I love comic books. I won’t tell you who my favorite comic book character is but suffice to say I have been a fan for a long time. Superhero movies have gotten bland, cookie-cutter, and too corporate for my tastes so it takes a lot for me to read a comic book and escape for a while.
Tales of Nihilism is one of those series. Forget every preconceived notion you have about comic books from the past or what you see in the movies. Tales of Nihilism went in a direction that writers and artists don’t seem willing to go.
Stephen Russel goes there. He is a U.S. Army 11 Bravo (Infantry) and after service took his love of drawing and worked on his art. He likes using analog and digital tools for his work and has a style all his own.
Tales of Nihilism is his first published work on Global Comix and I enjoyed every page. Maybe comics aren’t your thing, but Stephen does other graphic work and we as Veterans can and should support our own. Especially when you see the work they have put into their craft.
Check out the links below and support Tales of Nihilism today.
Thanks for all the support from my sponsors Joyce Asack of Asack Real Estate and Army National Guard Veteran Mark Holmes of Reapers Detailing and Power Washing.
Also, please check out my supporters, Semper Savage, Bottom Gun Coffee, and Caisson Shaving Company!
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio Thursday at 11 am and Sunday at 8 am eastern. Find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word wreath for Wreaths Across America Radio.
Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023, a Veteran in Shelbyville, Tennessee will receive a mortgage-free home. If that isn’t special, I don’t know what is.
Tom Kilgannon, President of Freedom Alliance, came on to talk with me about the story of the Veteran and how this all came together.
Freedom Alliance was made aware of a Veteran in need and went into action. They worked with Ole South Properties to build the home and U.S. Bank through its Housing Opportunities after Military Engagement (H.O.M.E.) program for funding. Freedom Alliance has its own Heroes to Homeowners Program and so this was a team effort to get a Veteran in need a home for him and his family.
You will see and hear how this work makes a lasting impact on everyone involved with this project. If you are in the Shelbyville area, come greet your new neighbor.
Freedom Alliance is truly Oscar Mike. Go to https://freedomalliance.org/ to learn more about their mission and consider supporting what they do.
Thank you for talking with me Tom. I can’t wait to see what is next!
I was in the VA system before I could watch movies and sports on my phone. Doing anything with the VA, even with a computer, could be daunting at best and frustrating at worst. I was excited when I was told the VA was developing and fully functional app that could be used on my phone. I had such a great experience after I downloaded VA App that I asked to talk to someone involved with developing this app for Veterans.
Imagine my surprise when the VA told me I would get to talk to the development lead for the project, Chris Johnston.
Chris Johnston is the son of an Air Force Veteran. As part of VA’s Digital Modernization Strategy, he led the team that launched the redesigned VA.gov in 2018 and today serves as VA’s Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Digital Experience. Talking with Chris allowed me to understand the challenges the team faced to deliver an experience for Veterans across many demographics.
The VA App is designed to give Veterans the tools and information they need right on their phone no matter where they are. I can tell you from my experience that it is like having a fully functional VA office in my pocket. I can’t recommend it enough.
Thank you, Chris, for talking with me and creating something that benefits all Veterans in the VA system.
Special shout out to Keith Hayes of Sinsta 1 Productions who took the VA’s Public Service Announcement about the VA Mobile App and put in all the videos for my show over the last couple of months. It has always looked great. Thank you.
Go to Apple’s App Store or Google Play to download The VA App today!
Veterans Administration – Public Service Announcement
View and cancel health care appointments, view claims and appeals status, upload documentation to VA, securely message your doctor, locate VA facilities, retrieve your vaccine records, access the Veterans Crisis Line, and more—right from your phone—with VA’s Health and Benefits mobile app. The app also makes it easy to prove your status as a Veteran so you can take advantage of available retailer discounts. Join nearly 700,000 users in the Veteran community who are accessing their benefits and services, safely and securely, wherever and whenever they need them: https://bit.ly/3O43Yoe
Semper Savage is the official marinade and salad dressing for Oscar Mike Radio! Semper Savage is a Veteran Owned salad dressing and marinade company. Go to www.sempersavage.com and use “oscarmikeradio” at checkout for 10% off your order. Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business.
