1 00:00:17,140 --> 00:00:24,700 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hey, everyone is Jarrel Martinez. Before we get into 2 00:00:24,741 --> 00:00:26,820 Speaker 1: this episode, I wanted to let you know that you 3 00:00:26,861 --> 00:00:29,661 Speaker 1: can listen to the entire season of Medal of Honor 4 00:00:29,981 --> 00:00:33,780 Speaker 1: right now ad free with Pushkin Plus. Get all our 5 00:00:33,821 --> 00:00:37,741 Speaker 1: incredible stories of courage with a Pushkin Plus subscription. Sign 6 00:00:37,861 --> 00:00:40,061 Speaker 1: up and save on the Medal of Honor show page 7 00:00:40,101 --> 00:00:43,981 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin dot fm, slash Plus. 8 00:00:44,461 --> 00:00:48,341 Speaker 1: Use the code twenty five for twenty five percent off 9 00:00:48,381 --> 00:00:52,301 Speaker 1: an annual subscription. Okay, now to the episode. 10 00:00:52,340 --> 00:00:54,741 Speaker 2: Since the dawn of time, running has been an act 11 00:00:54,781 --> 00:00:58,861 Speaker 2: of escape. People ran to evade wild animals, to flee 12 00:00:58,901 --> 00:01:02,381 Speaker 2: from warring tribes. Even in the modern world, we run 13 00:01:02,421 --> 00:01:05,101 Speaker 2: to get away from things, the stresses of the job, 14 00:01:05,340 --> 00:01:09,181 Speaker 2: the confinement of our apartments, the bang of trailing bloodhounds. 15 00:01:09,661 --> 00:01:11,821 Speaker 2: But what you're about to hear is a story about 16 00:01:11,821 --> 00:01:15,981 Speaker 2: someone who did the exact opposite. He defied the thousands 17 00:01:15,981 --> 00:01:18,821 Speaker 2: of years of primal wiring telling us to run from 18 00:01:18,941 --> 00:01:23,301 Speaker 2: danger and instead ran towards it, sprinted into harm's way 19 00:01:23,461 --> 00:01:27,021 Speaker 2: without thinking to help another. I'm excited to share this 20 00:01:27,101 --> 00:01:28,981 Speaker 2: story with you. Thanks for listening. 21 00:01:30,941 --> 00:01:32,700 Speaker 1: Have you ever had a feeling in your gut that 22 00:01:32,821 --> 00:01:37,981 Speaker 1: something was off, a sense of quiet that doesn't feel right, 23 00:01:38,821 --> 00:01:41,221 Speaker 1: a movement at the edge of your vision that seems 24 00:01:41,301 --> 00:01:45,301 Speaker 1: out of place, or just a weird vibration in the air. 25 00:01:46,420 --> 00:01:48,461 Speaker 1: Florent Groberg had that feeling. 26 00:01:49,341 --> 00:01:54,221 Speaker 3: I know there's something wrong, There's something that I can't 27 00:01:54,661 --> 00:01:55,781 Speaker 3: put my finger on about it. 28 00:01:55,781 --> 00:01:58,821 Speaker 4: I just don't like it. 29 00:01:58,821 --> 00:02:01,661 Speaker 1: It was August eighth, twenty twelve, and Flow was in 30 00:02:01,661 --> 00:02:05,300 Speaker 1: the Kunar province of Afghanistan. He was in charge of 31 00:02:05,301 --> 00:02:08,901 Speaker 1: security for a colonel and other army officials. He and 32 00:02:08,941 --> 00:02:11,421 Speaker 1: his team were escorting this group of VIP through a 33 00:02:11,461 --> 00:02:15,180 Speaker 1: small city towards a meeting with local leaders. Flow was 34 00:02:15,221 --> 00:02:18,300 Speaker 1: twenty nine, a dark haired, dark eyed guy, just shy, 35 00:02:18,381 --> 00:02:21,181 Speaker 1: is six feet tall. He done walks like this one 36 00:02:21,181 --> 00:02:24,861 Speaker 1: for months. It was his job to be on high alert, 37 00:02:25,461 --> 00:02:30,741 Speaker 1: scanning everyone and everything. The air was hot and dry. 38 00:02:31,301 --> 00:02:34,301 Speaker 1: The dusty road curved along a river which shimmered in 39 00:02:34,341 --> 00:02:39,181 Speaker 1: the morning light. Rugged mountains loomed in the distance. The 40 00:02:39,221 --> 00:02:42,141 Speaker 1: meeting wasn't far away, a little over half a mile, 41 00:02:42,741 --> 00:02:45,181 Speaker 1: but as the group walked the sun baked streets, it 42 00:02:45,261 --> 00:02:49,221 Speaker 1: felt like the air was crackling with tension. The team 43 00:02:49,301 --> 00:02:52,221 Speaker 1: moved away from the river. Following the road through town, 44 00:02:52,901 --> 00:02:56,581 Speaker 1: they passed run down buildings and abandoned cars, groups of 45 00:02:56,621 --> 00:03:00,541 Speaker 1: people shopping and walking, and then Flow saw a young 46 00:03:00,581 --> 00:03:04,501 Speaker 1: man dressed in black traditional clothes heading in their direction. 47 00:03:05,541 --> 00:03:09,461 Speaker 1: That's normal, it was a busy city, a busy day. 48 00:03:10,061 --> 00:03:14,381 Speaker 1: But this guy was walking backwards and he was getting closer. 49 00:03:15,181 --> 00:03:18,781 Speaker 3: He just was out of place. I remember thinking, where 50 00:03:18,781 --> 00:03:19,621 Speaker 3: did you come from? 51 00:03:20,141 --> 00:03:23,781 Speaker 4: What is going on here? And at that point everything changes. 52 00:03:24,301 --> 00:03:28,261 Speaker 1: The young man turned and faced them, and Flora Groberg 53 00:03:28,501 --> 00:03:34,421 Speaker 1: began to run. I'm j R. Martinez and this is 54 00:03:34,541 --> 00:03:38,461 Speaker 1: Medal of Honor Stories of Courage. The Medal of Honor 55 00:03:38,541 --> 00:03:41,821 Speaker 1: is the highest military decoration in the United States. It's 56 00:03:41,861 --> 00:03:45,021 Speaker 1: awarded for gallantry and bravery and combat at the risk 57 00:03:45,101 --> 00:03:48,501 Speaker 1: of life, above and beyond the call of duty. Each 58 00:03:48,581 --> 00:03:50,781 Speaker 1: candidate must be approved all the way up the chain 59 00:03:50,821 --> 00:03:54,101 Speaker 1: of command, from the supervisory officer in the field to 60 00:03:54,141 --> 00:03:57,661 Speaker 1: the White House. This show is about those heroes, what 61 00:03:57,701 --> 00:04:00,581 Speaker 1: they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell 62 00:04:00,661 --> 00:04:05,261 Speaker 1: us about the nature of courage and sacrifice. Flow Groberg's 63 00:04:05,261 --> 00:04:08,221 Speaker 1: action in Afghanistan is a classic Medal of Honor story. 64 00:04:08,861 --> 00:04:11,901 Speaker 1: Incredible bravery, a decision to put his life on the 65 00:04:11,941 --> 00:04:15,941 Speaker 1: line and check this out. It all took place in 66 00:04:16,141 --> 00:04:20,781 Speaker 1: just eight seconds. But there's another thing about Flow. He 67 00:04:20,901 --> 00:04:24,781 Speaker 1: was a super talented runner, a Division I college athlete. 68 00:04:25,341 --> 00:04:28,861 Speaker 1: He could run a mile in a little over four minutes. 69 00:04:30,141 --> 00:04:32,821 Speaker 1: I can only do that in my car. But why 70 00:04:32,821 --> 00:04:36,981 Speaker 1: does that matter? Hear me out? There's something really inspiring 71 00:04:37,101 --> 00:04:40,461 Speaker 1: about elite runners. Some of it comes from how they're built, 72 00:04:40,861 --> 00:04:45,381 Speaker 1: how their bodies consume oxygen, their stamina, their leg muscles. 