Episode 95 – Jim Tough

Episode 95 – Jim Tough

Episode 95 – Jim Tough

Tough. All kinds of things come to mind when people hear that word. Built tough, mentally tough, physically tough are all phrases that make a person listen. This episode is about Jim Tough. In every way, Jim embodies toughness, and why I created Oscar Mike Radio.

I started getting interested in talking with Jim when I came across videos of this guy wearing an Army baseball cap doing pushups. He wasn’t just doing pushups for fun. He would start with this message of hope and empowerment for those who are/were, “Staring into the Abyss”. I never served in combat but there have been times when I could relate to that phrase.

I couldn’t look away from my screen. Here was a guy who didn’t have a fancy camera or microphone just talking with us, with all of us about finding hope in the darkness then doing 22 pushups to raise awareness. I believe that it is people like Jim Tough, who use something as common as a pushup, that can be a source of comfort for those fighting the darkness.

Jim and I talked and as I recorded, I allowed myself to not think of him as a guest on the show, but as a NCO who was taking time to give me some advice. He didn’t sugarcoat things or shift blame for situations in life. He kept making me feel that if  I didn’t give up and kept moving everything would be alright.

I got way more out of this podcast than Jim could ever know. You can find Jim on Facebook – Jim Tough on Facebook. He does pushups 5 days a week! In the last your he has done or 8300 pushups!!!!

While that is a great accomplishment, I want everyone to take the time to listen to his daily message. I have been following them for a while now, and it has become part of my daily routine.

A big shout out to Jim’s wife and children who were great during the recording. Jim says that his wife is a source of strength for him and he loves being a dad.  I can’t wait to have you back on brother.


Episode 94 – Jody Part 4 – Leo

Episode 94 – Jody Part 4 – Leo

This is a true story about how low a wife and Jody can go. However, the real story that is still unfolding is about baby Leo. Leo is the result of a wife’s hookup with a Jody.  In this case, the now ex – wife went to a new level of dirt bag low.

Marina Garcia was married to Steven Garcia. He is a Sgt in the Army doing military police work. While deployed to Seoul, Korea he found out he was going to be a father.

Marina delivered the baby in January 2018. She told him that his daughter died during childbirth. 10,000 miles away from home, Steven was devastated…… But, it was all a lie.

Marina was pregnant, Marina had a baby…, but it was a baby boy, not a girl. Also, it was not Steven’s child. As of this podcast and the Washington Post article, Marina could not or would not identify the father. The mother of this child tried to forge documents that would transfer this baby to a couple from Texas. During a routine traffic stop, the police started asking questions and realized something was wrong.

The investigation revealed that Marina was living with an Army Specialist while her husband was deployed overseas. Also, once Steven was made aware of the situation, a paternity test revealed that he was NOT the father.

The only silver lining is that Leo, who is in foster care, may have someone to fight for him. Steven Garcia is filing paperwork to adopt Leo. Steven was adopted and feels that he can give Leo a life he would not have in foster care. My personal feelings aside, I have nothing but respect for Sgt Garcia. My message to him would be that I support his choice and that he is a true hero. Thank you

As for Marina, I believe her fate is still being decided in the court system. It would be my desire to see an example made of her for doing this to a baby and her husband. Jody is real folks, and how messed up is it that this Army Specialist was living with another man’s wife while she was pregnant and married. This guy is a true blue falcon. I don’t think this could be made up…..

Washington Post Article by Kyle Swenson


Jody and Jodie Podcast Links

I will add the episode links so you can get caught up. This is a year long series, so buckle up

Links to Jody/Jodie Past Podcasts

  1. Episode 81 – Jody Part 1
  2. Episode 85 – Jodie Part 2
  3. Episode 89 – Jody Part 3

Brawl for it All 6 – Team Darrah

Really happy to support #teamdarrah in Brawl for it all 6 in Warwick Rhode Island on July 13th.

 

 

 


 

Episode 93 – #impactfulathleteinteraction

Episode 93 – #impactfulathleteinteraction

Episode 93 – #impactfulathleteinteraction

with Tim Montjoy of Operation Teammate

University Georgia Bulldogs have been great supporters of Operation Teammate

Impactful Athlete Interaction. It is a mouthful that doesn’t really roll off the tongue. However, talking with Tim Montjoy for the third time, I get the sense that this phrase is not supposed to glide into thin air. There are all kinds of good things happening when athletes interact with children of military servicemembers. These children, who are separated from Mom or Dad for an extended period of time, see what hard work and dedication can pay off for their future.

