by Travis Partington | Oct 9, 2018 | Podcast
Episode 115 – In Memory of John Gollner, Veteran X
Like I said this is a different kind of podcast. On September 29th, I got word that a Marine I served with had passed. I couldn’t believe it. I was riding motorcycle when I got a Facebook Message from one of the Corporals I served under.
In the message was a picture of John Gollner. I served with and under him Charlie Battery, Second Platoon. I sat beside my motorcycle for a while and could not do anything. Disbelief set in and I started making phone calls and reaching to others to get confirmation on a situation I could not fathom.
As I talked with others about his passing I wanted to do something to make sure he was not forgotten. I received permission from his father to do this podcast. John and I tried several times to sync up to have him on Oscar Mike Radio. He had started Veteran X and I wanted to find out more, but we could never make it happen. Schedules and time zones make for their own challenges…… I wish I could say otherwise.
I hope this will provide John’s family, friends and fellow Marines some sort of comfort. The most valuable thing we have in life is each other. Semper Fidelis John, I can hear you singing our anthem now.
HAWK Missile System Video
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa01gESQ6WM[/embedyt]
Veteran X
Please go to the Veteran X Facebook Page and check out what John was doing. (Veteran X Facebook Page) . My view on Veteran X is some of us are Veterans. We have either given all or are prepared to do so. Hence, Some Gave All. X is anyone us at anytime can be a force for those in need. John ran his talk and it is a regret I will carry with me for a long time that we could not sync up to have him talk more about what he was doing.
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by Travis Partington | Sep 26, 2018 | Podcast
Episode 112 – Reality is not a Winner
Question of the Week
Have you heard about the Sailor who performs in drag on the USS Ronald Regan? Read the Navy Times Article about Joshua Kelley (Navy Times Article about Harpy Daniels). This administrative supervisor pushes paperwork by day and performs in drag at night.
Not sure what I think about this. Certainly things have changed since I was in the Marine Corps. I really didn’t know what to say. I am not sure what is going on. On one hand it seems kind of odd, but on the other hand he isn’t hurting anyone so more power to him.
The Word
I talked in Episode 48 (Reality Loser) about how Reality Winner(Her real name) gave classified information out to c to the online news outlet Intercept. She got sentenced to prison for 5 years and 3 years supervision.
Some people think that Reality was punished too harshly. I don’t think so. There was a time in this country that if someone gave up classified information they would look at death by firing squad.
I don’t feel sorry for her situation and you shouldn’t either. It is all fun and games until she gives away someone’s cover or a unit’s movements. The reality is, she is not a winner.
Upcoming Event
Looking forward to the 22Kill Boston Casino Night. Click here for the Facebook Page Event – (22Kill Boston Casino Night Facebook Page). Yours truly will be there.
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by Travis Partington | Jul 13, 2018 | Podcast
In Memory of Petty Officer Saman Gunan
Today is my birthday so it is kind of cool that Episode 101 dropped when it did. This episode is about Thai Navy Seal Petty Officer Saman Gunan. I watched the story unfold about the rescue mission for the Wild Boars Soccer club.
Petty Officer Gunan, had been out of the Thai Navy Seals for six years. He was working in airport security when the call went out for the cave rescue and he loaded up and went to Chiang Rai to join his fellow Thai Navy Seals.
I don’t know what exactly happened that led to Petty Officer Gunan that caused his death. He was there working in dangerous conditions to save the lives of these children. Also, we wasn’t even active duty.
I was struck by how these Thai Navy Seals worked through the pain of losing a fellow brother to rescue all the kids and coach of the Wild Boars Soccer Team. One the challenges of doing this episode was that there was not a lot of information about Petty Officer Gunan or the Thai Navy Seals. Even Wikipedia was limited in the information about Thailand’s Navy.
All I know is that cave diving is dangerous at best, and it requires someone of superior skill and training to do safely. These rescuers were fighting against time and weather to get all these kids out. When a problem happens in cave diving there is no way to do an emergency surface. There simply is no margin for error or an equipment malfunction.
