November 2015

As the helicopters lifted to 2,000 feet and pointed toward Duc Pho, word came over the radio that eight men remained on the ground. Without hesitation or a second thought, Kettles, who had only one man aboard his UH-1D, turned around and swooped back into the mostly evacuated battlefield, providing dozens of North Vietnamese guns a large, easy, sitting target. The soldiers sprinted toward and climbed aboard the suddenly overloaded and badly shot up helicopter. After a few attempts, it lurched into the air while absorbing mortar rounds and enemy fire that pocked its fuselage.

Against the odds, Kettles got the helicopter airborne, saving the eight men and his crew. For his actions that day he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest decoration a soldier can receive.
Now, 48 years later, Kettles is up for the Medal of Honor, the US Military’s highest decoration, for the rescue. Sec. of Defense Ash Carter recently approved the action, and it only needs Congress’s approval before President Obama’s signature makes it final. And…

The Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), the voice of women in the military, today announced its participation in a new movement to give back to those who have given so much for the United States: our nation’s 22 million veterans. On Veterans Day, November 11, SWAN will take part in #DayForTheBrave the nation’s first online Giving Event to exclusively raise funds and awareness for charities serving the needs of veterans, service members and their families. SWAN is a member-driven community network advocating for the individual and collective needs of service women past, present and future.

On November 15th 2003, Veterans Radio broadcast their first program from the studios of WSDS in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Since then we have moved around a little and have produced over 600 live programs on a wide variety of topics. From the sands of Iwo Jima and Normandy to the jungles of Vietnam. From the freezing winters of Korea to the desert heat of Afghanistan and Iraq. Whether on land, sea, or in the air we’ve had the privilege and honor of telling the stories of America’s finest.

Join us this Sunday as we look back over the last 12 years. Leave us a message on Facebook or Twitter

From 2002 through 2009, Dr. Hoge directed the top U.S. research program at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research on the psychological and neurological consequences of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He served as an attending psychiatrist at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, providing treatment to warriors and family members. He deployed to Iraq in 2004 and traveled throughout the country to improve combat stress care in the field. Now retired from military service, he continues working with service members, veterans, and family members (including deployment to Afghanistan as a civilian in 2011), and continues to be a passionate advocate for reducing the stigma of mental health care.

Once a Warrior—Always a Warrior is for anyone who has ever returned from a war zone (current service members, veterans, government workers, contractors), and describes how to successfully navigate the transition from the war zone — no matter how many days, months, or years have passed. The warrior’s spouse, partner, and family members, as well as coworkers and health care providers will be enriched by reading this book.

“There’s combat, then there’s the rest of your life. We need survival skills for each battle zone. This is the guide to surviving the war back here. We all need it. A hell of a book. The lucky get it.”— Max Cleland, former U.S. Senator from Georgia, former Administrator of the Veterans Administration, decorated wounded combat veteran of the Vietnam War

Listen here to Sara Stevens’ amazing song “Promise.”

America is not the only country whose veterans are recovering from their combat experiences. Live from Australia we welcome Simon Sauer, CEO of Mates 4 Mates. Mates 4 Mates is similar to our own Buddy to Buddy or Vet to Vet programs. According to their website “ Our “Mates” are the wounded, injured and ill current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel. Our Mates deserve support as they continue the journey of rebuilding their lives. Many have physical and psychological injuries as a result of their service within the ADF.”

  
And joining us from Tasmania, the most southerly state in Australia, (next stop south from there  is Antarctica) is Allan Wood  an Aussie Vietnam Veteran, a 2 year conscript having served in an Australian Infantry unit during 1968-9 with tracker-dog  & recon teams in III Corps, SE of Saigon. Now aged 69 & receiving a disability pension for diagnosed PTSD from the Australian Govt. Veteran’s Dept

Late last year, he joined an Australian organization for ‘war-damaged’ veterans called Mates4Mates, & soon found himself trekking the infamous & grueling 60 mile WWII (1942)  KOKODA Trail in Papua New Guinea with a small group of other Aussie veterans last August, on a path to partial recovery.