73 00:04:46,101 --> 00:04:48,821 Speaker 1: You could be borne with the raw materials to be fast, 74 00:04:49,581 --> 00:04:52,861 Speaker 1: but you won't get fast. You won't reach that potential 75 00:04:53,261 --> 00:04:57,580 Speaker 1: without work, a grinding focus to push your body harder, 76 00:04:58,181 --> 00:05:01,741 Speaker 1: do the reps, take the strides, go further than you 77 00:05:01,821 --> 00:05:05,541 Speaker 1: think you possibly can. Listen. I've done a lot of 78 00:05:05,581 --> 00:05:08,581 Speaker 1: distance running, and there's plenty of times where the body 79 00:05:08,621 --> 00:05:11,741 Speaker 1: tells the mind okay, let's just quit now. But you 80 00:05:11,821 --> 00:05:15,101 Speaker 1: make it through the pain and you keep going. You 81 00:05:15,221 --> 00:05:18,981 Speaker 1: keep the promise you made to yourself. That's how you 82 00:05:19,021 --> 00:05:22,380 Speaker 1: get as fast as Flow grow Berg, and that speed 83 00:05:22,901 --> 00:05:37,341 Speaker 1: would be the difference between life and death. Even though 84 00:05:37,341 --> 00:05:41,221 Speaker 1: he would become a decorated American soldier. Flow Groberg was 85 00:05:41,301 --> 00:05:44,621 Speaker 1: actually born in France. He was raised in a suburb 86 00:05:44,741 --> 00:05:48,381 Speaker 1: of Paris to a mom from Algeria and a biological dad. 87 00:05:48,501 --> 00:05:52,421 Speaker 1: He never knew. He adored his mom. They were super close, 88 00:05:53,101 --> 00:05:55,941 Speaker 1: but there were two men who really shaped him growing up. 89 00:05:57,221 --> 00:06:00,341 Speaker 1: The first was his uncle, Abdu. Flow's mom had a 90 00:06:00,381 --> 00:06:03,661 Speaker 1: big Muslim family back in Algeria, and she took Flow 91 00:06:03,741 --> 00:06:06,901 Speaker 1: to visit them often. Flow and her brother, Abdu had 92 00:06:06,941 --> 00:06:07,901 Speaker 1: a tight bond. 93 00:06:08,621 --> 00:06:11,581 Speaker 3: Everybody has that one individual that did drawn to and 94 00:06:11,581 --> 00:06:13,341 Speaker 3: they want to be around him, and that's what I 95 00:06:13,501 --> 00:06:15,461 Speaker 3: was towards this man. I just thought he was just 96 00:06:16,181 --> 00:06:17,621 Speaker 3: as a kid, I thought he was incredible. 97 00:06:18,581 --> 00:06:21,861 Speaker 1: Abdu was an he mom, a Muslim cleric, and he 98 00:06:21,941 --> 00:06:25,301 Speaker 1: taught Flow about the things that meant the most to him, 99 00:06:25,341 --> 00:06:29,181 Speaker 1: doing good, standing up for what's right. The other man 100 00:06:29,221 --> 00:06:32,621 Speaker 1: in Flow's life was his stepfather, Larry. Larry met Flow 101 00:06:32,621 --> 00:06:35,700 Speaker 1: when he was three and instantly became his dad. 102 00:06:36,501 --> 00:06:39,301 Speaker 3: He took me in as his son, even though I 103 00:06:39,421 --> 00:06:43,421 Speaker 3: wasn't his blood Swedish background, so he looked completely different 104 00:06:43,421 --> 00:06:43,661 Speaker 3: than me. 105 00:06:43,861 --> 00:06:45,101 Speaker 4: You know, he's about sixty. 106 00:06:44,781 --> 00:06:48,701 Speaker 3: Two, blonde, green eyes, so people were always confused when 107 00:06:48,701 --> 00:06:51,221 Speaker 3: I said, Hey, that's my dad. He gave me his name, 108 00:06:51,301 --> 00:06:52,941 Speaker 3: and he taught me how to be the person that 109 00:06:52,981 --> 00:06:55,221 Speaker 3: I am today. He just taught me how to be 110 00:06:55,221 --> 00:06:57,781 Speaker 3: a good person, because he's a great person. Probably the 111 00:06:57,781 --> 00:06:59,541 Speaker 3: most important part about him is that he was always 112 00:06:59,581 --> 00:07:01,861 Speaker 3: there for me. If there's a hero that I have, 113 00:07:02,261 --> 00:07:03,141 Speaker 3: it's going to be him. 114 00:07:04,501 --> 00:07:07,341 Speaker 1: Larry was American, and when Flow was eleven, the family 115 00:07:07,381 --> 00:07:11,581 Speaker 1: moved to the States. Flow was psyched. It was hard 116 00:07:11,581 --> 00:07:14,661 Speaker 1: to learn the language at first, but he stepped up fast. 117 00:07:15,221 --> 00:07:18,621 Speaker 1: They lived in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington, d c. 118 00:07:19,541 --> 00:07:20,861 Speaker 3: By the time I was in high school, I was 119 00:07:20,941 --> 00:07:23,141 Speaker 3: bought in. I was sold I knew at that point 120 00:07:23,141 --> 00:07:25,181 Speaker 3: that I would rather stay in the United States one 121 00:07:25,221 --> 00:07:27,461 Speaker 3: hundred times out one hundred over going back to France. 122 00:07:28,421 --> 00:07:32,181 Speaker 1: Flow became a naturalized citizen, but in the meantime, life 123 00:07:32,221 --> 00:07:36,741 Speaker 1: for his family in Algeria had gotten incredibly hard. A 124 00:07:36,821 --> 00:07:41,541 Speaker 1: radical Islamist group known as the GIA was terrorizing innocent civilians, 125 00:07:42,021 --> 00:07:44,941 Speaker 1: and so Flow's uncle Abdu changed this path. 126 00:07:45,781 --> 00:07:49,501 Speaker 3: When these terrorists came in, he left his role as 127 00:07:49,541 --> 00:07:51,061 Speaker 3: an e mom and he joined the army. 128 00:07:51,781 --> 00:07:51,941 Speaker 4: Now. 129 00:07:52,021 --> 00:07:54,341 Speaker 3: During the cease fire in February nineteen ninety six, he 130 00:07:54,421 --> 00:07:54,781 Speaker 3: was shot. 131 00:07:54,901 --> 00:07:55,621 Speaker 4: He was beheaded. 132 00:07:55,821 --> 00:07:57,461 Speaker 3: He was dismembered, and he was putting a box he 133 00:07:57,541 --> 00:08:02,021 Speaker 3: sent back to my grandfather, warning that anybody that defires 134 00:08:02,141 --> 00:08:04,941 Speaker 3: their beliefs, they would be killed. 135 00:08:06,301 --> 00:08:09,301 Speaker 1: Flow was twelve when Larry sat him down and told 136 00:08:09,381 --> 00:08:09,941 Speaker 1: him the news. 137 00:08:11,341 --> 00:08:14,221 Speaker 3: My reaction was just anger, and I went into my room. 138 00:08:14,261 --> 00:08:16,221 Speaker 3: I picked up all my toys that I had collected 139 00:08:16,221 --> 00:08:18,701 Speaker 3: over the years on my Gi Joe's, and I put 140 00:08:18,701 --> 00:08:20,501 Speaker 3: them in a bag and I took them to the trash. 141 00:08:21,061 --> 00:08:23,941 Speaker 4: That's the last time I played with toys pretending to 142 00:08:23,941 --> 00:08:24,541 Speaker 4: be military. 143 00:08:25,181 --> 00:08:27,501 Speaker 3: The next time I would pretend to be military, I 144 00:08:27,501 --> 00:08:30,261 Speaker 3: would actually be military and wear the uniform myself. 