Hazard Ground

Trey Grissom entered the Naval Academy to play football & left there to become a Marine after highlighting his collegiate football career in one of the great Navy upsets over rival Notre Dame in 2010. The rigors of the Academy & college football prepared Grissom well for leading Marines in combat. But as combat goes, nothing ever fully prepares you for that experience, except the experience itself. That sentiment is reflected in Grissom's thoughts on his combat tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as well as in his reflection on probably one of the most high profile assignments a Marine can undertake - platoon commander at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. There, he oversaw several Marine burials at Arlington National Cemetery, bringing honor & dignity to those who didn't make it home alive. This episode goes deep inside the mind of a Marine who has been in the unfortunate position of laying his brothers to rest both on & off the battlefield, but has exemplified the leader he is by handling this duty with in

As a Green Beret, Joe Serna has been through just about everything in combat: he’s been blown up a couple of times, shot at, and nearly drown in an armored vehicle when the road under it gave way next to a canal. And with all those combat injuries, most certainly comes PTSD, which Joe has most certainly battled. The breaking point came a few years ago when Joe was arrested for drunk driving. He subsequently broke his probation & ironically found an unintended healing point when the judge who sentenced him spent the 24 hours in jail with him knowing that Serna’s PTSD makes confined spaces torturous. When you listen to Serna speak, you can tell that his love of life & family is what keeps him alive. It’s what kept him engaged with the judge that one night in jail, so the walls “didn’t exist.” And it’s what helped him push past simple luck those dark days in combat. This is another inspiring episode you don’t want to miss! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help grow

From a young age, Cliff Anders wanted to fly helicopters in the military. Getting into the cockpit seemed to be a breeze for Cliff, but getting to war, to “do his part,” was not so easy. He was in flight school during September 11, 2001, but it would be several more years & a few moves around the world to various Apache & training outfits, before Cliff would finally see combat. You see, Cliff is a determined individual – so much so that he & a fellow pilot would call the Army’s Personnel Command every night during their tour in Korea to try & get reassigned to a unit heading to fight in the Middle East once the Global War on Terror kicked off. In the end Cliff would have to wait nearly 5 years before finally seeing combat. And when he did, he was thrown straight into the lion’s den. On this episode, Cliff Anders talks about those first experiences flying in combat & how they changed him as a person & the incredible connection he formed with those soldiers on the ground who he supported by fire, but only knew

Josh Jespersen’s entrance into the military wasn’t exactly conventional. But then again, there really isn’t much about Josh that is “conventional.” And he’s just about the nicest & decent human being you’ll ever meet, too! Once in the military, Josh quickly earned the Trident of a Navy SEAL & went on to honorably serve several years as a SEAL, surviving combat tours in Iraq & Afghanistan. After leaving the Navy he co-founded Mission Memorial Day – an organization that has set out to bring back the true meaning & recognition to Memorial Day by serving “not only those who made it back from the battle field, but also those who didn’t.” Mission Memorial Day (MMD) honors those who never made it home from war by encouraging decoration of monuments or servicemembers’ graves, or engaging in a physically demanding activity or small expedition. Aside from co-founding MMD, Josh also holds the speed record for climbing & snowboarding down all of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks in just 138 days – a record previously held by

Two men…One of them wanted to work in special operations from the start, & ended up serving a long career in the most elite forces in the U.S. military, fighting in The Battle of Mogadishu all the way into the Global War on Terror. The other holds the unique distinction of playing in both Nirvana & Soundgarden before deciding to join the Army & going on to serve in Special Forces for the rest of his military career. They are “Brad” & Jason Everman, both the truest form of modern day warriors you’ll ever meet. And now both of them are returning to their music roots to form a new band called “Silence and Light” with the intent to give back to the community they served with, through music. They plan to record an album this summer with a major producer, & give all proceeds from the record back to veterans & service charities! These are two incredible humans on an episode you don’t want to miss! And don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review on iTunes…Every review helps grow the show! www.warriorsheart.com | silence

