Veterans Radio

In June 1917, General John Pershing arrived in France to establish American forces in Europe. He immediately found himself unable to communicate with troops in the field. Pershing needed operators who could swiftly and accurately connect multiple calls, speak fluent French and English, remain steady under fire, and be utterly discreet, since the calls often conveyed classified information. At the...

This week’s radio broadcast includes host Jim Fausone and his guests: Captain Paul Ryan (ret) US Naval Reserves, Vice Chair of MI Military and Veterans Hall of HonorMajor Tom Schueman, Marine Corps, author of “Always Faithful” A HALL OF HONOR US Navy Capt Paul J Ryan (ret) is vice chair of the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor. He discusses the 2022 class of inductees with host Jim Faus...

"Always Faithful", tells the story of Marine Major Tom Schueman and his friend, Afghan interpreter Zainullah “Zak” Zaki, discussing their parallel lives, converging paths, and unbreakable bond in the face of overwhelming danger, culminating in Zak and his family’s harrowing escape from Kabul. Tom talks about joining the Marines and the bond that developed with Zak. He then discusses the failure to...

Extraordinary Valor is the story of Special Forces Major John Duffy’s Medal of Honor gallantry at Firebase Charlie, and the heroism of South Vietnamese paratrooper, Major Lê Văn Mễ, who fought by his side. It is the true story of their battle to defend Charlie Hill, a key to holding Vietnam’s Central Highlands during North Vietnam’s 1972 Easter Offensive. John Joseph Duffy was born in New York Cit...

Michigan Army National Guard Veteran Brett Fennelly talks about life insurance, Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI), and the new VetLife programs offers to disabled veterans. Brett has a Farm Bureau agency in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and talks about stacking insurance products with host Jim Fausone.

WHAT’S THE PACT ACT AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT MY VA BENEFITS AND CARE? The PACT Act is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The PACT Act will bring these changes: Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with...

U.S. Army Veteran Chris Videau talks about his service as an MP and Black Hawk helicopter pilot. Chris explains his exposure to burn pit contamination in Iraq and its impact on him. He explains to host Jim Fausone the idea for Sheets Laundry Club came from the desire to eliminate single-use plastics in the home, laundry, kitchen, and personal care aisles.

NEW BOOK TELLS THE UNTOLD TRUE STORY OF THE WORLD WAR II FROGMEN WHO GAVE RISE TO THE NAVY SEALS With echoes of  Unbroken, the derring-do and bravado of The Right Stuff; and the battle-forged camaraderie of  Band of Brothers, Into Enemy Waters by award-winning journalist Andrew Dubbins (Aug. 23, 2022, Diversion Books) details the origins and heroic missions of World War II’s elite unit of Navy fro...

US ARMY Major John Spencer (ret.) is the chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and a leading expert on Urban Warfare. In his new book, Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership, and Social Connections in Modern War (July 1, 2022, Potomac Books), John delivers effective methods for building teams that overcome the distractions of home and the outside world, without red...

FROM BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER PILOT TO ENTREPRENEUR US Army veteran Chris Videau talks about his service as an MP and Black Hawk helicopter pilot. Chris explains his exposure to burn pit contamination in Iraq and its impact on him. Listen in as Chris explains where the idea for Sheets Laundry Club came from to eliminate single use plastics in the home laundry, kitchen and personal care. Order Sheets...

Rich Castagna joined the Marines and served in Afghanistan in 2009-10.  He talks about an IED incident that killed his friend Lance Corporal Griffin, of Conneticut, and severly injured him.  The heroics to save him and the 32 surgeries are precursors to his life now in federal law enforcement with a wonderful wife and three children.  Rich, a MARSOC instructor, gives host Jim Fausone a look into M...

FLAMETHROWER Bryan Mark Rigg’s latest non-fiction military history book Flamethrower documents Hershel “Woody” Williams’ Medal of Honor process. Dr. Rigg’s research brings into question the facts surrounding “Woody” Williams’ actions that earned him the Medal of Honor. Accomplished military historian, Bryan Mark Rigg, reconstructs Woody Williams’s remarkable story, from his youth on a dairy farm i...