145 00:08:32,180 --> 00:08:34,861 Speaker 1: He made a promise to himself he would join the 146 00:08:34,981 --> 00:08:39,461 Speaker 1: United States Army. At first, he considered enlisting right after 147 00:08:39,540 --> 00:08:42,501 Speaker 1: high school, but then he discovered that he could run, 148 00:08:43,101 --> 00:08:47,141 Speaker 1: I mean really run. He was among the best distance 149 00:08:47,221 --> 00:08:49,780 Speaker 1: runners in the state, and he was recruited to the 150 00:08:49,780 --> 00:08:52,661 Speaker 1: cross country and track teams at the University of Maryland. 151 00:08:53,460 --> 00:08:55,901 Speaker 1: He was a great team player, fast on his own, 152 00:08:56,261 --> 00:08:59,741 Speaker 1: but even faster when he was running a relay, passing 153 00:08:59,741 --> 00:09:03,501 Speaker 1: the baton to a member of his squad. Competitive running 154 00:09:03,621 --> 00:09:07,141 Speaker 1: is all about grit, and Flow knew that every long 155 00:09:07,300 --> 00:09:11,141 Speaker 1: training day, every hill workout could shave a second or 156 00:09:11,180 --> 00:09:16,420 Speaker 1: two office times. But then nine to eleven happened and 157 00:09:16,501 --> 00:09:18,300 Speaker 1: Flow's life shifted again. 158 00:09:19,540 --> 00:09:21,540 Speaker 3: I remember being very emotional, just like the rest of 159 00:09:21,580 --> 00:09:27,300 Speaker 3: this country was very angry, confused, and in disbelief. I 160 00:09:27,341 --> 00:09:29,660 Speaker 3: remember having comes to my father telling him, I'm going 161 00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:30,940 Speaker 3: to drop out of school and I'm going to go 162 00:09:31,021 --> 00:09:32,580 Speaker 3: join the units's army. I'm going to come an army 163 00:09:32,621 --> 00:09:35,821 Speaker 3: ranger because i want to find, fix, and destroy these individuals. 164 00:09:36,300 --> 00:09:37,701 Speaker 4: I want to be a part of the solution. 165 00:09:39,221 --> 00:09:41,701 Speaker 1: But his father wasn't having it. Flow had made a 166 00:09:41,741 --> 00:09:45,261 Speaker 1: commitment to his school and to his running teams, and 167 00:09:45,300 --> 00:09:48,980 Speaker 1: his dad reminded Flow, Grobergs don't quit. 168 00:09:49,940 --> 00:09:52,700 Speaker 4: When you start something, you finish it. That's what Grobergs do. 169 00:09:54,221 --> 00:09:57,341 Speaker 3: Because if you find an excuse to quit and drop 170 00:09:57,381 --> 00:10:00,420 Speaker 3: out of school because you are angry at the fact 171 00:10:00,420 --> 00:10:03,780 Speaker 3: that he's individuals that this to our country, you will 172 00:10:03,780 --> 00:10:06,420 Speaker 3: always find an excuse to quit everything that you. 173 00:10:06,420 --> 00:10:07,101 Speaker 4: Start in life. 174 00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:10,501 Speaker 3: If you quit now, you will quit on the army, 175 00:10:10,621 --> 00:10:12,901 Speaker 3: you quit on yourself, you will quit in relationships, you 176 00:10:12,901 --> 00:10:16,141 Speaker 3: will quit in everything you start. But if you learn 177 00:10:16,861 --> 00:10:20,141 Speaker 3: to push on and accomplish whatever task that you started. 178 00:10:20,780 --> 00:10:23,101 Speaker 4: No long run, you will be successful. 179 00:10:25,501 --> 00:10:29,181 Speaker 1: So Flow stayed in school. He got even faster, but 180 00:10:29,261 --> 00:10:32,701 Speaker 1: as soon as he graduated, he began sprinting towards his 181 00:10:32,820 --> 00:10:36,021 Speaker 1: dream of joining the army. But he hit a hurdle 182 00:10:36,180 --> 00:10:38,780 Speaker 1: right out of the gate. In order to get the 183 00:10:38,780 --> 00:10:41,940 Speaker 1: security clearance to become an army officer, he had to 184 00:10:41,981 --> 00:10:45,741 Speaker 1: renounce his French citizenship. He was happy to do it, 185 00:10:46,460 --> 00:10:49,981 Speaker 1: but the paperwork took more than a year. Once that 186 00:10:50,101 --> 00:10:52,501 Speaker 1: was behind him, he went to officer training and then 187 00:10:52,621 --> 00:10:56,340 Speaker 1: Ranger School, one of the toughest programs in the military. 188 00:10:57,141 --> 00:10:59,460 Speaker 1: I remember being at Basic training and we would be 189 00:10:59,540 --> 00:11:01,820 Speaker 1: on runs and the drill sergeant would lead us in 190 00:11:01,861 --> 00:11:05,821 Speaker 1: these cadences about being a ranger and Airborne. Have so 191 00:11:05,981 --> 00:11:09,820 Speaker 1: much respect for those guys that go through that program. 192 00:11:09,940 --> 00:11:13,181 Speaker 1: And here's a crazy thing. Remember Sal Junta from last season. 193 00:11:13,861 --> 00:11:17,660 Speaker 1: Flow was in Ranger school with Eric Gayaddo, the sergeant 194 00:11:17,700 --> 00:11:21,381 Speaker 1: who was on that hill in Afghanistan with Sal. When 195 00:11:21,420 --> 00:11:24,341 Speaker 1: Flow was feeling like he couldn't hack it, Gayadado kept 196 00:11:24,420 --> 00:11:28,460 Speaker 1: him going. They both made it through. Of the three 197 00:11:28,621 --> 00:11:32,741 Speaker 1: hundred plus soldiers in his original Ranger school class, only 198 00:11:32,861 --> 00:11:36,940 Speaker 1: sixty nine of them graduated, and by two thousand and nine, 199 00:11:37,341 --> 00:11:40,981 Speaker 1: Flow was in Afghanistan. He was a lieutenant, which meant 200 00:11:41,021 --> 00:11:42,980 Speaker 1: he was leading troops for the first time. 201 00:11:43,861 --> 00:11:45,981 Speaker 4: I wanted to go out there and fight for what 202 00:11:46,021 --> 00:11:46,540 Speaker 4: I believed in. 203 00:11:46,940 --> 00:11:49,300 Speaker 3: But when I got there and someone told me, hey, 204 00:11:49,420 --> 00:11:51,580 Speaker 3: by the way, you're in charge of twenty four lives. 205 00:11:51,621 --> 00:11:53,461 Speaker 3: Make the right decisions and make sure that you're right 206 00:11:53,501 --> 00:11:55,501 Speaker 3: type of leader for these men, because their lives are 207 00:11:55,501 --> 00:11:56,101 Speaker 3: in your hands. 208 00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:57,541 Speaker 4: That changed the whole ballgame. 209 00:11:58,141 --> 00:12:01,821 Speaker 3: It was no longer about me, It was about them, 210 00:12:01,981 --> 00:12:03,540 Speaker 3: and it was about accomplish in a mission. 211 00:12:05,501 --> 00:12:07,860 Speaker 1: They were stationed near the border with Pakistan and a 212 00:12:07,940 --> 00:12:11,500 Speaker 1: valley controlled by the Taliban. The action was really lentless 213 00:12:11,540 --> 00:12:16,221 Speaker 1: and lethal. His tour was two hundred and seventeen days long, 214 00:12:16,621 --> 00:12:20,141 Speaker 1: and during that timeframe his platoon engaged with the enemy 215 00:12:20,221 --> 00:12:26,021 Speaker 1: more than two hundred times. That deployment ended then in 216 00:12:26,060 --> 00:12:30,021 Speaker 1: February of twenty twelve, less than two years later, he 217 00:12:30,141 --> 00:12:33,660 Speaker 1: was back in Afghanistan. By now he was a first 218 00:12:33,660 --> 00:12:38,420 Speaker 1: lieutenant assigned to the fourth Infantry Brigade Combat Team. His 219 00:12:38,540 --> 00:12:41,660 Speaker 1: job was to coordinate all air and ground movements for 220 00:12:41,780 --> 00:12:44,901 Speaker 1: Colonel James Mingus as he traveled the country for high 221 00:12:44,981 --> 00:12:47,300 Speaker 1: level meetings with Afghan leaders. 