Bottom Gun Coffee
The official coffee of Oscar Mike Radio is Bottom Gun Coffee. Submariners know their coffee so go to www.bottomguncoffee.com and use “OMR” at checkout for 10% off your order! Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business
Caisson Shaving Company
The only shaving products I used on my face come from Travis Arnold’s company, Caisson Shaving Company. Travis is a Veteran and has created products that can be used anywhere. Use code “OMR10” for a 10% discount when you order
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio Thursday at 11 am and Sunday at 8 am eastern. Find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word wreath for Wreaths Across America Radio. Oscar Mike Radio is a top 100 podcast on Feedspot – https://blog.feedspot.com/veteran_podcasts/
Gail McAuliffe is a U.S. Army Veteran. She is the lead for rolling out the Behavioral Health Help Line for Massachusetts. After leaving the military she worked for different organizations before working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services. After working for the VA she went into the private sector and is now with Beacon Health Options working to roll out the Mass Help Line.
Massachusetts Behavioral Health Line is about getting help to the citizen of the Commonwealth who are in need. Covering a variety of needs, the Behavioral Health Help Line seeks to connect people care and support resources in a way that gets help where it is needed quickly.
We talked about how this was different than other programs in terms of confidentiality, follow-up, and making sure people are getting help. The goal is to make Massachusetts residents aware of the resource that is staffed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.
Thank you for talking with me Gail, I am looking forward to catching up with you as this program is maturing.
Veterans Administration – Public Service Announcement
View and cancel health care appointments, view claims and appeals status, upload documentation to VA, securely message your doctor, locate VA facilities, retrieve your vaccine records, access the Veterans Crisis Line, and more—right from your phone—with VA’s Health and Benefits mobile app. The app also makes it easy to prove your status as a Veteran so you can take advantage of available retailer discounts. Join nearly 700,000 users in the Veteran community who are accessing their benefits and services, safely and securely, wherever and whenever they need them: https://bit.ly/3O43Yoe
Semper Savage is the official marinade and salad dressing for Oscar Mike Radio! Semper Savage is a Veteran Owned salad dressing and marinade company. Go to www.sempersavage.com and use “oscarmikeradio” at checkout for 10% off your order. Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business.
Bottom Gun Coffee
The official coffee of Oscar Mike Radio is Bottom Gun Coffee. Submariners know their coffee so go to www.bottomguncoffee.com and use “OMR” at checkout for 10% off your order! Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business
Caisson Shaving Company
The only shaving products I used on my face come from Travis Arnold’s company, Caisson Shaving Company. Travis is a Veteran and has created products that can be used anywhere. Use code “OMR10” for a 10% discount when you order
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio Thursday at 11 am and Sunday at 8 am eastern. Find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word wreath for Wreaths Across America Radio. Oscar Mike Radio is a top 100 podcast on Feedspot – https://blog.feedspot.com/veteran_podcasts/
I enjoy talking to civilians on Oscar Mike Radio. It reminds me why I served and that there are people who love America. I got to talk with Andy Ross and his for America clear as the sky over his farm in Tennessee.
In some ways, Andy reminds me of a lot of us Veterans. He has reinvented himself several times. From starting out doing hunting shows on TV, music production, and his company, American Rebel, Andy has a can-do spirit that will inspire you.
I listened to All American Heart, and I think you would agree that song represents America. Yes, we have our faults and flaws, but if you are an American with an American heart regardless of where you are then you know that this country is a great place to be.
Semper Savage is the official marinade and salad dressing for Oscar Mike Radio! Semper Savage is a Veteran Owned salad dressing and marinade company. Go to www.sempersavage.com and use “oscarmikeradio” at checkout for 10% off your order. Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business.
