Operation Insight

Join us on Operation Insight as we celebrate Independence Day with World War II veterans and brothers, Dan and Edgar Krattli of the U.S. Navy!   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...

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Sergeant First Class Johnathon McDaris of the U.S. Army!   Destiny is a big concept, and Johnathon McDaris thought he had it figured out. Spoiler alert: he didn't! And how could he? No one could have predicted the highs and lows SFC McDaris would experience from joining the National Guard in 1999 to medically retiring in 2015; from learning of the 9/11 attac...

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Chief Petty Officer Kara Jo "KJ" Park of the U.S. Coast Guard!   As a child, she watched as they patrolled the Mississippi River during St. Louis' VP Fair. As a young adult and fresh recruit, she sailed the seas and circumnavigated the globe on a cutter. While in the Coast Guard, KJ Park accomplished nautical feats even some Sailors can't fathom. Throughout...

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Captain William "Bill" Reynolds of the U.S. Air Force!   For some folks born and raised in the southern half of the Land of Lincoln, life might seem a little slow. Not so for the adventure-seeking Bill Reynolds. No, life moved fast for Bill, and when the speed wasn't to his liking, he found a way to pull some Gs even when he wasn't supposed to! Captain Reyno...

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Gold Star Mother Lee Hundelt, whose son, Lance Corporal Matthew Clark, was killed in action while on deployment to Iraq in 2006.   Monday, May 26th, marks this year's Memorial Day. While many may enjoy their three-day weekend by hosting parties and barbeques, there is a contingent of Americans who do not “celebrate” this holiday. Instead, they commemorate th...

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Sergeant Jorge Valdez!   From the Yucatan Peninsula to Fort "Lost in the Woods" to a remote camp in Kosovo, SGT Valdez never lost his appetite for adventure. Soon after graduating from high school, Jorge announced to his parents that he felt an urge to leave Mexico and pursue the American dream. He did that and so much more! Soon after immigrating to the Uni...

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Staff Sergeant Chris Miller of the U.S. Army!   Soon after graduating from De Soto High School, just south of St. Louis, MO, Chris joined the Army Reserves in September 2000. There wasn't a war on, and Chris wasn't expecting much from his time in the service. That all changed merely a year later when America was attacked on 9/11. Chris soon found himself wre...

In 2015, World War II hero and veteran Ralph Barrale envisioned a museum that would honor all who served their country, with a special emphasis on those from his hometown. By 2019, after a tremendous grassroots effort, the St. Charles County Veterans Museum was established in O’Fallon, Missouri. Then, in 2023, Ralph's vision expanded, and the museum was renamed the Mid America Veterans Museum! Thu...

Join Jason one final time on The Dog Tag as he speaks with Nina DeAngelo, Executive Director of the Mid America Veterans Museum. Nina is an Army veteran and cares deeply about the museum's mission to preserve the stories of local veterans. Jason and Nina will discuss the future of the museum's in-house podcast and the museum itself!

Join us from the Mid America Veterans Museum as we host museum curator Marcia Higgins and museum historian Jim Higgins to discuss our ever-evolving stories of veterans. In this episode, you will hear an in-depth accounting of updates to the story of Joseph McNamee, WWII Marine, which can only be described as serendipitous.    

Join us on The Dog Tag as we host Marine veteran Corporal Bobby Christopher. Bobby is a combat veteran and currently serves as president of the Mid America Veterans Museum, formerly known as The St. Charles County Veterans Museum. Bobby walks us through his military and combat experiences as a 0352 TOW (tube-launched optically tracked wire-guided missile system) Anti-tank Missile Gunner from 2002-...

After graduating from St. Louis University with a degree in Business, he joined the Missouri Air National Guard and was assigned to the 131st Tactical Fighter Wing as a weapons mechanic. Joe has traveled several interesting, exciting, and successful career paths in his life including leader and bass player for the rhythm and blues rock and soul horn band The Spirit of St. Louis, musical artist man...