222 00:12:47,981 --> 00:12:48,940 Speaker 4: The job was simple. 223 00:12:49,700 --> 00:12:53,101 Speaker 3: I organized travels around a different forty five outstations and 224 00:12:53,141 --> 00:12:56,421 Speaker 3: five provinces for the boss, and once we got on station, 225 00:12:57,180 --> 00:12:59,460 Speaker 3: I ran his security. 226 00:13:00,101 --> 00:13:02,580 Speaker 1: When they walked to meetings, Flow and his men would 227 00:13:02,621 --> 00:13:06,340 Speaker 1: surround Mingus and any other VIPs in a diamond formation. 228 00:13:07,261 --> 00:13:11,221 Speaker 1: Their only job was to protect them, literally using their 229 00:13:11,221 --> 00:13:15,381 Speaker 1: bodies as human shields. They were always escorted by a 230 00:13:15,420 --> 00:13:18,901 Speaker 1: perimeter team of US soldiers. If they were attacked or 231 00:13:18,940 --> 00:13:22,860 Speaker 1: in danger, that escort team would stay behind and fight. 232 00:13:23,780 --> 00:13:26,901 Speaker 3: In case we took fire from the enemy, my job 233 00:13:27,101 --> 00:13:29,581 Speaker 3: was to collapse in diamond take them to safety while 234 00:13:29,621 --> 00:13:32,421 Speaker 3: the twelve to fifteen escort all fought the enemy and 235 00:13:32,540 --> 00:13:36,021 Speaker 3: allow us to maneuver out of the engagement area. 236 00:13:37,060 --> 00:13:39,740 Speaker 4: So for six months, this was the easiest job in 237 00:13:39,780 --> 00:13:40,100 Speaker 4: the world. 238 00:13:40,141 --> 00:13:42,820 Speaker 3: I got to see Afghanistan from a completely different perspective, 239 00:13:42,901 --> 00:13:45,301 Speaker 3: and I got to see the bigger picture, and I 240 00:13:45,341 --> 00:13:45,780 Speaker 3: loved it. 241 00:13:49,021 --> 00:13:52,741 Speaker 1: Then came August eighth. Flow had just gotten the news 242 00:13:53,261 --> 00:13:56,861 Speaker 1: he was approved for promotion. It would be his very 243 00:13:56,940 --> 00:14:00,581 Speaker 1: first day as a captain in the army, but it 244 00:14:00,580 --> 00:14:20,581 Speaker 1: would also be the worst day of his life. For 245 00:14:20,661 --> 00:14:24,781 Speaker 1: Flora Groberg, august A, twenty twelve started out the way 246 00:14:24,821 --> 00:14:28,181 Speaker 1: he was expecting. Busy, but not crazy. 247 00:14:28,861 --> 00:14:31,741 Speaker 3: We were going to the Kunat Provincial Security meeting. It 248 00:14:31,781 --> 00:14:34,501 Speaker 3: happened every once at ten o'clock for years. 249 00:14:35,221 --> 00:14:37,861 Speaker 1: That day Flow and his team would be protecting more 250 00:14:37,901 --> 00:14:41,741 Speaker 1: than just Colonel Mingus. There were extra high ranking officers 251 00:14:41,781 --> 00:14:46,021 Speaker 1: in the group, two battalion commanders, two brigade commanders, two 252 00:14:46,061 --> 00:14:51,221 Speaker 1: sergeant majors, and an Afghan National Army general, plus a 253 00:14:51,301 --> 00:14:55,701 Speaker 1: State Department diplomat and a Foreign Service officer from USAID. 254 00:14:58,061 --> 00:15:01,341 Speaker 1: One of the sergeant majors was Kevin Griffin. Flow and 255 00:15:01,381 --> 00:15:05,501 Speaker 1: Griffin were really close. He was Flow's mentor. He had 256 00:15:05,541 --> 00:15:11,701 Speaker 1: a huge presence, confident but caring, plus incredible experience six 257 00:15:11,781 --> 00:15:15,581 Speaker 1: combat deployments to four different war zones. He had a 258 00:15:15,580 --> 00:15:19,220 Speaker 1: wife and two kids waiting for him stateside. Another of 259 00:15:19,261 --> 00:15:22,501 Speaker 1: the group was Major David Gray, an Air Force officer 260 00:15:22,541 --> 00:15:26,021 Speaker 1: who Flow also knew well. Biggest smile in the world 261 00:15:27,101 --> 00:15:30,740 Speaker 1: with him was Major Tom Kennedy. He'd been in Afghanistan 262 00:15:30,781 --> 00:15:33,661 Speaker 1: for less than two weeks, but he was an elite soldier. 263 00:15:34,460 --> 00:15:38,421 Speaker 1: Both of those men had families too. The group landed 264 00:15:38,421 --> 00:15:42,261 Speaker 1: at Ford Operating based FIAS and Assadabad, and right away 265 00:15:42,741 --> 00:15:44,261 Speaker 1: things were off. 266 00:15:45,941 --> 00:15:46,821 Speaker 4: When we got there. 267 00:15:47,621 --> 00:15:51,021 Speaker 3: That outer security element that I always requested for, it 268 00:15:51,101 --> 00:15:54,461 Speaker 3: wasn't there. They had left fifteen minutes prior, and I 269 00:15:54,460 --> 00:15:57,301 Speaker 3: guess they had walked through our route and cleared it, 270 00:15:57,621 --> 00:16:01,821 Speaker 3: but they didn't secure it. By secure, I mean they left. 271 00:16:02,021 --> 00:16:06,261 Speaker 3: It's one on one, right rule, one on one. Once 272 00:16:06,301 --> 00:16:08,781 Speaker 3: you clear an area, if you leave, it is no 273 00:16:08,861 --> 00:16:09,421 Speaker 3: longer clear. 274 00:16:11,261 --> 00:16:14,580 Speaker 1: Flow and his team were only supposed to protect the VIPs. 275 00:16:15,261 --> 00:16:17,941 Speaker 1: If anything bad happened, they would take them to safety, 276 00:16:18,580 --> 00:16:21,501 Speaker 1: not fight the enemy. That role was supposed to be 277 00:16:21,541 --> 00:16:25,501 Speaker 1: for the perimeter team. But now there wasn't a perimeter team, 278 00:16:26,061 --> 00:16:29,781 Speaker 1: not really. Where there were usually twelve to fifteen US 279 00:16:29,821 --> 00:16:34,621 Speaker 1: soldiers today there were just two plus an American contractor. 280 00:16:35,621 --> 00:16:38,861 Speaker 1: Flow and his guys would have to play offense and defense. 281 00:16:39,821 --> 00:16:42,421 Speaker 3: And so I took in some Afghan National Army that 282 00:16:42,460 --> 00:16:44,301 Speaker 3: were stationed at the base, and I put him up 283 00:16:44,341 --> 00:16:46,220 Speaker 3: front of my patrol and I sped them out a 284 00:16:46,261 --> 00:16:49,141 Speaker 3: little bit, and I switched the way we were configured 285 00:16:49,460 --> 00:16:50,941 Speaker 3: for the first time in six months. 286 00:16:51,101 --> 00:16:52,501 Speaker 4: I just didn't feel comfortable. 287 00:16:53,061 --> 00:16:54,821 Speaker 3: I think part of it is I had so much 288 00:16:54,901 --> 00:16:58,740 Speaker 3: leadership in this patrol and such little security that in 289 00:16:58,781 --> 00:17:00,381 Speaker 3: the back of my head, I'm like, I don't like this. 290 00:17:02,501 --> 00:17:05,621 Speaker 1: Flow positioned himself at the very top of the diamond. 