Bottom Gun Coffee
The official coffee of Oscar Mike Radio is Bottom Gun Coffee. Submariners know their coffee so go to www.bottomguncoffee.com and use “OMR” at checkout for 10% off your order! Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business
Caisson Shaving Company
The only shaving products I used on my face come from Travis Arnold’s company, Caisson Shaving Company. Travis is a Veteran and has created products that can be used anywhere. Use code “OMR10” for a 10% discount when you order
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio Thursday at 11 am and Sunday at 8 am eastern. Find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word wreath for Wreaths Across America Radio. Oscar Mike Radio is a top 100 podcast on Feedspot – https://blog.feedspot.com/veteran_podcasts/
PFC Denisha Montgomery Smith died on August 8th, 2022, while deployed in Germany. The U.S. Army has maintained that Denisha’s death is a suicide, but her family and other people feel that is not the case.
As I learned more about what happened and talked to several people about the case, I realized that I didn’t really know Denisha. When Lindsey Knapp of Combat Sexual Assault and Amy Franck asked me to talk with Denisha’s aunt, Tomeka Light, I looked forward to learning more.
Tomeka Light served in the U.S. Army for 13 years. She is Denisha’s Aunt and was proud to see her niece serve her country. Denisha’s family has a legacy of military service and Tomeka was proud that Denisha was serving.
We talked about Denisha as a wife and mother and how joining the Army was to help make a better life for her family. All the Montgomery/Smith family wants is justice for Denisha.
You can help the Montgomery/Smith family by sharing this story to make sure Denisha is not forgotten.
Please help Denisha’s family by donating to the Go Fund Me in her name
Thank you, Tomeka, for letting us all get to know Denisha.
#IAMDENISHAMONTGOMERYSMITH
#YOUAREDENISHAMONTGOMERYSMITH
#WEAREDENISHAMONTGOMERYSMITH
Veterans Administration – Public Service Announcement
View and cancel health care appointments, view claims and appeals status, upload documentation to VA, securely message your doctor, locate VA facilities, retrieve your vaccine records, access the Veterans Crisis Line, and more—right from your phone—with VA’s Health and Benefits mobile app. The app also makes it easy to prove your status as a Veteran so you can take advantage of available retailer discounts. Join nearly 700,000 users in the Veteran community who are accessing their benefits and services, safely and securely, wherever and whenever they need them: https://bit.ly/3O43Yoe
Semper Savage is the official marinade and salad dressing for Oscar Mike Radio! Semper Savage is a Veteran Owned salad dressing and marinade company. Go to www.sempersavage.com and use “oscarmikeradio” at checkout for 10% off your order. Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business.
Bottom Gun Coffee
The official coffee of Oscar Mike Radio is Bottom Gun Coffee. Submariners know their coffee so go to www.bottomguncoffee.com and use “OMR” at checkout for 10% off your order! Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business
Caisson Shaving Company
The only shaving products I used on my face come from Travis Arnold’s company, Caisson Shaving Company. Travis is a Veteran and has created products that can be used anywhere. Use code “OMR10” for a 10% discount when you order
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio Thursday at 11 am and Sunday at 8 am eastern. Find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word wreath for Wreaths Across America Radio. Oscar Mike Radio is a top 40 podcast on Feedspot – https://blog.feedspot.com/veteran_podcasts/
Colonel Martin came on Oscar Mike Radio in December 2022 to talk with me about PFC Denisha Montgomery Smith. I learned a lot about leadership, military criminal investigations, and how one person can make a difference.
I was keen to have Colonel Martin back on to talk with me because of the article I read on his site about Buffalo Soldiers. He had done a lot of research on their service and there are lessons we can apply today from their legacy.
