Join us on Operation Insight as we host Captains Kim & Dakota, co-founders of the Reveille & Retreat Project and co-hosts of Dog Tag Diaries!

It's June 11th, 2001, and millions of Americans are tuning in for NBC's newest reality television show. Coupled with overly dramatic music and a montage of contestants attempting seemingly death-defying stunts, the narration begins, "Imagine a world where your greatest fears become reality...this is Fear Factor!" After the show's host, Joe Rogan, rattled off a disclaimer, the show began with contestant introductions, the last of whom was a woman named Sonia, who explained she never expected to be on the show before saying, "Now, I'm gonna see what I can do!" About five minutes later, in the inaugural episode, Sonia was gone. She was the first to be eliminated after failing to jump from one moving tractor-trailer to another. Joe Rogan gave Sonia a pat on the back and sent her home. But that was television, not reality.

In reality, women don't have to "imagine a world where your greatest fears become reality," because they're living it on a daily basis. Female service members, specifically, encounter abuse, discrimination, and ridicule every day from their male counterparts when all they want to do is serve their country, bravely and honorably. Captains Kim Liszka and Dakota Olson-Harris are examples of such American heroes. Both have stood watch and stood tall in the face of adversity, extending their service beyond the uniform through their creation of the Reveille & Retreat Project. Additionally, they founded the Dog Tag Diaries podcast, a space in which military women can "tell their stories and speak their truths" while also "raising awareness about military trauma...and fostering a supportive community where women can find strength and inspiration in each other's stories."

In the first episode of our fifth season, hosts Jason and Ethan are incredibly honored to be joined by Kim and Dakota, two patriots who speak candidly and vulnerably about service and struggles. Their stories matter; female veterans' stories matter; and we are proud to highlight the important work being done by the Reveille & Retreat Project team, who expertly craft healing journeys for women in need. Happy New Year to our audience, and please enjoy this episode!

(00:00) Disclaimer

(01:01) Introduction

(49:01) The Dog Tag Diaries

(1:00:25) Reveille & Retreat Project

(1:07:38) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we welcome Lieutenant Colonel Mike Vincent!

After leading a heartfelt rendition of "Happy Birthday" sung to Jesus Christ, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman announces to his Marine Corps recruits, "Today is Christmas!" During this scene in the oft-cited and critically acclaimed film Full Metal Jacket, the Senior Drill Instructor says things not normally included in a yuletide message, such as, "You can give your heart to Jesus, but your ass belongs to the Corps!" So, in the spirit of Christmas and having missed our opportunity to properly wish the Marines a "Happy 250th Birthday," Operation Insight is proud to present LtCol Michael E. Vincent! Mike is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and embodies the motto "For God, Country, and the Corps!" After twenty years of service and a couple of badly-timed deployment announcements, Mike and his family returned to St. Charles County. Not only that, but Mike returned to his former place of employment, his father-in-law's HVAC company, while simultaneously pursuing his passion for personal coaching.

Mike is also on a mission to convert his beloved Marine Corps from believing in a definition of resilience that relies heavily upon the idea of American bravado. Despite its lukewarm reception in the series of Rocky Balboa films, Rocky III actually provides a clear picture of the type of resilience for which LtCol Vincent advocates. In one scene, Apollo Creed, Rocky's rival-turned-friend, coaches him before the film's pivotal fight: "If you stand toe-to-toe with this chump, he'll kill you. He's just a man, Rock, so be more man than him! Eye Of the Tiger!" As crazy as it might sound, the Marine Corps and America's fighting forces have something to learn from that mindset. Mike argues that mental agility and adaptation are more important than rock-solid sturdiness and toughness when defining resilience. That is the type of mindset Mike strove to maintain as a Marine, and it's the same one he hopes will save lives today. President Reagan is quoted as saying, "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in this world. Marines don't have that problem." Veterans like Mike make our community and our country better and stronger. It is an honor to celebrate this year’s end and commemorate our season finale with LtCol Vincent’s deeply moving and motivating interview!

(00:00) Disclaimer

(01:22) Introduction

(24:00) Remembrances of 9/11

(31:04) OCS & Choosing to Stay

(36:16) Durable Skills

(39:32) An Okie in Oki & Deploying

(54:41) Twentynine Palms: No Beach Days but Some of the Best Days

(1:02:29) Combat Zone HVAC & Logistics in No Man's Land

(1:19:37) DLI & Managing Stress in Cali

(1:31:16) Reflections, Resilience & Rocky

(1:50:58) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Private First Class Walter "Wally" Mayer!

As the sun sets this evening, Jewish people across the globe will begin celebrating Hanukkah. Despite its status as a "minor" holiday on the Jewish calendar, it has become one of the most widely recognized Jewish traditions. This is likely due to the use of the Menorah and the lighting of its eight candles. The act of lighting a candle each night during the dead of winter represents the miraculous flame that remained lit in a Jewish temple for eight straight days despite the shortage of oil.

