Hazard Ground
Servicemembers from across the military, sharing their accounts of combat and survival. Hosted by sports talk radio host and Army veteran, Mark Zinno, this podcast brings you firsthand accounts of war, with a perspective you only get from someone who has lived through it. From WWII to Vietnam, Somalia, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, hear inspirational stories of service and resiliency from those who have fought on and off the battlefield!
126
Ep. 225 - Mark Treanor (Marine/Vietnam)
After graduating from the United States Naval Academy, Mark Treanor served as a Marine Corps rifle platoon leader in Vietnam, when some of the heaviest fighting took place. Years later, Mark would write a book about his experience in Vietnam....
89 min
127
Ep. 224 - Brian Fleming (Suicide Bombing Survivor)
Brian Fleming joined the Infantry during a time of war to serve his country and test his mettle. He ended up getting a little more than he probably bargained for, but still understood the risks, serving in combat with honor. Brian was blown...
82 min
128
Ep. 223 - Ian Cantelo (Canadian Combat Vet)
We have our second Canadian Armed Forces guest on the podcast this week! Ian Cantelo is a Sacrifice Medal recipient - Canada's version of the Purple Heart - due to injuries sustained after he was blown up multiple times while serving...
87 min
129
Ep. 222 - David Yuzuk ("The Giant Killer")
This week’s episode is about Richard Flaherty, the smallest known man to serve in the U.S. military in recent history. Richard served as a Green Beret in Vietnam, among other incredible ventures, earning two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star...
90 min
130
Ep. 221 - Henry Hughes (Army Combat Vet/Filmmaker)
Henry Hughes' family tradition of military service dates all the way back to the American Revolution. For him, he chose the Army and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He served multiple combat tours with the 173rd, including one at COP Keating...
103 min
131
Ep. 220 - Eddie Wright (Marine)
Eddie Wright's story is pretty insane! In 2004, he and his small element of Marines were ambushed in Iraq. Eddie immediately lost just about 100% of his physical ability to fight back. Calm and alert through the entire firefight that...
110 min
132
Ep. 219 - Nick Rucker (Iraq & Afghanistan Vet/M...
Nick Rucker is a veteran of two combat deployments - one to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. Those deployments didn't come without a price. After returning home, Nick struggled with Post Traumatic Stress and alcoholism - two powerful adversaries...
96 min
133
Ep. 218 - Greg "Billy Bob" Thornton & Raymond "...
For our first episode released in both audio and video formats with our partners at Kill Cliff, Greg "Billy Bob" Thornton & Raymond "Donk" Strasburger - both Air Force A-10 pilots - take us through one of the most...
178 min
134
Ep. 217 - Bonus Episode: Brian Ribera (Navy SEA...
Brian Ribera is a retired Navy SEAL and the founder and president of Military Mobility - a non-profit, adventure-based organization that specializes in off-road expeditions and resiliency training for veterans. Military Mobility's mission...
55 min
135
Ep. 216 - Zachary Koppes (COP Keating/Battle of...
As we wrap up an extensive look at COP Keating and the Battle of Kamdesh, which occurred on October 3rd, 2009, in Afghanistan, Zachary Koppes takes us on an intense and sometimes hilarious/sometimes heartbreaking journey through the day-long...
117 min
136
Ep. 215 - Jeff Depatie (Canadian SOF Operator)
Jeff Depatie is the first ever Canadian servicemember we've had on the podcast. The man was born to be a warrior, spending his career in the Canadian Armed Forces as a sniper/assaulter in JTF 2 - an extremely high-readiness and precise,...
80 min
137
Ep. 214 - Chris Jones (COP Keating/Battle of Ka...
This week, another detailed look at COP Keating and the October 3rd, 2009 Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan with Chris Jones. Chris was an Infantry soldier in Red Platoon, Bravo Troop 3-61 Cav. He was also one of the five guys who volunteered...
143 min
138
Ep. 213 - Kyle Knight (COP Keating/Battle of Ka...
This week we return to COP Keating and the Battle of Kamdesh, which took place on October 3rd, 2009 in Afghanistan. Kyle Knight was a Forward Observer in Red Platoon, Bravo Troop 3-61 Cav. Kyle offers an unvarnished perspective of...
77 min
139
Ep. 212 - Special Guest: Dr. Shauna Springer (T...
Dr. Shauna Springer's father raised his kids like a drill instructor - up at 5 a.m. three times a week to run miles in the dark at a local track. That kind of activity at an early age, along with solo mission service trips to foreign...
73 min
140
Ep. 210 - Dale Rider (Army Combat Vet - Syria)
Dale Rider deployed to Iraq as a bridge crew member of an Engineer unit initially assigned to advise and assist the Iraqi's, after the war had theoretically ended. So, naturally, in the middle of the Iraq mission, his small detachment...
79 min
141
Ep. 209 - Special Guest: Char Fontan Westfall (...
Once again, we step outside the bounds of the typical HAZARD GROUND guest to tell Char Fontan Westfall's story. Char is the wife of the late Navy SEAL, Jacques Fontan. Jacques was killed while attempting to rescue survivors of Operation...
88 min
142
Ep. 208 - Jason McCarthy (Green Beret & Founder...
GORUCK founder Jason McCarthy went from Green Beret to building a 100 million dollar company, starting with just a napkin sketch of a rucksack that could withstand the abuse of war torn Baghdad and still look good on the streets of any...
99 min
143
Ep. 207 - Joe "Spoon" Rizzuto (A-10/RPA Pilot)
Retired Air Force Colonel, Joe "Spoon" Rizzuto has had one of the most interesting careers a military pilot could have. The Air Force Academy grad started out flying C-130s in Alaska - something he wasn't initially thrilled...
77 min
144
Ep. 206 - Tonya Oxendine (Command Sergeant Majo...
For Tonya Oxendine the Army offered an escape from a rough upbringing - a chance for a better life. Although not without extreme hardships and challenges, Tonya embraced the military, using the trauma she experienced in it and after, to...
75 min
145
Ep. 205 - David Smith (Navy Corpsman/CONTINUE T...
Our conversation this week is simply about service - service in combat, and continued service when the uniform comes off. David Smith is a former Navy Corpsman who served in combat in Afghanistan. When an aspiring career in the Navy was...
77 min
146
Ep. 204 - Grant Broggi (Marine/The Strength Co.)
Grant Broggi didn't take the typical route to the Marine Corps. The extra time he took before ultimately joining meant he entered the Marines with life experience - a key attribute in forming who he would become as a leader of Marines....
76 min
147
Ep. 203 - Rod Lurie (From West Point to Filmmak...
When Rod Lurie immigrated to the United States at a young age, he was taken by what he saw when he visited The United States Military Academy at West Point for the first time. Beyond the institution, he knew attending West Point would provide...
75 min
148
Ep. 202 - Ryan Hendrickson (Green Beret)
Ryan Hendrickson doesn't know when to quit. If you've served alongside Ryan in combat, that's probably a good thing. Ryan Hendrickson is a retired Green Beret, leaving the Army as an E-7 in January of 2020. Before joining the...
122 min
149
Ep. 201 - Donat Le Blanc (Marine/Vietnam)
Donat "Dan" Le Blanc lost his right arm while fighting in Vietnam as a Marine aircraft machine gunner. Service was in his blood; his father was a World War II veteran and POW. So when it was his generation's calling to combat...
80 min
150
Ep. 200 - Daniel Rodriguez (COP Keating/Battle ...
There's no better story for Episode 200! Daniel Rodriguez entered the Army shortly after losing his father at the age of 18. He joined the Infantry and was almost immediately thrust into one of the worst positions to be in as a new...
130 min