Mission Inspire

Continuing our March to Grand Opening series spotlighting Medal of Honor recipients who will be featured in the National Medal of Honor Museum’s galleries, host Mo Barrett talks to Maj. Marisa Regan, the granddaughter of SSGt. Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura, who earned the Medal during the Korean War when he bravely held off an enemy attack to allow the retreat of his men. She highlights lesser-known aspects of his story and reflects on his legacy of service.

As we mark one year to the Grand Opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum, host Mo Barrett kicks off a new series spotlighting some of the Medal of Honor recipients who will be featured in the Museum’s galleries – starting with Maj. General Pat Brady, who earned the Medal for his actions in Vietnam when he made repeated helicopter landings into enemy territory under heavy fire and amidst dense fog to rescue wounded soldiers. Brady recounts how he became involved with the Museum and shares what he wants visitors to take away after learning his story. This podcast is presented by Lucas Oil.

Rising from humble origins in the Florida panhandle to become a squad leader with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam, Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims earned the Medal of Honor for courageous, selfless actions – becoming one of just 94 African American recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor in combat. As we celebrate Black History Month, host Mo Barrett is joined by Sims’ daughter Gina Townsend to talk about his life and legacy. Gina recounts attending the White House Medal presentation ceremony and shares what led her family to gift her father’s original Medal of Honor to the National Medal of Honor Museum.

On the latest episode in our Courage Conversations series, host Mo Barrett is joined by Medal of Honor recipient Petty Officer Bob Ingram, who earned the Medal for his actions in Vietnam where he administered aid to injured Marines despite being severely wounded himself. Petty Officer Ingram discusses his unusual path to the medical field, the love he feels for his comrades, and the important life-lesson he tries to impart on the next generation: It’s not about me, It’s the TEAM.

The holidays can be a difficult time for someone experiencing a loss. Medal of Honor recipient Col. Donald “Doc” Ballard witnesses that pain this time every year. On this episode in our Courage Conversations series, host Mo Barrett sits down with Col. Ballard, who earned the Medal in Vietnam when he put himself in the line of fire to aid wounded Marines and jumped on an enemy grenade, to recount what drove his actions that day. He also shares what motivates him to continue serving the military community through his work as a funeral director providing veterans with dignified burials.

Between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, November is a time to say thank you to America’s men and women in uniform. This month, the National Medal of Honor Museum paid tribute to servicemembers during a series of events featuring Medal of Honor recipients, the Dallas Cowboys, NFL star Dak Prescott, and other community leaders and supporters. The weekend concluded with 16 Medal of Honor recipients taking the field together at AT&T Stadium for a special halftime tribute during the Dallas Cowboys’ Salute to Service matchup with the New York Giants. On a special episode of the Mission Inspire podcast, we collected reflections from several members of the Museum staff about the week’s events and the meaning of Veterans Day.

With Veterans Day around the corner, host Mo Barrett is joined by Michael Caldwell, the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation’s Senior Director of Operations and Veteran Engagement, to talk about the Museum Veterans Network and how NMOHMF engages veterans across the country. Plus, Michael offers a progress update on the Museum’s construction and fundraising.

Just a few weeks ago, a new hero joined the ranks of America’s Medal of Honor recipients when President Biden presented our nation’s highest award for valor in combat to retired U.S. Army Captain Larry Taylor for his actions in Vietnam, where he risked his life to rescue four soldiers with a daring helicopter maneuver. To talk about Captain Taylor’s inspiring story, host Mo Barrett is joined by NMOHMF Historians Josh Schick and Kali Martin Schick.

As part of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation’s efforts to tell the stories of all recipients, host Mo Barrett is joined by Mark Morgan – grandson of WWII Medal of Honor recipient John “Red” Morgan. Mark discusses his grandfather’s heroic actions during a bombing run over Germany and later imprisonment as a POW, as well as his family’s decision to donate their Medal of Honor and other artifacts to the Museum.

Host Mo Barrett is joined by Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Bruce Crandall – a helicopter pilot in Vietnam who made a series of daring landings under enemy fire to evacuate seriously wounded soldiers. In this episode of our Courage Conversations series, Col. Crandall recounts the actions that earned him the Medal, the rules he set for the men under his command and how he was given the nickname “Snake.”