I met Tim about two years ago and I swear he hasn’t stopped moving. Tim seems to running on full afterburner all the time as he is constantly talking with people about Operation Teammate, the children he serves, and what is next. He hasn’t slowed down from his time in the Air Force.

What is next is building on the mission focus for Operation Teammate. Instead of having a photo op for kids with the athletes, Tim wants to make sure that Operation Teammate adds value as a lifelong journey. These events are opportunities for children and athletes to learn from each other. The children see what striving for excellence can do for their future. Impactful means the athletes have the experience of learning about the sacrifices military servicemembers and their families endure. These athletes are also using this time to impart life lessons for the children. Thus we have the term #impactfulathleteinteraction. You will be seeing this phrase more and more in the future as Operation Teammate grows and expands their mission outreach. Thanks to everyone who supports Operation Teammate. As a LSU fan, I have to say #godawgs!

 


[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcJnOHEe4AU[/embedyt]


Contacts for Operation Teammate

Check out the links below for any all information about Operation Teammate


Past Episodes with Operation Teammate


Episode 92 – 21 Years a Folded Flag

Episode 92 – 21 Years a Folded Flag

Episode 92 – 21 Years a Folded Flag

I met with Richard Fitts Jr. and Rudy Childs on a cold April Sunday. Believe it or not it can get really cold and nasty during Spring in New England. We were meeting to talk about his documentary, “21 Years a Folded Flag”. Looking at the trailer got me interested in this story because I feel that Vietnam Veterans and Gold Star Family Members still get shut out compared to other wars and conflicts.

This documentary is about Richard Fitts Sr. who was a Green Beret in the Army. He lost his life in Laos on November 30th 1968 during a top secret, classified mission.

Richard was two years old at the time, and never got to know his father. Sitting there listening to him talk, I couldn’t imagine what that must have been like. It wasn’t until over 20 years later that the Fitts family got to find out what had happened to Richard Sr.

Richard wanted tell this story to keep his father’s memory alive. Rudy Childs started working on this film project and it became a labor of love. Richard and Rudy entered this film into a festival in Maryland and it almost won. They are proud of their work and I am looking forward to seeing the finished product. Check out their fundraiser (Fund my story/”green beret father”), and consider donating to help get this story told.

 


Check out the Sneak Preview to “21 Years a Folded Flag” on YouTube

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM3vZLQu_BY[/embedyt]

 


Richard Fitts Jr. and Rudy Childs will be presenting a sneak peek at the final unfinished version on May 29th, 7:00 PM at the East Bridgewater, MA Library.

The Library is located on 32 Union Street East Bridgewater, MA 02333. I will be there.

 

Richard Fitts Drive in Abington, MA.

 

Episode 91 – Dirty VA Hospital Room

Episode 91 – Dirty VA Hospital Room

Episode 91 – Dirty VA Hospital Room

Question of the Week

Question of the Week is why do I crochet? Simply put, I crochet because I made a promise. A listener needed yarn to make hats and gloves for Veterans. I asked a group with Project Linus if they had yarn they could donate.

The group leader said yes if I learned to crochet. The image on the left will be my next blanket. It is a corner to corner blanket. I like doing this because it is something to do with my hands. Also the finished product goes to Project Linus (http://projectlinus.org/). I will keep them coming.

 


The Word

I was interested in the story that broke about a veteran’s father who took pictures of a hospital room that was, in a word, filthy. It is my understanding that hospital rooms are supposed to clean. Looking at the photos it seems that this room was dirty for a while. Stephen Wilson – The Father’s Twitter Page

My question is this. After all the outrage over a Master Sergeant who re-enlisted with a sock puppet on her hand, where is the outrage over this room? Where is the brass coming down hard on this? Where are all the Facebook Veterans who rail against the injustices of the world? Where are they? What are they doing? They would rather make noise over a sock puppet and get two people kicked out of the military than keep the heat on a VA Hospital that services Veterans. I don’t get it. But by all means, get angry over things that don’t really matter.


Upcoming Events

  • June 10th, 2018 – #teamdarrah is having a cornhole tournament at the Avon VFW. This is to raise money for Veteran’s Causes
  • July 28th, 2018 – Burnouts 4 Veterans will be at it again on July 28th at the Brockton VFW.