The conversation moved to the Tuskegee Airmen and General Powell. Learning about how the Tuskegee Airmen served our country and finer points of “The Powell Doctrine” brought parts of our history to life in a way that I hadn’t thought about previously. I got the sense we had just scratched the surface of the stories of these amazing individuals.
Veterans Administration – Public Service Announcement
View and cancel health care appointments, view claims and appeals status, upload documentation to VA, securely message your doctor, locate VA facilities, retrieve your vaccine records, access the Veterans Crisis Line, and more—right from your phone—with VA’s Health and Benefits mobile app. The app also makes it easy to prove your status as a Veteran so you can take advantage of available retailer discounts. Join nearly 700,000 users in the Veteran community who are accessing their benefits and services, safely and securely, wherever and whenever they need them: https://bit.ly/3O43Yoe
Semper Savage is the official marinade and salad dressing for Oscar Mike Radio! Semper Savage is a Veteran Owned salad dressing and marinade company. Go to www.sempersavage.com and use “oscarmikeradio” at checkout for 10% off your order. Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business.
Bottom Gun Coffee
The official coffee of Oscar Mike Radio is Bottom Gun Coffee. Submariners know their coffee so go to www.bottomguncoffee.com and use “OMR” at checkout for 10% off your order! Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business
Caisson Shaving Company
The only shaving products I used on my face come from Travis Arnold’s company, Caisson Shaving Company. Travis is a Veteran and has created products that can be used anywhere. Use code “OMR10” for a 10% discount when you order
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio Thursday at 11 am and Sunday at 8 am eastern. Find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word wreath for Wreaths Across America Radio. Oscar Mike Radio is a top 40 podcast on Feedspot – https://blog.feedspot.com/veteran_podcasts/
Jenna Carlton and I met through “The Coalition”. It is a group of Veteran Podcasters and we support each other. She had me on her show, “The Millennial Veteran” and I was happy to return the honor.
Serving in the U.S. Navy, Jenna did Weather Service as her Military Occupational Specialty. She got out and started life as a wife and mother but felt disconnected from the kind of life she had in the Navy.
The Millennial Veteran is her way to connect with younger Veterans now. Jenna wants to network and build relationships with Veterans coming out of the military instead of waiting for a Veteran to come to traditional places. Every Sunday night, you can go to @themillennialveteran on Instagram on Sundays at 9 PM EST, where she hosts Vet Chats.
Check out Jenna’s Link Tree (https://linktr.ee/themillennialveteran) for everything about @themillennialveteran. Thank you, Jenna, for talking with me!
Veterans Administration – Public Service Announcement
View and cancel health care appointments, view claims and appeals status, upload documentation to VA, securely message your doctor, locate VA facilities, retrieve your vaccine records, access the Veterans Crisis Line, and more—right from your phone—with VA’s Health and Benefits mobile app. The app also makes it easy to prove your status as a Veteran so you can take advantage of available retailer discounts. Join nearly 700,000 users in the Veteran community who are accessing their benefits and services, safely and securely, wherever and whenever they need them: https://bit.ly/3O43Yoe
Semper Savage is the official marinade and salad dressing for Oscar Mike Radio! Semper Savage is a Veteran Owned salad dressing and marinade company. Go to www.sempersavage.com and use “oscarmikeradio” at checkout for 10% off your order. Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business.
Bottom Gun Coffee
The official coffee of Oscar Mike Radio is Bottom Gun Coffee. Submariners know their coffee so go to www.bottomguncoffee.com and use “OMR” at checkout for 10% off your order! Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business
Caisson Shaving Company
The only shaving products I used on my face come from Travis Arnold’s company, Caisson Shaving Company. Travis is a Veteran and has created products that can be used anywhere. Use code “OMR10” for a 10% discount when you order
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio Thursday at 11 am and Sunday at 8 am eastern. Find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word wreath for Wreaths Across America Radio. Oscar Mike Radio is a top 40 podcast on Feedspot – https://blog.feedspot.com/veteran_podcasts/
I connected with Tony through a LinkedIn Marine Corps group. We started talking and he told me about this home security system he and his son developed.
