Beyond The Call Hosted By Arroe Collins

Pod Crashing episode 386 with U.S. Army Veteran JR Martinez from the podcast Medal Of Honor Stories. Rewarded for bravery that goes above and beyond the call of duty, the Medal of Honor is the United States' top military decoration. The stories we tell are about the heroes who have distinguished themselves by acts of heroism and courage that have saved lives. From Judith Resnik, the second woman in space, to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice, these are stories about those who have done the improbable and unexpected, who have sacrificed something in the name of something much bigger than themselves. Every Wednesday on Medal of Honor, uncover what their experiences tell us about the nature of sacrifice, why people put their lives in danger for others, and what happens after you've become a hero. Special thanks to series creator Dan McGinn, to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Adam Plumpton. Medal of Honor begins on May 28.Episodes available here:Https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-medal-of-honor-stories-of-126797849/

Marking the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing, Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories of World War II, a new documentary from Blue Chalk Media, will air on public television stations nationwide beginning the week of August 1. The film includes rarely seen archival footage and interviews with 100-year-old American veterans who were eyewitnesses to the devastation in the immediate aftermath of nuclear warfare.Atomic Echoes follows Karin Tanabe and Victoria Kelly, two friends whose families were on opposite sides of the war, as they embark on an emotional journey to uncover their family legacies. Through their exploration, the film sheds light on the enduring scars of the "hibakusha"-the estimated 650,000 Japanese survivors of the bombings and the "atomic veterans"-the estimated 200,000 American soldiers who responded in the immediate aftermath of the bombings.Karin Tanabe and Victoria Kelly bring deeply personal connections to this project. Karin is a bestselling historical fiction novelist and former Politico reporter whose great-great-uncle was the first president of Hiroshima University and dedicated his life to peace-building after the bomb. Victoria is an award-winning author and poet whose grandfather, an American atomic veteran who served in Nagasaki, died young, haunted by his experiences.Directed and produced by Beatrice Becette, and executive produced by Greg Moyer, Atomic Echoes was filmed in both Japan and the United States, combining deeply personal storytelling with interviews from historians and the last remaining survivors. The film presents a fresh perspective on the nuclear age and its enduring consequences, urging reflection and peace as this pivotal anniversary approaches."With Atomic Echoes, we're preserving the voices of those who have experienced one of history's most significant and devastating events," said Greg Moyer. "This story and its lessons are vital, and we're honored by the trust placed in us by Karin, Victoria, and the survivors who have bravely shared with us."As the remaining survivors enter their later years, Atomic Echoes stands as a powerful testament to their experiences, and a reminder of the human cost of nuclear warfare. The film invites viewers to listen, reflect, and reckon with a past that continues to shape our present.Here's the trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=4iUpvDhoPOw

Joey Guerrero, a native of the Philippines, was diagnosed with leprosy (Hansen’s disease) as World War II unfolded in Europe and Asia. Soon after the Japanese occupied the Philippines, Joey—believing she would die soon—joined the guerrilla movement to complete covert missions in support of the Allies. Because of her condition, she was rarely searched by Japanese soldiers, which allowed her to courier secret messages, including an invaluable minefield map that she taped to her back. She was eventually awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom and admitted to the National Leprosarium in Carville, Louisiana, where she lived for nine years. When she was cured and released, she found it difficult to find work because of racial discrimination and her health history and was forced to pawn her Presidential Medal to make ends meet. Eventually, she shed her previous identity. When she died in 1996, her obituary identified her as a secretary from Manila. But Joey Guerrero was much more than that—she was a hero who changed the course of history.

Remember Us, by Robert Edsel-#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Monuments Men (which was turned into a blockbuster film with an all-star cast including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray and Cate Blanchett) -begins in the pre-dawn hours of Hitler's invasion of Western Europe on May 10, 1940, when his forces rolled into the small rural province of Limburg in the Netherlands shattering more than 100 years of peace. Their freedom gone, the Dutch lived through four-and-a-half years of occupation until American forces reached Limburg in September 1944, the last portion of Western Europe liberated by the Allies before their advance on Nazi Germany slammed to a halt.Like The Monuments Men, Remember Us is an ensemble piece that follows twelve main characters over a six-year span, zeroing in on ordinary people including Frieda van Schäik, a teenager who falls in love with an American soldier; Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole, the first member of the 101st Airborne to receive the Medal of Honor; and Sergeant Jeff Wiggins of the 960th Quartermaster Service Company, who escaped the poverty and racism of Alabama for yet another indignity-digging graves.Drawing on never-before-seen letters, diaries, and other historical records, Edsel shows the painful price of freedom, on the battlefields and inside American homes. In this rich, dramatic, and suspenseful story, he captures both the horrors of war and the transcendent power of gratitude, showing the extraordinary measures the Dutch have taken to thank their liberators. Remember Us is exactly the book we need-a reminder that grief is universal, that humanity knows no national or racial boundaries, and that we all want to be remembered, somehow, someway, by somebody.

