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!
201
Ep. 144 – Dave Sabben (Battle of Long Tan)
Unless you served in Vietnam, you probably weren't aware that U.S. forces fought alongside other allies, Australia being one of them, and an important one at that. Dave Sabben was one of those soldiers who bravely led Australian military...
84 min
202
Ep. 143 – Geoff Dardia (Green Beret)
Geoff Dardia's special operations career was pretty much over before it even began. Having rolled multiple phases of BUD/S due to injuries, at 21, Dardia had broken his body down to the point where the Navy was willing to compensate...
82 min
203
Ep. 142 – LTG (R) Burke Garrett & Tim Banik (Ve...
Two completely different military career paths: one, a Lieutenant General who served over 30 years as an Army Infantry officer, the other an enlisted Infantry Marine who served four years, with two overseas deployments to combat zones....
63 min
204
Ep. 141 – James LaPorta (Marine/Newsweek)
Like many kids coming out of high school, James LaPorta just wanted to get on with life. His country was at war, and he had little interest in going to college - at least right away. So he joined the Marine Corps, signing up for the infantry....
114 min
205
Ep. 140 – Chad Balwanz (Green Beret/ODA 525)
Before "Lone Survivor" - the story of Operation Red Wings as told by Marcus Luttrell, the only SEAL to survive that operation - there was ODA 525. Assigned a special reconnaissance mission inside Iraq on the eve of the Desert Storm...
87 min
206
Ep. 138 – Jason Robinson (Infantryman)
After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Jason Robinson felt a calling to serve in the military. Notably, he felt it was his duty to serve having been born into a free society - a way to earn his citizenship. He also wanted to...
71 min
207
Ep. 137 – John Belman (Ranger/CSAR - Black Hawk...
We've covered the Battle of Mogadishu - popularized by the movie and book, "Black Hawk Down" - multiple times on the podcast. But, we haven't covered it from the perspective of the combat search and rescue (CSAR) team sent...
88 min
208
Ep. 136 – John Stryker Meyer (Vietnam/Green Ber...
John Stryker Meyer earned his Green Beret in December of 1967. About five months later, he was based in Vietnam, fighting a very deadly and secret war in Laos and Cambodia. For John and his fellow Green Berets, the war in Vietnam was fought...
60 min
209
Ep. 135 – Zach Stinson (Marine Combat Vet)
On November 9, 2010, Zach Stinson, a Marine fighting in Afghanistan, stepped on an IED. The blast took both of his legs, and a few fingers. But, the blast did not take his zeal for life. Listening to him talk about this experience, you...
72 min
210
Ep. 134 – Pasha Palanker (Army Combat Vet)
When Pasha Palanker was 15, he and his family immigrated to the U.S. from Moldova. Although his family lived in a rough neighborhood on a very low income, Pasha was happy and proud to be living in America, whose opportunities far outnumbered...
65 min
211
Ep. 133 – Joe Galloway (Military Correspondent)
Normally, this week's guest would be billed as a "Special Guest" as Joe Galloway was never actually in the military. But if history has anything to say about it, there's no doubt he's earned his stripes, going all the...
63 min
212
Ep. 132 – Patrick Murphy (Iraq Vet/Congressman)
Patrick Murphy is the first Iraq War veteran elected to the U.S. Congress, representing Pennsylvania. Following his time in Congress, he was confirmed as the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army, serving until January 2017. Murphy may be a...
61 min
213
Ep. 131 – Gene Murphy (Vietnam/DAV)
While taking a semester off from college, Gene Murphy received what many young men his age feared at the time - a draft notice for Vietnam. Murphy considered it an honor to serve his country, so leaving his small, South Dakota farming community...
64 min
214
Ep. 130 – Michael Rutledge (From Navy SEAL to 1...
As far back as he can remember, Michael Rutledge wanted to be a Naval Aviator. He lacked the grades to get him there, so he enlisted in the Navy, eventually becoming a Navy SEAL. Unable to ignore his desire to fly in the military, after...
63 min
215
Ep. 129 – Garrett Cathcart (Cavalry Scout/Missi...
Garrett Cathcart had wanted to go to West Point since the 4th grade. When high school graduation approached, it was West Point or enlist. He secured an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, setting him on a course to become a combat-tested...
71 min
216
Ep. 128 – Harry Lockhead (WWII UDT)
It’s not too often we get the opportunity to speak with veterans of WWII. They’re a special breed, and Harry Lockhead is no exception. Joining the Navy when his country was at war, Lockhead went into the service as a cook. After the battle...
43 min
217
Ep. 127 – Mary Dague (Army EOD Combat Vet)
Staring down a very domesticated life path she had no interest in following, Mary Dague decided to join the Army, a few years after 9/11. Desiring a military job that was both dynamic and challenging, she signed up for Explosive Ordnance...
88 min
218
Ep. 126 – Zachary Rhyner (Combat Controller/Air...
Following his childhood dream to serve in the military, Zachary Rhyner joined the Air Force in 2004. He knew he wanted to serve in an elite group, that would no doubt face challenges in combat. Rhyner enlisted with the goal of becoming...
68 min
219
Ep. 125 – Chris Greca (CSM/Army Ranger)
Even though Chris Greca came from a military family, he never intended to join the Army. But, it was a spur of the moment decision at a red light one day that drove him to the recruiter’s office. And before he knew it, Chris Greca was on...
70 min
220
Ep. 124 – Jeff Struecker (Ranger/Black Hawk Down)
As a young Army Ranger, Jeff Struecker saw combat early, beginning with the operation to capture Manuel Noriega in Panama in 1989. But, it wasn't until his experiences during Operation Gothic Serpent - the op to capture Somali faction...
66 min
221
Ep. 123 – Brian Wood MC (Battle of Danny Boy)
In 2004 in the Iraq desert, British soldier, Brian Wood found himself on the receiving end of an order not given in battle in 25 years: FIX BAYONETS! In just a split second he digested that phrase, and began leading his men on a full-frontal...
56 min
222
Ep. 122 – Remi Adeleke (Navy SEAL/Writer/Actor)
Remi Adeleke was destined to lead an unconventional life. He might say it was divine intervention. Whatever it was, it put him on a path most ordinary people never travel. Then again, Remi isn't an ordinary human being. He was born...
73 min
223
Ep. 121 – Matt Cothron (Uncle Chaps)
We bring a little bit of levity to the show this week with our guest, Matt Cothron. Matt, better known by his online moniker, Uncle Chaps, is a successful (and humorous) blogger and podcast host. But, before that, he was a Marine, serving...
72 min
224
Ep. 120 – Jason Redman (Navy SEAL)
When you look back on Jason Redman's career as a Navy SEAL, two words stand out: warrior and leader. We've said it before - those words get thrown around rather loosely. But in Jason's case, they are terms he continues to embody,...
78 min
225
Ep. 119 – Special Guest: Johnny Walker
We have another Special Guest this week, and an absolutely incredible story of one man's quest to survive under Saddam Hussein's rule as well as the insurgency that plagued his country months into Operation Iraqi Freedom. He still...
65 min