission for Delta um and it's a very good book. Um. 58 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: There's a lot of I think hidden history written into 59 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: that book. And you can go and read my my 60 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: book review of it on Amazon dot com. Actually I wrote, like, 61 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know three thousand words about about 62 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: this novel, and it's a very it's a very good novel, 63 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: very positive novel, but I'm afraid to say that I 64 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: had a bit of a falling out with the author 65 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 1: over that. Um. You know, Colonel Burriss, who I have 66 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: the utmost respect for, UM, for his service and for 67 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: who he is as a man. He was one of 68 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: the UM you know, original members of Delta Force. Charlie 69 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 1: Beckwith brought him in and he was one of the 70 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: first squadron commanders and eventually became the deputy commander of 71 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 1: the unit. Mean, he did uh an amazing service to 72 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: our country. But we had a bit of a falling 73 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: out because Colonel Burris says that his novel, A Mission 74 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: for Delta is purely a work of fiction and nothing 75 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: else UM, and I have to respectfully disagree with him 76 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: on this. I think that the novel actually has a 77 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: whole slew of things in there that are based on 78 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: factual events. UM. The Dave Bayes incident happens to be 79 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: one of them. There are other parts of the novel 80 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: that reference Detachment A in Berlin, undercover Special Forces UM 81 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: operations in Berlin. There are references to green Light missions. 82 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: There are there are characters in the book that are 83 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: quite clearly actual people. Uh So, I mean there's a 84 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: character named Aims Major Aims in the book, which is 85 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: clearly Colonel Burris. There is a character working for the 86 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: National Security Council in the White House named Rolie, who 87 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: is obviously Oliver North Ali. Um. So I'm afraid I 88 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: have to respectfully disagree with Colonel Burris on you know, 89 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: his his claim that the book is purely fictional um. 90 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 1: And you know, he had got quite angry at me 91 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: for writing that book review and decoding some of the 92 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 1: things in it. Be that as it may. The other 93 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 1: novel that fictionalizes Dave by Eves is a book called Stiletto, 94 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: which was written by Greg Walker, and it's about exactly 95 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: the same thing we're talking about here, that there's a 96 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 1: Green Beret who defected and he went to the other 97 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: side and now he's working for the communists. So we 98 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: will have Greg on to talk about that and a 99 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 1: few other um works that he's done that he's written 100 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: over the last couple of months. And I'm excited to 101 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: get into that with Dennis. What else do you got 102 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: for us, well, Greg, First off, Greg was passionate via 103 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: email to come on, so he's gonna be excited. I 104 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: feel like you two with your history knowledge, and especially 105 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: when you talk about by ease like this, I feel 106 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: like you two were just gonna hit it off and 107 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: it's gonna that's gonna run rampant um. In addition, you 108 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: tweeted out an article this weekend from The Independent written 109 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: by Robert fisk Uh it was. The article was titled 110 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: the evidence we were Never meant to see about the 111 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: was it Duma Douma gas Attack? And I read the 112 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: piece very interesting stuff. I wanted to hear your thoughts on. 113 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: Obviously you tweeted about it, so I'm sure you have 114 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: some opinion. Yeah. Well, it's about one of what was 115 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: allegedly one of the big gas attacks in Syria. UM 116 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: that became the basis for um, you know, Trump's cruise 117 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: missile strikes and Syria. And there is a slew of evidence. 118 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: I have to be very careful um and and I 119 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: don't want to parse my words, but it does appear 120 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: that there was a gas attack, but how how it 121 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: was conducted and who who perpetrated that gas attack is 122 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: not necessarily known. And we were told, um by you know, 123 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: U N bodies that there is like unequivocally the regime 124 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: UM launching these gas attacks. And it does seem pretty 125 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: clear throughout the war that the regime and the rebels 126 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: and ISIS and all of them have used chemical weapons 127 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: at various points, chlorine gas and saren gas and things 128 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: like this. UM, but this attack was pinned directly on 129 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: the regime. And now there's evidence has come out that 130 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: the u N had um dissenting opinions about it, that 131 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: they were not all the the inspectors were not all 132 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: on the same sheet of music. And there were some 133 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: people who felt that these uh, these chemical weapons were 134 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: not dropped from the sky by airplanes, but rather that 135 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: they were placed on the ground. Uh. This all, this 136 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 1: all gets very scary, and it's chilling because we launched 137 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: our invasion of Iraq in two thousand and three based 138 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 1: on the false premise that there were that dom was 139 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: making all these chemical weapons, and then that turned out 140 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: to be bullshit. So and now we're now we're right 141 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: back there where we're being told that the Iranians are 142 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 1: making nuclear weapons. Then you know, the the ubiquitous uh 143 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: W M D threat and that we need to go 144 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: something's got to be done about Iran. We keep hearing 145 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: this over and over, So yeah, I mean we just 146 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: have to be super cautious about this. The article was wild, 147 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: and like you said, the fact that we're I don't 148 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: want to say we're using this, but it's it goes 149 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,319 Speaker 1: back to the w m d S. It's like it's 150 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: almost an excuse for Trump to like, hey, you know, 151 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: like you say waving the flag, you get patriots and 152 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: behind it, make sure like, hey, look, guys, these guys 153 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: are builting w m d S. What are we gonna 154 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: do about it? Uh, it's a very fascinating read. I'll 155 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 1: be sure to link it in them in the description 156 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: of the show. Finally, I wanted to bring up we 157 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: record on Tuesdays, so and this show gets posted on 158 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:58,559 Speaker 1: a Wednesday. Obviously, Yesterday for us currently was Memorial Day. 159 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: And obviously I know that you're decorated and you've been 160 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: in the military. I'm a civilian, so Memorial Day for 161 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: me is is a three day weekend. Um. Obviously I 162 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: have appreciation for those, and I'm sure you've lost plenty 163 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 1: of brothers throughout the course of your your time spent. 164 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: I just wanted to take your thoughts on what Memorial 165 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: Day like, how does somebody who is as decorated as 166 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: you are, like, how do you kind of wrap your 167 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: head around that? What do you what do you do? Well? 168 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: I wrote an article about it last year and that 169 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: we are republished, and you know, I have mixed feelings 170 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: about it. I'm looking at it, you know, as a veteran, 171 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: I see a lot of my peers like trying to 172 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: shame America. Like, you know, it's not just about barbecues. 173 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: You know, you're supposed to be remembering the fall in 174 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 1: And they make it sound like you're supposed to spend 175 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: Memorial Day by yourself in a bar at Applebee's like 176 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: crying into your bud light And it's like, no, man, 177 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: Like that's not healthy. Um. And you know, for sure 178 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: it's a time you can reflect on, you know, those 179 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: who gave their all vives for this country, um, those 180 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: who sacrificed in the war, um, any of our our 181 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: wars throughout history. UM. But I disagree with the notion 182 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: that you're supposed to like sit around and feel bad, um, 183 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: that you're supposed to be just sober sober and uh 184 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: sober uh and um and just feel bad about it. 185 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: I think that you should go and spend Memorial Day 186 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: having a barbecue with your family, Like, there's no reason 187 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: why you should not do that. Uh, you know, any 188 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: of our friends. I when I think about the people 189 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: I know who died in combat or or some succumb 190 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: to suicide, unfortunately, not a single one of them would 191 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: be like, yeah, Jack, you need to go and like 192 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: sit in the Applebee's bar and cry to yourself. Remembering me, 193 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: not a single one of them would would say that, 194 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: And any one of them would probably give anything to 195 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: spend another day with their wife and kids, any of them, 196 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: so they believe me, they would want you to go 197 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: and have a barbecue with your family and like spend 198 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: some quality time with your kids or your your your 199 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: mom and dad, aunts and uncles. Uh, you know whoever 200 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: it is you know, or if it's just with friends, 201 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: and yeah, sure have a toast to your friends who 202 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: died in the war, remember some of those guys who 203 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: came before us. But I don't think it's right to 204 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: um just sit around being depressed. Uh. And I don't 205 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: think it's okay to try to like shame America over 206 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: it either, you know, and there are those guys. I mean, 207 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 1: be it far from me to tell a veteran how 208 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: to react to Memorial Day weekend, but I I'm I'm 209 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: in your camping and again my opinion doesn't matter. I 210 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: understand that. But it's like you you said it in 211 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: your answer, you want to remember those but at the 212 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: