Patriot to the Core

Today we have the privilege to hear from one of the legends in the Combat Control field, Mr. Wayne Norrad.  Many listeners probably never heard of Combat Control (CCT) before Patriot to the Core.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you’ll learn from Wayne that they are an integral part in most, if not all, of the major conflicts with which the US is involved. First There We talk about his participation in the Tegucigalpa Honduras hijackings in the early ’80’s, deploying to Panama with Delta Force, and the Air Force’s role in counterterrorism.  In addition: Operation Just Cause in Panama, being the first CCT with the advance party in Operation Desert Shield, and opening King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. His team was in Cambodia in 1975 with no weapons or uniforms, therefore no way to defend themselves.  Norrad also shares the creation of Detachment 1 at Pope Air Force Base after the failed Iranian Rescue Mission. Among the changes made since Norrad joined CCT:  PT test is much harder, and Combat Dive and Freefall schools are now required.  And a little trivia: they used to wear navy blue berets.  Now they’re red. He has been instrumental in developing HAHO (high altitude, high opening) parachute tactics and integrating air/ground assets to safely and successfully employ joint special operations forces onto the battlefield. Wayne Norrad also controlled the first fixed wing aircraft to land at Kuwait City International Airport.  And through some simple thinking, figured out how to keep his and his teammates fingers from going numb while parachuting.  This involved using their feet to steer. Thanks to his efforts, today’s CCT’s can go in by any means to do their jobs (air, land, water).  They are a premier elite fighting force. We definitely will have Wayne back to further discuss his experience in CCT, Combat Control Association and the Air Force Demo Team. For more information, read this article written by Wayne Norrad, CMSgt, USAF (Ret) (beginning on page 19): Special Tactics in Desert Storm Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2017 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com  

Frank Jones married his high school sweetheart two weeks before WWII broke out.  He felt he should do his part to serve our country, so he joined the Air Force. After washing out of pilot school for making six spins instead of two with his instructor, he became a bombardier. One year after being married, and about three months after his first child was born, he was flying to England for his first deployment. On his 23rd mission, with Hamburg, Germany as the target, Frank’s plane was shot down.  The crew got out first, then just as he exited the plane, it exploded.  However, he parachuted to his safety; temporarily. He was alone on the ground, until he saw several locals.  Even though he hid behind a bush, some kids saw him and reported to the adults.  20-year-old Frank Jones was then taken prisoner on December 31, 1942. The explosion made him deaf which ended up causing him to be thrown in solitary confinement.  Once removed, the bang from a slammed door miraculously brought his hearing back. Life as a prisoner Frank tells of their walk to another POW camp in Munich in the middle of winter.  What it was like to sleep in a pig pen, be a prisoner for four months, and then the sweet reunion with his wife and son in spring of 1943.  Plus, he learned boll weevils look like beans in soup, but he ate them anyway – hunger does that to you. This 94-year-old stays active and is a joy to speak with.  Jones is one of the few left living from the Greatest Generation. Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2017 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

Dan Sheehan was fully prepared for combat.  He’d been an officer in the Marines for six years.  His father was a Navy pilot; his brother was a Marine.  This is what he was meant to do.  When it came to killing the enemy; no problem.  If they pose a threat, kill them.  If they try to kill him or his team, kill them.  It was that simple…. or so he thought. He learned it wasn’t that cut and dry during his first deployment to Iraq in 2003.  When teammates eliminated terrorists, he had no problem with it–it was necessary.  But for some reason when Dan killed, it impacted him like he never imagined.  His attitude became worse and his emails home turned more negative. He not only struggled with actually killing, but how could he be 100% certain those he was firing at were legit enemy combatants?  There was no way to be completely certain.  He also learned the results of inaction could cause death to him and his teammates. Welcome Home Dan returned home in 2002 to a welcoming nation.  Strangers bought him drinks and shook his hand.  But when things quieted down, he was a wreck.  He couldn’t sit still.  Even surfing wasn’t the therapy he thought it’d be.  How was he supposed to immediately adapt from an active battlefield to home life?  He turned to alcohol, which allowed him to calm down some. Fortunately, he had an understanding and patient wife, plus he began spearfishing.  His wife helped him in a way that no one else could.  The spearfishing provided a rush and “high” that he needed to feel normal. His journey has been long, but he told me he’s in a really good place now.  He’s a stay-at-home dad who vowed to not screw up his kids.  Writing provided therapeutic healing in a way nothing else did.  Now, his books help veterans and those close to them understand they aren’t alone. To learn more about Dan, his books, and to see pics and videos from his deployments, check out his web site below: www.dansheehanauthor.com You can purchase his awarding winning books here: After Action Continuing Actions   Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2017 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com    

