Hazard Ground

Dr. Paul Roach is a recently retired Navy Combat Surgeon. At a young age, he intended to follow in his father’s footsteps into psychiatry. But trauma surgery was his calling, and he followed it all the way to the brutal and bloody environs of the war in Afghanistan. It was there he recalls his worst combat losses, and one quad-amputee Marine in particular, that he helped save against the odds.* That same Marine was a former guest on HAZARD GROUND, and is thriving today! Hear Dr. Paul Roach’s story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! *The Marine who Dr. Roach treated and speaks about in this episode gave his permission for Dr. Roach to talk about his case. "Citizen Surgeon: A Memoir" | "The End: A Story of Love and War in the Afterlife" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscrib

Three months into his run for mayor of Kansas City - which seemed destined for victory - Jason Kander suddenly dropped out of the race. He did so to confront years of post-traumatic stress that nearly drove him to suicide. His PTS was a direct result of his deployment to Afghanistan where for months he often worked outside the wire as an Army officer, mostly without any fire support - just him and an interpreter, meeting with some of the most dangerous people on the planet. The pause from public service and running for office to seek treatment was ultimately successful, redirecting Jason to a different path leading efforts to help struggling veterans get back on their feet! Hear his inspirational story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.veteranscommunityproject.org | www.jasonkander.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread t

Mike McGuinness is a three-time Afghanistan combat veteran. His story is a study in why leadership - meaning the presence of qualified people in leadership positions - is so important, from the lowest echelons of the military, all the way to the top. McGuinness served honorably for 16 years. He was also a squad leader in convicted war criminal Clint Lorance's platoon, which would ultimately lead to Mike leaving the military. This is a powerful story of combat, survival - and the hard consequences of not effectively treating moral injury and poor leadership - and the resilience of a man who the war followed home. Hear it on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceand

Will Thomas is the founder of Operation Hawkeye, an organization that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the families of fallen special operations servicemembers for a decade now. The really interesting part is that Will started Op Hawkeye when he was in middle school! Moved to action by the downing of Extortion 17 in Afghanistan in 2011, Will decided to do something tangible to help the families of the special operators lost on that mission. It started with simply shooting hoops - 17K baskets in a weekend to be exact - and grew into years of raising money through various challenges related to sports, along with a very successful social media campaign. At one point, Thomas’s efforts even grabbed the attention of Adm. William McRaven. Hear Will's story of how he turned tragedy on the battlefield into hope for others - starting a movement when he was just a kid - on this special edition of HAZARD GROUND! @op_hawkeye Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!

Thomas Schueman takes us through a young Marine officer's first taste of combat - a very real baptism by fire that ultimately prepared him for the day he'd see it again. Schueman talks about the survival of combat, not just on the battlefield, but also at home. Focusing on that survival at home is not just something he talks about; he's taken action by starting his own non-profit, called Patrol Base Abbate - named after legendary Marine, Matthew Abbate - to give servicemembers a "space to recalibrate inside the wire and community to thrive outside the wire." Hear Thomas Schueman's powerful story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.pbabbate.org Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light"

After graduating from the United States Naval Academy, Mark Treanor served as a Marine Corps rifle platoon leader in Vietnam, when some of the heaviest fighting took place. Years later, Mark would write a book about his experience in Vietnam. But, it's not your typical book about one's Vietnam combat experience. It's a novel, written through the lens of someone who lived through the worst in humankind, and carried the memory of that experience for years after the war was over. Hear Mark's powerful story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!     "A Quiet Cadence" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

Brian Fleming joined the Infantry during a time of war to serve his country and test his mettle. He ended up getting a little more than he probably bargained for, but still understood the risks, serving in combat with honor. Brian was blown up twice while deployed to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division. The second blast was from a suicide bomber, just three feet away from Brian. Hear how Brian survived that horrific attack and the pain of reconstructive surgery, and went on to become a full-time author, speaker, and resiliency coach on this wild episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.blownupguy.com | "Redeployed" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

We have our second Canadian Armed Forces guest on the podcast this week! Ian Cantelo is a Sacrifice Medal recipient - Canada's version of the Purple Heart - due to injuries sustained after he was blown up multiple times while serving in Afghanistan. His injuries would nearly end his tour early, but undeterred by injury, Ian returned to the Panjwai district of Kandahar province to finish out his combat tour of duty. After leaving the military, Cantelo started working as a strength and conditioning/skills development coach for aspiring pro athletes, which he continues to this day, co-founding his own company in the process. Hear his inspirational story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.ctawest.com | www.athleticedgecalgary.ca Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate

This week’s episode is about Richard Flaherty, the smallest known man to serve in the U.S. military in recent history. Richard served as a Green Beret in Vietnam, among other incredible ventures, earning two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for actions in combat. Later in life Richard was killed in a hit and run on the streets of Miami where he lived a good portion of his life after leaving the military. David Yuzuk, a Miami cop, befriended Richard and spent several years getting to know the 4' 9" Green Beret, combat veteran. Well, at least David thought he knew who Richard was. That is until Richard dropped a bomb on him just before his untimely death. On this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND, hear David tell the story of Richard Flaherty, "The Giant Killer." A story David promised his friend Richard, he'd share with the world! "The Giant Killer" | "The Giant Killer: The Incredible True Story of the Smallest Man to Serve in the U.S. Military" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.

