Heroes Behind Headlines

U.S. Army Major General Gregg F. Martin (ret.) was the epitome of a successful military officer—an inspirational leader brimming with energy, intelligence and creativity. He shot up the leadership ranks of the U.S. military. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, he commanded the 130th Engineer Brigade as they cleared the way and rebuilt bridges to facilitate the takeover of the Euphrates River Valley, Baghdad and beyond. Working nonstop and seemingly indefatigable, he inspired the people he led and impressed his superiors, which resulted in numerous awards and promotions. Unknown to him, the mental pressure of combat triggered a disposition to bipolar disorder. And, the same extraordinary mental clarity and energy that had previously been a blessing turned into a nightmare of full-blown mania and depression, which resulted in the end of his distinguished military career. General Martin is with us today to share his struggle and journey to recovery and managing his condition, as described in his book, "Bipolar General." (Naval Institute Press) Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

David Holdridge served as a platoon leader in the U.S. Infantry outside of Chu Lai, Vietnam suffered a catastrophic injury, and has since devoted his life to delivering humanitarian aid to people suffering from starvation, exploitation, and in war zones around the world in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. From Saigon to Gaza, he relates his journey. Inspired to write his book "The Water Above," David brings important wisdom as he shares his insights into working effectively within various cultures to give help to the people who need it. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

A different kind of war story and hero: Lt. Mary Balster was a charming Midwestern teenager (the apple of her father's eye) when she enlisted as a nurse at the outbreak of WWII. She proved invaluable on the front lines as a German-speaker, but was unprepared for the nonstop workload; the filth; the horrible injuries and desperation; the quickly formed friendships; having to care for enemy combatants; and being one of a handful of women surrounded by thousands of GIs. Patton insisted on keeping his field hospital close to his front lines, (in order to more quickly care for the wounded) and Mary had her share of challenges and adventures. Her daughter NCR Davis shares highlights from her mother's diaries and war history, including her never-diagnosed PTSD, from her biography, "For the Boys." Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Award-winning journalist Sam Quinones lays out the facts behind the meth and fentanyl drug crisis in the U.S.: He expertly describes how mass manufacturing has made these drug ubiquitous, cheap, and infinitely more potent, and thus unlike any other drugs--legal or illegal--ever consumed by human beings. Sam explains how today’s meth has triggered an abrupt rise in homelessness, and why these drugs and so destructive to users, their families, and ultimately all of us. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Janina Melberg was a brilliant mathematician posing as a Polish Countess Janina Suchodolska to hide her Jewish identity during the Nazi occupation in WWII Poland. She simultaneously joined the both the Polish Welfare Council (RGO)--and secretly the Polish Underground--and bravely organized food and relief supplies for Poles incarcerated in the infamous Majdanek Concentration Camp. Co-authors Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa trace the long-hidden history of this remarkable and previously unknown woman, and how they posthumously discovered and researched her story for their book, "Counterfeit Countess." (Publisher) Janina ended up escaping to the U.S. following the war, ultimately finishing her academic career at the University of Chicago. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Jim “Wild Carrot” Shorten-Jones served as a team leader (One-Zero) in MACV-SOG during the height of Vietnam War, and ultimately in the Army, Navy and Air Force. In another exciting chapter in America's "secret war" in Laos and Cambodia, Jim shares his adrenaline-fueled war stories as team leader of RT-Delaware, and also recounts the non-stop life of adventure he has led since--including his work as a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) saving people stranded far out at sea. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Jim “Wild Carrot” Shorten-Jones served as a team leader (One-Zero) in MACV-SOG during the height of Vietnam War, and ultimately in the Army, Navy and Air Force. In another exciting chapter in America's "secret war" in Laos and Cambodia, Jim shares his adrenaline-fueled war stories as team leader of RT-Delaware, and also recounts the non-stop life of adventure he has led since--including his work as a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) saving people stranded far out at sea. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

When FBI Special Agent Nikki Badolato arranged a live meetup with a man looking to 'rent' her infant daughter as part of a sting, she was shocked to see how presentable and 'normal' this 30-something man was. Now, after a two-decade career, Nikki and Rolling Stone journalist Alex Morris lay out the state of domestic human trafficking, how pedophile rings work, and what we should all know about the fight to save hundreds of thousands of children trafficked in the U.S. every year. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

U.S. Coast Guard Veteran Martha La Guardia-Kotite shares inspiring stories of bravery from her book, “So Others May Live—Coast Guard’s Rescue Swimmers: Saving Lives, Defying Death.” These brave men and women put their lives at risk to rescue people in the greatest peril. Among the stories is that of a baby rescued from a boat in the middle of a hurricane. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

One dark night in Austin, Texas, onlookers watched in horror as musician Gary Wimmer was struck head-on by a speeding car, ramming his head into the front grill and hurtling him into the air until he landed on the pavement. When he stood up minutes later, seemingly unharmed, people were confused and unbelieving at his lack of injury. So were the emergency room doctors. While unconscious, Gary experienced a near-death experience, or NDE. What Gary experienced in that minute or two changed his life forever, sending him on a voyage beyond space and time, giving him a glimpse of the secrets of the universe and bringing back a message of hope and positivity. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

