Veteranology Jay Knight - Marine Veteran, Consultant, & Entrepreneur

We're back!
Deavon and I go right into discussing our recent life changes that led to us being off the air and how they led us to recording yet again.  We dive into the idea that our transition out of the military was almost a decade ago at this point and looking back it seems less of a challenge than our more recent ones.
The conversation is pretty freeform, but should be enjoyable!

A little late in sharing this story, but I'm happy I got to tell it.  I got to serve next to amazing Americans who all on their own volition drove and flew down to Texas to help in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.  I'm truly honored that I got to join the teams from Mountain Primal Meat Co. and Merging Vets with Players in bringing aid to the Beaumont, TX area.
Deavon runs the interview on this one, and we cover:
What led up to my decision to drive down to Texas with no idea where I was going, and how I got somewhere I could be effective. The efforts and victories of the Mountain Primal crew and the team from Merging Vets with Players. The turnout of "regular" Americans coming out of the woodwork to help their neighbors. What I'd do differently if something like this happened again and I wanted to help.

What it says on the tin, plus tangents.

In this episode I'm joined by two veterans:  1) Nate Boyer, a US Army veteran and Special Forces soldier followed a path through football, playing for the Texas Longhorns and then a single pre-season game with the Seattle Seahawks, and 2) Denver Morris, a fellow Marine infantry veteran from 2/7 and Program Coordinator for the Los Angeles branch of Merging Vets with Players (MVP).
Nate, along with his co-founder Jay Glazer, started MVP with a mission "designed to address challenges that many combat veterans and professional athletes face when transitioning their service/professional life towards a new mission in their civilian life."  They do this by challenging its members with group fitness classes and fostering peer-to-peer support among the team.   Denver, MVP's first success story, joined them very early on and was their first employee.
In the interview we discuss:
The loss of identity when leaving the service and getting past it Nate's belief that anything is possible. Denver's brush with suicide and journey through homelessness How Denver met Nate and joined the MVP team The successes they've both had as well as their favorite success stories coming out of their program

Our guest today is Army veteran Dan Helmer.  Dan began his Army career at West Point and after receiving his commission was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion 68th Armor Regiment, right after they had just invaded Iraq.  A lot of his service story will come up early in the interview so I don’t want to spoil anything, but I do want to highlight that he was instrumental in creating the Counter Insurgency Academy that would then change our strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Dan is now living in Virginia, where he continued his service in the Army reserves, and on top of it all is now running as the democratic candidate for Virginia’s 10th congressional district.
Two topics Dan made sure we hit during his interview were why it's important for veterans to run for office, and why we need a new set o veteran democrats in congress.
We get to spend a good time listening to his ideas on leadership, problem solving in the military and how it translates elsewhere, and what he's planning on bringing to congress.
Dan's Book Recommendation:  Cicero
If you'd like to learn more about Dan's campaign and or would like to help him our with a campaign contribution, you can do so at HelmerforCongress.com.

This week's Medal of Honor citation reading was suggested by Veteranology listener and recent guest Jeff Fowler.  
All our citations will be read from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website, CMOHS.org.
Today's Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Company F in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assigned to defend a 3-mile mountain pass along the division's main supply line and commanding the only route of approach in the march from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri, Capt. Barber took position with his battle-weary troops and, before nightfall, had dug in and set up a defense along the frozen, snow-covered hillside. When a force of estimated regimental strength savagely attacked during the night, inflicting heavy casualties and finally surrounding his position following a bitterly fought 7-hour conflict, Capt. Barber, after repulsing the enemy gave assurance that he could hold if supplied by airdrops and requested permission to stand fast when orders were received by radio to fight his way back to a relieving force after 2 reinforcing units had been driven back under fierce resistance in their attempts to reach the isolated troops. Aware that leaving the position would sever contact with the 8,000 marines trapped at Yudam-ni and jeopardize their chances of joining the 3,000 more awaiting their arrival in Hagaru-ri for the continued drive to the sea, he chose to risk loss of his command rather than sacrifice more men if the enemy seized control and forced a renewed battle to regain the position, or abandon his many wounded who were unable to walk. Although severely wounded in the leg in the early morning of the 29th, Capt. Barber continued to maintain personal control, often moving up and down the lines on a stretcher to direct the defense and consistently encouraging and inspiring his men to supreme efforts despite the staggering opposition. Waging desperate battle throughout 5 days and 6 nights of repeated onslaughts launched by the fanatical aggressors, he and his heroic command accounted for approximately 1,000 enemy dead in this epic stand in bitter subzero weather, and when the company was relieved only 82 of his original 220 men were able to walk away from the position so valiantly defended against insuperable odds. His profound faith and courage, great personal valor, and unwavering fortitude were decisive factors in the successful withdrawal of the division from the deathtrap in the Chosin Reservoir sector and reflect the highest credit upon Capt. Barber, his intrepid officers and men, and the U.S. Naval Service.