Michael Walsh's new book A Rage to Conquer is a journey through twelve of the most important battles in Western history. As Walsh sees it, war is an important facet of every culture - and, for better or worse, our world is unthinkable without it. War has been an essential part of the human condition throughout history, the principal agent of societal change, waged by men on behalf of, and in pursuit of, their gods, women, riches, power, and the sheer joy of combat. In A Rage to Conquer, Walsh brings history to life as he considers a group of courageous commanders and the battles they waged that became crucial to the course of Western history. He looks first at Carl Von Clausewitz, the seminal thinker in the Western canon dealing with war. He then moves on to Achilles at Ilium, Alexander at Gaugamela, Caesar at Alesia, Constantine at the Milvian Bridge, Aetius at the Catalaunian Plains, Bohemond at Dorylaeum and Antioch, Napoleon at Austerlitz, Pershing at St.-Mihiel, Nimitz at Midway and Patton at the Bulge with a final consideration of how the Battle of 9/11 was ultimately lost by the U.S. and what that portends for the future.

In the heart-pounding military thriller Valiant One, a routine mission spirals into a fight for survival when a US Army helicopter crashes deep within North Korean territory. With their communications equipment destroyed, Captain Edward Brockman (Chase Stokes) and Specialist Selby (Lana Condor) must lead the team through hostile terrain, cut off from US military support as they attempt a daring escape across the treacherous Demilitarized Zone

The growing presence of cyber-terrorism in today’s fiction not only entertains, but warns us about the ever-increasing threat of cyberattacks and potential outcomes on society in America and around the world. George Mehok https://www.georgemehok.com/ is an author based in Cleveland, who is a technologist, and entrepreneur with a distinguished career in designing software and leading high-performing teams in the financial services, telecommunications, and aerospace industries. His insights have been featured in prestigious tech journals and notable publications like the Wall Street Journal, CIO Review, and InformationWeek, covering wireless communications, cybersecurity, and data analytics. George’s expertise has earned him accolades, including Crain’s Business Magazine CIO of the Year award, and his work has been recognized in InformationWeek’s Annual Elite 100 ranking of the most innovative technology users in the United States. Mehok weaves his real-world knowledge into gripping narratives, crafting thrilling plots that captivate readers.

The geography speaks for itself. The bad guys are just kilometers away, across the river. We are the only international (or locals) with a brick and mortar office downtown, for them to go for help. No assistance from govt unless elderly, and the assistance they get is shit. Office safe from “normal” shelling (tank fire, most mortars). Glide bombs and attack drones are new since Ukrainians landed on other side and have beachhead. Quietly, that is a total massacre over there — poorly kept secret here. can’t do much about the big stuff … if we get hit with a glide bomb we’re fucked. I like our chances. Monday Wednesday and Friday the FREE STORE AT THE FRONT is open at our office. Basic foods medicines hygiene and winter clothes. Mondays we run bread into insanely dangerous places by the Antonivky bridge, do other stuff like that. Off the radar. For city admin. We are an important “off the books asset” for them.

From former Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, father, and New York Times bestselling author Mark Divine comes Uncommon- an inspirational book following Mark Divine's trademark warrior monk philosophy that will lead you to the summit of personal development.To be common is to be an everyday person. It's to do the things that you are expected to do, whether that's what your parents want for you, or your employer, or your spouse, et cetera. But if you want to be more than you are, more than you think you can be, then you need to recognize and learn from your mistakes to lead a life of excellence.As an elite Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, author, speaker, professor of leadership, and philanthropist, as well as the creator of SEALFIT, Kokoro Yoga, and Unbeatable Mind, Mark Divine uses years of wisdom, business development, martial arts, eastern philosophy and military experience to take you through life's most important principles for finding your pursuit of excellence--so that you or anyone with the proper motivation can become uncommon.