same time, if they were here, I feel like most 213 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: people would have the same answer, like, look, guys, like, 214 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 1: of course we we missed the people we lost, but 215 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 1: what is that what they would want? Like for me, 216 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 1: Memorial Day is a weird weekend for me because I 217 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: lost my father May seven years ago and it always 218 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: falls around the more and my father wasn't a veteran 219 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: or anything like that. But Memorial Day, for you guys 220 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: or veterans, I remember my father that week. So so 221 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: it's in the same ballpark in the sense that like 222 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: it reminds me of my dad. But I'm not gonna, 223 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not gonna sit there and so call 224 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 1: you know, I'll go to the grave site, I'll I'll 225 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: pay my respects. I missy Dad. But then it's time 226 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: to barbecue and like have fun and tell stories like 227 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: I'm sure you have countless stories of experiences you have 228 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: with these guys and when you want to sit around, 229 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: if they were there, when you want to drink a 230 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: beer with them and like laugh about something something weird 231 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,319 Speaker 1: that happened some One of the one of the people 232 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: I think about specifically was my old platoon sergeant Jared 233 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: van Alis, who he was my platoon sergeant for a 234 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: while for about two years, um, and I kind of 235 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: lost track of him after I left Range of Battalion 236 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: and went to Special Forces, but Jared went on he 237 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: uh he served as a Delta Force operator and he 238 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: was killed in Afghanistan and um two thousand ten, as 239 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: I recall, and um, you know, Jared was a family man, 240 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: uh there and there There's just no way that he 241 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: would be like, yeah, Jack, you need to go and 242 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: like feel bad for me, Like there's no way that 243 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,439 Speaker 1: would even like like if he thought I was just 244 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: like sitting around feeling sorry for myself or feeling sorry 245 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: for him, like he would slap me in the mouth. 246 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: Like there's no question in my mind about that. So 247 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: all this stuff about like social social shaming and like 248 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: feeling bad and being depressed, like are you doing that 249 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: for the fallen or are you doing that for you? 250 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: You know exactly. That's that's kind of where I come 251 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: from on it. So I mean, yeah, poor one for 252 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: your homies, you know. Remember No, I mean, I'm totally serious. 253 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: I mean, remember those guys, you know, and what they 254 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: meant to us, and honor their sacrifice. But dude, go 255 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: go live your life. Man, That's what they'd want for you. 256 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 1: And I think that's how most people should think about it. 257 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: I mean, you want to remember, but at the same time, 258 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: you you can't continue to stop your life. No, nor 259 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: should you, nor should do There's no reason for that. 260 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: Well said, all right, with that, we have Greg Walker 261 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: coming up now. I know most of the listeners were 262 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: familiar with Ian's silky smooth vocal cords, which that was 263 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: the first thing I had said when I met him 264 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: in person and over the phone. I said, Ian, you 265 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: have got the gift man, you were meant for radio. 266 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: It's got the voice for radio. He really, I got 267 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 1: the face for radio. You and I polled. Now he said, 268 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: he was like, look, you work it out with Jack 269 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: if you want to do the reads or he wants 270 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: to do the reads. You had said, Hey, man, you 271 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: can handle them. So I'm gonna I'm taking over for 272 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: Ian with the reads if you don't like them, tweeted Ian. 273 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: Ian we miss you like Dennis is horrible. Fine, I 274 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: I that's a cross. I I'm glad to bear. But 275 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: in that let me let me provide my first one M. 276 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: This show is brought to you by Crate Club, a 277 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: club for men by men of gear, hand picked by 278 00:15:56,040 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: Special Operations military veterans. Visit Crate Club dot u US 279 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: for an exclusive promotion for our listeners of off your subscription. 280 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: This is the biggest discount we've ever made available, and 281 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: we don't know how long we can keep this promotion going. 282 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: So go to create club dot us and use the 283 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: coupon code soft rep that's s O f R EP 284 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: and get off any subscription that's create Club dot us 285 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: coupon code soft rap. Sign up now, and now we 286 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: will bring to you Greg Walker, author veteran. He's done 287 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: a countless amount of stuff, and we will talk about 288 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: David Bayes, his articles. He's wrote some stuff on News Rep. 289 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: Jack and Greg will get into this and it'll be 290 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 1: a great conversation. So with that, here's Greg Walker. Hey, Greg, 291 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: thanks again for coming on. Appreciate the invitation. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Um, 292 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: So we we were talking discussing a little bit about 293 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: your work. Um, and you know, I got into talking 294 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: a little bit about Dave Buyse and uh, you know 295 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: your novel Stiletto that fictionalized the store r and uh 296 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 1: and also Colonel Burrus novel that also fictionalizes it a bit. 297 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: And I know we you've written a number of articles 298 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: that we'd like to get into with you. UM, but 299 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: I wanted to ask you first if you could tell 300 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 1: us a little bit about yourself and your military career 301 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: and you know, your journalistic background, because you've also written 302 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 1: quite a bit of you know, special Forces history and 303 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 1: published a few books and so on. Sure, I h 304 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: s entered the military in ninety uh and let serve 305 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: both the new active duty side of the house with 306 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 1: the Army for ten years and then completed my career 307 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 1: with the Special Operations Reserve Components, retiring in two thousand 308 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: five after a couple of visits over to Iraq. UH. 309 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: Writing wise, I always had a love for writing and 310 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:57,439 Speaker 1: for journalism that was cultivated when I was in junior 311 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:02,400 Speaker 1: high and high school. And I actually began being published 312 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: when I was in service at the Town Special Forces 313 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: Group UH for Gung Home magazine. UH. My my team 314 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 1: sergeant came in and dropped a copy the first issue 315 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: on the team table and said, hey, Walker, Uh, you right, 316 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: we weren't right for these guys, So it's not a 317 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 1: bad magazine. And so that's that's how I got started. 318 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 1: And I was encouraged along the way by some of 319 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: the same people Jack has been encouraged by to include 320 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:38,239 Speaker 1: Jim Morris. And didn't Gary Winderer edit Gung Ho at 321 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 1: one point? No, Uh, that was always edited by Jim 322 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: Schultz began at Gary started Behind the Lines, and UH 323 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 1: was founder and editor of that journal. I wrote from 324 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,159 Speaker 1: behind the Lines for some time and was for a 325 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: period of time It's editor. And you did some work 326 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: with Bob Brown It's Soldier of Fortune, didn't you. I've 327 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: I've done a lot of work with Bob on a 328 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: multitude of the titles that he had UM and Uh. 329 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: I still enjoy a very cordial and respectful relationship with him. 330 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 1: I haven't talked to Bob in a few years, but 331 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: I mean he's just a super fun guy to you know. 332 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:26,440 Speaker 1: We were able to sit down and have a beer 333 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: here in Manhattan one time, and he's just a super 334 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: interesting guy to talk to. Yeah, Bob is uh Bob. 335 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:35,719 Speaker 1: This is one of those guys that has been on 336 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 1: all sides of the the Twilight, if you will, and UH, 337 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, my favorite uh I major 338 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: of Bob was when our dear friend Almer passed away 339 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: back in the mid nineties. UH we had quite the 340 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: memorial out here in Oregon, and Bob flew up for that, 341 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: and the evening before uh the ceremony, UH we were 342 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 1: talking and my wife was with me and our four kids, 343 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:16,360 Speaker 1: and we went over to uh Al's favorite restaurant, Blood Ruckers, 344 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:20,119 Speaker 1: and like Oswego, and I had a nice dinner. Bob 345 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 1: purchased and then he asked my kids if they wanted 346 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: ice cream, and they said yes, of course, and he 347 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,199 Speaker 1: took him up to the ice cream counter and I 348 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: sat there watching the you know, the editor of Soldier 349 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: or Fortune magazine with all that either means or doesn't mean, 350 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: happily taking orders from four little kids and buying them 351 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:45,159 Speaker 1: ice cream cones. That's great, Yeah, Bob. I got the 352 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: same impression from Bob. He uh has cultivated this image 353 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: of himself of this really hardcore right wing Special Forces veteran, 354 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: which in in a sense he is um but he's 355 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: also a very intelligent articulate person. Um. You know, he's 356 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: a college graduate, he's an educated man. Oh yeah, there's 357 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: one of Bob's greatest statuebutius the ability to be a 358 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: chameleon and present to whichever audience the face that he 359 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 1: wants them to see, or that he feels when he 360 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 1: deserved to see him. And uh, if people want to 361 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: know more about that, you know. Uh. Bob Brown also 362 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: has a memoir out. I believe it's called I Am 363 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: Soldier of Fortune. UM since the founder and longtime editor 364 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 1: of Soldier of Fortune magazine, So I've read his book. 365 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: I mean it's uh, it's