On the latest episode in our Courage Conversation series, host Mo Barrett is joined by Medal of Honor recipient and National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Board Member Lieutenant Colonel William Swenson. One of just a handful of recipients still on active duty, Lt. Col. Swenson earned the Medal for his actions in the Battle of Ganjgal near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on September 8, 2009. He shares his recollections of that day, the lessons he’s learned in the Army and what he hopes to accomplish through the Museum.

Medal of Honor recipient Major General Patrick Brady joins us on this episode of the Mission Inspire podcast. A legendary Hewey helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, General Brady and his crew rescued nearly 100 wounded servicemen using techniques never before seen in combat. In his conversation with Host Mo Barrett, General Brady talks about the true meaning of Memorial Day, his hopes for the future of the National Medal of Honor Museum and the significance of Section 7A at Arlington National Cemetery.

This month, bipartisan legislation was introduced in Congress that would locate the National Medal of Honor Monument on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial. Named after a beloved Medal of Honor recipient, the Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act marks the next important step in building a Monument paying tribute to the Medal’s fewer than 4,000 recipients. Our guest this month is Woody’s grandson and President of the Woody Williams Foundation, Chad Graham. In the episode, Chad shares some of his favorite memories with his grandfather and how he is working to carry on Woody’s legacy through his foundation, which establishes Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments across the United States.

Host Mo Barrett is joined by Medal of Honor recipient Specialist 5th Class Jim McCloughan on this episode of the Mission Inspire podcast. A combat medic, SP5 McCloughan received the Medal for his life-saving actions during the Vietnam War. In this deeply personal episode, McCloughan walks us through the 48 hours of close combat fighting during which he earned the Medal, shares some of the wisdom gained during his nearly 40 years teaching and coaching high school students, and reveals the most important lesson he has learned in his life.

On this episode of the Mission Inspire podcast, host Mo Barrett is joined by Medal of Honor recipient Command Master Chief (CMC) Britt Slabinski. CMC Slabinski, who earned the Medal for his actions during the Battle of Takur Ghar, reveals how he learned he would receive the Medal, shares his feelings about the word ‘special’, and remembers the first time he entered a room filled with his fellow recipients. Slabinski also discusses his decision to donate his ceremonial Medal of Honor to the National Medal of Honor Museum in this latest installment of Courage Conversations.

The holiday season can be tough for servicemembers who are away from their families, so we are saying thank you – from all of us. On a special episode of the Mission Inspire podcast, we gathered messages from people across the U.S to share with our country’s men and women in uniform who sacrifice spending time with their families to serve our country. All of us at the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation wish you a joyous holiday season

Host Mo Barret is joined by the only living Medal of Honor recipient from the Iraq War, Staff Sergeant David Bellavia on this episode of the Mission Inspire podcast. In the latest installment of our Courage Conversation series Bellavia talks to us about his latest book Remember the Ramrods: An Army Brotherhood in War and Peace, about the first time the Ramrods — his infantry battalion — reunited as a unit, 14 years after the war. Additionally, he walks us through the day he earned the Medal of Honor during the Second Battle of Fallujah and how he got involved in the Museum.

On this episode of the Mission Inspire podcast, host Mo Barrett is joined by the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient, Corporal Kyle Carpenter. Carpenter earned the Medal when he threw his body on an enemy grenade in Afghanistan, saving the lives of his fellow Marines. In the episode, Kyle tells Mo all about his lengthy recovery at Walter Reed, his proudest accomplishment, his inspiring book You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For and what his journey has taught him about the value of perspective.

We’d like to introduce you to Courage Conversations. A series of episodes of the Mission Inspire podcast that will feature candid conversations with Medal of Honor recipients. Each of whom have gone above and beyond in their service to others – both on the battlefield and right here at home in America. The first installment of this series features Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Jack Jacobs. In his conversation with host Mo Barrett, Jacobs walks us through the day he earned the Medal, his decision to return to Vietnam a second time, his involvement with the National Medal of Honor Museum, and the Medal of Honor recipient whose story inspires him the most.

On this episode of the Mission Inspire podcast host Mo Barrett is joined by Christina Valentine, wife of Medal of Honor recipient Command Master Chief (CMC) Britt Slabinski and founder of the All in All the Time Foundation. Together they discuss her new role as the Associate Director of Recipients & Veterans Relations for the National Medal of Honor Museum, their family’s decision to donate CMC Slabinski’s Medal to the Museum, and the creation of the All in All the Time Foundation that supports Goldstar families and service members impacted by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Foundation was inspired by the passing of her first husband, Special Operator Senior Chief (SOCS) SEAL Thomas J. Valentine.