America is divided and at a crossroads. Are its best years behind it or ahead? How can we raise a new generation of leaders to make our nation strong, healthy, and successful?One inspiring man, who has seen people at their most courageous in the military and their most vulnerable as an emergency physician, is raising a young family of three children and wants to see them and our country’s youth have a bright future. He encapsulates his motivational prescription for the United States in an award-winning, best-selling book, Be The Weight Behind The Spear.It outlines the leadership ethos of author Dr. (Colonel) Josh “Blackjack” McConkey. With over 20 years of working in the trenches of America's emergency rooms and with two decades of decorated military service, Dr. McConkey combines lessons of leadership and poignant examples of how we can move American forward. From the battlefields of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom to the death and destruction right here at home caused by the opioid crisis, Be the Weight Behind the Spear encourages a national dialogue on the importance of motivating all Americans to be the weight behind the spears of America's heroes, and focuses on developing our youth into the future heroes and leaders America really needs.

A revealing account of National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster's turbulent and consequential thirteen months in the Trump White House. At War with Ourselves is the story of helping a disruptive President drive necessary shifts in U.S. foreign policy at a critical moment in history. McMaster entered an administration beset by conflict and the hyper partisanship of American politics. With the candor of a soldier and the perspective of a historian, McMaster rises above the fray to lay bare the good, the bad, and the ugly of Trump's presidency and give readers insight into what a second Trump term would look like. While all administrations are subject to backstabbing and infighting, some of Trump's more unscrupulous political advisors were determined to undermine McMaster and others to advance their narrow agendas. McMaster writes candidly about Cabinet officials who, deeply disturbed by Trump's language and behavior, prioritized controlling the President over collaborating to provide the President with options. McMaster offers a frank and fresh assessment of the achievements and failures of his tenure as National Security Advisor and the challenging task of maintaining one's bearings and focus on the mission in a hectic and malicious environment. Determined to transcend the war within the administration and focus on national security priorities, McMaster forged coalitions in Washington and internationally to help Trump advance U.S. interests. Trump's character and personality helped him make tough decisions, but sometimes prevented him from sticking to them. McMaster adroitly assesses the record of Trump's presidency in comparison to the Obama and Biden administrations. With the 2024 election on the horizon, At War with Ourselves highlights the crucial importance of competence in foreign policy, and makes plain the need for leaders who possess the character and intellect to guide the United States in a tumultuous world.

Climate concerns are top of mind, especially with young adults. AmeriCorps, the federal agency for service and volunteering, administers a program for adults ages 18 to 26 to help them take action. AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a team-based national service program that engages young adults in 10 to 11-month hands-on service experiences to develop leadership skills and strengthen communities. Forest Corps is a partnership between AmeriCorps NCCC and the United States Forest Service. The program is for young adults passionate about combating the climate crisis and protecting public lands. The first cohort of NCCC Forest Corps members will be sworn in to begin their service in mid-July.  The Forest Corps program is the first major interagency partnership under President Biden’s American Climate Corps (ACC), a new initiative to train young people in high-demand skills for jobs in the clean energy economy.

Thank you for being part of the conversation.  This is Play It Forward.  Real people.  Real stories.  The struggle to Play It Forward.  Episode 635 is with Brigadier General Paul Greg Smith the author of the book Confessions Of A Weekend Warrior. America's National Guard was once considered a ragtag gaggle of pretend soldiers. Beginning in the 1980s the National Guard gradually transformed into today's highly flexible operational force that answers our nation's call for overseas combat deployments as well as domestic emergencies that run the gamut from lifesaving disaster responses to staffing Covid clinics.   Brigadier General Paul "Greg" Smith describes his personal journey during these years, from a callow cadet to a committed commander leading military forces in response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Smith gives a humorous, gritty, and sometimes touching glimpse into the inner workings of this unique military organization while offering portraits of the men and women who serve as the minutemen of our age. His reflections on service, duty, and the complexities of command will enlighten anyone who seeks to better understand the challenges of leadership.   Their stories reveal more than mere imitations; they demonstrate the fascinating ways ideas evolve as they cross borders.