291 00:17:06,021 --> 00:17:09,340 Speaker 1: He was usually at the rear. The VIPs would be 292 00:17:09,341 --> 00:17:12,941 Speaker 1: in the middle, except for Sarte Major Kevin Griffin. He 293 00:17:13,141 --> 00:17:16,340 Speaker 1: saw what Flow was up against and he insisted on 294 00:17:16,381 --> 00:17:19,021 Speaker 1: going to the back of the formation to help with 295 00:17:19,021 --> 00:17:22,181 Speaker 1: the rear guard. The Afghan soldiers would be at the 296 00:17:22,341 --> 00:17:25,741 Speaker 1: very top in front of the diamond. That way, Flow 297 00:17:25,781 --> 00:17:28,741 Speaker 1: and his men could keep their eyes on them too, 298 00:17:28,901 --> 00:17:33,621 Speaker 1: not that they didn't trust them, but things were dicey. 299 00:17:33,701 --> 00:17:36,661 Speaker 1: They started their walkthrough with Sadabad. It was about one 300 00:17:36,661 --> 00:17:39,821 Speaker 1: thousand meters to the Governor's compound where the meeting was 301 00:17:39,861 --> 00:17:43,221 Speaker 1: being held. The road traveled along the side of a 302 00:17:43,301 --> 00:17:46,340 Speaker 1: river and then it curved in towards town and a 303 00:17:46,341 --> 00:17:47,141 Speaker 1: small bridge. 304 00:17:48,181 --> 00:17:50,901 Speaker 3: As we maneuver through, everything was going well for about 305 00:17:50,901 --> 00:17:54,181 Speaker 3: seven hundre years. We're about to reach that bridge when 306 00:17:54,901 --> 00:17:59,181 Speaker 3: two motorcycles come from in front of us and they're 307 00:17:59,181 --> 00:18:02,901 Speaker 3: going fast. We're going kind of looking forward, thinking like 308 00:18:02,941 --> 00:18:06,661 Speaker 3: what the heck African National Army guy a point of 309 00:18:06,661 --> 00:18:09,541 Speaker 3: our patrol did a heck of a job. Raiser's rifle 310 00:18:09,621 --> 00:18:12,461 Speaker 3: started screaming at the guy. Guys dumped their bikes and 311 00:18:12,461 --> 00:18:15,781 Speaker 3: started running away. Now that guy on Afgan National Army 312 00:18:15,861 --> 00:18:16,621 Speaker 3: started chasing. 313 00:18:16,421 --> 00:18:20,701 Speaker 1: Them, Flow in his team instantly raised their own rifles. 314 00:18:20,981 --> 00:18:26,141 Speaker 1: The motorcycles had them spooted, and suddenly Flow noticed something else. 315 00:18:26,941 --> 00:18:30,261 Speaker 3: We had a structures who are left and a kid 316 00:18:30,581 --> 00:18:32,781 Speaker 3: walked out a structure when the motorcycles were coming. 317 00:18:33,741 --> 00:18:37,421 Speaker 1: The kid, in his late teens or early twenties, was 318 00:18:37,541 --> 00:18:41,661 Speaker 1: dressed in flowing black clothes. He sort of stumbled out 319 00:18:41,661 --> 00:18:45,581 Speaker 1: of the building, almost as if he was drunk. Normally, 320 00:18:45,901 --> 00:18:49,861 Speaker 1: the escort team would have stopped him, but today there 321 00:18:49,981 --> 00:18:51,261 Speaker 1: was no escort. 322 00:18:52,061 --> 00:18:55,701 Speaker 4: And he was walking backwards pallel to our patrol. It 323 00:18:55,741 --> 00:18:57,741 Speaker 4: looked suspicious. Obviously he's a threat. 324 00:18:57,981 --> 00:19:00,421 Speaker 3: Didn't see any weapon, But when he did a onet 325 00:19:00,421 --> 00:19:03,221 Speaker 3: eighty and then another ninety degree turn and cut into 326 00:19:03,261 --> 00:19:04,981 Speaker 3: our patrol, I knew at that point that there was 327 00:19:04,981 --> 00:19:07,421 Speaker 3: something really fishy about what was going on, so I 328 00:19:07,461 --> 00:19:08,821 Speaker 3: started yelling at him. 329 00:19:09,341 --> 00:19:11,701 Speaker 1: The kid was just twenty or third thirty feet away, 330 00:19:12,101 --> 00:19:15,581 Speaker 1: so without even really thinking about it, Flow started sprinting 331 00:19:15,981 --> 00:19:17,821 Speaker 1: his runner's instincts kicked in. 332 00:19:18,541 --> 00:19:20,381 Speaker 3: I went towards him as fast that I could. I 333 00:19:20,461 --> 00:19:22,981 Speaker 3: yelled at him, no response. He never even looked at me. 334 00:19:23,781 --> 00:19:26,021 Speaker 1: It only took a heartbeat for him to reach the kit, 335 00:19:26,381 --> 00:19:27,981 Speaker 1: but it felt like an eternity. 336 00:19:28,861 --> 00:19:31,101 Speaker 3: When I got to him, I hit him my rifle 337 00:19:31,301 --> 00:19:35,501 Speaker 3: real hard across the chest, and I remember thinking, oh goodness, 338 00:19:35,541 --> 00:19:38,621 Speaker 3: what is this? Is there something you know's what's on hand? 339 00:19:38,661 --> 00:19:40,341 Speaker 3: So I let go of my rifle, which was slung 340 00:19:40,381 --> 00:19:42,821 Speaker 3: to my kit, and I grabbed him by the chest. 341 00:19:43,701 --> 00:19:46,941 Speaker 3: That's when I realized, okay, this is a suicide vest. 342 00:19:48,261 --> 00:19:50,941 Speaker 1: Flow placed his hands on the guy's chest and started 343 00:19:50,981 --> 00:19:53,461 Speaker 1: shoving him back away from the formation. 344 00:19:54,181 --> 00:19:56,741 Speaker 3: I didn't care about my well being because I wanted 345 00:19:56,741 --> 00:19:59,061 Speaker 3: to make sure he was far away as possible, as 346 00:19:59,141 --> 00:20:00,781 Speaker 3: quickly as possible from everybody else. 347 00:20:01,821 --> 00:20:04,821 Speaker 1: The suicide bomber had attached a fake right hand to 348 00:20:04,861 --> 00:20:07,501 Speaker 1: the outside of his clothes to hide the fact that 349 00:20:07,581 --> 00:20:11,221 Speaker 1: his right arm was actually tucked inside with his thumb 350 00:20:11,301 --> 00:20:14,340 Speaker 1: pressing a trigger. All he had to do was release 351 00:20:14,421 --> 00:20:18,101 Speaker 1: the button and the bomb would go off. By now, 352 00:20:18,301 --> 00:20:21,981 Speaker 1: one of Flow's team members, Sergeant Andrew Mahoney, had run 353 00:20:22,021 --> 00:20:25,341 Speaker 1: to Flow side. The two men pushed the bomber as 354 00:20:25,421 --> 00:20:27,981 Speaker 1: hard as they could, trying to get him. 355 00:20:27,821 --> 00:20:30,541 Speaker 3: Back, and so I just threw him as fire as 356 00:20:30,541 --> 00:20:34,421 Speaker 3: I could, And when he landed at my feet, he detonated. 357 00:20:37,541 --> 00:20:41,781 Speaker 1: A massive cloud of fire and dust and shrapnel filled 358 00:20:41,821 --> 00:20:46,580 Speaker 1: the air. The explosion shook the city, but for a 359 00:20:46,581 --> 00:20:49,941 Speaker 1: few moments, FLOW heard and felt nothing. 360 00:20:51,461 --> 00:20:54,621 Speaker 3: Everything went black, and he threw me about twenty feet 361 00:20:54,981 --> 00:20:57,461 Speaker 3: right side of the road. I've been waking up thinking 362 00:20:57,941 --> 00:21:04,141 Speaker 3: what just happened. My head was just on fire, you know, spinning, 363 00:21:04,221 --> 00:21:07,661 Speaker 3: And so I took my helmet. All the straps were loose, 364 00:21:07,741 --> 00:21:11,821 Speaker 3: my helmet, took my pilmmet through it. We're looking at myself. 