J. Stanford (Stan) Staheli was only 18 years old when drafted. One year later he was a member of Patton’s Third Army, 4th Armored Division, liberating France from the Nazi’s.  It was here that he was captured in 1944 during a German counter-attack near Rimsdorf, France.  The Germans immediately said “The war’s over for you.”  Stan thought surely, they were going to be killed; but that wasn’t the case. He and the other prisoners walked three days to the camp in Frankfurt.  They then traveled by rail in a standing-room only conditions to East Germany.  Then eventually to another location where they were held for five months.  Even though he said he was treated humanely, he was stripped of his clothes each night and only had a small throw blanket for cover, during the coldest recorded winter in German history at the time. Stan said life in the prison camp wasn’t that bad.  The guards told them “if you don’t work, you don’t eat.”  Having grown up in the depression, this wasn’t a new concept to him.  He learned to love to work long before the Army.  They built bomb shelters and repaired railroads for the German Army.  However, many of the guards were disabled from the front lines and would show the prisoners pictures of their captors’ families when their superiors weren’t around. Staheli said his mom never lost faith that her son was alive.  Even though he was officially “missing in action”, many presumed he was dead.  After being released, he was finally able to write his family and then surprised them on a Sunday morning in Cedar City, UT. Today, Staheli is 91 years old and has a noble posterity – 10 children (2 have passed), 53 grandchildren, and 60+ great-grandchildren.  Quoting Will Rogers, he said “I never met a man I didn’t like.” This hero, with only an 8th grade education, was presented an honorary diploma from Enterprise High School in May 2016. Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2017 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com  

Here in Part 2 we find out more about Mike Spann’s final moments in Qala-i-Jangi fortress.  At one point, Mike was interviewing American traitor John Walker Lindh.  Lindh knew of the uprising that was planned and could have saved Mike’s life, but he never said a word.  Instead, when questioned, he remained silent, leading to Spann being overrun and killed. Since Mike Spann’s death, his father has been on a mission to find out all the details about his son’s final moments, however this required deciphering the truth from fiction.  He even went to Afghanistan and met with General Dostum.  Here he saw the spot where his son was killed by the anti-American terrorists. Also, Spann answers the disputed question of whether or not his son was tortured. It was an honor to speak to this grieving and proud father of American hero Mike Spann. Read more about this quiet warrior below: https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/johnny-micheal-spann.html Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2017 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

As a CIA officer, Mike Spann (Johnny Micheal) was in the fortress of Qala-i-Jangi, where Taliban prisoners were being held and questioned.  Although these captives had given themselves up, their pledge of surrender was a lie. Mike was interviewing a group of extremists when hundreds of prisoners revolted in a planned uprising. Just before he was killed in the attack, Mike warned an Agency colleague of the imminent danger, helping his colleague get to safety. Spann fought for his life, but in the end was overtaken.  He went down fighting. The life of Mike Spann life could have been spared if American traitor John Walker Lindh would have told Mike about the scheduled revolt.  Instead, he remained silent when Mike questioned him. His dad shares with us about Mike’s early days of getting his pilot’s license at age 17, why he joined the Marines and then the CIA.  Then, how 9/11 impacted him. Johnny also tells us that he discovered he couldn’t trust everything he read or heard from the media, due to getting burned by some reporters. Learn more about “quiet warrior” Mike Spann below: https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/johnny-micheal-spann.html Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2017 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

