Veterans Radio

VETERAN STUDENTS PITCH BUSINESS PLANS AT WASHTENAW COMMUNITY COLLEGE Come out to see who wins at the Veteran Business Pitch & Showcase night! Participants who have completed the 3-month MVE-Lab program will be pitching their business concepts for cash prizes and holding a showcase. Support participants by voting for your favorite display in the Student Center before the event! This event is free and open to the public. BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION- Guest David Woodruff HOW IT ALL BEGAN Bob was reporting on the transfer of power between U.S. and Iraqi security forces for ABC’s “World News Tonight,” Jan. 29, 2006, when he sustained his life-threatening traumatic brain injury. Thanks to the quick actions of brave soldiers, medics, and military medical professionals, Bob’s life was saved. Within a few days, he was brought to the Naval Hospital at Bethesda, Md. As Bob recovered, the experience inspired their family to do one thing: Ensure that our nation’s impacted veterans, service members, and their famili

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. OCS has grown over the years to offer a variety of support materials for these local programs. Visit www.ourcommunitysalutes.org to learn more. Ken talks to host Jim Fausone about OCS and its future and the need to support recruitment efforts by the military.

While you were all enjoying your Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, did you take time to pause and say a prayer for our all volunteer military? Did you wonder what they were doing while you were celebrating your freedom with your family and friends? One of the greatest traditions in the United States Military is to try and serve a hot Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie to every active duty serviceman and woman serving around the world. Do you remember those dinners? Where were you serving? Did you help prepare those dinners or deliver them? Let us know what is was like for you at Thanksgiving or Christmas while you were on active duty. Go here and leave us your story. Contact Us - Veterans Radio

After serving 32 years, Tim Horvath retired as a USAF Chief Master Sergeant. He completed a career in local law enforcement while in the National Guard with multiple overseas deployments. Tim then had the shock of a lifetime being diagnosed in 2022 with male breast cancer. He explains the discovery, surgery and radiation treatments to host Jim Fausone.

This week’s one hour radio broadcast includes host Jim Fausone and his guests: US Rep Elissa Slotkin, fomer CIA specialist with 3 tours in Iraq John Slemp, Armor Officer, US Army – Photographer/Author US REPRESENTATIVE ELISSA SLOTKIN – FORMER CIA ANALYST IN IRAQ Rep. Elissa Slotkin (Mi-08) is on the House Committees for Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and Armed Services. She is a former CIA Analyst with three tours in Iraq where she met her husband, an Army officer flying Apaches, now retired. Rep. Slotkin talks about the lessons learned from Agent Orange exposure, PACT Act efforts, and the slow but building efforts in Congress to recognize that veterans had exposure to PFAS-type chemicals, known as “forever chemicals.” She is candid and direct with host Jim Fausone. You will learn about the status of the Vet PFAS Act but also how veterans should lobby Congress to get things done. JOHN SLEMP – ARMY ARMOR OFFICER AND AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER Born in Japan, award-winning photographer John Slemp was a

Col. Matthew Amidon is the Director of Veterans and Military Families at the George W. Bush Institute. In 2022, he wrote about the services missing their recruiting goals by big margins and that every veteran has an obligation to help out. He discusses this issue with host Jim Fausone.

JOIN DALE THRONEBERRY AND JIM FAUSONE AS THEY LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST 19 YEARS OF VETERANS RADIO BROADCASTING!

A Navy veteran with 20 years of construction industry experience, John Piekarski and friends bought assets to start Ally Construction Services. The At-Risk Construction Management services company was started in 2017 in Pennsylvania. He talks about National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC.org), growing the business, hiring veterans and JROTC with host Jim Fausone.

Guests on this week's Veterans Radio Art Fishman, Jewish War Veteran and Michigan Veteran of the Year Kate Melcher, Executive Director, Fisher House Michigan From the Jewishnews.com website … Art served in both the Army Air Corp and Navy. Included among his tours of duty during WWII, Fireman First Class Arthur Fishman participated in the Yangtze River Patrol mine sweeping mission in the Port of Shanghai aboard the destroyer USS Robinson. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his efforts. Of his role during WWII, Art deflects any attention directed at himself; instead, he pays homage to those who paid the ultimate price. As he said to the hundreds of people in attendance at The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial groundbreaking in April: “Remember the heroes that are not here. They are the ones we dedicate this day to.” For the full article – www.thejewishnews.com

Marine and Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Kesling tells the story of the war in Afghanistan through the eyes of the men of Bravo Company of the 82nd Airborne Division. By the time they made it home, three soldiers were KIA, two dozen lost limbs, and half of the company was awarded the Purple Heart. Ten years later, Ben catches up with the men to unravel the impact of the war on their lives. He talks to host Jim Fausone about the purposes and messages packed into this unique look at a warrior company.