You are measured by what you do for others, not by what you have accomplished for yourself.The Gouge, in military parlance, is what you really need to know. So here's the Gouge on Bob. As a Navy SEAL Admiral with four decades of war-fighting experience, including Bosnia, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen, he never lost a single man under his command. But his experience runs much wider and deeper than that.While growing up in Iran in the 1970s, he hitchhiked throughout Asia and the Middle East; his grueling daily workout has been performed in at least five continents; and his latest adventure involved setting a world record for parachuting onto Mount Everest. In this book, he boils all of this down into the Gouge philosophy: how to move yourself and the people around you forward using the best information picked up from a lifetime of experience.The result? PFM: In military parlance, that's Pure F**king Magic.

A former Secret Service agent said counter-snipers at the Pennsylvania rally where a would-be assassin wounded former President Donald Trump should have had "360-degree coverage" of the event and surrounding buildings."I don't know how many they had, but they usually always look for 360-degree coverage," former Secret Service agent Anthony Cangelosi told Business Insider. "So that's one thing that's going to be considered."The Federal Bureau of Investigation identified the shooter as a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.Cangelosi, who is now an adjunct professor at the John Jay School of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York, said the primary question law enforcement would likely be asking is how the suspect could have made it to the top of a nearby building undetected.Butler Township Sheriff Michael Slupe told The Washington Post that a local officer encountered the suspect before the shooting but dropped to the ground because he did not have his weapon.For a large event where the president or former president is speaking, the Secret Service on the scene would typically work with law enforcement to design a "site plan" with a mock-up of the event space and all surrounding buildings, Cangelosi said.This plan will be paramount for investigators in determining what possible failures occurred during the rally, according to Cangelosi."All the posts - meaning personnel, Secret Service or uniformed police officers, where they were positioned, what their duties were to secure that post, what considerations were given to the outer perimeter, in this case, the other building," will be included in the site plan, Cangelosi said.Cangelosi said the Secret Service would sometimes use "counter-sniper response units," which are posted on the ground and can quickly move into position if they notice a threat."However, time could also be of the essence, right?" Cangelosi said. "You might not have the ability to send a counter-sniper response team up to the location"Snipers often quickly have to make a decision when they notice a potential threat like an open window or a person sitting on a roof Cangelosi said."What if you find out, 'Oh, I just killed a kid, 20-year-old kid who loves the protected, and he couldn't get in the venue, and he just wanted to get up on that roof,'" Cangelosi added. "No one wants to be in that position."Cangelosi said he expects the Secret Service to amp up security at future events moving forward. Trump has already confirmed he plans to speak at the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin next week."The Secret Service is well aware of the fact that they have to be perfect all of the time," Cangelosi said. "And the one time you're not, it's going to bring an increased scrutiny."

2024 is another banner year for fans of Mark Greaney-his most recent Gray Man thriller, CHAOS AGENT, just came out in February and was an instant New York Times bestseller. And now, readers can start their excitement for a SECOND Mark Greaney novel this year: SENTINEL (on sale June 25), the second in his new Armored series.Greaney is known for keeping an eye on the current world political stage, and his stories are rooted in real world events. He's also traveled to over 35 countries to extensively to research each novel's location, as well as gotten firsthand experience in firearms training, scuba diving, stunt driving, SWAT training, Navy fighter plane flying, field medical training, and more.If you're a fan of Greaney's Gray Man series or action-packed of spy thrillers, Greaney's Armored series features a very different kind of action thriller hero: Joshua Duffy, a Close Protection Agent-a professional bodyguard-one of the world's elite operatives. That is, he was, until his last mission in Lebanon. Against all odds, Josh got his principal out alive, but the cost was high. Josh lost his lower left leg. This makes Josh Duffy a different kind of protagonist than Jack Ryan, Court Gentry, Mitch Rapp, or Pike Logan. With a substantial injury, a wife, kids, and a mortgage, Josh is one of the most realistic characters in this genre.ARMORED (the first in the series) began as a script for an audio play that Audible produced and gave away to its listeners; it was so popular Mark decided to turn it into a full-length novel.In SENTINEL, an African coup may force Josh Duffy to choose between his mission and his family. Josh Duffy and his wife Nikki are both working for the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service providing protection for diplomats in the field. They've been sent to Ghana with a team of US embassy personnel who are there to highlight American commitment to the construction of a new dam.