I hope Petty Officer Gunan’s memory lives on and inspires other across the world. Rest in Peace Brother, and Semper Fidelis.
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by Travis Partington | Jul 5, 2018 | Podcast
Episode 100 – Mistress Carrie
100. 100 Episodes equals about 60 hours of content that have been produced in the last two years. I first want to thanks family, friends, co-workers and those unknown who have taken time to listen to me work on this. What is this? What is Oscar Mike Radio? Oscar Mike Radio is my way raising awareness for Veteran and Military by giving a voice to stories that would otherwise not be told. 94 episodes ago I met Kip Clark, host of the podcast Stride and Saunter (https://www.strideandsaunter.com/) and he told me I could do this.
Before the first episode was even created, Keith Hayes and Anthony Arnold got behind me to get this idea off the ground. I am happy and proud to be part of the Whoobazoo Network (https://whoobazoo.com/). This team continues to move me in the right direction, and the podcast has only gotten better.
So Episode 100 it seemed fitting to ask Mistress Carrie to come back on the show. Her first time on Oscar Mike Radio was Episode 62 – Click link here for entire show – Mistress Carrie – Episode 62 This episode was eye opener for me. I thought I was getting good at interviewing people and talking about Veterans’ Issues. Mistress Carrie was gracious and engaging and I learned a lot about content production. She is a total pro with decades of experience and I had a blast talking with her.
I worked to get better. We met up again for Episode 84 – Mistress Carrie Part 1 and she talked about working to be embedded with an unnamed Special Forces Unit. To hear how she had to prepare and what happened around that was a great story. This kind of story doesn’t happen that often, and it was cool getting the behind the scenes info.
Having Mistress Carrie back on for 100 seemed fitting. Yes she is a public figure and celebrity, but no one can argue that she walks that the talk when it comes to Veterans. I enjoyed talking with her about Richard Fitts Jr.’s documentary, 21 Years a Folded Flag. Both us of have interviewed and talked with Richard Fitts Jr. and are looking forward to seeing the finished film.
If you look at the picture below, the story behind this image made the entire experience for episode 100 worth it. I am not going to spoil it here. I will end by saying that I hope to see what is going in with 22 Kill Boston at Jump Town, and I am looking forward to seeing what Mistress Carrie is going to do next. Thanks for celebrating 100 with me Mistress, Semper Fidelis.
American AF – Great Story behind this picture
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by Travis Partington | Jun 8, 2018 | Podcast
Episode 96 – Heath Phillips – 49x
I had another podcast lined up for this week. However, I saw this story on the Washington Post website (He went AWOL after being sexually assaulted….) and felt this was more important in an age of #metoo and increased awareness around sexual assault. I decided to talk about Heath and his story and what I felt was a failure of leadership.
In 1988 Heath was 17 years old and serving on the USS Butte. It was on this ship that he started being sexually assaulted by 6 other male crew members. After filing a complaint 49 days in a row, Heath went AWOL. I couldn’t believe it either, he filed a complaint 49 straight times and nothing was done. Upon review of his case, he received a Other than Honorable Discharge, and was kicked out of the Navy.
Heath faced challenges from PTSD as a result of what happened to him, go into alcoholism and kept fighting to clear his name. Three times the Navy review board looked at his plea to upgrade his discharge to honorable, and three times he was denied.
30 years later, after the fourth time presenting his case to the Navy review board, Heath got the news last week that his discharge was upgraded to Honorable.
I still can’t get over how this happened. I don’t understand what the mind set was of the Captain of the USS Butte and other Petty Officers that allowed this to happen and did nothing to defend this Sailor. They aren’t fit to wear the uniform, much less call themselves Naval Officers.
Heath does talks across military installations advocating for those who have been a victim of sexual harassment and assault in the military. I am glad he kept fighting and did not give up or go into the abyss. There are some links below about Heath’s story and the Military’s SAPR Office.
LINKS
Heath’s Story
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