In 1993, Larry Moores was leading a convoy to capture two Somali leaders when two Blackhawks were shot down.  Then the mission turned into a desperate search and rescue mission.  In what is known as “Black Hawk Down”, Larry describes his role in the battle that left 18 killed, over 80 wounded, and one missing pilot from his task force. He shares with us valuable lessons he learned in Mogadishu and what roles his men played in recovering our dead and wounded.  Also, the benefits of living right in the city of Mogadishu and deploying from a very visible airfield.  The locals saw them all the time. He enlisted as a young Army Ranger, commissioned through Officer Candidate School and served a 21-year career in Airborne, Ranger and Special Operations assignments, with numerous deployments including, Grenada, Somalia and Afghanistan. Moores is now Executive Director of Three Rangers Foundation, which provides veterans with experts, advice and assistance in every aspect of their journey; whether spiritual, physical, mental, employment, finances, family, or education. Learn more about his foundation and upcoming events in 2017: http://www.threerangersfoundation.org/ And Larry proudly supports James Dietz’s portraits in his home: http://www.jamesdietz.com/ Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2017 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

On this special Christmas Day episode, we hear from a legend from WWII – Gail (Hal) Halvorsen.  He has many names:  Uncle Wiggly Wings, The Berlin Candy Bomber and The Chocolate Flier.  He became popular for dropping candy from his plane to the children of Berlin, from 1948-49. His efforts gained support from many back in the states.  School children packaged candy in boxes with parachutes, and candy companies like Wrigley and Hershey’s donated items.  Thanks to his efforts he and his team had dropped 23 tons of candy by Christmas 1949. Today we talk of “Operation Little Viddles”, how he became a pilot, how to overcome trials and depression, and the importance of serving others.  This is an uplifting episode that you don’t want to miss.  He shares that these children in Berlin taught him about freedom more than anything else.  It’s amazing what 2 sticks of gum turned into! Learn more about Mr. Halvorsen here: http://wigglywings.weebly.com/ His book, “The Berlin Candy Bomber” here:  https://smile.amazon.com/dp/088290616X Special with Tom Brokaw:  https://youtu.be/QWbISrde2mQ Outro music courtesy of Blake Shelton – Home (feat. Michael Buble) Copyright 2016 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

Will Thomas was 12 when the EXTORTION 17 tragedy helped him see that our freedom to compete in athletics and pursue other passions is made possible by the sacrifices of heroes.  Grateful for their gift, Will began honoring America’s special operations community through a mission called Operation Hawkeye. Will is now a senior at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., and Operation Hawkeye has grown into a national grassroots organization of individuals and enterprises dedicated to honoring the service of fallen special operators and raising monetary and in-kind aid for related charities, mainly through athletic challenges and gear collaborations. Last summer, for example, Will piloted a successful baseball-themed challenge called STRIKE FORCE, benefiting Gold Star Teen Adventures.  He is currently working on his biggest campaign yet – a national version of STRIKE FORCE allowing high school, travel, and college baseball teams across the country to use baseball to raise funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, beginning spring of 2017. He also works with mission teammates to create branded apparel and other items benefiting special operations causes, such as the Operation Hawkeye shemagh scarf offered by Combat Flip Flops, which provides desperately-needed jobs in war-torn Afghanistan and helps fund programs offered by the TEAM 5 Foundation and the STATION Foundation. Our future is bright with young men like Will stepping up to lead.  You can learn more about Will and his organization here, as well as him playing 2 on 2 in his driveway with Admiral McRaven: http://ophawkeye.com/ Music courtesy of Rush – Freewill. Copyright 2016 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