This is sure to be part one of a multi-interview series with US Army & Delta Force legend, retired SGM Mike Vining. Vining enlisted in the Army in 1968. He served in Vietnam as an EOD tech, but after 10 years in EOD he started looking to transition to Special Forces as a medic. He soon found himself, however, going through the selection process for the newly formed 1st SFOD-Delta, more commonly known as “Delta Force” as the Unit was looking to add more EOD techs to its initial roster. Vining successfully graduated the 1st selection class for Delta, and would go on to serve with Delta for the better part of his career. Vining served in many high level operations. So in this episode we dive deep into Operations EAGLE CLAW (Iran) & URGENT FURY (Grenada). Today, Mike Vining spends his time writing, hiking, rock & mountain climbing, & alpine & backcountry skiing, while doing important research work for the National EOD Memorial & working as a committee member for the National EOD Association. This is a very intere

Our guest this week is not the typical guest we tend to feature on “Hazard Ground.” But we felt it was important to have Steve Cannon on to talk about service & leadership, as he is someone who’s embodied those ideals for a very long time. Steve Cannon is currently the CEO of AMB Group, LLC – the Arthur M. Blank family of businesses, which includes the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, whose business operations Cannon currently leads. He is also a West Point graduate and qualified Army Airborne Ranger, who served in West Germany during the fall of the Iron Curtain. Prior to joining AMB Group, Cannon served as president & CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, where he was responsible for leading operations that generated record sales with annual revenues exceeding $20 billion. Cannon’s leadership philosophy, work ethic, and all-around attitude on perseverance & resilience are the reasons he’s been so successful, while continuing to be a down-to-earth, humble & all-around good human being. This is a must-listen episode…Don’t miss it!

We are honored to be joined this week by special guest & author/journalist/filmmaker Sebastian Junger. Junger is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author of such works as “The Perfect Storm,” “War,” & “Tribe.” He is also a documentary filmmaker whose debut film “Restrepo” was nominated for an Academy Award. As an award-winning journalist who’s covered news stories around the world, he’s received both a National Magazine Award & a Peabody Award. He is also known for directing “Korengal,” the sequel to “Restrepo.” Hear how Junger got his start in journalism and filmmaking; hear about his interaction with Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was assassinated just days before 9/11; and what it was like to live alongside, in combat no less, the soldiers whose story he was sharing with the world…On this very special episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.sebastianjunger.com | www.restrepothemovie.com | www.korengalthemovie.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Help gr

We return this week with a guest who at first, humbly, didn’t really believe she had much to offer to the podcast or our general audience. But she in fact does have something important to share, & sharing her story is yet another reason we do the podcast each week – to help others whether they’ve been in the military or not. Margaux Mange is a living example that you can find a way to heal from PTSD & the traumatic effects of having your brain literally rattled in combat. While serving in Iraq, Margaux survived multiple IED blasts, one of which killed her best friend, literally in front of her. For a long time she suffered through finding the right therapy to even try & heal from the blasts & the loss of her friend. It wasn’t until she discovered the healing effects from outdoor pursuits that she actually started to recover. Nothing will bring back the people she lost through war, but she can now live the rest of her days for them. She’s even climbed Denali, just for them. Catch this highly inspirational stor

There are simply too many positive things to say about Chris Van Etten to fit in this short intro, but what we will say is that his drive & motivation to move beyond his injuries & inspire others is infectious & invigorating. In 2012, while on patrol as a Marine in Afghanistan, Van Etten stepped on an IED. The blast took both of his legs as well as the life of his best friend. The accident took its toll both physically & mentally on Chris. Unsure where his drastically changed life was headed, Van Etten started working out religiously to clear his head. The physique he attained eventually landed him as an underwear model with Jockey’s inspirational “Show ’Em What’s Underneath” campaign. And a desire to pursue projects that help motivate & inspire others has driven Van Etten toward acting, where he currently plays “Chet” – also an injured vet – on ABC’s daytime drama, “General Hospital.” Van Etten also continues to work as a motivational speaker, and if this episode of “Hazard Ground” doesn’t inspire you, we’re

Today we pick-up with Ryan Pitts’ story as the Anti-Afghan force begins their deadly and sustained assault on Pitts and his observation post, in the vicinity of Wanat Village, Kunar Province, Afghanistan on July 13, 2008! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! If you like the show, please subscribe/rate/review on iTunes! It helps the show tremendously, and we always appreciate the feedback!

