Tony served in the Navy and started his Veterans’ Advocacy in 2013.
He rides his motorcycle across the United States to bring comfort to Gold Star Families.
When Tony connects with Gold Star Families the time spent lets them know that they are not forgotten. If possible Tony will use the support given to the Gold Star Foundation to assist families where needed.
This conversation is another example of a Veteran taking what he has and using it to bring comfort to others. Gold Star Foundation is a non-profit and is funded through donations. Consider supporting Tony today.
Jeff Haywood is a retired Navy Seal and now owns and operates Bone Frog Warrior Apparel.
Encourage your audience to use this link to purchase Bone Frog Warrior apparel. In addition, you can tell them that they will receive 10% off of BFW apparel purchases when they use this coupon code: OSCARMIKE
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
BlackCat Designs
BlackCat Designs does 3D Printing and Design. Click on the link below!
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio on Thursday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. 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 want to thank John, “JK” Kennedy of the Veterans Brotherhood VMC for connecting me with Michael Garner Sr. In this show I, discuss motorcycle safety with my guest, Michael Gardner Sr. Michael shares his personal story of losing his son in a motorcycle accident and how it inspired him to work with the organization called “Check Twice Save a Life.”
We talked about the events and initiatives organized by the organization to raise awareness about motorcycle safety, including distributing “Check Twice” signs and organizing runs. They also discuss the lack of safety among automobile drivers and the potential risks on the road. Michael emphasizes the importance of promoting awareness and invites people to support the cause.
The episode concludes with details about an upcoming poker run event on Sunday, September 10th at the Whitman, MA VFW.
Jeff Haywood is a retired Navy Seal and now owns and operates Bone Frog Warrior Apparel.
Encourage your audience to use this link to purchase Bone Frog Warrior apparel. In addition, you can tell them that they will receive 10% off of BFW apparel purchases when they use this coupon code: OSCARMIKE
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
BlackCat Designs
BlackCat Designs does 3D Printing and Design. Click on the link below!
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio on Thursday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. 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/
It is always good when a guest recommends another person to talk with on Oscar Mike Radio. Michael Madsen came on to talk with me for number 354 (https://oscarmikeradio.com/354-michael-madsen-still-serving/) After the show aired, Michael messaged me and said I ought to talk to U.S. Amry Retired Command Sergeant Major Barry Smallwood. When a Warrant Officer speaks, I listen and so it was with great anticipation that I hit the record button for the conversation with Sgt Maj Smallwood.
Barry Smallwood served in the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, Crypto-Analyst, and TAC-Fire Computer Operator. Throughout his Army career, Sgt. Maj Smallwood developed his leadership style and said that his troops needed to trust his direction in order to be combat-effective. SgtMaj Smallwood believes leaders should work for those they lead.
Currently, Barry is the Director of Training for Law Enforcement and First Responders for Vizitech USA. Vizitech is using real work buildings, situations, and expertise to build models that allow for immersive training during crisis situations and scenarios.
“Anything that will enhance your capability whether it is physical or mental, you need to immerse yourself into.” These are wise words, and just a small glimpse of the knowledge Sgt. Maj. Smallwood has to share.
Thank you, Michael, for the recommendation. Sgt. Maj., thanks for squaring this Lance Corporal away (just kidding).
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
BlackCat Designs
BlackCat Designs does 3D Printing and Design. Click on the link below!
Oscar Mike Radio is now on Wreaths Across America Radio on Thursday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. 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 couldn’t help it. My first thought when I started looking at the website for the book, “We Don’t Want You, Uncle Sam”, was, what would a 2nd Lieutenant know about recruiting? Seriously? Then I started digging into the website and reading about Matthew Weiss’ view on the recruiting problem for the military and the solutions needed to fix it. I began to realize that Lieutenant Weiss may be onto something. I wanted to learn more.
Matthew joined the Marine Corps less than two years ago. His MOS is Signals Intelligence. Learning about the recruiting issues that surround the military, Matthew set out to learn about the problem affecting the military with the Gen Z demographic.
“We Don’t Want You, Uncle Sam”, is a bold solution to the recruiting problem in the U.S. Military. It is based on analysis from the 100K foot perspective but has personal stories woven into the narrative. This demonstrates how much thought Matthew put into this work. He is a Gen Z Marine working to connect with other Gen Z individuals who may or may not be considering military service. We talked about how the Marine Corps experience shaped both our lives. As we delved deeper into the book, I realized that maybe the ones to lead us out of the recruiting situation the American military is in right now may not be senior leadership, but junior enlisted and officers who understand the world through the eyes of those who were born after September 11th. I am glad I looked past the rank and talked with this Marine about why he cares about our military.
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
BlackCat Designs
BlackCat Designs does 3D Printing and Design. Click on the link below!
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/
Stephen talked about his love of drawing and how working with Joseph Miles Pittman helped create Tales of Nihilism.
When Stephen told me he and Joseph were going to be at the Plastic City Comic Con in Fitchburg, MA on August 19th, I wanted to meet them. I was excited because it was going to be the first time you could get Tales of Nihilism in hard copy.
Watching Stephen and Joseph sign my copy and hand it to me was a great moment. I can’t wait to see what you all do next.