In the early morning hours in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis gave of himself in a way most of us could never imagine. An act of courage, and the greatest sacrifice one can make, would prove to be an inspiration to all who knew him and fought alongside him. Ever since he was a youngster, Ollis wanted to be like his soldier father, who fought valiantly in Vietnam. His deep desire to serve in the military was hardened when on September 11, 2001, his beloved New York City (born and raised on Staten Island) was attacked. From that tragic day on-ward his only goal was to serve and to protect. Award-winning and bestselling author Tom Sileo captures the true heart and soul of Michael Ollis in his new book, I HAVE YOUR BACK: How an American Soldier Became an International Hero (St. Martin's Press, On Sale Date June 4, 2024, $27.00). In 2013, Staff Sergeant Ollis was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light). Following two tense combat deployments in the mountains of Afghanistan, Ollis earned the U.S. Army's Ranger tab. On August 28, however, Ollis and his entire coalition military base, Forward Operating Base Ghazni, were caught in the middle of a major Taliban assault. Though he was ordered to retreat, Ollis took up the fight. At that moment he encountered a desperate Polish army officer, Lt. Karol Cierpica. Surrounded by enemy fighters, and running low on ammunition, Ollis would not leave Cierpica's side. He would have his back. His bravery would cost the 24-year-old Ollis his life. A life given saving a man he didn't know. Posthumously, Ollis was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and The Audie Murphy Medallion. Perhaps as equally distinguished as these honors from his own country for his service, Ollis received the highest honor that the nation of Poland can bestow upon an allied soldier: The War Order of Wojenny Virtuti Militari, the oldest military decoration in the world still in use. Today his spirit lives on in the SSG Ollis Freedom Foundation, founded in 2014 and based out of Staten Island. As an American - and internationally honored - soldier, he proved he had all our backs. His spirit also lives on with Lt. Karol Cierpica, or rather, with Cierpica's young son, whom the Polish Lieutenant named in honor of Michael Ollis at his birth in 2015. Tom Sileo's powerful account of Ollis' brave 24-year journey will motivate all of us to "live like Mike," and always put family, friends, and country first.

The geography speaks for itself. The bad guys are just kilometers away, across the river. We are the only international (or locals) with a brick and mortar office downtown, for them to go for help. No assistance from govt unless elderly, and the assistance they get is shit. Office safe from “normal” shelling (tank fire, most mortars). Glide bombs and attack drones are new since Ukrainians landed on other side and have beachhead. Quietly, that is a total massacre over there — poorly kept secret here. can’t do much about the big stuff … if we get hit with a glide bomb we’re fucked. I like our chances. Monday Wednesday and Friday the FREE STORE AT THE FRONT is open at our office. Basic foods medicines hygiene and winter clothes. Mondays we run bread into insanely dangerous places by the Antonivky bridge, do other stuff like that. Off the radar. For city admin. We are an important “off the books asset” for them.

From Special Forces veteran and internationally respected teacher of Ronin Tactics to streaming and videogame fan favorite, Tu Lam's memoir will captivate, astonish, exhilarate, and even profoundly resonate. Tu Lam has become known not just for his accomplishments as a decorated Green Beret, but also for his work outside the military, including:  * Training citizens and law enforcement professionals all over the country . Providing aid to both active and retired soldiers with physical and mental health issues . * Co-hosting the History Channel's Forged in Fire: Knife or Death . * Appearing in and contributing to the world's bestselling video game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare In The Way of Rōnin, he reveals his against-all-odds story. Tu Lam's resilience, dedication, and relentless pursuit of freedom saw him achieving Full Spectrum US Special Operations across twenty-seven countries worldwide for more than twenty years, only to pay the price of his own physical and mental trauma as well as addiction. That decision led him to more than two decades of grueling instruction in every facet of the special forces, then deployment to war and conflict zones-all while channeling his inner anger in secret underground no-holds barred fighting matches. When he finally retired from the military after more than two decades, his demons caught up with him, leading to years of addiction. But even that didn't defeat him. Confronting his demons, he emerged triumphant. Now he shares the gripping details and riveting intricacies of this awe-inspiring journey. Tu Lam's life is, at times, all too real, and at many others times, almost unbelievable.

What started as a military coup in Pakistan has ignited South Asia and threatens to spread to the world's largest democracy in India. American and British allies struggle to rescue Western civilians who have been cut off in Islamabad. What starts as a desperate race turns into a grim siege. But the fate of a few innocents pales in comparison to one inescapable fact: Pakistan is a nuclear power and some of those weapons are unaccounted for. Gripping and thought-provoking, THE LONG NOVEMBER is perfect for fans of Brad Thor and Larry Bond. I’d love to know if you might be interested in covering the book or Walt.