On the one year anniversary of Hazard Ground, it’s probably fitting that we share part one of the two part story of how Staff Sergeant Ryan M. Pitts received the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat. His is a story that defines the reason we do the podcast every week – to tell the stories of service, sacrifice, of unbreakable spirit, and strength in the face of insurmountable odds, with the hope that these stories will help others, whether they’ve served in the military or not. Sergeant Pitts received the Medal of Honor with humility and grace, and it’s evident by his words that he doesn’t believe it was just him who earned the Medal of Honor, but it was him alongside every one of his fellow soldiers who fought bravely on that dark day of July 13, 2008, along with those who didn’t return. And Ryan Pitts, who is now out of the Army, understands the duty that comes with the recognition of distinguished gallantry. Hear how Ryan Pitts became a recipient of the Medal of Honor, and what he’s doing now to carry

We should consider ourselves fortunate to have someone like Scott Huesing to carry on the story of the brave men of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines who fought daily in Ramadi, Iraq from the winter of 2006 to early 2007. During that period, Ramadi was considered the deadliest city in Iraq. Huesing and his Marines likened it to living in Hell. Scott Huesing served for over 24 years in the Marine Corps, both as enlisted and a commissioned officer, retiring as an Infantry Marine Major. His career included 10 deployments which have put him at the center of major operations in over 60 countries worldwide, leading and conducting combat missions in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. But it is his time leading Echo Company in Ramadi – the “Magnificent Bastards” of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines – that seems to have left the deepest impression on Huesing in all of his time in the Marine Corps. The Hell that he and his Marines lived through is captured so vividly in his new book, “Echo in Ramadi” which

Joining the military had been a lifelong dream for Nick Irving. He even knew from a young age that he wanted to be a sniper, taking BB gun shots at just about every inanimate object in his neighborhood, using his homemade ghillie suit as camouflage. And like many who know they want to be a part of the best the military has to offer, Nick set out in high school to join the elite Special Operations Forces of the U.S. military. Through hard work, preparation, and perseverance he became a sniper with the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, where he completed 6 combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. While with the 75th he also set a single deployment record with 33 kills in a 3-1/2 month timeframe, earning him the sobriquet, “The Reaper.” Nick takes us through the mind of a sniper, on and off the battlefield, and what it was like to come home as The Reaper, in this captivating conversation. www.reaper33.com | “The Reaper” | “Way of the Reaper” Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.c

Jason Beighley is a special breed of soldier. He has over 17 years experience serving and excelling in the U.S. Army’s top tier Special Operations units. Looking for a greater challenge and more fulfilling job in the military, he worked to join those units, and would soon find himself involved in combat and high-stakes engagements with the enemy. One of those engagements was the Battle of Mogadishu, better known by its film and book adaptation, “Black Hawk Down.” In this episode, Jason, like the other guests we’ve had who fought in that battle, offers up a perspective you only get from someone who lived it and battled through it on the ground those two intense days in October 1993. He especially highlights how the rigorous training he went through prior to Mogadishu prepared him for the stress and strain of combat, allowing him to be an asset to his fellow operators and survive that and several other engagements. Today, he helps provide that same level of training to others working in high-risk environments,

