Ep. 45 - Interpreter

We had the lucky opportunity to talk to Bob Smith from Lebanon PA about his time in the Army Air Corps in WW2.  Born in 1924, Bob recently turned 100 years old.  During his time in the service, he was in communications doing Morse code, Cryptography, and working radar as time went on.  Mr. Smith was part of the Normandy invasion as an assistant on the boats headed to the beach.  He explained his duty to clear the boat of those killed getting onto the beach so they could return to ship and bring more men into the fight.  Working their way through the European terrain, they ended up in Czechoslovakia. Toward the end of his time overseas, after it was liberated, he explains in detail what it was like inside Buchenwald Prison, a concentration camp located about five miles northwest of the city of Weimar in east-central Germany. Before he left Europe, he married his wife in Belgium who later joined him back in the US.  After his time in the service, Mr. Smith spent time as a TV repairman, which he explains a bit of what that job was like.  Eventually he ended up in the National Guard for a period of time. 

Fox was in the Army from 1988-1991 with an MOS of Chapparal Air Defense.  we talk about what his MOS school was and how he learned to ID aircraft so they could use the Chapparal to potentially target planes.  He Mentions a time at MOS school of seeing a UFO, his time in Germany, and what it was like being part of Desert Storm.

On this episode we talk to LCPL Spencer Schultz who was a 0231 Intelligence Specialist. He spent his time in from 2008-2012.  He spent time in multiple units and deployed to Afghanistan where he ended up in Marjah in 2010.  we had a very open and honest discussion about the lifestyle many of us live while in the Marines.   

We had the opportunity to have a quick conversation with Nate Boyer who was a Green Beret in the US Army.  Boyer spent time in both Iraq and Afghanistan. After getting out he walked on to the Texas Longhorns as a long snapper, eventually landing in Seattle for a season in the NFL.This one's short and sweet but we appreciate the time Nate gave us.  

Shaun joined the British Army Infantry and did some time in Northern Ireland doing counter terrorism operations.  After his time in, he spent some years being out and running a business. Fast forward to the current war in Ukraine, Shaun joined the guard after he moved there. Shaun then went into the Ukraine Marines and talks about his time in Mariupol and the 7 weeks they held off the Russian invasion.  Ultimately Shaun was captured and spent time in a Russian Blacksite.  He was ultimately released on an exchange.  Shaun goes into great detail of what the fighting was like as well as his time being a captive and talks about the types of torture he endured and being sentenced to death.  A great and open conversation with someone who's been through it, I can't thank Shaun enough for the time he gave us and to be able to be someone to pass this story on. "Not fighting for the hate in front of you, but you're fighting for the love behind you" -Shaun Pinner 

This episode we are fortunate enough to interview an Afghan interpreter. we talked a little about growing up, and how he got involved to be an interpreter.  He explains some of where he worked, what his job was, and how he lived during these years.  

Mikael cook spent 5 years in the Army reserves after enlisting at 27 years old.  We talk about his path to Afghanistan and what it was like as an engineer in country.  After he returned home, and the withdrawal of Afghanistan happened, Mikael did what he could to help those he knew and others get out of the country.  Working with what was known as "Digital Dunkirk" to navigate the papers and processes for those Afghans that helped us through the war and get our allies out.  We discussed the tribalism and how the Taliban takeover has impacted those who still remain behind.  For those of us who spent any time there, we acknowledge the connection we all have to this area and its people, and how this withdrawal has impacted us as well.  Mikael has a book talking about getting these people out called "Life And Death At Abbey Gate".  he also has a podcast called "The Afghanistan Project Podcast"

IC2 Mike "Snake Wake" Weiler was in the Navy from 89-94 where he did Interior Communication aboard submarines.  Mike talks about the day to day life aboard a ship as well as how he got his rate and becoming Submarine Warfare qualified earning his dolphins.  Mike explains the many positions within a sub and some details of multiple ways they surface, including breaking through ice in the Arctic and getting his "Blue Nose". After his departure from the Navy Mike also spent 2 years in the PA Guard.  

SGT Chris Naganuma was Infantryman in the Army from 2003-2008. In 2004 he deployed to Mosul Iraq in Strykers.  Chris talks about a few events during this deployment that stood out to him.  After the deployment he had an injury that eventually led to him getting out.  After getting out he learned to run and operate his business, S3F solutions, and worked with Napalm Cannabis.  Chris currently works on running the Project Leaflet page covering the war in Ukraine.  He's also helped with gear acquisition and spent 3 weeks in country conducting interviews and covering the war.  We got to talk about the use of drones and how effective they've become in the fight against the Russians.  

Matthew "Whiz" Buckley was an F/A-18 fighter pilot in the US Navy.  After getting commissioned in the early 90's he spent his time on aircraft carriers in support of Operation Southern Watch as well as Operation Noble Eagle. He discusses places he's traveled to as well as discussing what it was like to be an adversary pilot at the Top Gun school.  While on ship and not flying, he spent his time as a Landing Signal Officer. After getting out he started a career in trading and consulting and wrote a book "From Sea Level to C Level".  We touch on some recent events with the balloon situation as well as Ukraine.  He started the "No Fallen Heros Foundation" to help give vets and first responders an alternative to help with mental health.  We get into this quite a bit as it's not a standard option readily available to us here. There are options coming forth which he talks about as well.  He is very open about the Medicines used and the benefits of psychedelics in these treatments.  Visit the website for more information https://nofallenheroesfoundation.org/