The following shows aired in April 2017. Click on the show date in the left column to listen to that show. Files are in MP3 format.
4/2/17 The Mirror Test. Our guest this week on Veterans Radio, J. Kael Weston, spent seven years on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan working for the U.S. State Department in some of the most dangerous frontline locations. Upon his return home, while traveling the country to pay respect to the dead and wounded, he asked himself: When will these wars end? How will they be remembered and memorialized? What lessons can we learn from them?

The overall frame for the book, from which the title is taken, centers on soldiers who have received a grievous wound to the face. There is a moment during their recovery when they must look upon their reconstructed appearance for the first time. This is known as “the mirror test.” From an intricate tapestry of voices and stories—Iraqi, Afghan, and American—Weston delivers a larger mirror test for our nation in its global role. An unflinching and deep examination of the interplay between warfare and diplomacy, this is an essential book—a crucial look at America now, how it is viewed in the world and how the nation views itself.

4/9/17 One-man Scourge of the Japanese. On April 4, 1943, ten American prisoners-of-war and two Filipino convicts broke out of the Davao Penal Colony, an escape-proof Imperial Japanese Army prison plantation in the Philippines. Called “the Greatest Story of the War in the Pacific” by the U.S. War Department in 1944, this astonishing, yet true action adventure tale is told through the eyes of Lt. Col. William Edwin Dyess, one of World War II’s most extraordinary, yet little-known heroes.

Known as the “One-Man Scourge of the Japanese,” the swashbuckling fighter pilot from Texas dueled with enemy planes in aerial combat, led America’s first amphibious landing of the war, survived the infamous Bataan Death March and nearly a year in enemy captivity to help lead the only large-scale POW escape of the Pacific War and later, a top secret fight against the U.S. Government to break the news of Japanese atrocities to the world — all before his tragic death in a plane crash at the age of 27. Dyess was the 2015 recipient of the prestigious Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.
Our guest this week, John D. Lukacs, is the producer of the documentary 4-4-43 that is based on his book “Escape From Davao: The Forgotten Story of the Most Daring Prison Break of the Pacific War”. 

4/16/17 Encore program. Servant of God, Father Emil J. Kapaun, Chaplain, US Army. In 1950, Father Emil J. Kapaun, Chaplain, US Army, a native of Pilsen, Kansas, was Chaplain of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Calvary Division, Korea. He distinguished himself on the field of battle, both, as a soldier and a Chaplain. During the early days of the Korean War Father Kapaun, ministered both spiritually and physically to his fellow soldiers, particularly the sick, wounded and dying. Captured, 2 November 1950 by North Korean-Chinese Soldiers, Father Kapaun was confined at Prison Camp #5, Pyoktong, North Korea until his death, at the hands of his captors, 23 May 1951. Granted title of “Servant of God” by the Catholic Church Father Kapaun is the Most Decorated Chaplain in US military history. On April 11 President Obama will award the Congressional Medal of Honor for Father Kapaun.

Join Veterans Radio Host Bob Gould and guests: Father John Hotze, Priest and Judicial Vicar for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Roy Wenzl, national award winning reporter for the Wichita Eagle and co-author of The Miracle of Father Kapaun, William “Bill” Funchess, soldier and fellow POW who was THERE at camp 5 all together to honor a great humanitarian.

4/23/17 Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton, and More. Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton is the story of Capt. Jim Shively’s captivity after being shot down in Vietnam and post POW civilian career. Author Amy Shively Hawk discusses this story of hope, courage and perseverance with host Jim Fausone.

The Florida Veterans Entrepreneurship Program is training available around the country and we talk about  Lean Business Start Up principles with Dr. Sandra Kauanui and Marine Veteran James Hardenbrook of Florida.

4/30/17 Breaking Defense. Breaking Defense is an online defense magazine designed to be the idea hub of the defense world, where the crucial defense ideas are debated, the biggest defense stories are reported and analyzed and the hottest weapons and news videos are shared.

Join host Dale Throneberry and his guest Colin Clark, Editor, Breaking Defense. Colin Clark was the founding editor of DoDBuzz.com. Previously, he covered Congress, intelligence and regulatory affairs for Space News; founded and edited the Washington Aerospace Briefing, a newsletter for space industry professionals; covered national security issues for Congressional Quarterly; and was editor of Defense News. Clark is based in Washington, D.C.

If you want to know what’s going on in Washington you have to tune in this week on Veterans Radio. Find out what is really going on regarding America’s military.