Veterans Radio

STAFF SGT. DAVID BELLAVIA, A RELUCTANT MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT Bellavia was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions while serving as a squad leader with the 1st Infantry Division in support of Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq when a squad from his platoon became trapped by intense enemy fire. President Donald J. Trump presented the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 25, 2019. “FOR THE HEROES” HONORS VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS Musician Jason M. Jones who wrote “For The Heroes” talks with host Jim Fausone about National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC) and his song honoring veterans and first responders. NVBDC aired the song at one of its national programs and it was so well received NVBDC insisted that we share it with the Veterans Radio audience. You can find Jason’s music with a web search on his name and “For The Heroes”. Here are a few direct links. LinkedIn Twitter Apple Music MPVA ADVOCACY AND THE AUTO ACT Michigan Paralyzed Vete

In January 2023 President Biden signed the AUTO for Veterans Act  which changes the rules for 100% service disabled veterans and how much and how often they can obtain a VA grant to assist with adaptive vehicles.  Michael Harris, President of Michigan Paralyzed Veterans fo America discusses the new law with host Jim Fausone.  

STORIES OF SERVICE IN MUSIC AND PROSE – ARMY AND COAST GUARD Dale Throneberry hosts our guests: George Meldrum – Vietnam Infantryman, 1968-1972Chuck Jones – Nashville Songwriter and PerformerCapt. Steven J. Craig (ret) – Coast Guard Reserves, author I was playing drums and doing vocals in a blues band when I was drafted in May of 1968. That was before the lottery and I was surprised one day at the mailbox with the letter ordering me to report to the induction center. I have no pictures of me or James O’Banion, the “buddy” for which this song was inspired. There was a very low point in my life where I didn’t want to think about the war and I got rid of everything; including every picture I had. After serving a little less than 4 years I briefly returned to performing music. However, that ended when I had to sell my drums to support a move to Salem, Oregon. 50 years later I started playing and performing again and currently perform locally doing a wide variety of music. “ALL PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR” It w

Dr James Peake served in the Army for 38 years.  He retired as a Lt. General in 2004.  He was the Army Sugeon General.  President GW Bush appointed him as Secretary of VA and he served as such in 2008 & 09. .  He is now Senior Vice President with CGI Group an international IT and business process consulting  group. Dr. Peake is involved in CGI efforts to encourage veterans to consider IT careers with CGI.  He talks about challenges at VA and recruiting efforts with host Jim Fausone.

VETERANS BENEFITS HOUR Our guests: Brian Hayes, Ann Arbor VA Healthcare SystemBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help for Veterans Update on the PACT ACT and how it affects your benefits. Who is covered, Caregiver Benefits, New Presumptive Disabilities  

NVBDC.org brings a LA artisit to our attention that wrote a tribute for veterans and first responders.  Jason M Jones talks about the military service of his brothers and sister and the inspiration for his song For the Heroes with host Jim Fausone.

REAL STORIES FROM MASH UNIT IN SOUTH VIETNAM Reuel Long’s experiences as an MD in the emergency rooms of Flint, Michigan, prepared him for only some of what he would see in a mobile army surgical hospital – MASH. Antiwar sentiment among the doctors in basic training at Fort Sam Houston set the tone for his tour as a general medical officer. In March 1971, the 27th MASH played a critical role treating survivors of the deadliest attack on any firebase during the Vietnam War. Long’s vivid memoir recalls the casualties he cared for during the war, including one he crossed paths with 44 years later – who in his own words describes his rehabilitation from the loss of his legs and his protesting the war from a wheelchair.  An addendum gives an insider’s account of the U.S. military’s failure to remedy a fatal design flaw in the M16 rifle, which caused an unknown number of American casualties. MASH Doctor in Vietnam: A Memoir of the War and After: Long M.D., Reuel S.: 9781476690483: Amazon.com: Books

