Operation Insight

The Mid America Veterans Museum

Every Veteran Has a Story, They Can Share It Here Brought to you by the Mid America Veterans Museum in O’Fallon, Missouri, this podcast facilitates stories of service and sacrifice as told by veterans. Marvel as military history is brought to life through firsthand accounts and insightful conversations. Operation Insight delivers compelling interviews with servicemembers both past and present, veteran advocates, and friends of our museum who remain dedicated to preserving the legacy of our heroes. Tune in as we explore stories of military life, the personal side of sacrifice, and how service continues beyond the battlefield. All are welcome, and all are invited to be inspired and carry the legacy forward! 🎖️Listen. Honor. Remember.🎖️

  1. Jul 26

    Lieutenant Colonel Fred Wellman

    Join us on Operation Insight as we host Lieutenant Colonel Fred Wellman of the U.S. Army and Army Reserve!   The Primary Election in the Great State of Missouri is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4th. While this program remains committed to neutrality and will never officially endorse a candidate, we do wish to present our audience with a special individual who just so happens to be running for Missouri's 2nd Congressional District. Lieutenant Colonel Fred Wellman (Ret.) is an affable and vibrant individual who cares deeply about the people of his home state and the issues they are facing. Through unimaginable personal loss and struggles, Fred has kept his chipper and can-do attitude. His motto is "I'm not done yet," and that is a mantra he has lived by through the tragic death of his first wife to the decision to jump head-first back into active duty service after the 9/11 terror attacks. Fred is a man of action with the gift for gab. The conversation with Fred was fun, lively, and maybe just a little bit off-color, but that's why we love him! Fred spoke frankly about his time in the Army and his fight with PTSD, all while maintaining his good-natured demeanor. While the thrust of his interview was focused on his many years of military service and his leadership as a service member, space is given for a discussion of his candidacy. We are honored to present his story to you.   (00:00) Disclaimer (01:01) Opening Theme (01:30) Introduction (40:45) Desert Shield/Desert Storm (51:46) Part II (1:20:52) Fred the Candidate (1:38:09) Closing

  2. Jul 12

    Colonel Sam Digirolamo

    Join us on Operation Insight as we host Colonel Sam Digirolamo of the U.S. Air Force & Missouri Air National Guard!   In April of 2023, back when the museum was still named "The St. Charles County Veterans Museum", a special Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day was hosted. The keynote speaker for that event was none other than Colonel Sam Digirolamo, USAF (Ret.). Sam was plain and frank about his time as an F-100 Super Sabre pilot in Vietnam back then and he is even more so now. Sam dutifully represents those who cannot or will not share their own stories and he represents them well!   (00:00) Disclaimer (01:01) Opening Theme (01:30) Introduction (29:54) Part II (51:37) Vietnam (1:28:41) Solo Flight Home (1:37:35) Thailand (1:46:14) Part III (2:16:29) Going Back to 'Nam (2:26:16) Reflections (2:30:31) Closing

  3. Jul 4

    Independence Day 2026 w/WWII Veteran Tom Lacey

    Join us on Operation Insight as we celebrate Independence Day with World War II veteran Tom Lacey of the U.S. Army!   When our founding fathers signed and ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, they made a bold stance against tyranny and oppression. They asserted, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." As we celebrate our Independence Day on Saturday, July 4th, 2026, we must recognize the sacrifices made by previous generations that have allowed us to keep those "unalienable Rights." One such generation is aptly named "The Greatest Generation," and Corporal Tom Lacey stands amongst its ranks. Tom answered the call when the world was at war a second time and did so as a "Happy Warrior". He was willing to risk his life and join the global effort against the Axis Powers because it was the right thing to do. According to the National WWII Museum, over sixteen million Americans served during World War II, but only one percent of that population remains with us today. It is truly an honor to share the story of Tom Lacey and add his voice to the annals of history!   (00:00) Disclaimer (01:01) Opening Theme (01:30) Introduction (43:28) Arriving to the Front Line & the Battle of the Bulge (58:57) Part II (1:27:05) Life After the War (1:51:57) Closing

  4. Jul 4

    The US Semiquincentennial (America's 250th Birthday) w/State Representative Terri Violet

    Join us on Operation Insight as we celebrate our nation's semiquincentennial (250th Birthday) by hosting Missouri State Representative and Navy veteran Terri Violet!   As we celebrate 250 years of our nation's independence, we honor a connection to the very beginning of the American story and the leaders shaping its future today. Rep. Violet’s life is a masterclass in servant leadership, and her ties to the American fabric run deeper than most! She is a direct descendant of George Soule, one of the original passengers aboard the Mayflower and a signer of the Mayflower Compact in 1620! In this episode, we explore an unbroken legacy of service spanning over four centuries. Tune in as we discuss: A Lineage of Liberty: Terri traces her family history back to the literal foundational dock of America, and explains how that legacy inspires her work today. From the Crew to the Capitol: How Terri's time serving in the U.S. Navy instilled a mission-first, people-focused approach to representing Missouri’s 104th District. Servant Leadership in 2026: What America's 250th anniversary means to a veteran and legislator who has dedicated her life to defending and upholding our nation's ideals.   (00:00) Disclaimer (01:01) Opening Theme (01:30) Introduction (42:35) Part II (53:52) Ralph & The St. Charles County Veterans Museum (1:08:02) Terri's Top Priorities (1:20:58) Closing