365 00:21:12,581 --> 00:21:15,581 Speaker 3: There's blood everywhere and blood over myself. And I saw 366 00:21:15,621 --> 00:21:18,741 Speaker 3: my leg. My foot's facing me. My fibula was sticking out. 367 00:21:19,141 --> 00:21:21,461 Speaker 3: It felt like my leg was melting, but I couldn't 368 00:21:21,461 --> 00:21:23,581 Speaker 3: feel anything. So I remember looking at my leg and thinking, oh, 369 00:21:23,621 --> 00:21:25,221 Speaker 3: this is not good. Now. 370 00:21:25,261 --> 00:21:28,421 Speaker 4: I remember closing my eyes coming back. Okay, this is 371 00:21:28,461 --> 00:21:30,101 Speaker 4: not a dream, this is reality. I got hit. 372 00:21:31,581 --> 00:21:35,741 Speaker 1: He knew one thing, a suicide bombing was usually part 373 00:21:35,861 --> 00:21:39,501 Speaker 1: of a larger attack. More was probably coming. 374 00:21:40,501 --> 00:21:42,661 Speaker 3: Started thinking all right, and I am in a kill 375 00:21:42,741 --> 00:21:44,301 Speaker 3: zone and this is going to be followed up by 376 00:21:44,421 --> 00:21:46,501 Speaker 3: a small arms fire. I was in that bush, so 377 00:21:46,541 --> 00:21:48,461 Speaker 3: I remember looking for my rifle. I couldn't find my rifle. 378 00:21:48,741 --> 00:21:50,981 Speaker 3: I took out my pistol. I made sure I had 379 00:21:50,981 --> 00:21:54,541 Speaker 3: a round in the chamber, and I started dragging myself. 380 00:21:54,181 --> 00:21:59,381 Speaker 1: Out, dragging himself across the dusty street, pistol in hand, 381 00:21:59,821 --> 00:22:03,181 Speaker 1: still trying to do his job. But then out of 382 00:22:03,221 --> 00:22:06,221 Speaker 1: the cloud of smoke, one of his sergeants came running. 383 00:22:06,661 --> 00:22:09,741 Speaker 1: He dragged Flowed to a ditch to safety, and as 384 00:22:09,781 --> 00:22:12,421 Speaker 1: the medic put a tourniquet around his leg, Flow could 385 00:22:12,581 --> 00:22:16,221 Speaker 1: only think of one thing, the people he was there 386 00:22:16,261 --> 00:22:20,421 Speaker 1: to protect, so he asked where they were. Colonel Mingus 387 00:22:20,501 --> 00:22:25,461 Speaker 1: was safe, Okay, just a concussion. The Sergeant Major, Kevin Griffin, 388 00:22:26,061 --> 00:22:29,461 Speaker 1: Flow's friend, his mentor, was gone. 389 00:22:30,981 --> 00:22:34,261 Speaker 3: And that's when I got really, really angry, and I 390 00:22:34,301 --> 00:22:38,621 Speaker 3: was just confused. How why no, I don't believe this. 391 00:22:38,781 --> 00:22:40,661 Speaker 3: I need to see this. Get me out of his ditch, 392 00:22:41,261 --> 00:22:43,061 Speaker 3: Get me up. I got a good leg, I can 393 00:22:43,101 --> 00:22:48,301 Speaker 3: hop as I'm walking with them towards where Sar Major 394 00:22:48,381 --> 00:22:50,821 Speaker 3: was at. There was a leg right here to the 395 00:22:50,901 --> 00:22:53,501 Speaker 3: right it was just also blood everywhere, bodies, and I 396 00:22:53,541 --> 00:22:56,661 Speaker 3: was just thinking, like, what the heck just happened? 397 00:22:57,741 --> 00:23:00,781 Speaker 4: And when I got to SA Major, I. 398 00:23:00,741 --> 00:23:04,101 Speaker 3: Noticed he wasn't alone, and he was laying there with 399 00:23:04,301 --> 00:23:08,581 Speaker 3: Major Gray, Major Kennedy, and then one of the USAID individuals, 400 00:23:08,621 --> 00:23:10,340 Speaker 3: Reggae a Delfata. 401 00:23:10,541 --> 00:23:13,141 Speaker 1: They were lion in a circle in the middle of 402 00:23:13,181 --> 00:23:13,981 Speaker 1: the street. 403 00:23:14,581 --> 00:23:18,860 Speaker 3: And they were all killed in action. And that's when 404 00:23:20,021 --> 00:23:21,141 Speaker 3: my life changed again. 405 00:23:23,621 --> 00:23:26,580 Speaker 1: Almost everyone on the twenty eight man patrol had been 406 00:23:26,661 --> 00:23:32,141 Speaker 1: hit in the explosion. Four had died. It was terrible, 407 00:23:32,541 --> 00:23:35,901 Speaker 1: but it could have been so much worse because Flow 408 00:23:35,981 --> 00:23:40,261 Speaker 1: had done two things. He moved the explosion further from 409 00:23:40,261 --> 00:23:43,021 Speaker 1: the group, and he caused it to happen on the 410 00:23:43,061 --> 00:23:46,301 Speaker 1: ground instead of the open air, where it would have 411 00:23:46,341 --> 00:23:50,461 Speaker 1: caused more damage. Plus, while Flow didn't know this at 412 00:23:50,461 --> 00:23:54,701 Speaker 1: the time, there had been a second suicide bomber. The 413 00:23:54,781 --> 00:23:58,100 Speaker 1: first explosion caused the second one to detonate before it 414 00:23:58,141 --> 00:24:02,461 Speaker 1: was in place. Had both gone off as planned, who 415 00:24:02,541 --> 00:24:06,861 Speaker 1: knows how many more would have been killed, But none 416 00:24:06,901 --> 00:24:10,541 Speaker 1: of that mattered to Flow. He had lost his friends, 417 00:24:11,381 --> 00:24:12,981 Speaker 1: the people he was there to protect. 418 00:24:14,501 --> 00:24:16,341 Speaker 3: I don't know how to describe a fils I had 419 00:24:16,341 --> 00:24:23,301 Speaker 3: at that specific moment, But you can definitely combine anger, fury, sadness, devastation, 420 00:24:23,861 --> 00:24:28,141 Speaker 3: everything into one ball of just suck. That would be 421 00:24:28,221 --> 00:24:31,181 Speaker 3: the last time I would ever be in combat as 422 00:24:31,381 --> 00:24:33,861 Speaker 3: an army guy. That would be the last time I 423 00:24:33,861 --> 00:24:36,061 Speaker 3: would ever lead men in combat, would be the last 424 00:24:36,061 --> 00:24:39,461 Speaker 3: time I'd ever wear a uniform in combat, And so 425 00:24:40,501 --> 00:24:48,061 Speaker 3: my entire life changing him out of eight seconds. 426 00:24:57,141 --> 00:25:00,861 Speaker 1: Two days after the suicide bombing and the Sadabad Flogrolberg 427 00:25:01,021 --> 00:25:05,741 Speaker 1: opened his eyes. He wasn't sure what he was looking at. 428 00:25:06,141 --> 00:25:08,620 Speaker 1: He knew he had tubes coming out of him. He 429 00:25:08,661 --> 00:25:11,421 Speaker 1: assumed he was in the hospital. That would makes sense, 430 00:25:12,461 --> 00:25:15,221 Speaker 1: But there was also a guy with long dreadlocks and 431 00:25:15,301 --> 00:25:20,101 Speaker 1: tattoos standing over him, staring into his eyes. That made 432 00:25:20,181 --> 00:25:24,461 Speaker 1: literally no sense at all, because that guy looked just 433 00:25:24,781 --> 00:25:28,541 Speaker 1: like the lead singer of one of Flow's favorite bands. 