The Iraq War’s only living Medal of Honor recipient tells the story behind one of the Iraq War’s legendary acts of valor; the men he fought with and the healing of reunion. In 2004, David Bellavia’s U.S. Army unit, an infantry bat­talion known as the Ramrods—2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division—fought and helped win the Battle of Fallujah, the bloodiest episode of the Iraq War. On November 10, 2004, Bellavia single-handedly cleared a forti­fied enemy position that had pinned down a squad from his platoon. Fourteen years later, Bellavia got a call from the pres­ident of the United States: he had been awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions in Fallujah and would receive America’s highest award for bravery in combat during a ceremony at the White House. Bellavia was a reluctant recipient and talks with host Jim Fausone about reuniting with the guys, behind the scenes of the Medal of Honor ceremony and his interactions with President Donald J. Trump.

Dr. Rebecca Grant,  Frequent guest on national news programs as well as Veterans Radio, provides fact-based global military analysis. Dr. Grant is a Military Historian/Author/Commentator and President of IRIS Independent Research. She is a regular guest on Fox Business with Charles Payne and several other news channels to inform citizens of the facts related to global military status. Dr. Grant covers the Russia Ukraine conflict and many other areas of interest around the world – including China.  Ted Barker, co-founder of the Korean War Project, regarding the military personnel and actions in the Korean War. Hal and Ted Barker have been administrators of the www.koreanwar.org website since 1995. They began their quest for information in the late 70s when looking for more information about the Silver Star awarded to their father, Major Edward Lee Barker. Their personal quest quickly grew into a deeper interest, perhaps obsession, for all the military knowledge they could gather that related to the Korean

On September 29, 2006, Michael Monsoor and three SEAL snipers watched vigilantly for enemy activity from their rooftop post in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. When a grenade thrown from insurgents bounced off Michael's chest, he could have escaped. Instead, he threw himself onto the live grenade, shielding his fellow soldiers from the immediate explosion. Michael died thirty minutes later, having made the ultimate sacrifice. George Monsoor (Michael's father) and Rose Rea show us in "Defend Us in Battle", Michael had prepared for this selfless act all his life--a life that inspires us to have a similar generosity of heart. Rose talks with host Jim Fausone about Michael, his family, his faith, and his sacrifice.  

Our guests this week include; Dr. Ken Hartman, Former Army Officer, Founder of Our Community Salutes Ben Kesling, Marine Iraq, Author, Wall Street Journalist Jason M Jones, Music Artist Our Community Salutes was started in 2009 by Dr. Ken Hartman to acknowledge high school kids that were enlisting in the military and support that family decision. This grassroots effort coordinated by OCS holds events around the country to give the enlistees their own “signing day.” It can be as simple as a presentation and pizza or an elaborate affair with speakers. Visit www.ourcommunitysalutes.org to learn more about this organization.  FIELD BUTCHERY SKILLS AND ETHICAL FORAGING FOR SURVIVAL OF TROOPS Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Kesling talks about a program started in 2014 to teach cooks field butchery skills and ethical foraging.  What happens when the supply lines do not exist for hot meals, MREs don’t cut it and the troops need to live off the land? Kesling looked into the reasons for the courses taught and

Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Kesling talks about a program started in 2014 to teach cooks field butchery skills and ethical foraging.  What happens when the supply lines do not exist for hot meals, MREs don't cut it and the troops need to live off the land?  Kesling looked into the reasons for, the courses taught and the ethics being talked about field butchery and ethical living off the land with host Jim Fausone.