pretty amazing that the beginning 366 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 1: of the book talks about when he was a very 367 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: very young Bob Brown UM going and spending his time 368 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 1: UM with Cuban rebels, UM, but prior to the um 369 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 1: the revolution in Cuba, Castro's Revolution, and Bob writes about 370 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:54,160 Speaker 1: how he felt betrayed because he thought that they were 371 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 1: just social democrats. But you know, of course after everything 372 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: went down, UM, they were clearly communists. And I think 373 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 1: Bob felt personally betrayed by that. And I think it 374 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: also explains why Bob became so hardcore anti communist in 375 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: his later years. Yep, but that would be a very 376 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 1: accurate account of his uh, his rendition in that So, Greg, 377 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: I wanted to get into the story about Bayes with 378 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: you because we had talked a little bit about Dave 379 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: Bayes earlier on UM and I had tried to figure 380 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: that out and piece that story together myself in the past, 381 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: but you were really the one that was able to 382 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: deliver on that. And I was wondering if you could 383 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 1: tell us about who he was and what happened to 384 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: him down in Central America all those years ago. Dave 385 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: Bayez Uh was a natural born Nicaraguan. His dad was 386 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 1: involved at the time in the National Guard with both's 387 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: going on under the president on a Sacio Samosa's father 388 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 1: his dad and with long story short, UH, they he 389 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,639 Speaker 1: was part of a coup attempt and assassination attempt on 390 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 1: the old man and Uh the plot was betrayed and 391 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:25,920 Speaker 1: the conspirators were all brutally tortured and executed and their 392 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:32,719 Speaker 1: bodies burned and buried in the amassed grave. Essentially, David 393 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: was just a little guy. UH. He grew up with 394 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: that image and the stories of what had happened to 395 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: his dad, and UH later on. His parents sent him 396 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: to the United States so essentially wouldn't get him self 397 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 1: in trouble with anti Somosa demonstrations that were taking place 398 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:58,359 Speaker 1: again Stannastatio Samosa. And Uh he ended up going into 399 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: the army. He became an actually naturalized American citizen. Uh. 400 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: He went to Special Forces and was an exceptional Special 401 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: Forces Communication sergeant. UH and his up down assigned to 402 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: the same unit. I was later assigned to the third 403 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: of the seventh, which was then in Panama. And Uh, 404 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: as you have read in the story, he made a 405 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: decision to return to Nicaragua after the Sandinista top Lane 406 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: of the Samosa regime and joined the Sandinistas. He was 407 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 1: not a Communist and he wasn't a Marxist. Uh. He 408 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: he saw himself as returning to the homeland to pick 409 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 1: up where his dad had left off. And that's how 410 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:47,879 Speaker 1: he got back to Nicaragua. And I got there right 411 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: after David had had left and began hearing the stories 412 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 1: then from some of your teammates. I mean, what did 413 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: they have to say about Dave, Like what type of 414 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: soldier was here? I have not talked with anyone or 415 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 1: heard from anyone that didn't have the tremendous amount of 416 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: respect for him as a Special Forces soldier and as 417 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: a soldier, he was very personable, he was very professional. Uh. 418 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: He had a big heart, like most s IF guys do. Uh. 419 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: He pulled his weight and his teammates in particular because 420 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: they were his teammates. And he talked quite a bit 421 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 1: about his background and his happiness, his hatred for this 422 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: amosas that kind of thing. They really saw that side 423 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: of him. So when he went back to Nicaragua and 424 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 1: linked up with the Sandinistas, Uh, he had shared with 425 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: him that that's what he was going to do, and 426 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: at the time they it was like, Wow, I hope 427 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: you know what you're doing, but good luck man. Yeah. 428 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,640 Speaker 1: And I thought one of the interesting things that came 429 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: out in your your work on this was also that, Um, 430 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: Dave was highly qualified. I mean he was not just 431 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:05,439 Speaker 1: a Special Forces soldier, but he spoke three languages at least, 432 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:09,640 Speaker 1: he had learned all the clandestine trade craft and so on. 433 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: Um while he was stationed in Germany. Um, it just 434 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 1: seems like this guy could be incredibly dangerous. Yeah, that 435 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:21,640 Speaker 1: that comes out in a story because the s two 436 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: at the battalion several of the guys. Matter of fact, 437 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:28,199 Speaker 1: one of whom I quote in the story several times, 438 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: who was very close today, was also one of the 439 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 1: most professional intelligence sergeants that I've ever met and or 440 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: worked with. And he went to the Battalion S two 441 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 1: and said, Hey, this is getting ready to go back 442 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 1: over here, and you know, this could be really scary 443 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: for us, and the Battalian S two just simply did 444 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: not pick up on it. And much more importantly, perhaps 445 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: the intelligent people at Corey Heights down in panem Off 446 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:03,199 Speaker 1: with the Sonuthern command Uh, they didn't pick up on 447 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 1: it either. And they had given him access to literally 448 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: anything in everything that he wanted to become involved in. 449 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:11,640 Speaker 1: When he was t d y with them, he did 450 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:15,200 Speaker 1: take all of that tradecraft, in that knowledge and information 451 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 1: over to the Sandinistas, which is from the regions he 452 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,200 Speaker 1: became a commandanti. I remember you mentioning that he had 453 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 1: access to all of these files at Southcom, so he 454 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 1: would have had like just an incredibly in depth knowledge 455 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:31,680 Speaker 1: of American operations in Central America at the time. So 456 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: the United States military doesn't pick up on what this 457 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 1: guy is up to or or all some people did, 458 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: but it gets ignored and then he winds up with 459 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 1: the Sandinistas and can you pick up the story from there? Uh? 460 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: He UH had gone back to Nicaragua, to Managua on 461 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:58,440 Speaker 1: a leave of all things, and approached the senior leadership 462 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:02,200 Speaker 1: there with the new South and East government, of which 463 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: he was related to. UH and UH said, that's who 464 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:08,960 Speaker 1: I am, that's where I come from, that's what I 465 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:13,920 Speaker 1: want to do. And they were Uh. They were cautious, 466 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: of course, but his familial history and relations with some 467 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: of the commodantes, at least three of them of the 468 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: nine most important, was such that they gave him the 469 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: opportunity and gave him the end. So he came on board. 470 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: He was commissioned as a lieutenant UH and he UH 471 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,920 Speaker 1: was under wraps and being watched when he was assigned 472 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: to be in UH conduct training. He was training. He 473 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: trained the first Santon East paratroop unit and also trained 474 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: up their counterinsurgency units which were being thrown into the 475 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 1: fight against the contrast. UH. So he made his bones 476 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: there and UH when they became comfortable with him, they 477 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: got from one of the captain he requested to go 478 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: into the fight against the contrast UH and fought UH 479 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: in one of the most difficult and challenging departments in 480 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 1: Nicaragua that was attempting to be more or less occupied 481 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 1: by contra forces and made a pretty good name for 482 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 1: himself and would to agree with it. When the Honduran 483 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 1: incursion came about, he was asked to act as the 484 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 1: bodyguard for the Honduran Grola commander when they went back 485 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 1: across the border. And just for some of our other 486 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:45,920 Speaker 1: listeners who maybe aren't familiar with the lay of the 487 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: land at the time, it's worth pointing out I think 488 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 1: that Dave was taking communists rebels across the border in 489 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 1: the Honduras into combat with Honduran contras that his former 490 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 1: teammates or even he himself a trained Oh yeah, he 491 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: was totally committed to the cause UM and the thought 492 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: process and the bigger pictures that the cultras were meant 493 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:16,719 Speaker 1: to and created to destabilize the send An Eista government, 494 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 1: part of the all out war that the regular administration 495 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: was bringing to bear on Central America. Uh So the 496 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 1: Santinisas when you look at it from an objective point 497 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:32,200 Speaker 1: of view, uh, they were trying to get their revolution 498 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:34,960 Speaker 1: and their quote new society on the ground and and 499 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 1: built up, and infrastructures changed and all that kind of 500 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:40,959 Speaker 1: good stuff, and all of a sudden, they've got an 501 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 1: armed force coming in from not only on Duras, but 502 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 1: from Costa Rica and uh, in some instances across the 503 00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:55,360 Speaker 1: gulp of Fonseca from El Salvador. So that being said 504 00:30:55,440 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: and biased his mind, you know, he bought into a 505 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 1: this is my country, this is my homeland, and uh, 506 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:05,840 Speaker 1: you know, I'm here and I'm going to fight for it. 507 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: And then we get into that fateful column that that 508 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 1: they've led across the border. Um, and my impression of 509 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 1: it was it was almost like, um, he's trying to 510 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 1: become like a mini ke Gavera um leading an armed 511 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:22,040 Speaker 1: communist column. But I was wondering if you could tell 512 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 1: us a little bit about that and um, and about 513 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 1: father Carney, because you also write wrote a whole article 514 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: about him, and I think his story is equally fascinating. 