Middle of Everywhere

Last summer, word first spread that a severely injured wild donkey was roaming the desert near Fort Irwin. The burro, nicknamed Tripod due to his broken leg, soon captured the hearts of residents. Part folk hero, part social media star, here, he is truly the People's Burro. After months of struggle and against all odds, Tripod is on his way to a full recovery. In this episode, you'll hear his story firsthand from the determined group of biologists, veterinarians and community members who have done all they can to ensure he has a happy ending. And we'll wrap up with another story about the power of perseverance, checking in with local novelist Victoria Lafean for our community profile.

Family is important anywhere, but as many Soldiers and their families will tell you, it's even more important in the Army. In fact, family is often what makes all the training, moving and deployments possible -- and worth it. Today, for our holiday episode, we bring you stories about our "Army Family", the close bonds we form with each other and our communities. You'll hear from the mother-daughter team heading up Fort Irwin's gymnastics program, and from the Protestant Women of the Chapel -- a group its members call a "second family". Finally, we highlight two volunteers whose work is driven by the belief that our community is our family, and we must all take care of each other.

Heritage is the stuff that makes us -- where we came from, whose footsteps we are following, which stories we tell. In this episode, we talk with Fort Irwin archaeologist Coral Eginton about the landscape that existed here when the first humans arrived. It was a landscape vastly different from our own, when water filled the dry lake beds and mammoths roamed the hills. Then, we hear from Lupe Lopez and the Red Boy Production Company, who earlier this month performed at Fort Irwin's Native American Heritage Month celebration and work every day to keep their heritage alive. Finally, we sit down with Ken Drylie to hear how a burro helped shape the heritage of the National Training Center.

Every year, on Veterans Day, we as a nation stop to honor and remember men and women who have given everything to serve our country and preserve our freedoms. Service remains at the very core of our Army. It's not just something you do, it's something you join. An entire way of life. A willingness to put others before yourself. A dedication to higher ideal. In our episode today, we're celebrating all those who serve. We will hear from Carl DeVoll, a resident at the Veterans Home of California in Barstow, who as a young Navy recruit in 1946 served in the Marshall Islands during the nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll. And we'll hear from people who serve our community and our Army in other ways -- Barbara Ormsby, who sings karaoke at the Barstow Veterans Home. And E.J. Ane, a student athlete at Fort Irwin who has been honored for his excellence in the classroom, on the field and in the community. Listen. Be inspired. Remember.

Welcome to our first episode! We hear about "Resilience" a lot in the Army. But what does it really mean? Joining us is Fort Irwin resiliency trainer Dave Matthews, who walks us through how resiliency training can make everyone a better version of themselves. Then, listen to Ric Chavez explain how founding the Fort Irwin chapter of Team Red, White & Blue not only helped him get off the couch and start training for a triathlon, but also created a close-knit community here in the High Desert. From Fort Irwin, Calif. and the National Training Center, the Middle of Everywhere brings you real stories of real people at the U.S. Army's premier combat training center.