Hazard Ground

Unless you served in Vietnam, you probably weren't aware that U.S. forces fought alongside other allies, Australia being one of them, and an important one at that. Dave Sabben was one of those soldiers who bravely led Australian military forces not long after the U.S. war in Vietnam began. Sabben joined the army as part of Australia's National Service program in 1965. By the end of '65 he had completed officer training, graduating as a 2nd lieutenant. Shortly thereafter he deployed to Vietnam as platoon commander of 12 Platoon, D Company, 6 Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). After only a couple of months in-country, Sabben's unit experienced their first battle, and what would come to be known as one of Australia's fiercest and most intense engagements of the Vietnam War - the Battle of Long Tan. Hear how Sabben led his unit against overwhelming odds and survived a battle that in his words, "no amount of training could prepare you for," in this special edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.sabben.com | "The Battle of

Geoff Dardia's special operations career was pretty much over before it even began. Having rolled multiple phases of BUD/S due to injuries, at 21, Dardia had broken his body down to the point where the Navy was willing to compensate him for the rest of his life, if he chose. But having a goal to become a SOF operator, Dardia switched gears, enlisted in the Army, and relatively quickly worked his way to becoming a Green Beret. Perseverance would earn Dardia a successful career in Special Forces, but that also came with a heavy price. In this episode Dardia talks about how operating in combat was actually "safer" than the long-term hazards associated with preparing for combat. And how the Task Force Dagger Foundation Health Initiative Program gave him the unconventional and much-needed opportunity to mend those wounds outside the normal and restrictive military medical system. Hear his inspiring story in this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! Task Force Dagger Foundation Health Initiative Program Support the p

Two completely different military career paths: one, a Lieutenant General who served over 30 years as an Army Infantry officer, the other an enlisted Infantry Marine who served four years, with two overseas deployments to combat zones. Both brought together though, by their experiences and unique perspectives serving multiple combat tours. Now retired, Lieutenant General "Burke" Garrett would go on to become the Executive Advisor to the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, a nationally renowned program that provides transformative care for veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. Tim Banik, the Marine, would become close friends with General Garrett while he was immersed in the intensive outpatient Emory program, after struggling for years with PTSD. Together they continue to help others who are struggling with the invisible wounds of war. Hear their story on this Veterans Day edition of HAZARD GROUND! Emory Healthcare Veterans Program Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponso

Like many kids coming out of high school, James LaPorta just wanted to get on with life. His country was at war, and he had little interest in going to college - at least right away. So he joined the Marine Corps, signing up for the infantry. That decision would take him to Afghanistan, to fight in his country's war, and fundamentally change who he was as a person. It would also prepare him for life after the Marine Corps. He wanted to make the Marines a career, but the military had different plans. So LaPorta decided to pursue journalism as a way to continue to serve, especially in an age where speed in reporting meant more than accuracy and facts. He wanted to make sure the story was told, and told correctly. LaPorta now serves as the senior correspondent for Newsweek covering national security and military affairs. Hear his inspiring journey on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! @JimLaPorta Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow the show! Spread the

Before "Lone Survivor" - the story of Operation Red Wings as told by Marcus Luttrell, the only SEAL to survive that operation - there was ODA 525. Assigned a special reconnaissance mission inside Iraq on the eve of the Desert Storm ground war, the Green Berets of ODA 525 faced a moral dilemma of magnificent proportions when their hide site was discovered by local children. Poor intel on the hide site location put the men of ODA 525 in a populated area of the desert, where they would face overwhelming odds if discovered. CW2 Chad Balwanz, commander of 525 tells the story of how he and his men decided not to kill the Iraqi children who stumbled upon their hide site, only to take their chances fighting off a numerically superior force. This is one of the most impactful stories to come out of the Gulf War, and Balwanz tells it like it happened yesterday. Hear his amazing firsthand account of ODA 525 and the small team of Green Berets who took on Saddam's forces deep behind enemy lines, on this latest edition of H

After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Jason Robinson felt a calling to serve in the military. Notably, he felt it was his duty to serve having been born into a free society - a way to earn his citizenship. He also wanted to do his part to ensure the U.S. military didn’t revert back to a draft to fight the Global War on Terror - something his sons could have faced as they grew older. Robinson chose the Infantry at age 34 - no easy feat. He literally had to fight his way into the Infantry, writing letters to both President Bush and Vice President Cheney so that he could join in his mid-thirties. Robinson went on to fight honorably in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, receiving the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in an EFP strike. Needless to say, Jason Robinson earned his citizenship and then some. Hear his inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the

We've covered the Battle of Mogadishu - popularized by the movie and book, "Black Hawk Down" - multiple times on the podcast. But, we haven't covered it from the perspective of the combat search and rescue (CSAR) team sent in to rescue the crews of the Black Hawks shot down on October 3, 1993 over the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia. John Belman was a Ranger on the CSAR team that was dropped in to the first crash site. On arrival at the site, Belman and his teammates were thrust into a chaotic scene of whirling dirt and debris and intense enemy gunfire. The situation on the ground was so dire that Belman just assumed he'd never make it out alive. Fortunately he did though, after an overnight battle between a relatively small U.S. force and literally an entire city. Hear yet another unique perspective on the battle that you just can't get from book or film, straight from an Army Ranger who lived through it, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.johnbelman.net | www.goruck.com Do your Amazon shopping wit