Valor Villages is a large-scale project that provides medical, mental, spiritual, counseling, career training, retreat, transient, and permanent housing for those most needing and underserved in the veteran community. “It Takes a Village.” Website: valorvillages.org Email: info@valorvillages.org Phone: (314)944-2426

Join us with tonight's guests, HM2 Jeremy Greenlee and SrA Amanda Depew (MSW, LCSW), as they share their personal stories of service, struggle, addiction, and sobriety. They are now dedicated to serving the most vulnerable of those among us.

Join Dominic Masters, Marine and Iraq War Veteran, and Jason Galvan, a Gold Star family member, to celebrate Veterans Day. We will discuss the history of this special holiday, what it means to us, and share some personal stories of who we remember and how we honor Veterans of every era.

Join us as we interview several singer-songwriters and veterans who spent a week at the St. Charles County Veterans Museum collaborating to write sixteen songs about veterans' stories, culminating in a live concert on September 2nd, 2023. Special thanks to John Eason, who organized and brought his friends, including Molly Lovette, Joel Jorgensen, Tai Shan, Hal Odell, Craig Hendricks, Greg Matthews...

Growing up in Ferguson, MO, Tim Taylor was completely oblivious to the geopolitical issues that our country faced. That was until September 11, 2001. That day changed Tim's view on the world and led him to join the U.S. Army. Tim served with the 3rd Infantry Division as a cannon crew member from 2003-2006. On October 27, 2005, Tim's vehicle was struck by an IED while providing convoy security for...

CPL Dominic Masters joins us once again in the studio to share the second half of his incredible story. Dominic provides us with an in-depth picture of his struggle with addiction and journey through healing and recovery. You can listen to Part I of Dominic's story on the Dog Tag Podcast.   (02:03) Introduction

Our guest tonight is Colonel Ted Hodgson (Ret.), who works with America's Warrior Partnership, which partners with communities to prevent veteran suicide. COL Ted Hodgson served in the military for 34 years. His last assignment before retiring in 2012 was at CENTCOM. CENTCOM directs and enables military operations and activities with allies and partners to increase regional security and stability...

Join us on the Dog Tag Podcast as we host our guest, Paul "Bud" Haedike. Bud joined the Army Air Corps in 1944 and was a bombardier flying on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Bud had the distinction of being shot down on his very first mission. Fortunately, the crew crash-landed and made it back to their base. They went on to fly twenty-two more missions.

We are honored to host Jennifer Jefferson, Holly Klaesner, and Todd from Focus Marines on tonight's podcast. This amazing organization is tasked with helping our combat veterans deal with complex and emotional issues that took place before, during, or after their military service. We lose over twenty-two veterans a day to suicide. Focus Marines strives to make an impact on the lives of our veteran...

Join us on The Dog Tag as our special guest, Stacey, shares her experiences while serving in the military as a female soldier and her journey of healing from military sexual trauma (MST). VA uses the term “military sexual trauma” (MST) to refer to sexual assault or sexual harassment experienced during military service. MST includes any sexual activity during military service in which you are invol...

On this day, March 29th, U.S. troops leave Vietnam. Many served their country just as their father had…. Many served because that’s what American men do… They believed in our country and principles…. They never shirked their duty… They fought heroically… They lost “brothers” there… They weren’t given time to mourn… Then… They were told, ‘don’t wear their uniform home’… ‘Don’t tell anyone you are a...

CPL Dominic Masters joins us in studio to share his experiences as a Marine, combat veteran, and a proud Grunt from time of entry into the Marine Corps, the Crucible, Rehab platoon, being deployed, coming home, caring for his ailing mother, reserve option, transitioning to civilian life and finding healing. One day, when I was young, my mom took me to a car show at a McDonald’s in North County, no...

Colonel Ted Hodgson and Your Medicare Guy, Joe Rumbolo, join us in the studio to discuss important information regarding Medicare plans that are specifically designed for veterans who use the VA for medical services and prescription drugs, Tricare For Life, and ChampVA for surviving spouses, as well as anyone who is on Medicare. Colonel Ted Hodgson also discusses the American Warrior Partnership,...