Finding Strength Through Tragedy: The Gold Star Mothers’ Story

Almost 100 years ago, a mother grieving the loss of her son in battle brought together other mothers who were coping with similar losses; in the process, she started American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. Over the past century, the organization has grown and continues to aid mothers—and families—through the grieving process, inspiring its members to continue a life of service. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Gold Star Mothers President Patti Elliott and new member Nichole Jackson Chilton to discuss what the organization is currently doing, the brave exploits of their respective sons, and to discover how one of them influenced the recent renaming of Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty.   Guests:   Patti Elliot, Gold Star Mothers National President Nichole Jackson Chilton, Gold Star Mother Member   Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!   AUSA’s Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern  You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.    Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

When he was a young boy growing up in Puerto Rico, two relatives of Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez inspired him to enter the field of medicine. And an Army program led him to a 45-plus-year career saving lives, overseeing global medical innovation and preventing outbreaks, all culminating in his current position as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs of the United States. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Dr. Martinez-Lopez to talk about the numerous obstacles he’s had to overcome, his most influential missions… and what dessert he likes to indulge in.   Guest: Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!   AUSA’s Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern  You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.    Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

One of the most important elements of any large organization is to ensure free and clear communication between all levels and people. In the 1930s, the U.S. Army recognized this and relaunched Infantry Journal, which many attribute to helping craft tactics and technologies leading into World War II. Ninety years later and with new technologies and possible crises around the world, the Army has just launched The Harding Project, which aims to renew and re-energize the Army’s writings and communication channels. Host SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sits down with the Harding Project’s LTC Zach Griffiths and SFC Leyton Summerlin to discuss their own Army careers, the importance of the written word, and how diving classes influenced all of it.   Guests: LTC Zachary E. Griffiths and SFC Leyton M. Summerlin, Special Assistants to the Chief of Staff of the Army Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!   AUSA’s Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern  You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.    Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

In Paris this month, SSG Leonard Korir competed in the challenging Men’s Marathon event at the 2024 Olympics. He completed the August 10th race with a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 45 seconds. Also fortunate to take part in the 2016 event in the 10,000-meter category, this year’s Olympic qualification is the culmination of an impressive career that’s taken him from Kenya to Iona College and now the Army’s World Class Athletic Program. Host LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith sits down with SSG Korir to discuss what it takes to become an Olympic athlete, how his career was influenced by strong mentors and coaches, and why he’s committed to the U.S. Army and a life of service.   Guest: SSG Leonard Korir, U.S. Army Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!   AUSA’s Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern  You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.    Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

In the summer of 2021, SPC Christian Sutton reluctantly attended a punk rock concert and was intrigued by a bone marrow registration table there. Inspired, he created Operation Ring the Bell, a series of donor drive events that has taken place at multiple Army bases and led to thousands of new possible bone marrow donors—and saved lives. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and LaSherryn Duncan sit down with SPC Sutton to discuss how his life has been driven by volunteering, how a few Afghan refugees have inspired him, and how his vision turned the Army into a worldwide leader in bone marrow donations. Guest: SPC Christian Sutton, Founder and Lead Coordinator, Operation Ring the Bell Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!   AUSA’s Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern  You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.    Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

2LT Alma Cooper will be representing Michigan at the Miss USA Pageant this August, but she’s definitely NOT your traditional contestant. A 2023 graduate of West Point, she is a Knight-Hennessy Scholar currently completing a graduate degree in data-science at Stanford University, focusing on body mass index research that could aid the Army’s recruiting efforts. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Lt. Cooper to discuss her experience and inspirations at West Point, why she believes obesity is a major cause for concern in the world, and they listen as she pulls back the curtain on Miss USA and pageants today. Guest: 2LT Alma Cooper, US Army, Miss Michigan USA & Knight Hennessy Scholar, Stanford University Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!   AUSA’s Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern  You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.    Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

Thirty years ago, audiences around the world were introduced to Forrest Gump and his Army commander, Lieutenant Dan Taylor. For Gary Sinise, who played Lt. Dan, it was not only a major moment in his acting career but also in his relationship with the Army and the military. Since then, he’s raised millions of dollars for veterans, met with Wounded Warriors worldwide and played over 500 concerts for the military. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Gary to discuss the legacy of Forrest Gump, what he’s gotten from his time with the troops, and how music has helped him deal with the recent passing of his son, Mac. Guest: Gary Sinise, American Actor, Gary Sinise Foundation Founder, and 2017 AUSA George Marshall Medal Recipient   Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!   AUSA’s Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern  You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.    Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

It’s a simple yet powerful creed: “Leave no Soldier behind.” At the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), every single employee takes this to heart and spends their days trying to find and identify the remains of American Soldiers who have been lost overseas. In this emotional second episode of a two-part series on the DPAA, we speak to researchers Dr. Veronica Keyes and Dr. Dawn Berry to learn what they do to discover these remains and how it’s affected their own lives. And we end with a special moment as we hear from a family member who was finally able to have their lost one returned home. Guests: Dr. Dawn A. Berry, Chief of Research, Korea, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Indo-Pacific Directorate, Research Division   Dr. Veronica A. Keyes, RPA, D-ABFA, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Laboratory   Music Credits: “Home at Last”, “The Faded Uniform - guitar and strings” and “The Faded Uniform - guitars only;” Written and performed by Ray Emil Kapaun.   Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!   AUSA’s Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern  You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.    Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

In September 2021, Medal of Honor recipient Father Emil Kapaun was finally buried near his Kansas home, seventy years after his death in a North Korean POW camp. It took years of research and work to discover and identify his remains, and it was the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) that made it all possible. This group of researchers and academics have devoted their lives to the creed of “Leave no Soldier behind,” and in this first episode of a special two-part series on the DPAA, our hosts speak with Father Emil’s nephew, Ray Kapaun, as well as DPAA researcher Josh Frank to discuss the process and power of what they do.   Guests: Ray Emil Kapaun, Father Emil Kapaun’s nephew Josh Frank, Research Analyst, Europe-Mediterranean Operations, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency   Music Credits: “Home at Last”, “The Faded Uniform - guitar and strings” and “The Faded Uniform - guitars only;” Written and performed by Ray Emil Kapaun.   Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA’s Army Matters podcast!   AUSA’s Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern  You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.    Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

A teaser for our two-part series on the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency coming out in June.