Stephen and Joseph are thankful for the support from the following:
Adam Semonick & Brad Otto are both Marine Corps Veterans and do SIM Racing together as The WolfPack. Adam was on Oscar Mike Radio in March for number 337 (https://oscarmikeradio.com/337-adam-semonick-marine-corps-hawker-and-sim-racer/). He had talked to me about the Wolfpack so getting both Brad and Adam to talk about SimRacing was a must-do!
The Wolfpack Racing Group is a dedicated group of Military Veteran SIM Racers. Veterans find communities in many areas and SIM Racing is another one. The support, camaraderie and drive to improve make race day all the more fun.
I enjoyed hearing how the community has grown and with the American Legion sponsoring an Indycar, the interest in F1 and NASCAR at LeMans, why can’t Veterans find success and community in Sim Racing? Start your engines and let’s go!
You can reach out to Brad or Adam if you want to get into SIM Racing. Thank you both for coming on and talking with me!
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
BlackCat Designs
BlackCat Designs does 3D Printing and Design. Click on the link below!
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 was with Abington VSO Adam Gunn at Black Hat Brew Works a couple of months ago when first saw the Till Valhalla Truck. The truck made an immediate impression on me. The truck had names on it and the license plate “PTSD 22”, meant that this was not a typical custom truck.
Meeting Bill Sheridan and listening to his story I learned the Till Valhalla Truck keeps Bill in his fight with PTSD.
Bill asked me to come to Manchester Harley Davidson (https://manchesterharley.com/) on Saturday, August 12th for the Warrior Brotherhood MC (https://www.wbmcnh.com/) Veterans Suicide Awareness Ride. This ride is in honor of U.S. Army SPC William R. Carter this year’s beneficiary is the Liberty House (https://libertyhousenh.org/) in Manchester.
Meeting William’s mother and watching her talk with Bill about how PTSD affects everyone was something I needed to see. I know there are all kinds of programs, studies, and data about PTSD. Maybe it is a truck and a Ford truck (because there are so many) that allow people to have a moment of introspection and healing. Each name represents a life lost to PTSD. Bill could put over 100 more on his truck right now. We all are working for the day when there are no more names. Thank you Bill for letting me be a part of this experience.
Thanks again to the Warrior Brotherhood MC, Manchester Harley Davidson, Bone Frog Warrior, and everyone else who supported this ride.
Carroll Harris served in the Marine Corps and retired as a Lt. Colonel before joining the US Postal Inspection Service.
I learned a lot about how The US Postal Inspection Service works to keep Americans safe. Operation Protect Veterans is a way to ensure our nation’s heroes are not scammed out of their benefits.
The US Postal Inspection Service & AARP worked together to create Operation Protect Veterans, ….” and provide valuable information and resources that veterans, their loved ones, and their friends can use to help protect against scammers.”
According to Carroll, all Americans need to be vigilant in protecting others from scammers and bad actors who would take advantage of Veterans and other Americans. I liked how the Marine has never quit protecting against enemies foreign and domestic.
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
BlackCat Designs
BlackCat Designs does 3D Printing and Design. Click on the link below!
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/
Veterans must file a PACT Act claim or submit an intent to file by August 9, 2023, to have their benefits backdated to August 10, 2022, the day the legislation was enacted.
The PACT Act is a significant expansion of VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. This Act includes over 20 new presumptive conditions associated with burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures. It also adds new presumptive locations for exposure to Agent Orange and radiation.
Veterans can find answers to their questions and file a claim via www.va.gov/pactact
To review a claim or appeal status, and submit evidence for your claim or appeal, Veterans can use the VA: Health and Benefits App, available for download on Apple or Android devices at https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-health-and-benefits.
If a Veteran disagrees with the VA’s decision on a claim, or if a claim was decided in the past and is uncontested, the option to file a Supplemental Claim is available. Veterans can learn more about supplemental claims and how to file at https://www.va.gov/decision-reviews/supplemental-claim/ .
David, a.k.a. “Big Dog” from the Veterans Brotherhood VMC asked me to come down to Christ Church in Swansea, MA for the Church’s monthly Veterans’ Breakfast on Saturday, August 5th, 2023.
Christ Church in Swansea, MA puts on a monthly breakfast for Veterans. I was impressed with the number of Veterans in attendance but also how the church ran the breakfast. The food was good and smiles were everywhere. I think Christ Church is onto something. Instead of big gala events, maybe some pancakes, bacon, and orange juice are more effective at getting Veterans together than anything else.
The Veterans Brotherhood VMC headed up by David, “Big Dog” had gathered up World War II Veterans that he takes care of to meet each other at the Veterans’ Breakfast.
Former Boston Globe and award-winning photojournalist Bill Brett was there and talked with the World War II Veterans and got some amazing photos for his upcoming book. He was warm and engaging me with me, and I enjoyed talking with him.
I always have fun talking with these real-life heroes. Both Manny and Caster have been on Oscar Mike Radio and seeing both of them makes it all worth it.
Thanks David, for getting these World War II Veterans together. I appreciate the work that Christ Church, all the members, and volunteers do to put on breakfast for us Veterans!
