Tango Alpha Lima Podcast

As he sailed the Ferry John F. Kennedy from St. George, Staten Island towards the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, Staten Island Ferry Captain Frank Peters watched the fireball explode over the Battery as the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Peters shares how he became part of one of the largest boatlift rescue operations in history that day, as well as how he helps...

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Panama, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Mark Otto was working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange with his newlywed wife, just blocks away from the World Trade Center, on Sept 11, 2001. Otto shares his story of that day, as well as how those experiences have led him to provide outreach and assistance to fellow veterans. Special Guest: Mark Otto. Li...

New Yorker Wilem Wong joined the Army Reserve during last days of the Cold War era. His 32 years of service as a combat medic, nurse and civil affairs officer, deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, overlapped with his 21 years as a NYPD officer, has given him a unique perspective on 9/11, and the Global War on Terrorism that followed. Wong shares his stories, insights, as well as some of the i...

On Sept. 11, 2001, Joe Lea was a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, and Captain of a United Airlines Airbus on a flight from Sacramento to LAX. Lt. Col. Lea shares the story of how his routine flight became anything but normal when he, like all pilots in the air that morning, got orders to land immediately. Special Guest: Joe Lea. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us your feedb...

American Legion member David Whelan shares memories of his wife's cousin, Richard Guadagno. Richard was a vibrant young man, who loved the outdoors, and on Sept. 11, 2001, was on his way home to California, after a weekend spent celebrating the 100th birthday of his grandmother in New Jersey. While the family will never know exactly what happened on United Airlines Flight 93 that day, they have no...

On September 11, 2001, Robert Douglas was an air traffic controller at Cleveland Center, the enroute air traffic control center responsible for airspace over Ohio and western Pennsylvania - which included the route flown by United Airlines Flight 93. Douglas shares his story of the 'controlled chaos' that day. Special Guest: Robert Douglas. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us you...

In this episode, we share the 9/11 story of Linda Beecher, American Legion Auxiliary Babylon Unit 94 member, who, on Sept. 11, 2001, was an EMT for FDNY. On the morning of the attack, Linda and two of her children, a son who was a fellow EMT and a daughter, who was a paramedic, rushed to the WTC site to see how they could help. That morning, Linda served as a liaison between chiefs in the field an...

Retired U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling shares a chilling retelling of the crisis leadership and decision making he witnessed on Sept. 11, 2001, from inside the PEOC - the President's Emergency Operations Center, a.k.a the White House bunker. Special Guest: Robert J. Darling. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us your feedback! Join The American Legion Crisis Leadership Spea...

Today we share the story of Sgt. Maj. Clifford Lovejoy, who, on Sept. 11, 2001, was serving in the Pentagon as Command Sergeant Major, and narrowly survived after American Airlines Flight 77 hit the building in the vicinity of the G3 Conference room where he was in a meeting. Special Guest: Sgt. Maj. Clifford Lovejoy. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us your feedback! Join The Am...

Our hosts visit with U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jimmy Brown. Brown served as an NYPD Officer, before joining NYFD and being assigned to the famed Ten House fire station at the foot of the World Trade Center. Jimmy shares the story of how he survived that day, and how it has shaped the last 20 years of his life. Special Guest: Jimmy Brown. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us your f...

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, newly-elected American Legion National Commander Richard Santos was on Capitol Hill, poised to brief Congress on The American Legion’s priorities for the coming legislative year. Then the first plane hit World Trade Center in New York, and the whole world changed. Richard Santos was the national commander of The American Legion on September 11th, 2001. Shortly aft...

Team Tango chats with Stu Richel, a U.S. Army combat journalist with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, who came home to work as an actor and playwright in California and New York. A refreshingly unabashed Stu shares stories of his experiences, as well as treats the hosts to an excerpt performance from his one-man play, “Vietnam...Through My Lens.” Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube...

CV gets a surprise, then shares a story of positive first steps for Afghan Interpreters as Fort Lee prepares temporary housing for evacuees. Ashley talks about the National Guard facing shutdown as Congress debates payment of the $520 million tab to reimburse the force for protecting lawmakers during its months-long Capitol Hill mission. Jeff learns about GOMORs (General Officer Memorandum of Repr...