Dr. Julia D. Dye is an author and the VP and CFO of Warriors, Inc., “the entertainment industry’s premiere military advising company.”  She also runs Warriors Publishing Group with her husband, retired Marine, and star of such iconic war films as “Platoon” and “Saving Private Ryan”….And former Hazard Ground guest, Dale Dye. Julia also holds a Ph.D. in Theatrical Hoplology – a field which combines anthropology, sociology, economics, and the study of military history and combatives with performance. For this episode, Dr. Dye sits down with us to talk about the importance of accurately portraying warfighters’ stories in film and television. She also discusses her new book, “Through My Daughter’s Eyes,” which takes a close look at life growing up in a military family, with all of its ups and downs, and what it means to sacrifice in the name of service to one’s country. This episode is all about telling the warfighter’s story, the right way, and it comes straight from one of the leading experts in the business! ww

As a young infantryman, Jesse Yandell knew he wanted to serve with the best units the U.S. Army had to offer - with soldiers who had the desire to take on more and always push further than the rest. He settled on the elite soldiers of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Once in, he never looked back, serving 15 combat deployments with the Rangers, and eventually reaching the position of Company First Sergeant within the Regiment. Many describe him as "cool and calm" in combat, and a "rock" who others look to in times of trouble. His will and strength are simply outmatched, as evidenced when he came back from a near-career ending and nearly fatal gunshot wound to the chest. He let the Army and others around him know that he had more to give and wasn't finished serving, by successfully summiting Mt. Rainier, just four months after surgery! If you're looking for inspiration, or searching for motivation to push yourself to your max potential, look no further than the story of Jesse Yandell! www.jesseyandell.com | www.hooah

Having decided that eight years of medical school was not the right fit for him, and stung by a desire to do something immediately more challenging with his life, Robert Disney dropped out of college to join the Air Force to become a Pararescue specialist, more commonly known as a "PJ." The PJs primary mission is to rescue, recover, and/or provide medical aid to downed air crews anywhere in the world, in any type of environment, both hostile and friendly. The attrition rate within the PJ training and qualification pipeline is extremely high. Disney's class started out with 86 recruits, and graduated just 6. It's no wonder Robert Disney went on to have such a successful career as a PJ, and survive an absolutely insane amount of combat and training related traumatic events, including a helicopter crash and being shot through the face. Hear about this incredible ride he's taken through the ranks of the Air Force, in combat and brotherhood, and how he's found peace amongst the inescapable scars of battle, on this

A self-described hellion growing up, Kirstie Ennis has always had the fire inside of her to overcome virtually any obstacle. That trait was put to the test on June 23, 2012, when the helicopter she was a door gunner on crashed in Afghanistan while performing combat resupplies. Kirstie, the daughter of two Marines, had planned to stay in the Marine Corps for a full career. The injuries she sustained as a result of the crash, which included an above-the-knee amputation on her left leg and a traumatic brain injury, forced her to medically retire from the Marine Corps in 2014. The fire inside was never needed more than in her years of recovery, fighting to become something greater than the person she was before joining the military. And Kirstie has done just that. She's now a mountaineer, Olympic hopeful, and the first female US veteran above-the-knee amputee to summit Carstensz Pyramid, a 16K foot peak in Indonesia...And she's working on a host of other high alpine summits! She's also just an all-around incredib

They're father and son, bonded by war. Both of them, Marines. The father fought in Vietnam, during one of the most violent periods of that conflict. The son did the same in Iraq. For the longest time, the son only knew that his dad was Alvin Bert Grantham, or "A.B." as he's known, the wounded Marine on the tank in one of the most iconic photographs from the Vietnam War. The photo of A.B. Grantham was shot by award-winning photographer, John Olson. It was featured in the March 8, 1968 issue of "Life" magazine, and would come to symbolize the horrific fighting that took place in Hue City during the Tet Offensive. It wasn't until the son, Joshua Grantham, fought as a Recon Marine in Iraq in 2004 and 2006, that father and son would finally solve the enigma of one another, revealing the haunting wartime past that had made the father a hero to his son, and unveiling the son's reasons for following in the hero's footsteps. This is an amazing story of family, brotherhood, sacrifice, and raw human experience that we t