515 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 1: One thing that Dave was, and this just comes from 516 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: his teammates, he was very much enthralled with Shavara and 517 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: that's not really unusual. Uh. Chekovara is a symbol of 518 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: radical change and revolution throughout Central America, Latin America, and 519 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 1: everybody has their own interpretation of why his image is 520 00:31:56,200 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 1: somehow important to them. Uh so Uh and uh, Dave's 521 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 1: younger brother, who gave a series of interviews in the 522 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: early nineties on his brother to La Prenza in Nicaragua, 523 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 1: said the same thing. My my brother thought, Uh, you know, 524 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 1: he thought he was going to have the same opportunity 525 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 1: that she did, you know, to lead a revolution. So 526 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:22,280 Speaker 1: that was essentially part of the motivator on that. Uh. 527 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: The the other was it was an extreme test on 528 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: the Santista leadership. Uh. You know, they still got an 529 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 1: American Green beret uh in their ranks at a high level. 530 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 1: And is he a double agent? Is he a triple agent? Uh? 531 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: So to say, hey, look, do you want to, you know, 532 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 1: be the bodyguard for the Honduran rebel commander going back 533 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 1: over wage war? Uh was a test. If he said no, 534 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 1: not really, then you know, that's kind of a chalk 535 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 1: against him. But he accepted it. And uh one of 536 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:02,840 Speaker 1: us the border with the with the column and what 537 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 1: about father Carney because he was sort of like the 538 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:09,800 Speaker 1: religious or spiritual advisor to the column, wasn't he Carney 539 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 1: was And this is what's interesting about this whole story 540 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 1: on the Column and about Bias and Carney, is that 541 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 1: it has been so badly misrepresented, hopeword lies and self 542 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:31,560 Speaker 1: serving agendas built on it on all sides. Carney was 543 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 1: a really interesting guy. He was a World War Two 544 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:40,840 Speaker 1: combat veteran the European Theater, became a priest, and became 545 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 1: a Jesuit. He spent eighteen years in Honduras working with 546 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 1: the poor UH and lived as them. UH. He was 547 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: very disdainful of UH priests who had nice houses or 548 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: comfortable homes when the people they were supposed to be 549 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:04,680 Speaker 1: carrying forward living in object poverty. UH. He was very outspoken, 550 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 1: He was highly intelligent H and he got himself into 551 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:11,560 Speaker 1: some pretty serious trouble down in Honduras, to the point 552 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 1: where they actually exiled him and sent him back to 553 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:18,239 Speaker 1: the United States. He had taken a hunter and citizenship, 554 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 1: which they stripped him out. UH. He was back in 555 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 1: the States for a couple of weeks and went through 556 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,239 Speaker 1: a two week kind of a reformation of thought at 557 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:33,040 Speaker 1: the Jesuit University in Detroit, and then was sent back 558 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:37,640 Speaker 1: to Central America by them, but this time down to Nicaragua, 559 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:41,560 Speaker 1: and he spent a couple of years in Nicaragua, were 560 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 1: working with the poor and becoming even more radicalized. His 561 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:53,120 Speaker 1: joining the column was something he wrote about in his autobiography, 562 00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 1: which is a fascinating book. Uh. And he basically said, 563 00:34:57,120 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: uh eight, I'm going to become a an armed priest. 564 00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna walk my talk and this this group's going 565 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 1: back in the Honduras, which I can say here my 566 00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:13,560 Speaker 1: you know, my birth home. And he was actually armed 567 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 1: and uh was as much a fighter as he was 568 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: a priest. I thought it was fascinating that article you 569 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 1: wrote about Father Carney, and and as you say, it 570 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: was like he was living out his religious beliefs. He 571 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: he didn't he make a comment like, if you're a 572 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:32,160 Speaker 1: real Christian, you have to be a Marxist revolutionary, like 573 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:34,839 Speaker 1: these things go hand in hand with one another. Well, 574 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 1: and actually his quote was if if you claimed to 575 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:39,920 Speaker 1: be a Christian, you have to be a revolutionary. Right. 576 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 1: I didn't uh pre qualify it with Mark Sister or 577 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 1: anything else, but uh, he was and had because he 578 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: came from the Liberation of Theology, uh school of thought. 579 00:35:53,480 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 1: He was very much invested in Marxism and his repretation 580 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:04,520 Speaker 1: of it, uh, and in that he only joined a 581 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 1: previous cadre in a current cadre of Jesuit priests who 582 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:13,239 Speaker 1: made liberation theology their doctrine. So then what happened when 583 00:36:13,239 --> 00:36:15,960 Speaker 1: the column did cross the border. I mean, I remember 584 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:18,120 Speaker 1: reading your article and your research on this, and I 585 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:22,840 Speaker 1: mean it sounded like it was ill planned. And because 586 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:26,000 Speaker 1: of that ill fated, it was not necessarily ill planned, 587 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:30,200 Speaker 1: because they had cells in Honduras that we're ready to 588 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: receive them. They were going to set up through four 589 00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:39,400 Speaker 1: operational fronts of the In my opinion, with the research 590 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:43,839 Speaker 1: that was done, the guerrilla commander Dr Yasmina, who was 591 00:36:43,880 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 1: a hardcore communist Marxist and had participated in uh uh 592 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:55,880 Speaker 1: several different insurgencies to include the insurgency over in Alsamad, 593 00:36:56,000 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 1: were prior to UH creating a column. He he his 594 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 1: ego just got way out in front of him, uh, 595 00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:11,279 Speaker 1: and he made some real blunders, has to movement distances 596 00:37:11,719 --> 00:37:15,400 Speaker 1: terrain where he was going to base out of the 597 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 1: hossant Anista command and said, hey, we we really think 598 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:21,640 Speaker 1: you should, you know, create your first base on our 599 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:24,839 Speaker 1: side of the border, and uh, you know, launch out 600 00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:27,360 Speaker 1: from there and just kind of start taking little baby 601 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:31,680 Speaker 1: steps and getting established. Uh. And he determined that no, 602 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:33,800 Speaker 1: we're going to go right in and we're going to 603 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:39,120 Speaker 1: create create our revolution, much in the doctrine of Shay's 604 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:44,360 Speaker 1: foco theory as we go, and that that just totally unraveled. 605 00:37:44,680 --> 00:37:47,280 Speaker 1: And it was I mean, this is incredibly difficult terrain 606 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:50,880 Speaker 1: as well. Oh, it's the worst. It's the absolute worst. 607 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:57,400 Speaker 1: Talking to some American retired Special Forces advisors that have 608 00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:00,840 Speaker 1: been down in that area, Uh, it's just the worst. 609 00:38:01,120 --> 00:38:03,880 Speaker 1: And it took a huge toll on the Uh, the 610 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:08,200 Speaker 1: initial column, they started to see extreme fatigue, they ran 611 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:16,120 Speaker 1: out of food, the desertions began. And once the desertions began, Uh, 612 00:38:16,680 --> 00:38:19,880 Speaker 1: the Hunderns began to learn. The military and the police 613 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:21,840 Speaker 1: started to learn of the presence of the column. And 614 00:38:22,160 --> 00:38:23,880 Speaker 1: then it was a matter of just the clock to 615 00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:26,520 Speaker 1: came down. And then how did it all come to 616 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:30,479 Speaker 1: a close for Father Carney and Dave and and Dr 617 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:35,160 Speaker 1: ray Is. They they got into essentially a series of 618 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:39,520 Speaker 1: running gun battles. The information that was being provided by 619 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:44,600 Speaker 1: the deserters was very concise, very explicit. Uh, there was 620 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:49,560 Speaker 1: no base for the revolution among the general populists. Whenever 621 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:54,080 Speaker 1: the general populists heard something or saw saw the guerrillas 622 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:56,799 Speaker 1: come into some of the very small little villages that 623 00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:00,560 Speaker 1: they were trying to travel around to get food, water, news, 624 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:03,840 Speaker 1: that kind of a thing, they reported it almost right away. 625 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:11,600 Speaker 1: So the Honduran military immediately launched a very aggressive counterinsurgency campaign. 626 00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:16,320 Speaker 1: The United States UH, as we share in the story, 627 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:20,359 Speaker 1: got behind it a hundred percent, and UH we UH 628 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:26,479 Speaker 1: under the guise of our humanitarian assistants, Presidents UH sent 629 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:29,799 Speaker 1: the second of something, the Range of Italian down there 630 00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:34,000 Speaker 1: to assist the hondur and special Forces UH to corral 631 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:37,200 Speaker 1: up the column. And they literally which is the first 632 00:39:37,239 --> 00:39:39,840 Speaker 1: time I've ever heard of the Range of Italian used 633 00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:42,839 Speaker 1: a humanitarian rule, by the way, pretty pretty interesting and 634 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:46,920 Speaker 1: pretty much broke them down and chased them the ground 635 00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:52,480 Speaker 1: and Rayo's UH Dave Bios and Father Carney were captured. 636 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:58,440 Speaker 1: They were taken to a American built and supplied UH 637 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:04,400 Speaker 1: quandestine airship where the contrast were basically out of UH 638 00:40:04,560 --> 00:40:09,160 Speaker 1: interrogated and they, along with I think it was some 639 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:13,520 Speaker 1: thirty other guerrillas that have been captured. UH, We're we're 640 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:17,360 Speaker 1: all executed. Do you think the United States government, uh, 641 00:40:17,480 --> 00:40:22,520 Speaker 1: down there knew that they had American citizens captive. Probably 642 00:40:22,640 --> 00:40:25,440 Speaker 1: absolutely bring that out in the story. It was. It 643 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:31,520 Speaker 1: was very much, very much known. And the interesting thing 644 00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:35,320 Speaker 1: about it was, and there's something people really don't understand 645 00:40:36,239 --> 00:40:40,120 Speaker 1: because it's gone on for time immemorial. Carney had renounced 646 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:43,600 Speaker 1: his United States citizenship, but it had not never actually 647 00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:47,560 Speaker 1: been taken from him. When he went back down to Nicaragua, 648 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:52,560 Speaker 1: he went back down on a Catholic church pass which 649 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:57,200 Speaker 1: allowed him because he was doing clerical work, to get 650 00:40:57,239 --> 00:41:01,440 Speaker 1: another US passport. So Carney was really very much looked 651 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:07,480 Speaker 1: at by state department as I'm really a citizen anymore, 652 00:41:08,239 --> 00:41:12,759 Speaker 1: and here you are involved in doing what you're doing. Uh. 653 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:15,400 Speaker 1: So he was on his zone and byas had not 654 00:41:15,480 --> 00:41:18,239 Speaker 1: redoundsted citizenship, but buy has had gone over to the 655 00:41:18,239 --> 00:41:21,640 Speaker 1: other side doing the damage that he had been doing. 