Team Tango visits with Anthony Price, Executive Director of the Gold Star Ride Foundation. They learn about the non-profit organization and the cross-country motorcycle rides where they bring comfort and assistance to Gold Star families. Special Guest: Anthony Price. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Join The American Legion The Gold Star Ride Foundation 100 Miles For Hope | The Americ...

Ashley shares the story of a deported Marine who was able to return to the U.S. to become an American citizen. CV wonders why U.S, Military ended nearly two decades at Bagram Airfield by slipping away in the night without telling the base's new commander. An Associated Press story where U.S. veterans who served in Afghanistan ponder what exactly the U.S. has gained in the past 20 years inspire...

Team Tango visits with Michael Hinkle and Serena Moyer of SkillMil Precision Hiring. CV, Jeff and Ashley learn about how SkillMil uses decades of military experience and an automated approach to precisely match unique veteran and spouse skills set with employer. Their company actively supports military families and transitioning veterans. Michael is a Navy veteran and President of SkillMil and Ser...

Tony Wells joins Team Tango to talk about what led him to become a basketball player at the US Naval Academy and a then a Marine Corps officer. The group discusses marketing during a pandemic, promoting diversity and inclusion at a corporate level and the technological innovations USAA has introduced over the years to better serve their members. Special Guest: Tony Wells. Links: Watch video of thi...

CV revisits the continuing issue of evacuating Afghan interpreters after Sen. Angus King urged the Biden administration to take action. Ashley wonders how over 1,900 military weapons have gone missing in the past decade. Jeff gets geared up to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of American Legion Boys Nation. Rapid Fire Navy channels Tony Stark with reasearch on transmedium flying submersible, Airforc...

Matt Disher, who's post-military career has focused on building and leading corporate military recruitment programs in small and large businesses, offers advice and strategies for transitioning servicemembers planning their own career path. Team Tango talks with Matt about available resources, challenges and best practices for those who are building a career after leaving the military. Special...

When the_ Akron Beacon-Journal_ first reported on the mic cut during a keynote address by retired Army Lt. Col. Barnard Kemter during Memorial Day ceremonies at American Legion Lee-Bishop Post 464 in Hudson, Ohio, all eyes in the veteran community focused on the small town just south-east of Cleveland. Media outlets large and small picked up on the story of post officials who turned off the mic as...

Team Tango chats with Air Force Veteran and Modern Military Association of America Executive Director Jennifer Dane. Jennifer shares how MMAA works to make a real difference in the lives of modern military families through education, advocacy and support. Jennifer shares her personal story of serving in the Air Force during "Don't Ask, Don't Tell” and how she became what she calls &qu...

CV and the team weigh in on the urgency for special visas for Afghan interpreters. Ashley ponders how "quick" a proposed National Guard Quick Reaction Force to support Capitol Security might actually be. Jeff shares news that DoD has relaxed mask policies for vaccinated individuals in accordance with CDC guidelines BUT notes that supervisors cannot ask about vaccination status. RAPID FIR...

American Legion member Marlon Smith talks with Team Tango about how 9/11 led to his U.S. citizenship, military service and commitment to volunteering. “I want to give back to a country that has given me so much,” he says. Special Guest: Marlon Smith. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us your feedback! The American Legion 100 Miles For Hope Homes for Heroes | Save Money When You Bu...

Jeff Daly laments the loss of parking privledges at the Pentagon for the Annual Memorial Day 'Rolling to Remember' motorcycle event in Washington D.C. Ashley shares news that Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley has indicated he is open to considering proposed changes to military rules that dictate who oversees the prosecution of military sexual assaults. CV sounds the alert as China and...

Veterans in Military & Entertainment Director of Career Placement Barbara Autin talks about the many resources VME provides to help veterans transition from the military into jobs in media and entertainment fields. Special Guest: Barbara Autin. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us your feedback! Suggest a Guest The American Legion 100 Miles For Hope Veterans in Media & Ent...