Dale Throneberry, hosts this month’s VA Benefits program hour with the following guests: John Griffith, State Commander, VFW of MichiganBrig Gen Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help for Veterans The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves! In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000. Since then, the VFW's voice had been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, the devel

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (Mi-08) is on the House Committees for Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and Armed Services. She is a former CIA Analyst with three tours in Iraq where she met her husband, an Army officer flying Apaches, now retired. Rep. Slotkin talks about the lessons learned from Agent Orange exposure, PACT Act efforts, and the slow but building efforts in Congress to recognize that veterans had exposure to PFAS-type chemicals, known as "forever chemicals." She is candid and direct with host Jim Fausone. You will learn about the status of the Vet PFAS Act but also how veterans should lobby Congress to get things done.

THE NIGHT BEFORE TET It was almost 2100hrs on 30 January 1968, the night before the “Tet Offensive” when Wendell Skinner’s helicopter crashed in Vietnam attempting to extract a Special Forces Long Range Patrol Team that had come in contact with a large force of Viet Cong and NVA. From Wendell’s Facebook page, he noted “this is my chopper day after shot down near Bear Cat. Team from Co. F. 51st Inf Airborne LRRP’s was who we were picking up, night extraction.” The Landing Zone was a burned out area in the jungle that was covered with ashes. As the helicopter made its approach the ashes flew up around the aircraft blinding the pilot and he made a hard landing resulting in the pilot being thrown through the windshield still strapped in his seat almost tearing his arm off. The co-pilot and door gunner were thrown against the dash and suffered broken bones. Skinner was thrown under the Huey as it rolled over and started to burn. Thinking Skinner was dead another Huey picked up the wounded crew and the SF Team

U.S. Navy Capt. Paul J. Ryan (ret.) is Vice Chair of the Michigan Military and Veteran Hall of Honor. Ryan discusses the Hall, its nomination process, and 3 of the 6 inductees into the Hall in November 2022 with host Jim Fausone.

NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR MUSEUM Edward T. Luttenberger, Communications Director – The National Vietnam War Museum  Located in Weatherford, Texas In 2020 there were 3 additions to the wall and in 2021 there were two additions, bringing the total number of names on The Wall to 58,281. There were also two service members who were repatriated in 2020 and those service members had their status symbols changed on The Wall. The number of Americans still listed as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War stands at 1,584. Name additions and status changes are usually done annually in May. However, the engraving was postponed to the fall this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These service members will be officially welcomed home at the next in-person ceremony at The Wall. For more information: www.nationalvnwarmuseum.org CPT THOMAS P. STEMPKY Army pilot who served in Vietnam as a Gunship Platoon Leader with the 189th Assault Helicopter Company Thomas Stempky was raised in Cheboygan, MI, and was drafted wh

This week’s one hour radio broadcast includes host Jim Fausone and his guests: Captain Paul Ryan (ret) US Naval Reserves Brig. Gen. Ricardo Aponte, USAF (ret) Rear Admiral Will Rodriguez (ret) HISPANIC VETERANS LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE MISSION: OUR MILITARY LEADERS SHOULD MIRROR THE FACE OF AMERICA, REFLECTING THE ENLISTED TROOPS THEY LEAD AND THE PUBLIC THEY PROTECT. The Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance (HVLA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization of senior leaders, military and civilian, committed to overcoming the profound lack of Hispanic diversity and inclusion throughout the senior ranks of the DoD. Our mission is to advance the inclusion of Latinos across all leadership levels in the US Armed Forces, military and civilian. For more information: www.hvla.org A HALL OF HONOR US Navy Capt Paul J Ryan (ret) is vice chair of the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor. He discusses the 2022 class of inductees with host Jim Fausone. The inductees include a “Hello Girl” from WWI; an Army vet wi

Col. Cesar "Rico" Rodrigues, Jr. (ret.) USAF served for 26 years. He splashed 3 MIGs and always gave 110%. He explains his background, service, and how his Hispanic heritage gives the unique 10% to his efforts. He has been described as a Hispanic overachiever and lives up to his reputation in service and post-service. He spends time with host Jim Fausone talking about the value of training at The Citadel.

U.S. Navy Capt. Paul J. Ryan (ret.) is Vice Chair of the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor. He discusses the 2022 class of inductees with host Jim Fausone. The inductees include a "Hello Girl" from WWI, an Army Veteran with 600 days of continuous combat, and a Nisei soldier in the most decorated unit in U.S. Military history.

This week’s program theme is Veterans Helping Veterans. Organizations founded by veterans for veterans. Guests include: William Crewe from Central Coast Veterans Helping Veterans Central Coast Veterans Helping Veterans – Home (ccvhv.org) Josh Flath Founder of 4the 22. 4the22 – Bringing Balance to Life Jon Lovald, COO of Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans   MACV’s Mission is to End Veteran Homelessness in Minnesota (mac-v.org) Justin Corry, Corry Construction and Help for the Homefront

US Army LTC (ret.) Jim Reed, DNP discusses his military career in the field of medicine, the opportunities available, and being on an elite medical team supporting Special Mission Units in Counter-Terrorist Operations with host Jim Fausone. Reed was trained as a CRNA and deployed 9 times overseas and had over 1500 days in combat zones. Through his service, Reed earned the Legion of Merit, five Bronze Star Medals, two Air Medals, and many other awards and decorations.