Tony served in the Marine Corps as a General Administrator. He was stationed at MCAS Yuma and Quantico. We had some good laughs talking about Yuma.
After the Marine Corps, Tony got into business and loved it. He has multiple ventures but he is most proud of the work he has done with his children.
Veterans Administration – Public Service Announcement View and cancel health care appointments, view claims and appeals status, upload documentation to VA, securely message your doctor, locate VA facilities, retrieve your vaccine records, access the Veterans Crisis Line, and more—right from your phone—with VA’s Health and Benefits mobile app. The app also makes it easy to prove your status as a Veteran so you can take advantage of available retailer discounts. Join nearly 700,000 users in the Veteran community who are accessing their benefits and services, safely and securely, wherever and whenever they need them: https://bit.ly/3O43Yoe
Semper Savage is the official marinade and salad dressing for Oscar Mike Radio! Semper Savage is a Veteran Owned salad dressing and marinade company. Go to www.sempersavage.com and use “oscarmikeradio” at checkout for 10% off your order. Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business.
Bottom Gun Coffee
The official coffee of Oscar Mike Radio is Bottom Gun Coffee. Submariners know their coffee so go to www.bottomguncoffee.com and use “OMR” at checkout for 10% off your order! Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business
Caisson Shaving Company
The only shaving products I used on my face come from Travis Arnold’s company, Caisson Shaving Company. Travis is a Veteran and has created products that can be used anywhere. Use code “OMR10” for a 10% discount when you order
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio Thursday at 11 am and Sunday at 8 am eastern. Find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word wreath for Wreaths Across America Radio. Oscar Mike Radio is a top 40 podcast on Feedspot – https://blog.feedspot.com/veteran_podcasts/
I remember reading Ghosts of the Valley almost two years ago. For never having gone to Afghanistan, Sean made me feel as if I was there with him every step of the way.
Sean grew up in L.A. and went into the Army as a Military Police Officer. He has deployed several times and been wounded in combat. Now he is a First Sergeant in a training battalion working with the next generation of the Army.
Ghosts of the Valley was written as a way for Sean to deal with his PTSD. He hopes that someone reads his story and understands that despite hardship, struggles, and pain, one can overcome these obstacles.
Never again, will I think of Military Police as a person with a badge waving cars through the gate. Thank you, Sean, for talking with me.
Veterans Administration – Public Service Announcement
View and cancel health care appointments, view claims and appeals status, upload documentation to VA, securely message your doctor, locate VA facilities, retrieve your vaccine records, access the Veterans Crisis Line, and more—right from your phone—with VA’s Health and Benefits mobile app. The app also makes it easy to prove your status as a Veteran so you can take advantage of available retailer discounts. Join nearly 700,000 users in the Veteran community who are accessing their benefits and services, safely and securely, wherever and whenever they need them: https://bit.ly/3O43Yoe
Semper Savage is the official marinade and salad dressing for Oscar Mike Radio! Semper Savage is a Veteran Owned salad dressing and marinade company. Go to www.sempersavage.com and use “oscarmikeradio” at checkout for 10% off your order. Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business.
Bottom Gun Coffee
The official coffee of Oscar Mike Radio is Bottom Gun Coffee. Submariners know their coffee so go to www.bottomguncoffee.com and use “OMR” at checkout for 10% off your order! Thank you for supporting a Veteran Owned Business
Caisson Shaving Company
The only shaving products I used on my face come from Travis Arnold’s company, Caisson Shaving Company. Travis is a Veteran and has created products that can be used anywhere. Use code “OMR10” for a 10% discount when you order
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio Thursday at 11 am and Sunday at 8 am eastern. Find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word wreath for Wreaths Across America Radio. Oscar Mike Radio is a top 40 podcast on Feedspot – https://blog.feedspot.com/veteran_podcasts/