Eight years after our guest Walter "Wally" Mayer was born into a German-Jewish family, an evil, tyrannical man would complete his usurpation of power and declare that der Vaterland had become das Dritte Reich...the Third Reich. The plight of Nazism would soon cascade upon neighboring countries, and a second World War would ensue. Miraculously, Wally and his family were about to escape before becoming victims of the Shoah...the Holocaust. As the family fled by train, Wally's father, a World War I veteran, tossed his military medals out the window and began to cry. Wally has never forgotten what his father said next: "We're never coming back."

The Mayer family eventually immigrated to the United States and found their way to St. Louis, Missouri. Shortly after finishing school, Wally was drafted into the Army and served in both Hawaii and the Pacific Theater during World War II. To put it lightly, Wally has experienced his fair share of hardships, and then some, but it is with humility, humor, and tremendous honesty that he reflects back on his life. We present this episode in honor of the millions of innocent lives lost during the Holocaust. We honor the memory of the Jewish men, women, and children forced into concentration camps and forced to stare death in the face. We are inspired by the numerous anecdotes of Jewish prisoners risking their lives to secretly celebrate Hanukkah. They courageously held to their faith and demonstrated that, despite the unimaginable darkness that surrounded them, their spirit and Jewish identity could not be extinguished.

(00:00) Disclaimer

(01:22) Introduction

(31:51) Secrets & Sun in Hawaii

(35:07) Entering the Pacific Theater

(39:28) Post-WWII

(48:29) Antisemitism

(49:33) Family

(51:38) Sharing Laughs

(53:44) Reflecting & Imparting Wisdom

(59:11) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Lieutenant Commander William "Trey" Warren!

There's a poignant scene in Top Gun: Maverick in which Tom Cruise's iconic character meets with his rival-turned-friend Iceman, played by Val Kilmer. During the scene, Iceman (now an Admiral and technically Maverick's superior) instructs him, "It's time to let go." The context for that advice revolves around the death of Maverick's former backseater, "Goose," for which Maverick feels responsible. While Lieutenant Commander Trey Warren fantasizes that he is young enough for the Top Gun sequel to have been his inspiration for joining the Navy, that timeline doesn't quite add up! It is, however, still fitting for a connection to be made. Just as Maverick had to "let go" in order to teach his TOPGUN students to become elite fighter pilots, Trey learned how to let go of his ego in order to free his mind of all the pain he had caused and experienced. And overcoming one's ego is no small task, especially for a Naval fighter pilot and TOPGUN graduate. In fact, as Trey explains, it's hard to resist developing an oversized ego or a God complex once you strap into a multi-million-dollar flying killing machine.

On this eighty-fourth anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Trey not only presents his story of service, but also that of his grandfather, who was there on that infamous day. Trey's paternal grandfather, William Kenneth Warren, would continue his service in the Pacific Theater, where he even became an honorary Marine for several weeks during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Trey drew inspiration from him, as well as an uncle who returned from the Vietnam War with seemingly no signs of what they called "Vietnam Syndrome," or so the family thought. Later, after his own service ended, Trey began to recognize the extent of moral injuries incurred through combat. Now, Trey is speaking out and opening up about his struggles with post-traumatic stress and the uncommon (sometimes controversial) methods he has used to regain peace in his life. We are so grateful to Songs4Soldiers for highlighting Trey's heartbreaking and inspiring story this past fall and to Ambio Life Sciences for the care and support they provide to our American heroes!

(00:00) Disclaimer

(01:22) Introduction

(40:02) TOPGUN: The Navy Fighter Weapons School

(50:26) Top 3 Close Calls

(1:14:25) Part II

(1:51:02) Getting Out & Getting Help

(2:12:18) Trey's Ibogaine Journey

(2:34:40) The God Molecule & Rediscovering Love

(2:54:00) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Corporal Rusty Marlen, veteran of the Women's Army Corps!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and family togetherness, we introduce you to Dorothy Mae "Rusty" Marlen, Ethan's great aunt. For as long as Ethan can remember, Rusty has been the life of the party and one of his absolute favorite relatives. To think that if it wasn't for a box of donuts in a bar, Rusty would have never met Eddie Grover Marlen, and eventually joined the family. Whereas Eddie was a single dad of two boys hailing from the sleepy railroad town of Dupo, IL, Rusty was the second-born daughter of a Scottish immigrant who settled in the Rocky Mountain State and maybe not so secretly had hoped for a son. In her characteristically effervescant style, Rusty shares her story of joining the Women's Army Corps and becoming a WAC!

By the time Rusty saw recruiting posters with phrases such as "Are you a girl with a Star-spangled heart," "This is my war too," and "Speed them back, join the WAC," the Women's Army Corps (previously known as the Women's Auxiliary Corps) hadn't even reached its tenth anniversary. Established in 1942, its formation marked the first large-scale, formally structured mobilization of women into the U.S. Army. Women had served their country long before that, but in unofficial and specialized roles, such as civilian nurses, laundresses, and cooks in the Revolutionary War. During World War I, the Army Signal Corps enlisted hundreds of bilingual American women, nicknamed the "Hello Girls," to operate switchboards near the front lines in France, and the Navy enlisted over 11,000 women as "Yeomanettes" to fill important clerical and support positions. Although largely uncredited, these foundational efforts demonstrated the immense value of female personnel in the armed forces. Then, with the onset of World War II, American lawmakers recognized the need to free up male soldiers for combat roles. While limited to non-combat support roles, the work and service of those within the WAC's ranks were essential to the war effort and victory. Beyond the war, patriotic American women like CPL Marlen helped to pave the way for future female servicemembers. Please enjoy this family reunion of sorts and all the fun that accompanies a conversation with the one and only Rusty Marlen!

https://www.awfdn.org/

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/womens-army-corps-wac-world-war-ii

(00:00) Disclaimer

(01:22) Introduction

(37:40) Barry Manilow

(40:00) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Major Herb Silva, Founder of Smiles for Veterans through the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health in conjunction with A.T. Still University!