Jim Fausone, hosts this month’s VA Benefits program hour with the following guests: Brig Gen Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help for VeteransRandy Walker, New Wayne County Michigan, Director of Veterans Services

VETERAN LENDING COUNCIL – NATIONWIDE SPECIAL FORCES TEAM Veterans Lending Council representative and Army Veteran, Eric Ensley, busts some myths about the VA Home Loan Program. He responds to a Congressional inquiry and Military.com article about the process saying the hold-up is not on VA but on the lenders, realtors, and public that just do not understand the program. Army Veteran turned real es...

The National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC.org) is the nation's leading Veteran-Owned Business Certification firm for veterans. In that capacity, it has forged a Strategic Alliance Memorandum with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Keith King, Founder and CEO, talks about this important agreement with host Jim Fausone.  

Veterans Lending Council representative and Army Veteran, Eric Ensley, busts some myths about the VA Home Loan Program. He responds to a Congressional inquiry and Military.com article about the process saying the hold-up is not on VA but on the lenders, realtors, and public that just do not understand the program. Army Veteran turned real estate agent/realtor, Andrew Cummings, jumps in and shares...

Michael Harris is a Marine veteran who suffered a post-discharge spinal cord injury after a car accident. He found help with the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA). MPVA is the state chapter of PVA and has served Michigan since 1961, "making a difference" in the lives of veterans, their families, and the public. MPVA is a leadership organization reaching out on behalf of members (vetera...

MICHIGAN VET FEST THEN AND NOW Dr. Eric Fretz, program host, and Josh Parish J.D. talk about VCAT9 and the early days when VCAT9 coordinated the first two Vet Fests, how the event evolved, and how these events support veterans. Learn about the specifics of what will be available at the 2022 Vet Fest (all 3) and where to go for more information. Josh Parish is an Iraq War Army veteran and founder o...

Caroline Haskins, a reporter for Business Insider, talks about the challenges ID.me is having for some veterans seeking benefits from VA. ID.me is a verification software that requires numerous steps and questions to confirm identification. It was started by an Army Ranger, but as it continues to scale up, problems are popping up. Caroline talks about complaints filed from older or infirm veterans...

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT ON TROOPS AND WARFARE RULES Major John Spencer (ret) US Army talks with us on social media impact on troops and urban warfare rules being rewritten by Russia in Ukraine. For more information: johnspenceronline.com   JOIN 200K MEMBERS OF TEAM RWB Lt. Col. John Faunce (ret) US Army talks about Team Red White & Blue and its drive to be the premiere health and wellness organization...

Second LT. Grace VanArendonk recently graduated as a nurse from Western Michigan University, spending four years in the ROTC program. In 2022, she was the state's top-ROTC cadet. She talks about her decision to seek an ROTC scholarship, her experiences in the program, her background as a Korean adoptee, and her advice to girls and their moms about going the ROTC route. Grace talks about her expect...

Please share this music with your friends and family at the BBQ! Celebrating the music of the USA, Her Independence and Declaration of Our Unalienable Rights The music includes: Star Spangled Banner, God Bless The USA, This Land Is Your Land, God Bless America, America The Beautiful and more. Artists include: Charlie DanielsKate SmithWoody GuthrieSimon and GarfunkelRay CharlesToby KeithLee Greenwo...

Carrie Mead is the Immediate Past President of Women In Defense - Michigan Chapter. WID strengthens and influences the defense and national security industry by inspiring women, cultivating leadership, and growing professional relationships. Today, Carrie is the Acting Chief of Staff at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, VA. She talks about her career path, civilian employment supporting...

David Corlew, Co-Founder of The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project  RETURN REHABILITATE REINTEGRATE The mission of The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project is to help identify, support and implement the various needs of the men and women of America’s armed forces returning from service.  We owe them an unpayable debt of gratitude. After many years of service, and for some, multiple deployments,...

John Faunce recently retired from the US Army after 20 years.  He is now a staffer with Team Red White and Blue which focuses on events bringing together veterans and friends.  Wellness and health are at the core of Team RWB and John is special events coordinator.  It is free and easy to drop into Team RWB events by use of an app or online.  John talks with host Jim Fausone on Team RWB mission to...