Henry Hughes' family tradition of military service dates all the way back to the American Revolution. For him, he chose the Army and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He served multiple combat tours with the 173rd, including one at COP Keating - the infamous outpost we've covered in several previous episodes - in 2008. When Hughes left the Army, it was to pursue a new passion - filmmaking. He has since been mentored by George Lucas, nominated for an Academy Award, and co-produced and acted in "The Outpost" - the 2020 film about COP Keating and the Battle of Kamdesh - as he continues down the path of a working filmmaker. Hear his powerful and inspirational story on our latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! "Day One" | "The Outpost" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episo

Eddie Wright's story is pretty insane! In 2004, he and his small element of Marines were ambushed in Iraq. Eddie immediately lost just about 100% of his physical ability to fight back. Calm and alert through the entire firefight that followed, Eddie remained a leader on the battlefield, directing other Marines returning fire and guiding those rendering aid. Despite the loss of two limbs, Eddie would return to active duty not long after the ambush. Hear his amazing and powerful story on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

Nick Rucker is a veteran of two combat deployments - one to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. Those deployments didn't come without a price. After returning home, Nick struggled with Post Traumatic Stress and alcoholism - two powerful adversaries that required the will to fight, even after the wars for him were over. Nick is now a touring country songwriter and singer, an author, and most important of all: sober. Hear about his struggle returning from one battlefield to a war on the homefront that nearly destroyed him, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! "Time Cap" | www.guitars4vets.org | www.killcliff.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

For our first episode released in both audio and video formats with our partners at Kill Cliff, Greg "Billy Bob" Thornton & Raymond "Donk" Strasburger - both Air Force A-10 pilots - take us through one of the most harrowing combat missions at the onset of the Iraq War in early 2003.  Both pilots flew their A-10s through a blinding sandstorm, in a white-knuckle effort to provide critical close air support to U.S. troops in direct contact with Iraqi tanks. One of those troops was also one of their own - a fellow A-10 pilot from their squadron who was serving as the JTAC for the unit on the ground. Hear firsthand how the mission unfolded, and how it nearly ended in disaster, on this powerful, "keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat" edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.killcliff.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subs

Brian Ribera is a retired Navy SEAL and the founder and president of Military Mobility - a non-profit, adventure-based organization that specializes in off-road expeditions and resiliency training for veterans. Military Mobility's mission is to "put clients in a team environment which fosters camaraderie, trust, and inspires the realization that any challenge - no matter how great - can be overcome." Hear how Brian has served his country at the most specialized levels of combat operations, to how he continues to serve veterans across the spectrum, in this bonus edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.militarymobility.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

As we wrap up an extensive look at COP Keating and the Battle of Kamdesh, which occurred on October 3rd, 2009, in Afghanistan, Zachary Koppes takes us on an intense and sometimes hilarious/sometimes heartbreaking journey through the day-long battle and its aftermath. Koppes spent the entire day in the fight, firing his MK 19 grenade launcher at enemy targets while trying to avoid being hit by a sniper who had a bead on his position (and his head). Hear the powerful story of combat, survival, loss, and resilience from the unlikeliest of soldiers, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

Jeff Depatie is the first ever Canadian servicemember we've had on the podcast. The man was born to be a warrior, spending his career in the Canadian Armed Forces as a sniper/assaulter in JTF 2 - an extremely high-readiness and precise, tier one special operations forces unit. JTF 2's mission is to protect Canadian national interests and combat terrorism and threats to Canadians at home and abroad. Following his time in the military, Jeff co-founded The Special Forces Experience - a program that immerses participants in adverse environments with the intent to catalyze post-traumatic growth and improve human optimization. Hear Jeff's story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.thespecialforcesexperience.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple

This week, another detailed look at COP Keating and the October 3rd, 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan with Chris Jones. Chris was an Infantry soldier in Red Platoon, Bravo Troop 3-61 Cav. He was also one of the five guys who volunteered for Clint Romesha's small team to take back the outpost against overwhelming odds. Jones talks about the intense battle that unfolded that day in October 2009, and the strong bonds amongst brothers in arms that kept a relatively small number of them fighting like hell until COP Keating was once again secure. Hear his powerful story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

This week we return to COP Keating and the Battle of Kamdesh, which took place on October 3rd, 2009 in Afghanistan. Kyle Knight was a Forward Observer in Red Platoon, Bravo Troop 3-61 Cav. Kyle offers an unvarnished perspective of what life was like on Keating before the overwhelming October 3rd attack, the leadership failures that lead to it, and the hours fighting on the ground to win back American control of the combat outpost. He and his unit of just 53 U.S. cavalry scouts ultimately repelled over 300 Taliban fighters while defending COP Keating. Hear his story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! "Midnight Chow" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

Dr. Shauna Springer's father raised his kids like a drill instructor - up at 5 a.m. three times a week to run miles in the dark at a local track. That kind of activity at an early age, along with solo mission service trips to foreign countries starting at the age of 10, may just have been the spark that started Dr. Springer on a path to understanding the psychological trauma veterans face on and off the battlefield. She isn't a veteran, but she has made it her life's mission to understand the psychology of a warrior, to the point where she is one of the most trusted docs within the veteran community. Hear her story and how she continues to help veterans heal in our latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.docshaunaspringer.com | "Warrior: How to Support Those Who Protect Us" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! S

Dale Rider deployed to Iraq as a bridge crew member of an Engineer unit initially assigned to advise and assist the Iraqi's, after the war had theoretically ended. So, naturally, in the middle of the Iraq mission, his small detachment would head into Syria for a different mission. Dale shares his experiences with that sudden change of mission, and the struggle to deal with some of its side effects when he returned home. It's an interesting story that explores the volatile environment in Iraq and the surrounding region after the major troop drawdown, and how it's still affecting young servicemembers today. Hear Dale Rider's complete story on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND!  Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Lig