Hazard Ground PodcastOne

Fred Wellman has experienced some pretty significant highs in his military career. He was commissioned in Aviation out of West Point; flew Scout missions in Desert Storm; studied at Harvard; learned to fly Black Hawks so he could return to active duty to serve in combat in the Global War on Terror; as well as served as the spokesman for Generals David Petraeus and Martin Dempsey. But with those highs came unimaginable lows. From personal tragedy to combat loss, to fractured relationships from years of untreated post-traumatic stress, Wellman has lived through the fire and is still standing to see the other side. This episode gets deep into that journey and the ride Fred Wellman took to become a successful entrepreneur and leader in times of crisis, which he is still doing to this very day! Hear his powerful and inspiring story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!

www.scoutcommsusa.com

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Green Beret James Stejskal holds the distinction of serving in one of the Army's most unique and at one time, highly classified Special Forces Detachments operating in East Germany during the Cold War. Known simply as Detachment "A", the unit operated behind the Iron Curtain within the Soviet-controlled German Democratic Republic. The unit's primary mission was to wreak havoc behind the enemy's lines, and buy outnumbered NATO forces time to breakout from Berlin if hostilities commenced between the West and the Warsaw Pact Armies. It was a daunting mission - it's even been described as "suicidal." But the men of Detachment "A"/Special Forces Berlin carried out this mission for over thirty years, remaining in the shadows until the unit was officially recognized in 2014. In this episode, Stejskal details what it was like to serve in a unit that defined Unconventional Warfare and the backbone of Special Forces, and what it was like to tell the unit's story decades later in his book, "Special Forces Berlin." Check it out in this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!

"Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, 1956-1990" | "Masters of Mayhem: Lawrence of Arabia and the British Military Mission to the Hejaz"

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Following a promising college football career at Notre Dame, Rocky Bleier was on his way to starting a pro career in the NFL. It was 1968, and Bleier, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, was nearing the end of his first NFL season when he received another draft notice. This time it was from the Army, and it was for a report date the morning after a Steelers game Bleier was suited up for. It was the height of the war in Vietnam, and Bleier's number was called, budding NFL career or not. Bleier accepted, and by May of 1969 was thrust into combat in Vietnam. He would go on to serve honorably, sustaining serious injuries and receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals for actions in combat. Following his service in Vietnam, in spite of his injuries and being told he'd never play football again, Rocky Bleier worked his way back into the NFL, eventually starting at running back for the Steelers and winning four Super Bowls. It's an incredible and inspirational story - hear it all on this week's episode of HAZARD GROUND!

www.rockybleier.com | "Fighting Back"

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Searching for a higher purpose, and a sense of selflessness and brotherhood, Rob Jones enlisted in the Marine Corps at 20, while still attending college at Virginia Tech. His sense of purpose and the warrior mentality that the Corps gave him were put to the test after he sustained devastating injuries on July 22, 2010 in Afghanistan. While sweeping a field for suspected IEDs, Jones stepped on a land mine. The blast would leave him a double amputee. What most people see as insurmountable, Rob Jones saw as just another challenge. He has since faced down that challenge, making a quick recovery and going on to become a bronze medal Paralympian, among other amazing feats, including running 31 marathons in 31 days! And now he hopes to carry on that warrior mentality as a leader in Washington - he is currently running to represent the 10th District of Virginia in the U.S. Congress. Hear about Rob Jones’ incredible and inspiring journey on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND!

www.robjonesjourney.com

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Matt Klein grew up with vivid stories of his grandfather flying dive bomb missions in World War II. His grandfather had signed up shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Much like his grandfather, Klein joined the military shortly after 9/11. He signed up to serve in the Infantry - a job that would provide more than its fair share of hairy moments through two combat deployments to Iraq as the insurgency there gained steam. A chance opportunity to take the NYPD entrance test eventually led to Klein leaving the Army and becoming a detective with the NYPD. An avid and talented artist, whose father was a career animator with Walt Disney and Warner Brothers, Klein now serves as a Forensic Sketch Artist. He's also the creator of Rendar ART and "Battle Tribe" - a cool, Star Wars take on military operators. Hear how Matt Klein survived some very close calls in combat, including an IED blast for which he was awarded a Purple Heart, to earning a coveted spot as one of three Forensic Sketch Artists with his unit in the NYPD, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! 

@mattrendar | "Battle Tribe"

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It's safe to say that fate has been on Gary Wetzel's side since the day he stepped foot in Vietnam. He survived 5 helicopter crashes; he's a living recipient of the Medal of Honor from his time there; he was shot, stabbed, and blown up on the battlefield; and he's come full circle in meeting those who treated him after his 5th helicopter crash, decades later. That 5th crash and subsequent firefight that earned him the Medal of Honor came on January 8, 1968. Wetzel's arm was nearly blown off in the initial engagement, forcing him to fend off a multitude of enemy fighters with just one arm and a machine gun. Decades later, Wetzel continues to honor the lives he saved that day, as well as the lives of those he couldn't by sharing his story with groups all over the country. He wears the medal for them, and for the unsung heroes, especially those who never made it home from war. Hear his incredible story of courage under fire, honor, and service on this Memorial Day edition of HAZARD GROUND!

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