John Stryker Meyer earned his Green Beret in December of 1967. About five months later, he was based in Vietnam, fighting a very deadly and secret war in Laos and Cambodia. For John and his fellow Green Berets, the war in Vietnam was fought in the shadows. And they arguably gained considerable ground in the fight, despite virtually zero public recognition for their contributions at the time. Their efforts were audacious and struck at the heart of an enemy fighting an unconventional war - tricky ground for the larger conventional U.S. force so often associated with the war. John takes us through the mindset of the Green Beret preparing for and facing off against such a largely unconventional enemy, sharing what it was like to operate so close to them, that at one point an enemy soldier unwittingly touched John's boot in the pitch-black darkness as he crawled past him and his team. Hear this amazing story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! "Across the Fence" | "On The Ground: The Secret War in Vietnam" |

On November 9, 2010, Zach Stinson, a Marine fighting in Afghanistan, stepped on an IED. The blast took both of his legs, and a few fingers. But, the blast did not take his zeal for life. Listening to him talk about this experience, you would never think that he's faced great challenges and extremely low moments trying to get back to the normalcy of everyday life. He has handled his injuries with the same bravery and stoicism he displayed when taking "point" while searching the village compound that hid the IED that changed his life forever. He's even looked past his injuries and "limits" and started competing in triathlons as a double amputee. Zach Stinson's story is amazing, and one we all can take inspiration from, no matter what our station is in life. Check it out on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there.

When Pasha Palanker was 15, he and his family immigrated to the U.S. from Moldova. Although his family lived in a rough neighborhood on a very low income, Pasha was happy and proud to be living in America, whose opportunities far outnumbered those of his birthplace. In an effort to repay the U.S. government for the assistance provided to him and his family after they arrived from Moldova, Pasha enlisted in the Army, shortly after the war in Iraq kicked off in 2003. Following multiple deployments to Iraq, Pasha had been blown up more than once, and suffered multiple Traumatic Brain Injuries. His experiences left him with the lasting effects of PTSD. In this episode he talks about his journey - how he survived multiple blasts and came face-to-face with a suicide bomber, and how he is now working through the issues caused by his injuries. This is an open and insightful conversation about the indelible wounds of war we can't see that are still plaguing servicemembers long after they come home. www.getheadstrong.

Normally, this week's guest would be billed as a "Special Guest" as Joe Galloway was never actually in the military. But if history has anything to say about it, there's no doubt he's earned his stripes, going all the way back to his first overseas assignments in Vietnam. Early on, Galloway was embedded with the 1st Cavalry Division during the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major battle of the Vietnam War. He not only covered the battle, but also fought to save the lives of other American soldiers during fierce ground fighting. He was eventually awarded the Bronze Star with "V" for Valor for rescuing wounded soldiers under fire at Ia Drang, becoming the only civilian to receive a combat medal from the Army during the Vietnam War. Galloway would serve a total of four tours in Vietnam, and then cover every major American conflict up to the Global War on Terror. He's been described as "a soldier’s reporter and a soldier’s friend,” and there's no doubt that sentiment shines through in this latest episode of HAZARD

Patrick Murphy is the first Iraq War veteran elected to the U.S. Congress, representing Pennsylvania. Following his time in Congress, he was confirmed as the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army, serving until January 2017. Murphy may be a veteran of U.S. politics, but this conversation is anything but a political one. Murphy deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 82nd Airborne, and also taught at West Point during his tenure as a U.S. Army officer. He’s a special breed of leader who truly understands what it means to be a patriot and look beyond self to serve the greater good for those around him and the people he once directly represented in Congress. He’s made holistic changes for the better in the military, and he continues to lead as a vetrepreneur and soldier-statesman today. Hear Patrick Murphy’s powerful and inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.patrickjmurphy.com Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, clic

While taking a semester off from college, Gene Murphy received what many young men his age feared at the time - a draft notice for Vietnam. Murphy considered it an honor to serve his country, so leaving his small, South Dakota farming community for the Army and Vietnam, was tough, but not a big deal. When he shipped off to Vietnam, he figured as a mortarman he'd probably be stationed at a basecamp somewhere and not spend much time in the jungle. But the situation changed rapidly when he hit the ground, and he quickly went from mortarman to infantryman living in the jungle. Just 30 days before the end of his 12-month tour, Murphy was shot twice during a firefight and left paralyzed below the waste. His attitude throughout it all and to this day has been nothing short of amazing. And he's carried that positivity into leading and serving a key role in the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization in South Dakota for over 40 years. Hear Gene Murphy's inspirational story of combat and survival on this latest e