656 00:41:22,239 --> 00:41:26,120 Speaker 1: So again, uh, he was on his own. And so 657 00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:29,400 Speaker 1: the determination that for the Honduran say, this is your 658 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:31,440 Speaker 1: internal problem. You know, you take care of it the 659 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:33,439 Speaker 1: way you want to take care of it, and they did. 660 00:41:33,719 --> 00:41:35,640 Speaker 1: So you think our government was kind of like turning 661 00:41:35,640 --> 00:41:38,239 Speaker 1: a blind eye to it, like, uh, yeah, we don't 662 00:41:38,239 --> 00:41:40,479 Speaker 1: really want to know how this is going to play out. 663 00:41:40,960 --> 00:41:42,279 Speaker 1: I don't think it was a blind eye at all. 664 00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:45,680 Speaker 1: I think it was a very wide open both eyes. Uh. 665 00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:50,400 Speaker 1: This was all out war throughout El Salvador and Honduras 666 00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:55,640 Speaker 1: and Nicaragua threatening Costa Rica. That's what folks really don't 667 00:41:55,800 --> 00:42:01,080 Speaker 1: grasp about our wars in Central America. So both eyes open, 668 00:42:01,239 --> 00:42:03,520 Speaker 1: and they knew that they knew these guys were a problem, 669 00:42:03,560 --> 00:42:05,600 Speaker 1: they knew the damage that they were doing. And I 670 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:09,080 Speaker 1: think that a nice backdrop to it is the State 671 00:42:09,120 --> 00:42:14,960 Speaker 1: Department sent the same message directly to Michael Channis and 672 00:42:15,719 --> 00:42:18,960 Speaker 1: his very small American team that was supporting on a 673 00:42:19,080 --> 00:42:26,600 Speaker 1: Sasio Somosa in seventy seven seventy eight. Uh. In seventy eight, 674 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:30,720 Speaker 1: of course, Mike and Chuck and Bobby were killed along 675 00:42:30,719 --> 00:42:35,560 Speaker 1: with Ivan Oligret uh down there. Uh. They told him, Hey, 676 00:42:35,640 --> 00:42:38,000 Speaker 1: you guys are way outside the boundaries. We can't make 677 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:41,400 Speaker 1: you come home, we can't make you stop, but we 678 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,319 Speaker 1: can tell you right now we're not going to help 679 00:42:43,320 --> 00:42:46,000 Speaker 1: you if bad things happen to you. And that's in 680 00:42:46,080 --> 00:42:48,520 Speaker 1: State Department cables that I have. It was just a 681 00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:51,840 Speaker 1: continuation of a long held policy We're going to have 682 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:53,880 Speaker 1: to have you back on another time to talk about 683 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:57,960 Speaker 1: Michaelis because I know we had talked about before how 684 00:42:57,960 --> 00:43:01,280 Speaker 1: you're working on a biography about him, right, Yes, six 685 00:43:01,360 --> 00:43:05,840 Speaker 1: years in uh in research and unbelievable storage. I'm looking 686 00:43:05,880 --> 00:43:07,680 Speaker 1: forward to hearing that. That's that's gonna be a whole 687 00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:11,200 Speaker 1: other podcast. Then, as I recall from from reading your work, 688 00:43:11,680 --> 00:43:15,320 Speaker 1: the remains of father Carney and Dave Bayes were loaded 689 00:43:15,360 --> 00:43:18,200 Speaker 1: onto a helicopter and thrown out over the jungle and 690 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:21,680 Speaker 1: have to this day they haven't been recovered. Right. No, 691 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:26,000 Speaker 1: it was a very deliberate message sent to the Santaetas 692 00:43:26,239 --> 00:43:29,480 Speaker 1: by the Honduran government. They loaded all of the bodies 693 00:43:30,360 --> 00:43:34,440 Speaker 1: of those that were executed at El Aguacate Air Base 694 00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:38,919 Speaker 1: onto helicopters. They flew him back over the border into Nicaragua, 695 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:43,120 Speaker 1: and they tossed him out into the Triple Canopy jungle below. 696 00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:47,360 Speaker 1: And the message that was sent because of course they 697 00:43:47,680 --> 00:43:50,080 Speaker 1: know through the back channels, let them know, hey, we 698 00:43:50,080 --> 00:43:53,920 Speaker 1: we just sent your boys back. Uh was you come 699 00:43:53,960 --> 00:43:57,200 Speaker 1: across our border like this again? And you know this 700 00:43:57,280 --> 00:44:01,520 Speaker 1: is what awaits you. The Hondurans were purely good at 701 00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:04,960 Speaker 1: protecting their country. There was never an insurgency that got 702 00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:08,200 Speaker 1: off the ground in Honduras because of their approach. I 703 00:44:08,239 --> 00:44:11,560 Speaker 1: remember I've talked to Jim West about it many times, 704 00:44:11,840 --> 00:44:14,560 Speaker 1: you know, when he was down there training their counter 705 00:44:14,640 --> 00:44:18,120 Speaker 1: terrorism unit at one point. But maybe I we'll have 706 00:44:18,160 --> 00:44:19,919 Speaker 1: to have him on the show again sometime to talk 707 00:44:19,960 --> 00:44:23,120 Speaker 1: about his experiences down there in Honduras. But they're all 708 00:44:23,239 --> 00:44:28,319 Speaker 1: very interesting to sell. Say the least is incredible. When 709 00:44:28,320 --> 00:44:31,439 Speaker 1: we first got talking Greg, I I asked Jim because 710 00:44:31,480 --> 00:44:33,359 Speaker 1: I always you know, asked Jim. I was like, hey, 711 00:44:33,360 --> 00:44:34,719 Speaker 1: do you know this guy? Do you know that guy? 712 00:44:34,840 --> 00:44:37,799 Speaker 1: And he was like, oh yeah, Greg Walker, and he 713 00:44:37,880 --> 00:44:39,960 Speaker 1: vouched for you. Said yeah, Greg's a really good guy, 714 00:44:40,080 --> 00:44:43,040 Speaker 1: very analytical person. He's one of my favorites. He's a 715 00:44:43,120 --> 00:44:47,160 Speaker 1: real legend of Special Forces going on really positive and 716 00:44:47,239 --> 00:44:52,279 Speaker 1: incredible things. So give him my best, Yeah I will. 717 00:44:52,360 --> 00:44:55,799 Speaker 1: He's actually having um some shoulder surgery. He actually fell 718 00:44:55,840 --> 00:44:57,960 Speaker 1: down on a work site and broke his shoulders. So 719 00:44:58,080 --> 00:45:00,479 Speaker 1: they're they're putting they're putting him back toge there again. 720 00:45:00,600 --> 00:45:03,799 Speaker 1: But he'll be okay, there you go again, is the 721 00:45:03,880 --> 00:45:08,400 Speaker 1: right word? Yeah? Yeah, for sure. Um So well, I 722 00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:10,920 Speaker 1: really appreciate you walking us through that story and cutting 723 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:13,799 Speaker 1: through some of the bs that has been floated out 724 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:16,839 Speaker 1: there over the years about this whole, this whole saga 725 00:45:16,920 --> 00:45:19,279 Speaker 1: about Dave Bayes. But I wanted to give you the 726 00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:21,480 Speaker 1: opportunity to talk about some of your other work also, 727 00:45:21,600 --> 00:45:25,040 Speaker 1: because you've written quite a bit about soldier suicide and 728 00:45:25,120 --> 00:45:27,200 Speaker 1: some other things that are going on with our force 729 00:45:27,320 --> 00:45:29,960 Speaker 1: right now and just pointing out like, hey, we we 730 00:45:30,040 --> 00:45:33,520 Speaker 1: got some problems. Yeah, I'm I'm really thankful to news 731 00:45:33,600 --> 00:45:36,279 Speaker 1: Rep for being the format and form that it is. 732 00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:42,480 Speaker 1: In that respect, I've spent ten years working with our 733 00:45:42,600 --> 00:45:45,759 Speaker 1: most seriously introvoted and hill service members and veterans and 734 00:45:45,880 --> 00:45:50,480 Speaker 1: non clinical rule starting with the stocom Care Coalition. I've 735 00:45:50,600 --> 00:45:57,560 Speaker 1: worked with traumatic amputation, serious burn victims, PTSD, military sexual trauma, 736 00:45:58,320 --> 00:46:03,120 Speaker 1: terminal illness such as cancer, UH and UH in many 737 00:46:03,160 --> 00:46:09,839 Speaker 1: cases you know, wounded that are suffering from multiple diagnosis 738 00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:13,200 Speaker 1: across the board, and then in the private sector with 739 00:46:13,360 --> 00:46:18,920 Speaker 1: some really good impatient programs for behavioral health and substance dependency, 740 00:46:19,200 --> 00:46:22,239 Speaker 1: and the news Rep form has really allowed for a 741 00:46:22,360 --> 00:46:27,719 Speaker 1: consistent series on the issues facing our conventional in our 742 00:46:27,760 --> 00:46:32,439 Speaker 1: soft people regarding behavioral health and substance to PEBS and suicide. Uh, 743 00:46:32,520 --> 00:46:36,319 Speaker 1: to come out and stay out there where it can 744 00:46:36,320 --> 00:46:40,000 Speaker 1: be seen and heard. Starting to get some really, they're 745 00:46:40,000 --> 00:46:42,560 Speaker 1: starting to take notice in some certain areas that are 746 00:46:42,719 --> 00:46:46,919 Speaker 1: tracking on the series. And you're I mean, I don't 747 00:46:46,920 --> 00:46:48,840 Speaker 1: know if I would say your area of expertise, but 748 00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:52,919 Speaker 1: your area of familiarity is up at Fort Lewis. Yeah. 749 00:46:53,040 --> 00:46:56,719 Speaker 1: I uh my, uh my a o R if you will. 750 00:46:57,360 --> 00:47:00,480 Speaker 1: Beginning into thousand nine, when I came out of the 751 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:03,799 Speaker 1: Chapter thirty one program here in Portland and finished up 752 00:47:04,360 --> 00:47:08,200 Speaker 1: some really intensive behavior health work, I got diagnosed with 753 00:47:08,320 --> 00:47:13,359 Speaker 1: chronic combat PTSD and ten thousand and five and made 754 00:47:13,360 --> 00:47:17,200 Speaker 1: the decision to go after my new normal with as 755 00:47:17,239 --> 00:47:20,400 Speaker 1: much energy and commitment as I went after my TAB. 756 00:47:21,200 --> 00:47:29,759 Speaker 1: I've worked uh the Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Northern California, Montana, Washington, 757 00:47:29,880 --> 00:47:33,160 Speaker 1: and Oregon military basis and vas for the last ten years, 758 00:47:33,160 --> 00:47:36,280 Speaker 1: so I'm pretty familiar with you know, how it all works, 759 00:47:36,600 --> 00:47:40,600 Speaker 1: how it all doesn't work. Based on on your research, 760 00:47:41,000 --> 00:47:43,680 Speaker 1: why do we have such an issue with soldier suicide? 761 00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:46,440 Speaker 1: And what do you think we can do? Maybe maybe 762 00:47:46,440 --> 00:47:49,719 Speaker 1: we you know, as in a country or um or 763 00:47:49,760 --> 00:47:52,560 Speaker 1: more specifically the army or even a specific unit. What 764 00:47:52,600 --> 00:47:55,640 Speaker 1: can we do to better address it? Wow? The million 765 00:47:55,680 --> 00:48:00,840 Speaker 1: dollar question? Yeah, yeah, I just been wished a pretty 766 00:48:00,880 --> 00:48:06,520 Speaker 1: significant article addressing the epidemic of recent suicidence of at 767 00:48:06,520 --> 00:48:09,439 Speaker 1: Fort Wayne, right, Alaska. I'm from Fairbanks, Alaska, so it's 768 00:48:09,440 --> 00:48:12,640 Speaker 1: a subject near and dear to my heart. Uh. And 769 00:48:13,000 --> 00:48:17,640 Speaker 1: the brigade that came to our attention, which you'll see 770 00:48:17,640 --> 00:48:23,080 Speaker 1: in the story, was incredibly responsive and helpful uh and 771 00:48:24,360 --> 00:48:26,719 Speaker 1: has been doing some really good things which appear in 772 00:48:26,760 --> 00:48:30,879 Speaker 1: the story. Has to education and peer support groups being 773 00:48:30,920 --> 00:48:36,520 Speaker 1: set up and things like that. Uh. So, internally, whether 774 00:48:36,600 --> 00:48:41,600 Speaker 1: it's regardless of service, UH, the units really have a 775 00:48:41,640 --> 00:48:47,600 Speaker 1: great part in breaking down the stigma, behavioral health, and 776 00:48:47,719 --> 00:48:53,480 Speaker 1: the wantings of war that we call invisible because they're internal. Uh. 777 00:48:53,520 --> 00:48:57,680 Speaker 1: And they are attached to not only our souls, but 778 00:48:57,760 --> 00:49:03,200 Speaker 1: our spirits as well as our moses. Community community is 779 00:49:03,239 --> 00:49:07,600 Speaker 1: getting involved. That's really the key. The community, wherever you 780 00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:11,319 Speaker 1: may be. Let's take Fairbanks for an example. UH. If 781 00:49:11,360 --> 00:49:15,360 Speaker 1: the community gets involved and provides resources and partners with 782 00:49:15,440 --> 00:49:17,839 Speaker 1: the military, and the military comes out of its shell 783 00:49:17,920 --> 00:49:23,160 Speaker 1: and partners with the civilian resources, you're going to mitigate 784 00:49:23,640 --> 00:49:26,920 Speaker 1: the not necessarily the causes, but you're going to mitigate 785 00:49:27,040 --> 00:49:31,080 Speaker 1: the disastrous results when you have either attempted suicide or suicide. 786 00:49:31,239 --> 00:49:35,880 Speaker 1: And quite frankly, service members have to take responsibility for themselves. 787 00:49:35,880 --> 00:49:38,200 Speaker 1: We're the rest spons to know when we're out of kilter. 788 00:49:38,600 --> 00:49:42,359 Speaker 1: We know when our knee hurts, we know when we're 789 00:49:42,400 --> 00:49:45,920 Speaker 1: having trouble with our vision, we know when we've broken 790 00:49:45,920 --> 00:49:51,040 Speaker 1: an ankle. We also know when something is not right inside. 