434 00:25:29,221 --> 00:25:34,901 Speaker 1: Flow thought he was hallucinating. Well he wasn't. Jonathan Davis, 435 00:25:35,141 --> 00:25:38,821 Speaker 1: the lead singer of Korn, was really there in the 436 00:25:38,901 --> 00:25:44,141 Speaker 1: hospital in Germany. Korn happened to be touring with the USO. 437 00:25:44,821 --> 00:25:49,501 Speaker 1: Davis's grandfathers had both served in the military. I mean, 438 00:25:50,181 --> 00:25:53,941 Speaker 1: who knew, He told Flow that he was proud of 439 00:25:53,981 --> 00:25:57,901 Speaker 1: him and that everyone was rooting for him. Flow needed 440 00:25:57,901 --> 00:26:01,061 Speaker 1: to hear it because the next day was Flow's first surgery, 441 00:26:01,261 --> 00:26:04,580 Speaker 1: which would be followed by many many more, all to 442 00:26:04,661 --> 00:26:08,981 Speaker 1: try to save his leg. From Germany, Flow was sent 443 00:26:09,021 --> 00:26:13,381 Speaker 1: to Maryland. On the long flight overseas, he wrote apology 444 00:26:13,461 --> 00:26:15,421 Speaker 1: letters to the families of the men who had died 445 00:26:15,501 --> 00:26:20,501 Speaker 1: or been wounded. He felt responsible for their losses. His 446 00:26:20,701 --> 00:26:26,941 Speaker 1: entire action had only taken eight seconds, but he kept thinking, 447 00:26:27,421 --> 00:26:28,581 Speaker 1: why wasn't I faster? 448 00:26:31,021 --> 00:26:34,101 Speaker 3: You love the men to your right, to you left, 449 00:26:34,141 --> 00:26:36,580 Speaker 3: to your front of your ear, with everything that you 450 00:26:36,621 --> 00:26:37,181 Speaker 3: have inside. 451 00:26:37,261 --> 00:26:39,580 Speaker 4: You're willing to die for him. You will to die 452 00:26:39,661 --> 00:26:40,341 Speaker 4: for your country. 453 00:26:40,701 --> 00:26:43,821 Speaker 3: You don't want to die, obviously, but as part of responsibility, 454 00:26:43,861 --> 00:26:46,941 Speaker 3: it's part of reality. I just did my job. Every 455 00:26:46,941 --> 00:26:49,101 Speaker 3: single one of my guys did their job. They all 456 00:26:49,141 --> 00:26:52,981 Speaker 3: went out there and were incredible. And that's it. It's 457 00:26:53,061 --> 00:26:55,341 Speaker 3: just the reality of it. I tell you what, I 458 00:26:55,341 --> 00:26:58,261 Speaker 3: didn't do the job well enough, because for my brothers 459 00:26:58,301 --> 00:27:01,501 Speaker 3: died and so to me it will always be a failure. 460 00:27:03,501 --> 00:27:06,021 Speaker 1: He went to Walter Read Hospital and over the next 461 00:27:06,021 --> 00:27:09,661 Speaker 1: few months he had twenty seven surgeries to save his leg. 462 00:27:10,461 --> 00:27:12,461 Speaker 1: He was we were totally sure whether it would still 463 00:27:12,501 --> 00:27:15,941 Speaker 1: be attached when he woke up. He never slept more 464 00:27:15,941 --> 00:27:18,301 Speaker 1: than a few hours at a time, but when he 465 00:27:18,381 --> 00:27:20,781 Speaker 1: did sleep, he was back in the side of body 466 00:27:21,061 --> 00:27:24,941 Speaker 1: yelling at the suicide bomber. Being awake wasn't much better. 467 00:27:25,541 --> 00:27:31,541 Speaker 1: The guilt was overwhelming, but slowly, over time he started 468 00:27:31,541 --> 00:27:35,781 Speaker 1: to realize something important. But the second chance at life came, 469 00:27:35,861 --> 00:27:40,261 Speaker 1: the opportunity for another change, a new opportunity to do 470 00:27:40,301 --> 00:27:43,621 Speaker 1: good in the world, even though he was no longer 471 00:27:43,661 --> 00:27:44,821 Speaker 1: a soldier in combat. 472 00:27:45,661 --> 00:27:47,701 Speaker 3: Now I have the responsibility to live my life to 473 00:27:47,741 --> 00:27:49,301 Speaker 3: the best of my abilities for the rest of my 474 00:27:49,381 --> 00:27:51,261 Speaker 3: days and make sure that iron it every single day. 475 00:27:51,941 --> 00:27:54,901 Speaker 3: He's a reminder that I am on bard time. My 476 00:27:55,021 --> 00:27:58,381 Speaker 3: life is no longer just mine. It represents my fourth 477 00:27:58,421 --> 00:28:00,100 Speaker 3: brothers that didn't come home, and you know what it 478 00:28:00,181 --> 00:28:02,621 Speaker 3: represents all the guys prior to that who didn't come home. 479 00:28:03,941 --> 00:28:07,061 Speaker 1: He made a new promise to himself. He decided to 480 00:28:07,101 --> 00:28:09,181 Speaker 1: be better for them. 481 00:28:09,621 --> 00:28:11,341 Speaker 3: I'm not changing the world every day, but every day 482 00:28:11,341 --> 00:28:13,981 Speaker 3: I tried to do something positive in the world, and 483 00:28:14,021 --> 00:28:16,301 Speaker 3: I hope that eventually that builds up to me being 484 00:28:16,341 --> 00:28:18,301 Speaker 3: a good person and earning the effect that I'm still 485 00:28:18,301 --> 00:28:18,701 Speaker 3: in dissert. 486 00:28:20,101 --> 00:28:21,861 Speaker 1: He would be in and out of Walter Reed for 487 00:28:21,901 --> 00:28:25,181 Speaker 1: the next two and a half years. The doctors did 488 00:28:25,221 --> 00:28:28,541 Speaker 1: save his leg, but the damage was permanent. His ankle 489 00:28:28,661 --> 00:28:32,101 Speaker 1: was fused in place, unable to move the same way, 490 00:28:32,181 --> 00:28:36,501 Speaker 1: but he started to move forward. After all, Grobergs don't 491 00:28:36,581 --> 00:28:42,541 Speaker 1: quit right. He was thrilled when Sergeant Andrew Mahoney received 492 00:28:42,541 --> 00:28:46,021 Speaker 1: a silver Star for his actions that day, but Flow 493 00:28:46,181 --> 00:28:48,141 Speaker 1: never wanted recognition for himself. 494 00:28:49,101 --> 00:28:51,381 Speaker 3: I didn't care about medals. I don't want to medal. 495 00:28:51,541 --> 00:28:55,141 Speaker 3: I just wanted to go on my life, so I 496 00:28:55,141 --> 00:28:58,581 Speaker 3: didn't hear anything. And I left the Army on July 497 00:28:58,941 --> 00:29:03,581 Speaker 3: twenty third, twenty fifteen, with nothing, and that was good 498 00:29:03,581 --> 00:29:03,821 Speaker 3: for me. 499 00:29:05,141 --> 00:29:07,901 Speaker 1: He joined the Department of Defense. He went back to 500 00:29:07,901 --> 00:29:10,821 Speaker 1: get his master's degree, and then he met Carson Ze, 501 00:29:11,541 --> 00:29:14,261 Speaker 1: a gorgeous, dark haired girl who is the friend of 502 00:29:14,301 --> 00:29:14,741 Speaker 1: a friend. 503 00:29:15,461 --> 00:29:18,381 Speaker 3: There's a group of girls sitting in this satio and 504 00:29:18,501 --> 00:29:20,901 Speaker 3: one of them drops her phone, so I pick it up. 505 00:29:21,381 --> 00:29:24,141 Speaker 4: I'm gonna give it to look at him like wow, okay, hello. 506 00:29:24,581 --> 00:29:28,261 Speaker 1: Hello, and that was it. They had just started planning 507 00:29:28,261 --> 00:29:29,901 Speaker 1: to move in together when he got a call in 508 00:29:29,941 --> 00:29:37,501 Speaker 1: September of twenty fifteen on the phone. Barack Obama, the President, 509 00:29:37,621 --> 00:29:40,141 Speaker 1: was calling to tell Flow that he would be a 510 00:29:40,221 --> 00:29:44,941 Speaker 1: recipient of the Medal of Honor. Carson was sitting next 511 00:29:44,941 --> 00:29:47,101 Speaker 1: to him as he hung up the phone. 512 00:29:47,261 --> 00:29:48,021 Speaker 4: I remember looking at her. 513 00:29:48,061 --> 00:29:49,821 Speaker 3: I said, I think things are going to change again, baby, 514 00:29:49,901 --> 00:29:51,901 Speaker 3: and she said, I think you're right. 