Marc Esposito’s vehicle was hit by an IED when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009.  After being in a wheelchair for almost five months, he was finally able to stand. By 2011, he competed in the Warrior Games and won Gold in pistol shooting.  Shortly thereafter, rode his bike across the country, from the pacific in San Francisco to the Atlantic in Virginia Beach. Marc said cycling changed his life, even though he was hit by a car along the route.  He made an early decision to not let his injuries ever haunt him. You’ll enjoy hearing Marc tell about his life since his injury on the battlefield.   Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2016 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

If you want to hear from someone who is a great example of the American Dream, this is it.  Ronnie Rains grew up poor, was drafted to serve in Vietnam, and later in life started businesses that have allowed him to be very generous to many people today – specifically our military and their families. Regularly, Ronnie hosts wounded warriors at his ranch from all branches of our military.  He wants them to have a place to relax, hunt, fish, kayak, eat good food, and be away from cameras and photo ops.  He says putting those injured with someone in worse conditions than their own lifts their spirits.  I’ve been there and know first-hand the care he takes of our heroes. This humble man helps our warriors in ways doctors and medicine can’t.  He shows us how to walk the talk by serving quietly, while impacting many. Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2016 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com  

At age 56, Dan Hammond qualified for the US National Team to compete in the Duathlon World Championship in Aviles, Spain. He shares how he overcame injuries to quality for team and then found motivation to finish the big race, despite his body telling him to quit shortly after starting. He also started “American Profile” magazine to distribute the good news of life in hometown America. It was the largest publishing launch in the US and spotlighted heroes that most of us never knew about; or those we did know, but never knew the selfless work they did for others. Goes to show that every town and every person have great stories. Read more about Dan here: http://markaforester.com/?postID=1904&tennessee-athlete-honors-mark-in-duathlon-world-championship http://www.americanhometownmedia.com/ Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2016 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

Dennis Miller called Michael Yon the “Premier Combat Journalist”.  You want captivating?? This is it.  We cover topics from hand-to-hand combat, North Korean’s kidnapping Japanese and presumably Americans, the United States’ biggest threat, pedophilia among our mid-east enemies, WWII 442nd Infantry Regiment, war crimes, and much more. After getting out of the Army Special Forces, Michael embedded with our troops for longer than any other war correspondent, according to the New York Times.  He deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Thailand, Philippines and elsewhere. Learn more about Michael here: https://www.michaelyon-online.com/ And his book “Gates of Fire”: https://www.michaelyon-online.com/gates-of-fire.htm Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2016 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com  

It’s been 10 years since Justin was shot in the head by a sniper in Iraq.  The bullet entered behind his ear and exited thru his mouth.  You can imagine the destruction that caused. Since his injury, Justin has continued his education, married his sweetheart (who took care of him during his recovery), written a book, and became a coach and motivational speaker. This hero is involved in multiple organizations and causes that help veterans.  He was named a “Champion of Change” by the White House, presented the All-American Hero Award in 2013, along with many other awards. After a couple dozen reconstructive surgeries and being blind in his left eye, he tells us that we are stronger than we think we are and we can overcome any obstacle.  Although he can no longer run, there are very few things he can’t do.  I left this interview in awe of his attitude and grit – I hope you feel the same! Learn more about Justin here: http://www.justinconstantine.com/ Purchase his book here: http://mybattlefieldyouroffice.com/ Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2016 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com  

Today is six years since Mark Forester was killed by a terrorist in Afghanistan.  This episode is just two brothers talking about the notification of Mark’s death, the Angel Flight, the Patriot Guard Riders, near death experiences, and life since.  We also reminiscence about our little brother and why he was the warrior he became. Joseph was very influential in Mark’s decision to join the Air Force so it was fitting that we chat and document it.  I especially enjoyed Joseph’s insight on what he thought Mark’s final thoughts were in those last few minutes of his life on the battlefield. Learn more about Mark at: www.markaforester.com Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe. Copyright 2016 Thad Forester www.patriottothecore.com email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com