791 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:55,239 Speaker 1: And the climate now is so much better than it 792 00:49:55,320 --> 00:49:59,200 Speaker 1: was for Vietnam veterans and and even ten years ago 793 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:01,920 Speaker 1: in terms of being able to go in and sit 794 00:50:01,960 --> 00:50:04,719 Speaker 1: down and say, look, I really really need to talk 795 00:50:04,719 --> 00:50:08,520 Speaker 1: to somebody and need some help. And that is you know, 796 00:50:08,600 --> 00:50:12,080 Speaker 1: that is how we That's how we confront what we're 797 00:50:12,080 --> 00:50:17,480 Speaker 1: seeing today. Are there any particular programs in the military 798 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:21,719 Speaker 1: um that you think are particularly effective? There are some, 799 00:50:21,840 --> 00:50:26,120 Speaker 1: and have been some really good programs for substance and 800 00:50:26,360 --> 00:50:30,560 Speaker 1: behavioral health, and has the series that I've been writing 801 00:50:31,440 --> 00:50:37,160 Speaker 1: has shown. Sadly, these programs have been gutted in many, 802 00:50:37,239 --> 00:50:41,799 Speaker 1: many instances, the military has a real shortage of both 803 00:50:41,840 --> 00:50:46,279 Speaker 1: substance abuse therapists and behavioral health therapists, and now they're 804 00:50:46,320 --> 00:50:50,279 Speaker 1: not the same. They're entirely two different treatment tracks and 805 00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:56,279 Speaker 1: certification and experienced tracks. Uh. The services are way way 806 00:50:56,280 --> 00:50:59,279 Speaker 1: short of these folks, but the case loads have not 807 00:50:59,400 --> 00:51:02,320 Speaker 1: dropped because they expected they were going to back in 808 00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:05,000 Speaker 1: two thousand and twelve two thousand and thirteen, they've remained 809 00:51:05,040 --> 00:51:09,360 Speaker 1: the same and in some instances have actually increased. The 810 00:51:09,600 --> 00:51:13,359 Speaker 1: senior leadership, in my opinion from the instances we've looked at, 811 00:51:13,640 --> 00:51:17,600 Speaker 1: has just basically taken a knee to the field commanders 812 00:51:17,760 --> 00:51:20,840 Speaker 1: and anything you want to do with this soldier, you know, 813 00:51:20,880 --> 00:51:24,840 Speaker 1: we'll do it. We'll sign off on it. UH. Basically 814 00:51:25,400 --> 00:51:28,600 Speaker 1: thrown in the towel in terms of advocating on the 815 00:51:28,600 --> 00:51:31,080 Speaker 1: many fronts that they could and should be for for 816 00:51:31,120 --> 00:51:33,960 Speaker 1: the individual soldier. A matter of fact, the case of 817 00:51:34,000 --> 00:51:38,879 Speaker 1: Matthew Brown in the first two installments were behavioral health, 818 00:51:39,000 --> 00:51:43,920 Speaker 1: but Fort Louis at Madigan Army Hospital absolutely knowingly condemned 819 00:51:44,000 --> 00:51:49,959 Speaker 1: him to death by stepping back and letting a JAB 820 00:51:50,080 --> 00:51:53,520 Speaker 1: officer at a brigade uh go ahead and court martial um. 821 00:51:53,960 --> 00:51:55,759 Speaker 1: And he did exactly what he told him he was 822 00:51:55,760 --> 00:51:57,799 Speaker 1: going to do. And that's on record, you know, he 823 00:51:58,400 --> 00:52:01,600 Speaker 1: retrieved his pistol from uh a friend he'd left it 824 00:52:01,640 --> 00:52:04,480 Speaker 1: with before he went in patient, and returned to his 825 00:52:04,600 --> 00:52:07,279 Speaker 1: quarters and shot himself. So, you know, there's some real 826 00:52:07,320 --> 00:52:11,200 Speaker 1: problems with our military behavioral health people that are just 827 00:52:12,040 --> 00:52:19,200 Speaker 1: simply being masked where misdirected. I just saw where the 828 00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:22,279 Speaker 1: the Army has said, Hey, we're gonna let We're gonna 829 00:52:22,360 --> 00:52:27,080 Speaker 1: let soldiers go in private sector without telling their commanders 830 00:52:27,160 --> 00:52:29,360 Speaker 1: or anybody else. They're going in for care and treatment 831 00:52:29,440 --> 00:52:35,000 Speaker 1: for drugs and substance abuse problems. Uh, so that there's 832 00:52:35,080 --> 00:52:39,680 Speaker 1: no you know, no stigma, no this, that and the other. Well, 833 00:52:39,719 --> 00:52:43,160 Speaker 1: in reality, what they're saying is, uh, we were so 834 00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:45,759 Speaker 1: we're so screwed up in this area right now, and 835 00:52:45,800 --> 00:52:49,319 Speaker 1: it's costing us so much money, and our behavioral health 836 00:52:49,400 --> 00:52:52,080 Speaker 1: and substance people are bailing as fast as they can 837 00:52:52,160 --> 00:52:56,879 Speaker 1: because we're making totally unreasonable demands upon them, uh for 838 00:52:57,320 --> 00:53:01,040 Speaker 1: production and reports and this. Uh that we're just going 839 00:53:01,080 --> 00:53:03,880 Speaker 1: to throw it to the private sector. Uh it's a 840 00:53:03,920 --> 00:53:07,719 Speaker 1: really interesting little dodge to throw in the towel. And 841 00:53:07,800 --> 00:53:09,839 Speaker 1: at the same time, and another story, they just came 842 00:53:09,840 --> 00:53:12,440 Speaker 1: out and said that they're cutting over seventeen thousand medical 843 00:53:12,480 --> 00:53:19,759 Speaker 1: positions in the Army doctors, nurses, technicians, therapists basically because 844 00:53:19,800 --> 00:53:21,919 Speaker 1: they're not come up with a new paradigm for Army 845 00:53:22,000 --> 00:53:26,480 Speaker 1: medical care because it's a pretty screwed up deal across 846 00:53:26,520 --> 00:53:29,200 Speaker 1: the board, and that's why we have the problems we have. 847 00:53:29,360 --> 00:53:34,000 Speaker 1: Listen older suicide at the extreme for ourand of course, 848 00:53:34,600 --> 00:53:38,360 Speaker 1: jeez yeah, I mean, if if that all that happening, 849 00:53:39,120 --> 00:53:41,200 Speaker 1: you can see the writing on the wall that the 850 00:53:41,200 --> 00:53:43,520 Speaker 1: problem is just going to continue to get worse. And 851 00:53:43,600 --> 00:53:46,000 Speaker 1: I hope things have gotten better at the unit level 852 00:53:46,360 --> 00:53:48,920 Speaker 1: a little bit. As you talk about, Um, I have 853 00:53:49,000 --> 00:53:51,200 Speaker 1: a friend or I had a friend. I won't mention 854 00:53:51,280 --> 00:53:52,960 Speaker 1: his name here, but I went through the Q course 855 00:53:53,040 --> 00:53:57,000 Speaker 1: with him and he was stationed at Fort Lewis, and um, 856 00:53:57,040 --> 00:54:00,640 Speaker 1: you know he had his personal life blow up on him. Um, 857 00:54:00,680 --> 00:54:03,399 Speaker 1: you know, wife, we took the kids and left, and 858 00:54:03,440 --> 00:54:05,480 Speaker 1: he said, I'm sorry the wife left him with the 859 00:54:05,560 --> 00:54:08,799 Speaker 1: kids and left, and um, he told his unit he said, 860 00:54:08,800 --> 00:54:11,279 Speaker 1: I can't deploy. I'm I'm a single dad now and 861 00:54:11,320 --> 00:54:13,120 Speaker 1: they fired him from his O d A and called 862 00:54:13,160 --> 00:54:17,200 Speaker 1: him a coward. Um, so he shot himself. It's like, 863 00:54:17,520 --> 00:54:22,200 Speaker 1: you know, no wonder why this stuff is happening. Yeah, 864 00:54:22,280 --> 00:54:30,239 Speaker 1: it's it's it's so out of control. I've worked with 865 00:54:30,320 --> 00:54:34,160 Speaker 1: first group soldiers in commands for ten years with some 866 00:54:34,200 --> 00:54:36,719 Speaker 1: pretty serious cases, and I have no doubt that what 867 00:54:36,840 --> 00:54:42,839 Speaker 1: you just recounted took place. I I saw guys that 868 00:54:42,920 --> 00:54:46,920 Speaker 1: were you know, really good special force of soldiers UH 869 00:54:47,400 --> 00:54:50,920 Speaker 1: and mid level n c O and above in some 870 00:54:50,960 --> 00:54:57,279 Speaker 1: cases officers that were just denigrated, just really put the 871 00:54:57,320 --> 00:55:02,560 Speaker 1: task by individual command ends and commanders and sergeant majors 872 00:55:02,760 --> 00:55:07,399 Speaker 1: and that, and very nearly that came close to taking 873 00:55:07,400 --> 00:55:09,279 Speaker 1: their own lives or to take their own lives. Mike 874 00:55:09,320 --> 00:55:12,279 Speaker 1: Mandanudo is a prime example of that covered in the 875 00:55:12,320 --> 00:55:17,560 Speaker 1: first two installments. And you know, again overall the big 876 00:55:17,600 --> 00:55:21,680 Speaker 1: picture is, uh, we weren't set up to fight for ever, 877 00:55:22,360 --> 00:55:25,120 Speaker 1: and we're going on eighteen eighteen and a half years now, 878 00:55:25,560 --> 00:55:30,600 Speaker 1: and what do you do that. Of Course, people's mindsets 879 00:55:30,719 --> 00:55:34,719 Speaker 1: and their feelings and their their sense of responsibility to 880 00:55:34,800 --> 00:55:38,800 Speaker 1: what and to who changes, and that's why we see 881 00:55:39,880 --> 00:55:42,359 Speaker 1: what we do coming out of some of these units 882 00:55:42,440 --> 00:55:44,919 Speaker 1: and doing what they're doing to the soldiers and all 883 00:55:44,960 --> 00:55:47,719 Speaker 1: of this. Of course, when the guys and gals get 884 00:55:47,719 --> 00:55:50,920 Speaker 1: out and become veterans. About five years ago, the military 885 00:55:51,040 --> 00:55:52,719 Speaker 1: d D said, Hey, we're going to partner with the 886 00:55:52,800 --> 00:55:55,919 Speaker 1: v A because the VA is where all of our 887 00:55:55,920 --> 00:55:59,280 Speaker 1: troops that are getting out or being discharged or separated 888 00:55:59,280 --> 00:56:01,360 Speaker 1: from service are I go to. So we want to 889 00:56:01,360 --> 00:56:03,239 Speaker 1: make sure that we're working in sync with them. Or 890 00:56:03,320 --> 00:56:05,320 Speaker 1: what they were really saying was, Hey, we're going to 891 00:56:05,440 --> 00:56:07,640 Speaker 1: just throw all of this on the VA so we 892 00:56:07,680 --> 00:56:10,640 Speaker 1: can cut our losses and cut our are having to 893 00:56:10,880 --> 00:56:13,840 Speaker 1: provide the kinds of services and specialists that are needed 894 00:56:14,400 --> 00:56:19,200 Speaker 1: to maintain and sustain soldier health. And that's exactly what 895 00:56:19,239 --> 00:56:23,160 Speaker 1: has happened. So it's pretty vicious cycle. Makes me angry 896 00:56:23,239 --> 00:56:25,640 Speaker 1: to hear that you have all these different parties who 897 00:56:25,640 --> 00:56:29,200 Speaker 1: are basically differing um and don't want to take responsibility 898 00:56:29,239 --> 00:56:32,359 Speaker 1: for you honestly, the mess that that the Army leaves 899 00:56:32,360 --> 00:56:34,359 Speaker 1: in its way a lot of times, well, the Army 900 00:56:34,440 --> 00:56:36,360 Speaker 1: and the Navy and the Air Force and the Marines 901 00:56:36,400 --> 00:56:39,759 Speaker 1: and Post Guard, uh, you know all of them are 902 00:56:39,840 --> 00:56:43,560 Speaker 1: of this of mindset in general. You know, you you 903 00:56:43,680 --> 00:56:48,759 Speaker 1: do have some just incredible frontline therapists and psychologists and 904 00:56:49,719 --> 00:56:56,200 Speaker 1: psychiatrists and uh substance abuse experts who are and have 905 00:56:56,400 --> 00:57:00,400 Speaker 1: worked themselves near to death and in the if I 906 00:57:00,440 --> 00:57:03,880 Speaker 1: know one in particular who has had the medically retire 907 00:57:04,040 --> 00:57:07,840 Speaker 1: because it was just impossible for that person to continue 908 00:57:07,880 --> 00:57:11,080 Speaker 1: to fight what has been going on over the last 909 00:57:11,120 --> 00:57:14,640 Speaker 1: several years, UH, in terms of do as we do 910 00:57:14,680 --> 00:57:17,560 Speaker 1: and not as we say. And they're you know, they're 911 00:57:17,560 --> 00:57:20,560 Speaker 1: worn't out and they're leaving. And so that's leaving us 912 00:57:20,600 --> 00:57:26,760 Speaker 1: with lack of experience as well as it's bringing in 913 00:57:26,920 --> 00:57:29,760 Speaker 1: new new people that don't have the experience, and they're 914 00:57:29,760 --> 00:57:33,240 Speaker 1: going to be inculcated with a philosophy and a doctrine 915 00:57:33,240 --> 00:57:36,720 Speaker 1: that is not helpful. UH. And it's also leaving us 916 00:57:36,720 --> 00:57:39,840 Speaker 1: with the ash and trash that comes in with the psychiatric, 917 00:57:39,880 --> 00:57:44,000 Speaker 1: behavioral health and substance UH staffs. You know, I'm just 918 00:57:44,080 --> 00:57:46,800 Speaker 1: here to get my paycheck, get my retirement, and you know, 919 00:57:46,840 --> 00:57:49,000 Speaker 1: anything that you wanting to do or say what I'm 920 00:57:49,000 --> 00:57:51,800 Speaker 1: going to do or say, and a lot of those hopes, unfortunately, 921 00:57:51,800 --> 00:57:54,400 Speaker 1: are running the roost right now. I'd also like to 922 00:57:54,720 --> 00:57:57,720 Speaker 1: provide some helpful information to people who are listening to this, 923 00:57:57,960 --> 00:58:01,200 Speaker 1: And I was wondering if you have any if there 924 00:58:01,280 --> 00:58:03,480 Speaker 1: is a soldier out there or veteran out there who's 925 00:58:03,520 --> 00:58:06,520 Speaker 1: having suicidal thoughts or has a friend of theirs who 926 00:58:06,560 --> 00:58:10,160 Speaker 1: is contemplating this and has made shown some warning signs, 927 00:58:10,680 --> 00:58:13,240 Speaker 1: What kind of advice would you give to them? Recognize 928 00:58:14,400 --> 00:58:18,160 Speaker 1: that those signals that are given, when there are signals given, 929 00:58:18,320 --> 00:58:21,440 Speaker 1: most of us that are close to somebody or have 930 00:58:21,560 --> 00:58:24,160 Speaker 1: some kind of a relationship that's positive with them will 931 00:58:24,720 --> 00:58:26,920 Speaker 1: pick up on things that they say or how they 932 00:58:27,000 --> 00:58:30,120 Speaker 1: say it, will notice if they are beginning to isolate 933 00:58:30,200 --> 00:58:34,520 Speaker 1: or or isolating themselves or not participating in the activities 934 00:58:34,560 --> 00:58:38,640 Speaker 1: for us that they used to. Watch what they put 935 00:58:38,720 --> 00:58:41,760 Speaker 1: on the Internet and on social media and what they 936 00:58:41,840 --> 00:58:45,480 Speaker 1: live stream. In the preparation of the story I just 937 00:58:45,880 --> 00:58:49,320 Speaker 1: completed for news Reps, a soldier up at Fort Wayne 938 00:58:49,400 --> 00:58:53,920 Speaker 1: right his live streaming his suicidal ideation and intent, and 939 00:58:54,040 --> 00:58:57,560 Speaker 1: one of those buddies saw it and immediately did an intervention, 940 00:58:57,640 --> 00:59:00,960 Speaker 1: and they got you know, they got there and they 941 00:59:01,280 --> 00:59:05,480 Speaker 1: plucked him to at least temporary safety. So watch what 942 00:59:05,520 --> 00:59:08,000 Speaker 1: folks are saying on media, what they say in texts, 943 00:59:08,560 --> 00:59:11,640 Speaker 1: those kinds of things the most important thing, I think, 944 00:59:11,680 --> 00:59:14,640 Speaker 1: and those that I respect that are professionals and clinicians 945 00:59:14,640 --> 00:59:20,080 Speaker 1: in the field listen, ask somebody how are you today? 946 00:59:20,280 --> 00:59:27,120 Speaker 1: How are you doing? And oftentimes that's enough for somebody 947 00:59:27,120 --> 00:59:28,920 Speaker 1: to start to open up and sharing with you, I 948 00:59:28,960 --> 00:59:32,080 Speaker 1: ain't doing that good, and then you can you can 949 00:59:32,080 --> 00:59:34,840 Speaker 1: explore from there. It's just a matter a matter of fact. 950 00:59:34,880 --> 00:59:39,000 Speaker 1: The brigade commander if it waynewright, gave us a marvelous statement, 951 00:59:39,120 --> 00:59:42,480 Speaker 1: which is I was really impressed with where he got. 952 00:59:42,520 --> 00:59:46,280 Speaker 1: To paraphrase him, he said, Hey, you know, I try 953 00:59:46,360 --> 00:59:49,240 Speaker 1: to make sure that the chan command knows to let 954 00:59:49,240 --> 00:59:51,600 Speaker 1: our soldiers know and to teach and train our soldiers. 955 00:59:52,080 --> 00:59:54,160 Speaker 1: We got to take care of each other. And you 956 00:59:54,160 --> 00:59:57,280 Speaker 1: guys are the front line when you guys know each 957 00:59:57,280 --> 01:00:00,000 Speaker 1: other the best. I don't My job is to provide, 958 01:00:00,240 --> 01:00:02,640 Speaker 1: you know, the resources and the response and the right 959 01:00:02,680 --> 01:00:06,960 Speaker 1: attitude to do interventions and preventions and help. But you 960 01:00:07,000 --> 01:00:09,600 Speaker 1: know we have to, you know, we've got to take 961 01:00:09,640 --> 01:00:11,680 Speaker 1: care of the dirogal on the right in the laptome, 962 01:00:12,240 --> 01:00:15,400 Speaker 1: you know, and on our six And that's that's what 963 01:00:15,440 --> 01:00:17,720 Speaker 1: we need to do as a community. We do that 964 01:00:17,800 --> 01:00:21,960 Speaker 1: will start saving lives, will mitigate the crisis. Um, that's 965 01:00:21,960 --> 01:00:24,840 Speaker 1: what's important. Yeah, I was thinking about it the other 966 01:00:24,920 --> 01:00:27,040 Speaker 1: day for some reason. And you know, we talk a 967 01:00:27,040 --> 01:00:30,520 Speaker 1: lot about veterans helping veterans, which is very important, as 968 01:00:30,560 --> 01:00:32,439 Speaker 1: you were pointing out just there. I mean, it's those 969 01:00:32,480 --> 01:00:35,200 Speaker 1: team leaders and squad leaders and platoon sergeants who are 970 01:00:35,240 --> 01:00:38,160 Speaker 1: going to see it before you know, some battalion commander does. 971 01:00:38,600 --> 01:00:41,000 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I would offer that, you know, 972 01:00:41,400 --> 01:00:46,040 Speaker 1: as veterans, we can't necessarily treat other veterans, including our friends. 973 01:00:46,080 --> 01:00:48,720 Speaker 1: They have to actually go and receive some mental health 974 01:00:48,720 --> 01:00:51,479 Speaker 1: treatment from a professional. And so I would just offer 975 01:00:51,600 --> 01:00:54,600 Speaker 1: that as well, Yeah, we unless you're and even if 976 01:00:54,600 --> 01:00:58,640 Speaker 1: you were, because so many veterans thankfully are over the 977 01:00:58,720 --> 01:01:03,920 Speaker 1: last years the last decade have really gotten into the 978 01:01:04,000 --> 01:01:06,800 Speaker 1: medical field and babel help field and become therapists and 979 01:01:06,840 --> 01:01:10,160 Speaker 1: clinicians and them that, and that's uh, that's such a 980 01:01:10,240 --> 01:01:14,080 Speaker 1: welcome addition to that particular population because they get it, 981 01:01:14,360 --> 01:01:17,600 Speaker 1: you know, in general. So yeah, if you have somebody 982 01:01:17,640 --> 01:01:20,040 Speaker 1: that's in that position and you know, you know they're 983 01:01:20,080 --> 01:01:22,520 Speaker 1: a close friend, there's so many things out there. You 984 01:01:22,600 --> 01:01:26,520 Speaker 1: jump to the internet, you can contact the suicide Prevention 985 01:01:26,600 --> 01:01:29,080 Speaker 1: team up at your local VA or at your Sea 986 01:01:29,120 --> 01:01:31,320 Speaker 1: box and let them know wh I got somebody who's 987 01:01:31,320 --> 01:01:34,200 Speaker 1: in trouble. How do I go about getting them to you? 988 01:01:34,480 --> 01:01:38,360 Speaker 1: Warrior Program, which I'm a big fan of now that 989 01:01:38,440 --> 01:01:42,200 Speaker 1: they've had the change of leadership. UH. They have some 990 01:01:42,440 --> 01:01:48,120 Speaker 1: incredibly good programs combat stress programs where they financially provide 991 01:01:48,600 --> 01:01:51,480 Speaker 1: counselors that are trained for this kind of a thing 992 01:01:51,560 --> 01:01:56,080 Speaker 1: in the private sector to conduct counseling and intervention. And 993 01:01:56,080 --> 01:01:58,640 Speaker 1: then they have a Warrior Pure network where they can 994 01:01:58,680 --> 01:02:02,440 Speaker 1: actually bring someone who's role in the program in for 995 01:02:02,720 --> 01:02:07,280 Speaker 1: either intensive outpatient or in some cases in patient therapy. 