Happy New Year from all of us at Veterans Radio! One of our favorite programs from 2022. How Can You Mend This Purple Heart.  In this riveting first novel, winner of the Military Writers Society of America 2010 Silver Medal Award, author T.L. Gould draws upon his experience recovering in a military hospital to create a plain truth, no-holds-barred narrative, stark in its simplicity, detail and humor. From dressing changes and morphine drips to off-site forays under a fence and into neighborhood bars and brothels, Gould chronicles the precipitous journey to recovery of the men of Ward 2B; how they learned to walk again,to love again, and to triumph over the most impossible odds. Click here for more information “BETWEEN THE LINES” Dwight Jon Zimmerman is a frequent contributor and guest on Veterans Radio. He is an award-winning writer on a variety of subject, but mostly man of the unknown facts about America’s military history. Dwight’s latest publication is a newsletter called “Between the Lines” and c

Caroline Walsh enlisted in the USCG and experienced good duty and bad.  She became an intel analyst for the USCG and then for the CIA.  Having now moved on to a PhD progam in leadership she has written a book "Fairly Smooth Operator" reflecting on that service.  She candidly discusses the sexual harassment and poor leadership in the USCG and offers some changes that could be implemented.  Caroline talks to Jim Fausone about the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of service for a young college educated, athletic, woman.

OPERATION SONG PRODUCES ALBUM FOR GOLD STAR FAMILIES Bob Regan, Mike Byer and Terry Gould of Operation Song, a non-profit, fully volunteer music production organization tells the stories of military veterans through song. Archived broadcast from April 2022. https://www.operationsong.org/

Former Marine and State of Michigan Attorney General, Mike Cox talks about the Camp LeJeune Justice Act; that claims against the government must be filed by August 2024; how it won't reduce your VA Disability Claim, how it allows family members to make a claim, and much more. Attorney Cox discusses his family's service in the Army, Marines and Navy with host Jim Fausone.  

RICK DUNGEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHRISTMAS SPIRIT FOUNDATION Christmas Spirit Foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization that has supported TREES FOR TROOPS for 18 years. Trees for Troops is a partnership with FedEx Freight.They have provided almost 300,000 free Christmas trees to the men and women of our armed forces since the program began in 2005. To support the foundation click here MARC LEEPSON – ARMY VETERAN AND AUTHOR OF 9 BOOKS  Marc graduated from George Washington University in 1967. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1967-69, including a year in the Vietnam War. Marc’s Facebook profile states “Senior Writer, Arts Editor and Columnist, The VVA Veteran at Vietnam Veterans of America”.Marc has been on Veterans Radio several times in the past and will surely inspire you to read a book or two that will reveal astonishing insights into our American History. Marc Leepson’s Website 12/22/12 USO Show. What do Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe and Toby Keith have in common? They have all performed on a USO

The George W. Bush Institute's Veteran Leadership Program discussed by Matt Amidon with host Jim Fausone.  This free executive leadership program brings together 50 scholars each year creating a network of civilian and military leaders.  The 2023 application window is open until January 18, 2023.  See www.bushcenter.org/standto  

CAROLINE WALSH – US COAST GUARD Caroline Walsh enlisted in the USCG and experienced good duty and bad.  She became an intel analysit for the USCG and then for the CIA.  Having now moved on to a PhD progam in leadership she has written a book “Fairly Smooth Operator” reflecting on that service.  She candidly discusses the sexual harassment and poor leadership in the USCG and offers some changes that could be implemented.  Caroline talks to Jim Fausone about the good , the bad and the ugly aspects of service for a young college-educated, athletic woman. Caroline’s book “Fairly Smooth Operator” can be purchased on Amazon. 2023 GEORGE W. BUSH VETERAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM The George W. Bush Institute’s Veteran Leadership Program is discussed by Matt Amidon with host Jim Fausone.This free executive leadership program brings together 50 scholars each year creating a network of civilian and military leaders. ATTORNEY MIKE COX ON CAMP LEJEUNE JUSTICE ACT AND MILITARY SERVICE Former Marine and State of Michigan Att

John Slemp is a professional commercial photographer who specializes in aviation. He started taking pictures of WWII bomber jackets. These A2 Summer Leather Jackets took on the life of canvas for artists in WWII. Each jacket and its art tell a unique story. John started this project in 2014; now, a fantastic book is being published in 2022 about the jackets, art, and some of the boys that wore them. Slemp's website for the project is www.WWIIBomberBoys.com. He talks about the project with host Jim Fausone.