As far back as he can remember, Michael Rutledge wanted to be a Naval Aviator. He lacked the grades to get him there, so he enlisted in the Navy, eventually becoming a Navy SEAL. Unable to ignore his desire to fly in the military, after 8 years as a SEAL, Rutledge started the process to transfer to the Army to fly helicopters. All of this happened not long before 9/11. Despite his love for the Teams and its inherent brotherhood, Rutledge felt a greater calling to make it into the aviator ranks and fly in combat. He would be one of the very few aviators that would go from flight school straight into the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Rutledge shares with us the high's and low's of his journey, and what it meant to be a part of some of the military's most daring and precise missions, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!  Do your Amazon shopping with us, and give back to veterans organizations at the same time! Go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page

Garrett Cathcart had wanted to go to West Point since the 4th grade. When high school graduation approached, it was West Point or enlist. He secured an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, setting him on a course to become a combat-tested leader, as the Global War on Terror erupted only a couple of years before he graduated and entered active duty. Since then he has served as a Cavalry Scout, Troop Commander, and military advisor in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cathcart sits down in-studio to reflect on the loss he experienced in combat and the “what-if’s” that changed the course of human lives. He expands on how those events led him to a life of service, helping other veterans through his nonprofit, Mission Roll Call. Mission Roll Call's purpose is to give every single veteran a voice in policy and advocacy on the issues that are important to them. Hear how Garrett Cathcart unwittingly came to be the champion for that voice on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.missionrollcall.org Do your Amazon shopp

It’s not too often we get the opportunity to speak with veterans of WWII. They’re a special breed, and Harry Lockhead is no exception. Joining the Navy when his country was at war, Lockhead went into the service as a cook. After the battle at Tarawa, the loss of Marines was so great, that the Navy asked for volunteers to learn how to perform reconnaissance and underwater demolition for future beach landings. Harry volunteered, and became one of the Navy's first Underwater Demolition swimmers, or "Naked Warriors" as they were known. With no instruction manual, Harry and his team of other volunteers had to learn how to clear beach landings in combat, literally by trial and error. Lockhead would eventually become one of the original UDT20 Frogmen, and predecessors of the Navy SEALs. It's an amazing feat, considering the conditions and timeline these men operated under. Hear a firsthand account of what it was like training and operating as a "Naked Warrior" on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.navysealfo

Staring down a very domesticated life path she had no interest in following, Mary Dague decided to join the Army, a few years after 9/11. Desiring a military job that was both dynamic and challenging, she signed up for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). She loved being an EOD soldier and showed great promise as a young bomb tech on her team while deployed in combat. But it only took one critical incident to end all of that. On November 4, 2007, her military career came to an end when she literally bear hugged an IED that her team was disarming, when it became unstable in their vehicle, in an attempt to save her teammates' lives. The explosion took both of her arms, but never damaged her spirit and the strength she now calls upon to live each day and inspire and help others who have reached a low point in their lives. She has handled her injuries with astounding resilience and best of all, a rock solid sense of humor. Hear her inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!  @WonderNubs Do your Amaz

Following his childhood dream to serve in the military, Zachary Rhyner joined the Air Force in 2004. He knew he wanted to serve in an elite group, that would no doubt face challenges in combat. Rhyner enlisted with the goal of becoming a combat controller. After a grueling two-and-a-half-year selection and training process, he became a special tactics combat controller. He would soon go on to serve with a Special Operations team, seeing their fare share of combat in Afghanistan. It was on one of those missions that he and his team would face extremely daunting challenges, fighting to their objective up 60-foot cliffs against a very well-defended enemy force. Rhyner's actions during that particular battle would earn him the Air Force Cross - the second highest military award that can be given to a member of the United States Air Force. During his sixth deployment, Rhyner would sustain injuries that ended his military career, but were the catalyst for him to continue a legacy of service with the help of the Pat

Even though Chris Greca came from a military family, he never intended to join the Army. But, it was a spur of the moment decision at a red light one day that drove him to the recruiter’s office. And before he knew it, Chris Greca was on his way to a 31-year career in the Army. He would retire in 2017 as a Sergeant Major, fulfilling key posts all the way up to the 4-star command level. Serving much of his career with the storied 75th Ranger Regiment, he also racked up a large number of injuries along the way. So much so that he became one of the first senior enlisted infantry soldiers in a leadership position to publicly address the emotional numbness and his own mental health issues that had come with serving so much time in and around combat. Greca continues to help other servicemembers suffering from those same issues today through public speaking and direct outreach. Chris Greca is an inspiring leader and we are honored to have him share his story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.5thprinciple

As a young Army Ranger, Jeff Struecker saw combat early, beginning with the operation to capture Manuel Noriega in Panama in 1989. But, it wasn't until his experiences during Operation Gothic Serpent - the op to capture Somali faction leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid - that combat took on a new meaning - a more violent and vicious meaning. Better known by its book and film title, "Black Hawk Down", Struecker shares with us his experiences fighting on the ground in Mogadishu, on 3 and 4 October, 1993, in a running gun battle, the likes of which the U.S. military hadn't seen in years. He talks about how he was able to transform fear into decisive action, and head back out into the embattled city to help save his fellow Rangers, when he most certainly knew he was heading out on a "suicide mission." After Somalia, Struecker would go on to become an officer and chaplain, serving in Airborne and Ranger units. He also served more than a dozen combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hear his incredibly inspiring story on th