996 01:02:07,680 --> 01:02:11,360 Speaker 1: I worked a lot with Winter Warrior Program UH in 997 01:02:11,480 --> 01:02:16,720 Speaker 1: doing just that, primarily homeless post on eleven veterans that 998 01:02:16,800 --> 01:02:20,880 Speaker 1: were so catastrophic that the v A couldn't couldn't bring 999 01:02:20,960 --> 01:02:24,960 Speaker 1: them into either a impatient program for behavioral health or 1000 01:02:25,000 --> 01:02:28,920 Speaker 1: substance abuse until they were stabilized. So win A Warrior 1001 01:02:28,960 --> 01:02:31,919 Speaker 1: Program would pick up the bill right up front, which 1002 01:02:31,960 --> 01:02:35,320 Speaker 1: is about thirty five thousand dollars a shot for a 1003 01:02:35,400 --> 01:02:39,360 Speaker 1: twenty eight days stay UH in a good private sector 1004 01:02:39,400 --> 01:02:43,560 Speaker 1: of program which they met and UH and then move 1005 01:02:43,640 --> 01:02:48,640 Speaker 1: them into intensive outpatient and that phenomenal program. UH. I 1006 01:02:48,680 --> 01:02:51,560 Speaker 1: wish they would do more advertising about about that than 1007 01:02:51,600 --> 01:02:55,919 Speaker 1: they do with you know, uh, their mainstay of prosthetics 1008 01:02:55,920 --> 01:02:57,840 Speaker 1: and things like that. You just got to have a 1009 01:02:57,840 --> 01:03:00,200 Speaker 1: little a little short list and say, look, I can 1010 01:03:00,240 --> 01:03:02,280 Speaker 1: help you, get to help with it, help us what 1011 01:03:02,320 --> 01:03:07,680 Speaker 1: you want, and you can make it happen. We're all interconnected. Greg. 1012 01:03:07,720 --> 01:03:10,520 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for you know, sharing this information 1013 01:03:10,560 --> 01:03:13,920 Speaker 1: with us today. Is there anything else that you wanted 1014 01:03:13,920 --> 01:03:18,080 Speaker 1: to cover before we get going? Oh? Uh, I think 1015 01:03:18,080 --> 01:03:22,960 Speaker 1: it is so important having been there myself and uh 1016 01:03:23,160 --> 01:03:26,280 Speaker 1: discovered and work towards my what I call a new normal, 1017 01:03:27,080 --> 01:03:30,640 Speaker 1: and that is this is part of historically of what 1018 01:03:30,720 --> 01:03:35,920 Speaker 1: goes on with warriors. And we would never knowingly go 1019 01:03:36,080 --> 01:03:39,360 Speaker 1: up to an amputee wearing a prosthetic that perhaps we 1020 01:03:39,640 --> 01:03:41,760 Speaker 1: and say, jeez, why can't you be like you were 1021 01:03:41,840 --> 01:03:45,320 Speaker 1: before you lost your leg, or someone who's been blinded, Gee, 1022 01:03:45,360 --> 01:03:47,120 Speaker 1: I wish you could be more like you were when 1023 01:03:47,440 --> 01:03:51,520 Speaker 1: you lost your eyesight. We never do that. So we're 1024 01:03:51,640 --> 01:03:56,720 Speaker 1: untangling the stigma and the prejudice about saying, you know, gee, 1025 01:03:56,760 --> 01:03:59,440 Speaker 1: I wish you you know, I wish you were like 1026 01:03:59,560 --> 01:04:01,720 Speaker 1: your word for you. It went on multiple tours and 1027 01:04:01,840 --> 01:04:04,640 Speaker 1: one big tour where you saw some terrible things and 1028 01:04:05,240 --> 01:04:09,000 Speaker 1: you know now you're having mental health issues. The body, spirit, mind, 1029 01:04:09,280 --> 01:04:12,600 Speaker 1: it all works together, and when one is hurt or broken, 1030 01:04:13,080 --> 01:04:17,520 Speaker 1: the other two or other one doesn't work that well. Uh, 1031 01:04:17,520 --> 01:04:21,520 Speaker 1: So really embracing uh you know the fact that it 1032 01:04:21,680 --> 01:04:25,240 Speaker 1: is a one big circle, and it is so important 1033 01:04:25,640 --> 01:04:27,560 Speaker 1: the guys and gals that are coming back from this 1034 01:04:27,680 --> 01:04:31,000 Speaker 1: and are are finding their new normals and re engaging 1035 01:04:31,040 --> 01:04:35,080 Speaker 1: in life and are becoming great parents again. They're they're 1036 01:04:35,160 --> 01:04:38,320 Speaker 1: entering into professions that you would never expect that they 1037 01:04:38,320 --> 01:04:41,200 Speaker 1: will be able to enter into. I was blessed with that, 1038 01:04:41,360 --> 01:04:43,600 Speaker 1: as well as a number of people I met at 1039 01:04:43,600 --> 01:04:46,280 Speaker 1: the SOT Calm Care Coalition. It's possible to come back 1040 01:04:46,280 --> 01:04:48,400 Speaker 1: and to be better, and that's what our goal and 1041 01:04:48,440 --> 01:04:52,760 Speaker 1: our objective should be. That's an awesome point. Greg Um 1042 01:04:53,120 --> 01:04:56,520 Speaker 1: and I would say the same thing is that going 1043 01:04:56,600 --> 01:05:00,760 Speaker 1: and getting treatment works. Like I have seen guy who 1044 01:05:00,960 --> 01:05:04,760 Speaker 1: um you can visibly see PTSD in their face, like 1045 01:05:04,800 --> 01:05:08,560 Speaker 1: they just look drained and exhausted, and then they go 1046 01:05:08,600 --> 01:05:10,560 Speaker 1: and get treatment and when they come back it's like 1047 01:05:10,720 --> 01:05:13,280 Speaker 1: literally they're getting their lives back, like they're a new man. 1048 01:05:13,520 --> 01:05:16,280 Speaker 1: It's a new person. So if there are any people 1049 01:05:16,320 --> 01:05:18,280 Speaker 1: out there listening to this who are dealing with those 1050 01:05:18,320 --> 01:05:20,560 Speaker 1: issues right now. I hope that they'll listen to what 1051 01:05:20,600 --> 01:05:22,800 Speaker 1: you're saying and maybe listen to what I'm saying and 1052 01:05:22,880 --> 01:05:25,440 Speaker 1: understand that, like you can get better, Like you can 1053 01:05:25,520 --> 01:05:28,000 Speaker 1: come back from that. Yeah you can. And we have 1054 01:05:29,720 --> 01:05:32,240 Speaker 1: may do an article on this. We have been uh 1055 01:05:33,080 --> 01:05:37,960 Speaker 1: keeping operators from our soft units in the game and 1056 01:05:38,000 --> 01:05:41,560 Speaker 1: redeploying them to combat who are diagnosed with combat PTSD 1057 01:05:42,520 --> 01:05:47,320 Speaker 1: because they've taken advantage of the procedures and systems and 1058 01:05:47,400 --> 01:05:53,240 Speaker 1: processes in service UH to address that. And quite frankly, 1059 01:05:53,240 --> 01:05:56,240 Speaker 1: they're considered to be too too much of an investment 1060 01:05:56,280 --> 01:05:59,280 Speaker 1: in them just to put them out. And that's why 1061 01:05:59,320 --> 01:06:03,200 Speaker 1: you have to combat stressed teams. You're satellite Aglian block, 1062 01:06:03,760 --> 01:06:08,640 Speaker 1: which is a whole new process for treatment. UH. So 1063 01:06:08,800 --> 01:06:12,440 Speaker 1: we're putting people right back into the fray UH and 1064 01:06:12,600 --> 01:06:16,080 Speaker 1: UH and they're doing you know, they're doing good work. Again. 1065 01:06:16,600 --> 01:06:20,480 Speaker 1: I would recommend to anybody that's interested that they read 1066 01:06:20,640 --> 01:06:25,800 Speaker 1: Dr Edward Tick's book War and the Soul UH and 1067 01:06:25,880 --> 01:06:29,840 Speaker 1: then his follow on book Warriors Return. We use those 1068 01:06:29,880 --> 01:06:34,040 Speaker 1: at the so Calm Care Coalition UH for our wounded. UH. 1069 01:06:34,360 --> 01:06:39,440 Speaker 1: Dr take has been doing work with PTSD veterans Vietnam 1070 01:06:39,560 --> 01:06:44,800 Speaker 1: Generation Forward for a security years. He's the most incredible, humble, kind, 1071 01:06:45,440 --> 01:06:49,240 Speaker 1: but insightful man on this subject, as well as his 1072 01:06:49,320 --> 01:06:53,240 Speaker 1: wife Kate. And both of his books are written at 1073 01:06:53,640 --> 01:06:57,760 Speaker 1: the layman's level. So the very Understandable Mission twenty two 1074 01:06:57,960 --> 01:07:01,840 Speaker 1: uses own song caricula and I was using them. I 1075 01:07:01,960 --> 01:07:05,400 Speaker 1: recommend either of those two books. Uh, it'll really give 1076 01:07:05,400 --> 01:07:09,120 Speaker 1: you a good foundation for traction and to say, wow, 1077 01:07:09,560 --> 01:07:12,560 Speaker 1: this isn't just me, this goes, this goes all the 1078 01:07:12,560 --> 01:07:15,120 Speaker 1: way back to the Greeks and on the Romans and 1079 01:07:15,120 --> 01:07:20,560 Speaker 1: the Spartans and everybody else. Really really good tool. That's great, Greg, 1080 01:07:20,720 --> 01:07:23,480 Speaker 1: thanks for sharing that with us. And um, I think 1081 01:07:23,480 --> 01:07:25,880 Speaker 1: we're gonna have to have you on again. I know 1082 01:07:25,960 --> 01:07:28,680 Speaker 1: there's many many more topics that you and I can 1083 01:07:28,680 --> 01:07:31,960 Speaker 1: get into, and uh, they will will wait for you 1084 01:07:32,000 --> 01:07:34,120 Speaker 1: to publish a few more articles and we'll have you 1085 01:07:34,160 --> 01:07:36,680 Speaker 1: back on and discuss that. That would be great. I 1086 01:07:36,680 --> 01:07:40,000 Speaker 1: appreciate that. It's a wonderful forum. Yeah, any time, Greg, 1087 01:07:40,040 --> 01:07:42,200 Speaker 1: thank you. Any final thoughts. I'm just going to put 1088 01:07:42,200 --> 01:07:45,760 Speaker 1: a plug in for news wrap writing for a long 1089 01:07:45,800 --> 01:07:49,360 Speaker 1: time and mostly for print media. And I am absolutely 1090 01:07:49,400 --> 01:07:55,800 Speaker 1: delighted at UH News Reppia being almost real time and 1091 01:07:55,840 --> 01:07:59,439 Speaker 1: then UH having the opportunity to keep things out there 1092 01:07:59,480 --> 01:08:02,240 Speaker 1: from our different authors that are important and keep them 1093 01:08:02,280 --> 01:08:04,880 Speaker 1: in the spotlight. But I think the thing I like 1094 01:08:04,960 --> 01:08:09,520 Speaker 1: the most about it is that we can embed articles 1095 01:08:09,560 --> 01:08:12,000 Speaker 1: and not for the reader to go okay, I can 1096 01:08:12,000 --> 01:08:13,840 Speaker 1: go right to this and see where that came from 1097 01:08:13,880 --> 01:08:16,479 Speaker 1: and where this was said, and then the real time 1098 01:08:16,520 --> 01:08:21,280 Speaker 1: exchange between authors and the author's reader is fascinating. To 1099 01:08:21,320 --> 01:08:24,200 Speaker 1: be able to, you know, see somebody's comment or letter 1100 01:08:24,240 --> 01:08:26,080 Speaker 1: to the editor and roll and then be able to 1101 01:08:26,080 --> 01:08:28,639 Speaker 1: send a note back. Just really a great job, a 1102 01:08:28,680 --> 01:08:31,639 Speaker 1: really good thought process, and you know, twenty one century 1103 01:08:32,080 --> 01:08:35,479 Speaker 1: professional media. Well thanks for working with us, Greg, I 1104 01:08:35,520 --> 01:08:37,559 Speaker 1: mean it's been a pleasure and I really think you're 1105 01:08:37,640 --> 01:08:42,200 Speaker 1: doing some important and illuminating work. Thanks. I'm just a 1106 01:08:42,200 --> 01:08:46,080 Speaker 1: cog in the wheel, brother, all aren't we? All Well? 1107 01:08:46,120 --> 01:08:48,599 Speaker 1: All right, Greg, thank you so much again for joining 1108 01:08:48,680 --> 01:08:50,639 Speaker 1: us today, and um we'll have to have you back 1109 01:08:50,640 --> 01:08:53,679 Speaker 1: on again real soon. You guys have a tremendous week 1110 01:08:53,840 --> 01:08:57,240 Speaker 1: and day Oppresso Levers all right you too, Greg? Thank you? 1111 01:08:57,400 --> 01:09:03,000 Speaker 1: That was good. Yeah, good interview. I mean heavy topic. 1112 01:09:04,080 --> 01:09:05,920 Speaker 1: Yeah for sure. Well, I mean on the first time 1113 01:09:05,960 --> 01:09:10,640 Speaker 1: you had the Bayas stuff, which is fascinating it. So 1114 01:09:10,760 --> 01:09:14,519 Speaker 1: I mean we've we've spoke off air about it, um. 1115 01:09:14,560 --> 01:09:17,000 Speaker 1: But then you know, you get into mental health and 1116 01:09:17,200 --> 01:09:19,320 Speaker 1: it's nothing to joke about on any level, and it's 1117 01:09:19,320 --> 01:09:22,600 Speaker 1: just it's such a topic that needs to be discussed. 1118 01:09:22,720 --> 01:09:24,800 Speaker 1: And like you had asked him what can we do 1119 01:09:24,880 --> 01:09:26,760 Speaker 1: to help at the end, and I think the main 1120 01:09:26,760 --> 01:09:30,519 Speaker 1: take would just ask questions. Yeah, yeah, I mean Greg 1121 01:09:30,560 --> 01:09:33,679 Speaker 1: has been intimately involved, um and that stuff, as he mentioned, 1122 01:09:33,680 --> 01:09:37,240 Speaker 1: for quite a while. Um. You know, I know I've 1123 01:09:37,280 --> 01:09:39,519 Speaker 1: said on here before my I had one of my 1124 01:09:39,560 --> 01:09:41,800 Speaker 1: teammates on my O d A kill himself a while 1125 01:09:41,840 --> 01:09:44,640 Speaker 1: back after we were both out of the army at 1126 01:09:44,680 --> 01:09:48,040 Speaker 1: the point. Um. But it's just horrible stuff. And you 1127 01:09:48,040 --> 01:09:53,679 Speaker 1: know it's uh, it's not my fault and it's nobody 1128 01:09:53,680 --> 01:09:56,280 Speaker 1: else's fault that this guy killed himself. I mean, he 1129 01:09:56,600 --> 01:09:59,640 Speaker 1: made a decision. But at the same time, I had 1130 01:09:59,680 --> 01:10:03,920 Speaker 1: lost track of him for a while, and I I wish, 1131 01:10:04,040 --> 01:10:07,200 Speaker 1: you know, of course, in retrospect, like maybe I should 1132 01:10:07,200 --> 01:10:10,320 Speaker 1: have been a bit more involved. Um. You know, that's 1133 01:10:10,360 --> 01:10:12,479 Speaker 1: that's with hindsight of course, you know, you know, you 1134 01:10:12,520 --> 01:10:15,800 Speaker 1: don't know what you don't know. But regardless of that, 1135 01:10:15,840 --> 01:10:18,160 Speaker 1: I mean, keep an eye on your buddies, you know, 1136 01:10:18,520 --> 01:10:21,160 Speaker 1: and uh and and you know, try to be aware 1137 01:10:21,160 --> 01:10:24,400 Speaker 1: of some of those signs even something I mean, especially 1138 01:10:24,400 --> 01:10:27,519 Speaker 1: in today's world, like just sent him a text, Yeah, yeah, 1139 01:10:27,920 --> 01:10:30,200 Speaker 1: just hey, what's up man? Thinking about you? Like, how's 1140 01:10:30,240 --> 01:10:33,680 Speaker 1: everything going? Something that's simple, and you know, maybe he 1141 01:10:33,680 --> 01:10:36,600 Speaker 1: opens up, maybe he doesn't, but you can't figure it 1142 01:10:36,640 --> 01:10:38,880 Speaker 1: out unless unless you make an attempt. I've had those 1143 01:10:38,920 --> 01:10:42,280 Speaker 1: calls a few times, talking somebody off the ledge and 1144 01:10:42,040 --> 01:10:45,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure it's Yeah, it's an uncomfortable feeling, but it's 1145 01:10:45,880 --> 01:10:50,080 Speaker 1: better than the alternative for sure. Yes, absolutely, So you know, 1146 01:10:50,400 --> 01:10:53,000 Speaker 1: reach out and try and help, like i mean, Greg, 1147 01:10:53,800 --> 01:10:56,160 Speaker 1: plenty of insight there, yeah, and I mean plenty of 1148 01:10:56,200 --> 01:10:59,759 Speaker 1: resources he mentions there also to get some for people 1149 01:10:59,760 --> 01:11:02,800 Speaker 1: to get some help. Um. So yeah, that's a really 1150 01:11:02,800 --> 01:11:05,160 Speaker 1: great interview and we'll have him on again, you know, 1151 01:11:05,240 --> 01:11:07,640 Speaker 1: as he's working on other articles. I know what some 1152 01:11:07,720 --> 01:11:09,800 Speaker 1: of them are about, and we'll have him on again. 