  5. Jun 28

    Sergeant First Class Cheryl Rowland

    Join us on Operation Insight as we host Sergeant First Class Cheryl Rowland of the U.S. Army and Army Reserve!   (00:00) Disclaimer (01:01) Opening Theme (01:30) Introduction (55:54) Building a Family & the Toll of PTSD (1:09:13) Part II (1:50:12) The NCOA (1:56:25) Closing

  6. Jun 28

    Master Sergeant Kathy Nix

    Join us on Operation Insight as we host Master Sergeant Kathy Nix of the U.S. Air Force & Air National Guard!   (00:00) Disclaimer (01:01) Opening Theme (01:30) Introduction (38:54) Part II (56:21) Don't Ask, Don't Tell (1:16:03) Closing

  7. Jun 21

    Petty Officer First Class Ken Cary

    Join us on Operation Insight as we host Petty Officer First Class Ken Carey of the U.S. Navy!   From a horse farm in Leonard, Michigan to the thunder of carrier flight decks, Ken’s story is precise, human, and unforgettable. We begin with family: great-uncles on the WWI battlefields, brothers and cousins in WWII and Korea, and a father who returned with a piece of shrapnel and a story that would become the moral compass for a son. Ken remembers the night his father recounted how a fellow soldier leapt on a grenade—the image of that sacrifice became the lesson that would follow Ken into boot camp, into leadership, and back home for a lifetime of service. Ken walks us through the moment that changed everything: a young man from Kansas and Michigan walking into a Navy recruiting office, dreaming of college and wrestling fields, only to be chosen by the Navy for aviation ordnance. What sounds mechanical—loading, testing, and safeguarding weapons—becomes a study in responsibility. Ken’s vivid accounts take you under the flight deck: safety wiring by headlamp, the hush of nighttime launches, and the trust between ordnancemen and pilots. He explains how a single shim on an F-14 pylon and a hunch saved a squadron from being grounded—and won him credibility. The episode moves like a patrol: tales from Miramar’s classrooms, Point Mugu’s experimental squadrons, the roller-coaster seas aboard the USS Eisenhower, and the unexpected leadership tests that turned a young man into a mentor and instructor. Along the way, Ken shares the funny and human moments—a butcher knife mishap that got him banned from the kitchen, the rivalry between branches of service on a missile range, and the strange economy of base housing and VW bugs that stitch a military family together. But this is not only a technical memoir. Ken also tells the intimate story of faith discovered amid deployments: how conversations, a stubborn curiosity about scripture, and the warmth of community led him and his wife to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He reflects on leadership the way he taught ordnance crews—don’t ask of others what you won’t do yourself—and on the most elemental truth of all: service is about sacrifice, and every veteran carries a story worth hearing. Across decades Ken’s legacy ripples—sons who served in the Navy and Army, a family forged by shared duty, and a veteran who now volunteers to keep those stories alive. This episode threads technical detail and human tenderness into a single narrative: the cost of service, the strength of community, and the reward of passing the torch.   (00:00) Disclaimer (01:01) Opening Theme (01:30) Introduction (17:14) Ken’s Father & a Powerful Lesson on Respect (23:24) Family & a Legacy of Service (29:21) The Aviation Ordnanceman (45:50) Ken’s Long Road to Joining the Navy (1:03:00) Father & Son (1:07:56) Part II (1:22:17) Point Mugu & the USS Eisenhower (1:46:28) Keeping Up with the Cary’s (1:53:28) Learning Leadership (1:58:58) Career Delights & Disappointments (2:15:19) Ken’s Faith Journey (2:26:04) Closing

  8. Jun 21

    Airman First Class Cynthia McCrea - Veteran Women of Influence

    Join us on Operation Insight as we host Airman First Class Cynthia McCrea of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and founder of Veteran Women of Influence!   (00:00) Disclaimer (01:01) Opening Theme (01:30) Introduction (41:21) Part II (1:13:40) Closing

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Every Veteran Has a Story, They Can Share It Here Brought to you by the Mid America Veterans Museum in O’Fallon, Missouri, this podcast facilitates stories of service and sacrifice as told by veterans. Marvel as military history is brought to life through firsthand accounts and insightful conversations. Operation Insight delivers compelling interviews with servicemembers both past and present, veteran advocates, and friends of our museum who remain dedicated to preserving the legacy of our heroes. Tune in as we explore stories of military life, the personal side of sacrifice, and how service continues beyond the battlefield. All are welcome, and all are invited to be inspired and carry the legacy forward! 🎖️Listen. Honor. Remember.🎖️

Information

  • Creator
    The Mid America Veterans Museum
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    Copyright © Mid America Veterans Museum 2022. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Operation Insight