Fifty years. That's how long it has been since the end of America's involvement in the Vietnam War. A conflict that began as a "police action" would eventually receive several monikers, one of which was the "Helicopter War." In fact, in the Spring of 1975, that's exactly how it all ended for American troops. Operation Frequent Wind was a last-ditch effort to evacuate the remaining American citizens, foreign diplomats, and thousands of South Vietnamese refugees. Never before had the United States military relied so heavily upon helicopters and the "rotorheads" that piloted them. One of those pilots was a Marine named Herb Silva. Son of a WWII artillery officer and younger brother to an Army nurse, Herb would eventually retire as a Major, but not before making the most of his time in the Corps. In fact, the Major-turned-Doctor makes the most out of just about everything he does. From working as a professional soccer referee to building a successful dental practice that remains in the family, Herb has always sought to help those around him. There is no clearer indication of that than Dr. Silva's founding of and involvement in Smiles for Veterans, a program that provides dentures and related dental care free of charge to local veterans. As a result, dental students at A.T. Still University continue to benefit from Herb's instruction and leadership. Not only are veterans getting their smiles back, but they are also rediscovering their self-confidence. It is certainly ironic that the Cobra gunship pilot whose callsign was "Scarface" has built a legacy as a community leader who perfects people's smiles.

If you would like to learn even more about Herb and his story of service, we encourage you to give a listen to his episode on The Open Source STL's "We Salute" program with Host Dick Ulett: https://opensourcestl.com/we-salute-1

(00:00) Disclaimer

(01:22) Introduction

(35:54) Family Influence

(56:03) John Chafee Story

(57:33) Welcome Home & Reflecting on Pilot Career

(01:11:59) Soccer Referee

(01:21:17) Smiles for Veterans

(01:27:52) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Captain Jim Pettit, Operations Director of the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight, and Captain Joel Eisenstein, a recent Honor Flight participant!

Before Veterans Day, there was Armistice Day. Before that, there was "The War to End All Wars." And yet, less than a quarter of a century later, humanity would be embroiled in yet another global conflict. One that would result in more casualties than ever before. While Memorial Day honors those who gave their lives in service to our nation, Veterans Day more broadly celebrates the men and women who bravely joined the uniformed services. Duty and sacrifice are precious commodities in our society, and they are in high demand in our military. It's easy for restaurants, coffee shops, and retail stores to offer free or discounted items on Veterans Day, and those gestures certainly don't go unappreciated by the veteran community. But for anyone who dares to think freedom is free or easily accessible, we encourage you to listen to the stories shared by our guests and reconsider just how you observe Veterans Day this year.

(00:00) Disclaimer

(01:22) Introduction

(20:34) Stories of Service

(42:59) Reflections of Service

(50:10) The Honor Flight & The Welcome Home

(1:00:58) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Councilwoman Linda Ragsdale of O'Fallon, Missouri!

Gold Star Families go through a lot. While they may not attend Basic Training or feel the mixture of terror and thrill when heading into a combat zone, they do know suffering. They know the stomach-churning anxiety of waiting for details about their loved one's well-being. They know the desperation of being left in the dark and praying for updates. They know all about those emotions. But there's one thing they don't know in those moments. There's one thing they cannot know until it's too late. And that's the fact that they have become a Gold Star Family.

Being a Gold Star family member is complicated. You are proud of the dedication and service of your loved one, while also feeling angry, devastated, and indignant. You love your country, but you hate that death took your kin in the name of it. These emotions were felt and are still felt to some degree by Linda Ragsdale and her family. Linda now serves as a councilwoman for O'Fallon's 5th Ward, but before she was born, her Uncle Joe died while serving in Vietnam. Even though Linda never met Uncle Joe, she knows him. In fact, she knows him quite well. Thanks to his legacy as a fun-loving, jovial man, Uncle Joe lives on in family stories. Conversely, stories of service are not always easy to relate, as evidenced by Linda's father's reluctance to share his. Here at the Mid America Veterans Museum, our motto is, "Every veteran has a story," and that's true, but it doesn't mean that story will always be told. We are so grateful to Councilwoman Ragsdale as she shares the story of her heroic Uncle Joe and educates us as to why it's ok that some veterans may never fully share theirs.

(00:00) Disclaimer

(01:22) Introduction

(17:15) Uncle Joe's Story

(33:39) Finding Closure

(36:40) Part II

(44:27) A Patriot's Heart

(47:15) Closing

(50:12) Remembrance Gala Ad