Tango Alpha Lima Podcast

You thought we were done with Bonus Episodes, but we have one more in the tank! During The American Legion 102nd National Convention in Phoenix, the Tango Team had the unique opportunity to get together for a face to face interview with VA Secretary Denis McDonough. During the interview we touch on development of new technology for patient access, VA COVID protocols and resources for veterans stru...

Working a corporate job in Indianapolis on Sept. 11, 2001, Purdue graduate Josh Bleill was so moved by the events of that day that he soon found himself, at the age of 27, following in his father's yellow bootsteps at Marine Corps bootcamp. During a deployment to Fallujah, Iraq in 2006, a bomb exploded under the vehicle Josh was riding in. He woke up five days later to the realization that he had...

On September 11, 2001, John was an 18-year-old freshman at Fordham University. That day and in the days that followed, John volunteered at Ground Zero, aiding in the rescue and recovery operation. He subsequently joined the Army, becoming a Green Beret with combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. John shares his story of how that day changed the trajectory of his life, and let him eventually t...

Jennifer Vollbrecht was 15 years old on 9/11. Like thousands of others, watching the towers fall that day inspired her to serve her country. She knew nothing about the military, but recognized her calling. Jennifer joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2004, and was deployed as a CH-46 Crew Chief in 2005. Jennifer shares about how that moment has propelled her through her path in life, leading to a care...

In 2010, while deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve combat engineer, Rob Jones stepped on an IED and became a double above-knee amputee. Rob shares his inspirational journey of recovery and resilience that he hopes will help others heal and thrive. Special Guest: Rob Jones. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us your feedback! Join The American Legion Rob J...

On Sept. 11, 2001, Kim Campbell was a young Air Force Academy graduate in A-10 training. Suddenly, everything about her role as a fighter pilot changed, and shortly after completing training she was deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and then Iraq in 2003, providing close air support for troops on the ground. Col. Kim Campbell joins the Tango Alpha Lima hosts to share experiences during these deploym...

Dr. Tony Brooks was inspired to serve by what he refers to as the "holy shit act of terrorism." On 9/11 he was an 18-year-old student at the University of Arizona who had never considered military service. After watching the towers fall, he suddenly decided that nothing was more important than serving. Dr. Brooks talks about how "out of the blue" decision surprised everyone he knew, how he joined...

Former POW Jessica Lynch reported to basic training a week after 9/11. Eventually she deployed to Iraq, where her unit was ambushed, she was captured and held prisoner by Iraqi forces for nine days. Jessica shares the emotional story of her captivity and rescue, as well as how she perservered through the aftermath of the experience, and became a motivational speaker to help others. Special Guest:...

USAA Vice President of Brand Management, Eric Engquist, deployed to Kosovo on 9/11 and was among the first troops deployed to Iraq in the aftermath of the attacks. He shares how his mission in Kosovo changed overnight, and what it was like to help build the beginnings of the Iraqi National Guard. Special Guest: Eric Enquist. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us your feedback! Join...

Eighth Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard, Vincent Patton, joins the show to talk about a unique experience of resilience he witnessed in the wake of 9/11, as well as how the terrorist attacks refocused the Coast Guard's mission. Special Guest: Vince Patton. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Send us your feedback! Join The American Legion Rogue Wave: The U.S. Coast Guar...

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...