1153 01:11:09,840 --> 01:11:13,680 Speaker 1: And his biography of Michael A. Shaunis or Acanus. I'm 1154 01:11:13,720 --> 01:11:16,519 Speaker 1: sorry if I'm not pronouncing his name right. Is another 1155 01:11:16,800 --> 01:11:20,639 Speaker 1: one of those interesting um mysteries. He was that guy 1156 01:11:20,680 --> 01:11:23,599 Speaker 1: was a Special Forces soldier as well, and he died 1157 01:11:23,760 --> 01:11:27,479 Speaker 1: under somewhat mysterious circumstances down in Central America. His plane 1158 01:11:27,960 --> 01:11:31,559 Speaker 1: either blew up or crashed. Um. Well, we'll we'll have 1159 01:11:31,600 --> 01:11:33,240 Speaker 1: to we'll get into it with Greg and he'll he'll 1160 01:11:33,400 --> 01:11:35,680 Speaker 1: he'll lay the whole story on us. But that's a 1161 01:11:35,680 --> 01:11:38,400 Speaker 1: whole other subject right there that we'll get into another time. 1162 01:11:38,640 --> 01:11:42,960 Speaker 1: I find that's the fascinating the not quite a conspiracy theory, 1163 01:11:43,000 --> 01:11:47,120 Speaker 1: but what really had that? There are conspiracy theories swirling 1164 01:11:47,120 --> 01:11:49,759 Speaker 1: around all that kind of stuff. Um. But but Greg 1165 01:11:49,760 --> 01:11:51,960 Speaker 1: will get to the facts of it, um and that'll 1166 01:11:52,000 --> 01:11:54,640 Speaker 1: be very interesting. And he writes great articles obviously, I 1167 01:11:54,640 --> 01:11:57,439 Speaker 1: mean News Rep wouldn't Adam if if they didn't think 1168 01:11:57,520 --> 01:12:01,080 Speaker 1: his his work was quality. He is. Uh, he's the 1169 01:12:01,160 --> 01:12:03,400 Speaker 1: kind of guy that like I aspire to. You know, 1170 01:12:03,439 --> 01:12:05,880 Speaker 1: he's been doing this longer than I have, and he 1171 01:12:06,000 --> 01:12:09,160 Speaker 1: just does terrific work. So we want to thank Gregg 1172 01:12:09,240 --> 01:12:12,360 Speaker 1: for joining us. Uh at the end, noticed how he 1173 01:12:12,360 --> 01:12:16,320 Speaker 1: plugged news Rep and in that vein, I'm about to 1174 01:12:16,360 --> 01:12:19,559 Speaker 1: do the same fellow listeners. If you guys aren't signed 1175 01:12:19,600 --> 01:12:21,320 Speaker 1: up for news at first off, what are you doing? Like, 1176 01:12:21,479 --> 01:12:25,719 Speaker 1: get with it? It's simple. It's the news Rep dot com. 1177 01:12:25,960 --> 01:12:28,640 Speaker 1: You've got to get on board. There's expert reporting and 1178 01:12:28,680 --> 01:12:31,439 Speaker 1: actionable intelligence from your favorite writers you've heard of, like 1179 01:12:31,520 --> 01:12:33,720 Speaker 1: the man sitting on my left, Jack Murphy. You've got 1180 01:12:33,760 --> 01:12:35,479 Speaker 1: Stav Rose. I'm not even gonna attempt to do his 1181 01:12:35,560 --> 01:12:38,760 Speaker 1: last name. He writes great stuff. Long Greek class name, Yeah, 1182 01:12:38,840 --> 01:12:42,000 Speaker 1: very long and Greek. Uh. Greg Walker, We just we 1183 01:12:42,080 --> 01:12:44,800 Speaker 1: just spoke with him for you know, almost an hour 1184 01:12:44,920 --> 01:12:47,680 Speaker 1: maybe more. Uh. He writes great articles. Be sure to 1185 01:12:47,760 --> 01:12:50,040 Speaker 1: check them out. There's unlimited access to News Rep on 1186 01:12:50,040 --> 01:12:54,000 Speaker 1: any device, unlimited access to the app, join the war room, community, 1187 01:12:54,320 --> 01:12:57,800 Speaker 1: invitations to our exclusive events, and it's all ad free 1188 01:12:57,800 --> 01:13:01,280 Speaker 1: from members. There's a trial offer up right now where 1189 01:13:01,280 --> 01:13:05,400 Speaker 1: you get four weeks for only one dollars. Be sure 1190 01:13:05,439 --> 01:13:08,960 Speaker 1: to sign up now at the news Rep dot com. 1191 01:13:09,040 --> 01:13:12,559 Speaker 1: That's the news Rep dot com. Be sure to check 1192 01:13:12,560 --> 01:13:15,240 Speaker 1: out our Crate Club. It's a club four men by 1193 01:13:15,360 --> 01:13:19,080 Speaker 1: men of gear, head picked by special Operations veterans. All 1194 01:13:19,160 --> 01:13:22,479 Speaker 1: tier crates are available at create club dot us and 1195 01:13:22,600 --> 01:13:26,919 Speaker 1: right now we're running an extremely limited promotion of off 1196 01:13:26,960 --> 01:13:30,160 Speaker 1: for all softwarep radio listeners. This is the biggest discount 1197 01:13:30,200 --> 01:13:32,519 Speaker 1: we've ever made available and we're not exactly sure how 1198 01:13:32,520 --> 01:13:34,479 Speaker 1: long the promotion is gonna last, so you better be 1199 01:13:34,560 --> 01:13:36,639 Speaker 1: sure to get on it right now. That's Create Club 1200 01:13:36,760 --> 01:13:40,960 Speaker 1: dot us. The coupon code is soft rep off all 1201 01:13:41,000 --> 01:13:44,920 Speaker 1: your subscription for all creates sign up today. Also as 1202 01:13:44,920 --> 01:13:47,320 Speaker 1: a reminder for you listeners, now is the time to 1203 01:13:47,320 --> 01:13:50,519 Speaker 1: sign up for spec Ops Channel, our channel that offers 1204 01:13:50,520 --> 01:13:54,040 Speaker 1: the most exclusive shows, documentaries and interviews covering the most 1205 01:13:54,040 --> 01:13:57,719 Speaker 1: exciting military content today. The spec Ops channel premier show 1206 01:13:58,040 --> 01:14:02,080 Speaker 1: Training Cell follows formers rushchal Operation Forces as they participate 1207 01:14:02,120 --> 01:14:04,519 Speaker 1: in the most advanced training in the country, everything from 1208 01:14:04,560 --> 01:14:09,200 Speaker 1: shooting schools, defensive driving, jungle and winter warfare, climbing and 1209 01:14:09,320 --> 01:14:12,760 Speaker 1: much more. Again, you can watch this content by subscribing 1210 01:14:12,800 --> 01:14:16,040 Speaker 1: to the spec Ops channel at specops channel dot com 1211 01:14:16,120 --> 01:14:19,160 Speaker 1: and take advantage of a membership for only four month 1212 01:14:19,640 --> 01:14:23,320 Speaker 1: that spec ops channel dot com. Sign up today. By 1213 01:14:23,360 --> 01:14:25,439 Speaker 1: the way, if you're not aware, we have our own 1214 01:14:25,479 --> 01:14:28,640 Speaker 1: softwap radio app that you can download for free on 1215 01:14:28,680 --> 01:14:32,679 Speaker 1: either iPhone or Android, and our homepage is soft rep 1216 01:14:32,840 --> 01:14:35,760 Speaker 1: radio dot com, where you can see all our full 1217 01:14:35,960 --> 01:14:38,360 Speaker 1: archive of shows like the one we just had today 1218 01:14:38,360 --> 01:14:41,800 Speaker 1: with Greg Walker. As always keep up with us on 1219 01:14:41,840 --> 01:14:46,200 Speaker 1: social media at SOFTWAREP Radio as well. And that was 1220 01:14:46,280 --> 01:14:50,080 Speaker 1: my first foray into the live reads. Hopefully, Uh, you 1221 01:14:50,120 --> 01:14:53,599 Speaker 1: guys won't notice the difference between Ian and I if 1222 01:14:53,640 --> 01:14:56,760 Speaker 1: you need them one Scott, Oh, yeah, he claims he's 1223 01:14:56,760 --> 01:15:01,120 Speaker 1: in Arizona. I don't think that's true. Ceo T. T 1224 01:15:01,320 --> 01:15:05,400 Speaker 1: O Scotto. He he would say he was upset that 1225 01:15:05,479 --> 01:15:07,360 Speaker 1: you were trying to push for him and to getting 1226 01:15:07,479 --> 01:15:11,559 Speaker 1: into male prostitution. I think he enjoyed whatever pays the bills, bro, 1227 01:15:12,200 --> 01:15:15,520 Speaker 1: And in my mind, he's servicing those Upper East sidewives 1228 01:15:15,640 --> 01:15:18,120 Speaker 1: right now. I mean there's a market. There is a market. 1229 01:15:18,160 --> 01:15:20,760 Speaker 1: I told him there's a market, and that's really what 1230 01:15:20,760 --> 01:15:23,280 Speaker 1: he's doing. He says. He says he's climbing rocks and Sedona. 1231 01:15:23,360 --> 01:15:30,839 Speaker 1: I'm in quote unquote Arizona. Okay, Bro whatever. Um, obviously, 1232 01:15:31,000 --> 01:15:33,639 Speaker 1: great interview with Greg Walker. I don't know what else 1233 01:15:33,680 --> 01:15:36,599 Speaker 1: you'd like to discuss. That was. I know you were 1234 01:15:36,600 --> 01:15:40,599 Speaker 1: excited we we had talked off air about the bias stuff. Um, 1235 01:15:40,720 --> 01:15:44,200 Speaker 1: you guys talked at end about that that that's just 1236 01:15:44,240 --> 01:15:47,680 Speaker 1: a fascinating that. It's a weird story, isn't it. And absolutely, 1237 01:15:47,720 --> 01:15:49,760 Speaker 1: and I like I I told you off air, I'm 1238 01:15:49,760 --> 01:15:53,559 Speaker 1: not as well vert as Ian. Let alone you you 1239 01:15:53,640 --> 01:15:57,719 Speaker 1: go on, you go on deep dives. So I'm excited 1240 01:15:57,720 --> 01:16:00,280 Speaker 1: to join the show. One because it's a great it's 1241 01:16:00,280 --> 01:16:03,479 Speaker 1: a great program, and too because I'm absolutely gonna learn 1242 01:16:03,479 --> 01:16:07,439 Speaker 1: more stuff about little things, I mean not little things, 1243 01:16:07,439 --> 01:16:10,679 Speaker 1: but stories like this that maybe fans of the show 1244 01:16:10,720 --> 01:16:14,920 Speaker 1: aren't aware or definitely people like myself who just you know, 1245 01:16:15,160 --> 01:16:18,120 Speaker 1: know the military on very face value to start. Yeah, yeah, 1246 01:16:18,320 --> 01:16:21,120 Speaker 1: you will hear some weird things on this podcast, for sure, 1247 01:16:21,200 --> 01:16:23,040 Speaker 1: And I think that's one of the things that kind 1248 01:16:23,040 --> 01:16:26,000 Speaker 1: of sets us apart. Um. There are a lot of 1249 01:16:26,400 --> 01:16:29,160 Speaker 1: military podcasts out there, but a lot of them are 1250 01:16:29,240 --> 01:16:33,679 Speaker 1: kind of like on a surface level. Um, And I mean, honestly, 1251 01:16:33,680 --> 01:16:36,120 Speaker 1: I don't listen too many other podcasts tell you the truth, 1252 01:16:36,160 --> 01:16:38,160 Speaker 1: but I mean I feel like there's a lot of 1253 01:16:38,160 --> 01:16:40,400 Speaker 1: stuff out there that's kind of like support the troops 1254 01:16:40,400 --> 01:16:42,120 Speaker 1: and this and that, And I mean, we support the 1255 01:16:42,120 --> 01:16:45,000 Speaker 1: troops too, but also we want to dig a little 1256 01:16:45,000 --> 01:16:47,240 Speaker 1: bit beneath the surface and kind of dig up some 1257 01:16:47,280 --> 01:16:50,760 Speaker 1: of these interesting stories. Um So, I mean I think 1258 01:16:50,760 --> 01:16:54,960 Speaker 1: this podcast is a little more niche perhaps uman than 1259 01:16:55,040 --> 01:16:56,920 Speaker 1: some of the other stuff out there, which is great 1260 01:16:57,000 --> 01:16:59,200 Speaker 1: because you know, you can if you're a fan of 1261 01:16:59,200 --> 01:17:01,960 Speaker 1: the military and general there they're the other podcast for that. 1262 01:17:02,040 --> 01:17:05,280 Speaker 1: And then also if you want to delve deep into topics, 1263 01:17:05,280 --> 01:17:08,120 Speaker 1: you know, mental mental health, like like Greg and you 1264 01:17:08,240 --> 01:17:11,880 Speaker 1: just discussed, it's a serious issue and it's heavy and yeah, 1265 01:17:11,920 --> 01:17:14,400 Speaker 1: you know it's not just you know, hey, we gotta 1266 01:17:14,400 --> 01:17:16,880 Speaker 1: we gotta help the troops. Okay, everybody can say that, 1267 01:17:17,439 --> 01:17:19,680 Speaker 1: how can we do that? What? What are steps we 1268 01:17:19,680 --> 01:17:21,639 Speaker 1: can take? And not not too many people can talk 1269 01:17:21,720 --> 01:17:24,719 Speaker 1: about it the way you know Greg can either um 1270 01:17:24,760 --> 01:17:27,840 Speaker 1: with a kind of um compassion as well as credibility 1271 01:17:27,840 --> 01:17:30,880 Speaker 1: that that he has on this absolutely he uh the 1272 01:17:31,000 --> 01:17:33,040 Speaker 1: article the article on news Rep. I mean, be sure 1273 01:17:33,040 --> 01:17:34,840 Speaker 1: to check it out. It's it's it's almost like a 1274 01:17:34,840 --> 01:17:38,040 Speaker 1: four part series. He covers, you know, three different men 1275 01:17:38,760 --> 01:17:40,920 Speaker 1: um and then like an overall piece about it. And 1276 01:17:40,920 --> 01:17:43,600 Speaker 1: it's tragic. You know, you don't want anybody to to 1277 01:17:43,720 --> 01:17:48,960 Speaker 1: die from suicide. Yeah, it's it's avoidable. Um So, I 1278 01:17:49,000 --> 01:17:52,840 Speaker 1: know I got you hard at work scheduling guests. Um, 1279 01:17:52,880 --> 01:17:54,479 Speaker 1: and I know some of them you got laid on. 1280 01:17:54,520 --> 01:17:57,280 Speaker 1: I'm pretty excited about some people I've been trying to 1281 01:17:57,320 --> 01:17:59,479 Speaker 1: actually get to come on for a while. Now. Yeah, 1282 01:17:59,520 --> 01:18:01,479 Speaker 1: there there's one name. I mean, I don't we don't. 1283 01:18:01,479 --> 01:18:03,400 Speaker 1: We don't do spoilers, right, I don't want to. I'm 1284 01:18:03,400 --> 01:18:05,599 Speaker 1: not given away. Actually not. Well, this one we talked 1285 01:18:05,600 --> 01:18:08,920 Speaker 1: about before, Um, Jeff Kirkham wanted to come on, and 1286 01:18:09,240 --> 01:18:12,600 Speaker 1: we'll have our our epic uh collash a cough discussion 1287 01:18:12,640 --> 01:18:15,360 Speaker 1: that's coming up. I am excited for that. I mean, 1288 01:18:15,479 --> 01:18:17,960 Speaker 1: at the very least, I can appreciate a K forty seven. 1289 01:18:18,520 --> 01:18:22,559 Speaker 1: Interesting again, interesting histories there for sure. And then there's 1290 01:18:22,560 --> 01:18:24,160 Speaker 1: another one. I don't know if you want to mention 1291 01:18:24,320 --> 01:18:27,360 Speaker 1: his name, Um, but you you were excited for him, 1292 01:18:27,640 --> 01:18:30,280 Speaker 1: he said, you've been trying to get him for a while. Well, well, 1293 01:18:30,280 --> 01:18:32,479 Speaker 1: we'll hold off on that until until the day. But 1294 01:18:32,520 --> 01:18:35,280 Speaker 1: that's coming up, what next week, right next Thursday, I 1295 01:18:35,320 --> 01:18:38,280 Speaker 1: believe next Thursday. So yeah, we're gonna have some really 1296 01:18:38,320 --> 01:18:40,519 Speaker 1: cool stuff. And as I said, we're a little bit 1297 01:18:40,520 --> 01:18:42,720 Speaker 1: of a niche podcast in that sense that we get 1298 01:18:42,720 --> 01:18:46,720 Speaker 1: that we're getting those little uh um. I don't necessarily 1299 01:18:46,760 --> 01:18:49,400 Speaker 1: want to say either stories that have not been written 1300 01:18:49,439 --> 01:18:52,519 Speaker 1: before or are are fairly obscure, and maybe a lot 1301 01:18:52,600 --> 01:18:54,720 Speaker 1: of our audience has never heard of before. So we're 1302 01:18:54,720 --> 01:18:57,200 Speaker 1: gonna We're gonna dig beneath the surface. That's a good thing, 1303 01:18:57,240 --> 01:19:00,640 Speaker 1: you know, always be learning. Yeah, and with that, I 1304 01:19:00,680 --> 01:19:05,000 Speaker 1: think we you know, alright, first episode under my belt solo. 1305 01:19:05,800 --> 01:19:07,800 Speaker 1: I can't thank you in enough. I I really want 1306 01:19:07,840 --> 01:19:10,640 Speaker 1: to get that on record. He's he probably listened to 1307 01:19:10,640 --> 01:19:12,800 Speaker 1: the first ten minutes and he might listen to the 1308 01:19:12,880 --> 01:19:15,920 Speaker 1: last ten to make sure that you don't. So I 1309 01:19:15,960 --> 01:19:17,720 Speaker 1: want to be sure to credit him. I can't thank 1310 01:19:17,760 --> 01:19:21,320 Speaker 1: you and enough. He was instrumental in getting me here 1311 01:19:21,479 --> 01:19:25,240 Speaker 1: and teaching me the ropes, and hopefully it's a fairly 1312 01:19:25,280 --> 01:19:27,800 Speaker 1: seamless tradition. I'm not I'm not gonna have the uh 1313 01:19:28,520 --> 01:19:30,120 Speaker 1: what's the word. I'm looking for the chemistry right off 1314 01:19:30,160 --> 01:19:33,600 Speaker 1: the bat that that you and Ian had. But I 1315 01:19:33,600 --> 01:19:37,400 Speaker 1: Ian worked with you what seven years? Yeah about? I 1316 01:19:37,439 --> 01:19:39,080 Speaker 1: think you and I can get there in about half 1317 01:19:39,120 --> 01:19:43,360 Speaker 1: a year. We'll do some beerd docking after this. Oh man, 1318 01:19:43,439 --> 01:19:46,080 Speaker 1: you guys are missing out because it's just a podcast. 1319 01:19:46,560 --> 01:19:50,960 Speaker 1: The the visuals here we're gonna Jack and I are 1320 01:19:51,000 --> 01:19:54,880 Speaker 1: gonna get it along swimmingly. So thank you guys for 1321 01:19:54,960 --> 01:20:00,120 Speaker 1: listening as always Soft Rep Radio. Be sure Thursday we 1322 01:20:00,200 --> 01:20:02,439 Speaker 1: have one or two guys that I can lock in. 1323 01:20:02,479 --> 01:20:04,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to. I don't want to know yet 1324 01:20:04,000 --> 01:20:06,360 Speaker 1: because I'm gonna try and mix some stuff around, but 1325 01:20:06,439 --> 01:20:08,920 Speaker 1: be sure to listen. Leave us a review. Thank you 1326 01:20:08,960 --> 01:20:12,200 Speaker 1: guys for listening as always, and we will see you Thursday. 1327 01:20:12,840 --> 01:20:14,960 Speaker 1: All right, we'll talk to you again. Then you've been 1328 01:20:15,080 --> 01:20:19,679 Speaker 1: listening to Self Rep Radio. New episodes up every Wednesday 1329 01:20:19,680 --> 01:20:23,840 Speaker 1: and Friday. Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter at 1330 01:20:23,920 --> 01:20:32,160 Speaker 1: self Rep Radio m