515 00:29:52,901 --> 00:29:53,781 Speaker 4: And did they ever. 516 00:29:55,341 --> 00:29:59,141 Speaker 1: Flow had only one request for his Medal of Honor ceremony. 517 00:29:59,221 --> 00:30:03,141 Speaker 1: He wanted the families of Kevin Griffin, David Gray, and 518 00:30:03,181 --> 00:30:06,661 Speaker 1: Tom Kennedy to be there. If they weren't there, he 519 00:30:06,741 --> 00:30:07,821 Speaker 1: didn't want to be either. 520 00:30:08,581 --> 00:30:10,701 Speaker 3: I called the Gostar families asking them to be a 521 00:30:10,701 --> 00:30:13,421 Speaker 3: par part of the ceremony and the reception, because this 522 00:30:13,621 --> 00:30:16,461 Speaker 3: metal belongs to them, what in me. They're the ones 523 00:30:16,461 --> 00:30:18,421 Speaker 3: that have to live with the consequences of August eight, 524 00:30:18,461 --> 00:30:19,861 Speaker 3: twenty twelve more than I do. 525 00:30:20,061 --> 00:30:20,541 Speaker 4: I'm here. 526 00:30:22,061 --> 00:30:25,141 Speaker 1: They agreed to attend, along with so many of FLOE's 527 00:30:25,221 --> 00:30:29,221 Speaker 1: friends and brothers and arms. His parents were there, of course, 528 00:30:29,581 --> 00:30:34,101 Speaker 1: in Carson Io, all listening as President Obama spoke. 529 00:30:35,741 --> 00:30:38,941 Speaker 5: Flow says that day was the worst day of his life, 530 00:30:40,061 --> 00:30:42,461 Speaker 5: and that is the stark reality behind these medal of 531 00:30:42,501 --> 00:30:47,141 Speaker 5: honor ceremonies for all the valor we celebrate, all the 532 00:30:47,181 --> 00:30:52,981 Speaker 5: courage that inspires us. These actions were demanded amidst some 533 00:30:53,021 --> 00:31:00,821 Speaker 5: of the most dreadful moments of war. That's precisely why 534 00:31:01,541 --> 00:31:07,741 Speaker 5: we honor heroes like Flow, because on his very worst day, 535 00:31:09,261 --> 00:31:14,141 Speaker 5: he managed to summon his very best. That's the nature 536 00:31:14,181 --> 00:31:23,381 Speaker 5: of courage, not being unafraid, but confronting fear and danger 537 00:31:24,061 --> 00:31:30,141 Speaker 5: and performing in a selfless fashion. He showed his guts, 538 00:31:30,741 --> 00:31:34,021 Speaker 5: he showed his training. How you put it all on 539 00:31:34,061 --> 00:31:38,341 Speaker 5: the line for his teammates. That's an American we can 540 00:31:38,381 --> 00:31:39,141 Speaker 5: all be grateful for. 541 00:31:40,621 --> 00:31:43,181 Speaker 1: No other way to put it. An American we can 542 00:31:43,261 --> 00:31:48,261 Speaker 1: all be grateful for. That's so true and yet so interesting, 543 00:31:48,861 --> 00:31:52,621 Speaker 1: given that this isn't the country of his birth, it's 544 00:31:52,661 --> 00:31:54,101 Speaker 1: the country he chose. 545 00:31:55,181 --> 00:31:57,101 Speaker 3: I hear a lot about the fact that I'm an immigrant. 546 00:31:57,101 --> 00:31:58,941 Speaker 3: Then people would say, well, how could you do this? 547 00:31:59,301 --> 00:32:01,741 Speaker 3: You know, for the United States of America. I got 548 00:32:01,741 --> 00:32:04,141 Speaker 3: to live in a different country, and I came here 549 00:32:04,181 --> 00:32:06,781 Speaker 3: and had an opportunity to truly understand how lucky I 550 00:32:06,781 --> 00:32:10,141 Speaker 3: am and what to appreciate. And sometimes it's hard to 551 00:32:10,141 --> 00:32:14,581 Speaker 3: appreciate something been their entire life. And I was lucky 552 00:32:14,701 --> 00:32:17,541 Speaker 3: that I was born somewhere else, spoke a different language, 553 00:32:17,541 --> 00:32:20,301 Speaker 3: and I got to come here immerse myself in something great, 554 00:32:20,421 --> 00:32:23,381 Speaker 3: and I understand it, and I'm grateful for it. 555 00:32:27,381 --> 00:32:30,781 Speaker 1: He's got a point. Maybe it does take an outsider 556 00:32:30,821 --> 00:32:33,661 Speaker 1: to see the value in something we all take for granted, 557 00:32:34,461 --> 00:32:38,581 Speaker 1: to see how much there is to fight for. To 558 00:32:38,661 --> 00:32:41,421 Speaker 1: this day, Flow wears a bracelet with the names of 559 00:32:41,461 --> 00:32:45,301 Speaker 1: the men who were lost, and in twenty seventeen, he 560 00:32:45,341 --> 00:32:49,181 Speaker 1: and Carson returned to that base in Afghanistan. There's a 561 00:32:49,221 --> 00:32:51,861 Speaker 1: memorial there to honor the men who died that day. 562 00:32:52,581 --> 00:32:56,661 Speaker 1: They paid their respects together. The couple got married the 563 00:32:56,701 --> 00:32:57,421 Speaker 1: following year. 564 00:32:58,101 --> 00:32:59,781 Speaker 4: She's my life, man, She's everything. 565 00:33:01,141 --> 00:33:04,621 Speaker 1: Flow and Carson now have two little kids. Flow works 566 00:33:04,661 --> 00:33:08,021 Speaker 1: for a private investment firm that focuses on technology and 567 00:33:08,141 --> 00:33:14,381 Speaker 1: national security. Can't run anymore. His eight second race, the 568 00:33:14,421 --> 00:33:19,341 Speaker 1: most important race of his life, was his last. Those 569 00:33:19,341 --> 00:33:22,581 Speaker 1: seconds mattered, but what mattered even more was his courage, 570 00:33:23,701 --> 00:33:28,101 Speaker 1: his willingness to race forward for the sake of his team, 571 00:33:28,221 --> 00:33:31,781 Speaker 1: for the sake of his country, as fast as he 572 00:33:31,861 --> 00:34:09,021 Speaker 1: possibly could. Medal of Honor, Stories of Courage is written 573 00:34:09,020 --> 00:34:12,861 Speaker 1: by Meredith Rollins and produced by Meredith Rollins and Ryan Schwiker. 574 00:34:13,500 --> 00:34:18,101 Speaker 1: Our editor is Lydia Jean Kott. Sound designed by Jake Gorski. 575 00:34:18,581 --> 00:34:23,460 Speaker 1: Our executive producer is Gonstanza gayardro Fact checking by Arthur Gomperts. 576 00:34:23,861 --> 00:34:27,980 Speaker 1: Original music by Eric Phillips. Special thanks to the Congressional 577 00:34:28,020 --> 00:34:31,540 Speaker 1: Medal of Honor Society, the American Legion, and the Army 578 00:34:31,620 --> 00:34:34,981 Speaker 1: Matters Podcast. If you want to learn more about this story, 579 00:34:35,261 --> 00:34:37,301 Speaker 1: take a look at our show notes, where we have 580 00:34:37,381 --> 00:34:40,061 Speaker 1: some of the resources we use to put this episode together. 581 00:34:41,421 --> 00:34:43,740 Speaker 1: We also want to hear from you. Send us your 582 00:34:43,781 --> 00:34:48,460 Speaker 1: personal story of courage or highlight someone else's bravery. Email 583 00:34:48,580 --> 00:34:53,940 Speaker 1: us at Medal of Honor at Pushkin dot fm. You 584 00:34:54,020 --> 00:34:56,901 Speaker 1: might hear your stories on future episodes of Medal of 585 00:34:56,940 --> 00:35:01,341 Speaker 1: Honor or see them on our social channels at Pushkin Pods. 586 00:35:02,701 --> 00:35:04,980 Speaker 1: I'm your host, JR. Martinez