In part two of this interview, Roger Lockshier lays out his dramatic experiences as a helicopter pilot serving in Vietnam. In 1968, at the height of the war, he was routinely sent in on his Huey gunship to support or rescue MACV-SOG Green Beret soldiers secretly operating in Laos and Cambodia. Roger shares his 'birdseye' perspective on several missions—including the most dramatic helicopter rescue you’ve ever heard. He also expresses his admiration of the incredible bravery of his “Huey” crew and his comrades-in-arms, including the Montagnards, Brus, and Vietnamese he befriended. Like many of those who served in these operations, Roger was sworn to silence for decades. We're honored to share his story. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

In this two-part interview, Roger Lockshier lays out his dramatic experiences as a helicopter pilot serving in Vietnam. In 1968, at the height of the war, he was routinely sent in on his Huey gunship to support or rescue MACV-SOG Green Beret soldiers secretly operating in Laos and Cambodia. Roger shares his 'birdseye' perspective on several missions—including the most dramatic helicopter rescue you’ve ever heard. He also expresses his admiration of the incredible bravery of his “Huey” crew and his comrades-in-arms, including the Montagnards, Brus, and Vietnamese he befriended. Like many of those who served in these operations, Roger was sworn to silence for decades. We're honored to share his story. (Part II airs 2/28) Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

We've re-released this episode, as an homage to Chuck Mawhinney, who we learned passed away last week. Chuck was our guest in Season Two (September 2023.) We were honored to have had a chance to speak with him and hear his story...Here it is again in case you missed it.... *** Chuck Mawhinney grew up hunting in the Oregon woods on his grandfather's farm, and was selected for sniper training his first day of shooting practice in the Marines. Serving in Vietnam for 16 months, he went on to post the Corps' highest number of confirmed kills (103), and the highest number of probable kills (216). Hear his journey of skill, survival and helping his fellow soldiers. When he returned to the U.S. he was released from the Corps as part of the Reduction in Force policy. He returned to his native woods and made a stateside career in the U.S. Forestry Service. Chuck is a legend in the Marines and an inspiration to many in the armed services. His own authentic account of his experience is a uniquely American one. Read more about his experience in Vietnam and afterward in his biography "The Sniper" by Jim Lindsay.

Military veteran and author Stephen M. Rusiecki describes the process of how and why Americans developed a standing narrative of the WWII operation known as D-Day, based upon a common, press-enabled, thematically framed narrative. Steve describes how the radio and newspaper networks of the day cooperated in this effort, and how this version of events has dominated the consciousness of Americans ever since. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Building a career in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was no easy feat: Danny Smith overcame different hurdles and became a detective, going on to solve some grisly cases, including the murders of an immigrant mother by her daughter, and a Native American man burned alive by skinheads. Danny describes how the mental toll of his relentless and challenging work forced him to finally end a career he loved. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

In 1963, Dorothy Kilgallen was on top of the world, famous as a groundbreaking female journalist, with a nationally syndicated column and a panelist on the popular TV show, "What's My Line?" She was also an acquaintance of JFK and when he was killed, she never bought the official story. One of the only reporters to further investigate the assassination, her biographer Mark Shaw walks us through how she was able to interview Jack Ruby and collect various information at odds with the Warren Report, only to die under baffling circumstances a mere two years after the President. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

When 18-year-old Steve Smith was sent to Oak Ridge Psychiatric Hospital in Ontario, Canada in the 1960s, (misdiagnosed due to an ill-timed LSD trip) he didn't expect the inmates to be running the asylum, or to be part of a control group in a government-sponsored experiment to try to control psychopaths and turn normal people, like Steve, into controlled psychopaths, with the aim of unleashing them on society. The inmates endured cruel and ingenious methods of torture and various drugs, including LSD. Amazingly, Steve survived to tell the tale and filed the lawsuit that prevailed twenty years later and has led to other class action lawsuits against the Canadian government. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

On 11 September 1970, 16 U.S. soldiers and 110 Montagnards from Hatchet Company B were sent deep into the Laotian jungle in support of a CIA team, during the Vietnam War. Over the next four days, they were continually attacked by overwhelming numbers of NVA. If it wasn’t for the air support of helicopter pilots like Barry Pencek, they wouldn’t have escaped alive. Twenty years in a special report CNN characterized this mission as a vicious attack on civilians resulting in a scandal that was later disproved, and resulted in the team medic’s Mike Rose receiving a Medal of Honor. Barry gives us a blow-by-blow account of the battle and resulting controversy. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

The amazing life of undercover agent Frederick L. Gleffe is a nonstop series of adventures inside three of our nation's law enforcement agencies. His sometimes surreal, always perilous cases include breaking up a black market arms ring at a Special Forces armory and running an ongoing ‘sting’ during the Miami “Cocaine Wars” in the 80s, selling everything from high-tech weapons to rare animals. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com

WW2 humble hero, Laurence "Sparky" Rector, was just a GI in the infantry when he was drafted as an 18-year-old. He ended up crossing Europe as "cannon fodder," including as part of Patton's army, participating in the battle of Anzio, and encountering the Siegfried Line. His unit was also the first to enter and liberate Dachau Concentration Camp. Decades later, his story feels like it happened yesterday. Heroes Behind Headlines Executive Producer Ralph Pezzullo Produced & Engineered by Mike Dawson Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com