Shoulder to Shoulder: Untold Stories From A Forgotten War Will Selber and Kate Kovarovic

Danny Johnson designed a makeshift climbing wall during his deployment. He fell in love with his wife quickly and deeply. He didn’t want his mother to worry. And on October 5, 2010, Senior airman Daniel J. Johnson was killed in action in Afghanistan. In the 14 years since his passing, his mother Holly has found her own mission: keeping her son’s memory alive. In episode 5, we hear about Holly’s understanding of her son’s military service; the exact moment she learned that he’d been killed; and the precious work she’s undertaken since. It’s an episode marked by a mother’s love, and a very real look at the sacrifices our military families make.

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https://theheroesjourney.org/


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This episode is dedicated to SrA Jonathan Yelner. KIA 29 April 2008. Tag Ab District, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. Kapisa & Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team, Team Southern Kapisa, FB Kutchbock. Gone But Not Forgotten.

This episode with Ritchie is close to our hearts, as he served as Will’s combat interpreter many years ago. He describes his military service: the IED incident that took both his legs, the stunning moment he was evicted from a U.S. military base following his injuries, and his subsequent journey to the U.S. Ritchie’s story is marked by courage and gratitude and is truly worthy of a listen.

shouldertoshoulder2024@gmail.com
https://giveanhour.org/




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In this episode, Will shares the story of successfully getting one of his interpreters, Ahmadullah, out of Afghanistan/Pakistan and into the United States. The process involved writing a letter of recommendation for Ahmadullah’s Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) application, navigating bureaucratic challenges, and raising funds through a GoFundMe campaign. With the support of the Bulwark family and other volunteers, they were able to secure a safe house in Pakistan. The episode highlights the difficulties and anxieties involved in the evacuation and resettlement process, as well as the ongoing trauma experienced by veterans. Despite the challenges, the episode emphasizes the importance of providing support and assistance to Afghan allies who risked their lives to help the United States.
Here is the link to The Bulwark story on this event.


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In this episode, Kate Kovarovic and Will Selber are joined by Josh Owen, a former intelligence analyst with the Air Force and CEO of Reinaert LLC. They discuss moral injury and its impact on veterans. Josh shares his military experiences, including a humorous story about his first helicopter ride. They also delve into the emotions and frustrations surrounding the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the betrayal felt by veterans and the Afghan people. The conversation delves into the moral injury experienced by both veterans and civilians involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal. The speakers discuss the impact of the withdrawal on individuals and their families, the lack of support from the government, and the feeling of betrayal. They highlight the importance of integrity and honor in the military and express concern about the erosion of trust in the US military. The conversation also touches on the coordination with the Taliban during the withdrawal and the sense of betrayal it caused. The conversation explores the concept of moral injury in the veteran community and its profound impact on individuals' mental health and well-being. The guests discuss their personal experiences and the challenges they faced in dealing with moral injury. They highlight the need for accountability and learning from past mistakes to prevent repeating them in the future. The conversation also touches on the effects of moral injury on relationships and the importance of seeking help and support. Overall, the guests emphasize the significance of understanding and addressing moral injury in the veteran community.


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The wait is over - the inaugural episode of Shoulder to Shoulder is here!
Did we encounter some technical difficulties? Absolutely. Did some awkward pauses find their way into the conversation? 100%. And did Kate get schooled on the relationships between U.S. and Afghan military branches? She sure did!
The learning curve is real, folks.
But we were exceptionally fortunate to be joined in this episode by LTG Sami Sadat, chairman of the Afghanistan United Front, and Brigadier General Khoshal Sadat, who spent 17 years in the Afghan Special Forces. Together, we discussed the nature of U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan; reasons why Afghanistan's security infrastructure has failed; and why future U.S. support is critical in defeating the Taliban.
It's certainly worth a listen, bumps be damned.
Until next time.



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