Our regular Havok Journal update with their editor Scott Faith touches on several topics that some listeners may find controversial but all will find interesting. Topics covered include; A front on the War on Terrorism not often seen in the public; hackers modifying terrorist propaganda pages and videos to make the subjects appear foolish rather than frightening.  While mocking the enemy may be fun, Scott emphasizes that the worldwide threat from terrorism is still very real and we must remain vigilant.  “Imagine if the 9/11 attacks had been written as a movie script. It was so improbable it would have [...]

Hell Below is a documentary series of the Smithsonian Channel describing submarine combat during the Second World War.  On today’s show we talk with James M. Scott, one of the experts featured in the series and retired Navy Rear Admiral Ron Morgan. James has written several excellent books about historical military events including Target Tokyo, Attack on the Liberty and The War Below.  Two of the submarines James highlights in The War Below are featured in the Hell Below series.   Ron Morgan served four years on submarines during the Cold War and another 31 ½ years in the Navy [...]

Freedom and Liberty are the focus topics for this special Independence Day discussion with 20 year Air Force Veteran Jamie Harwick. Using relevant comments from previous guests, Jamie and I share our gratitude for the freedom we enjoy as US citizens and for those who sacrifice to keep us free. Gary Sinise:  Gary relates the contrast between freedom and tyranny that was starkly evident the first time he visited the Korean DMZ.  He also shares his motivation for continuing to support those who serve and their families. Col. Lee Ellis:  Lee’s case is an extreme one of what can happen [...]

Touching the Dragon is what James Hatch calls the process he had to complete in order to banish his demons. It is also the title of a book he recently published. James was part of a team dispatched to try and rescue deserter Bowe Bergdahl.   On that mission an AK-47 round tore through his femur and out the back of his leg.  Military working dog REMCO was killed in that same action. Had it not been for REMCO, it is likely that James and his team would have all been slain. Hatch is an expert military dog trainer and handler. He [...]

President Truman presents Woody with the Medal of Honor Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams had no interest in joining the military but like many patriotic Americans decided to volunteer following the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Woody would have to wait until he was old enough join and his first attempt at the Marine Corps was rejected because he was too small. He was trained in the use of demolitions and operating a flamethrower after being shipped to the Pacific theater. Woody says that their briefing on board the ship prior to landing on Iwo Jima told [...]

Credit: militaryaerospace.com What is cyber war? How does one defend against it? What are the challenges in fighting a weapon of war that is constantly changing and becoming more sophisticated? Tom Jones was a one star General and F-16 pilot when he was assigned to the Central Security Service (the military component of the National Security Agency). He rapidly gained an appreciation for the threat of cyber war. He was involved is creating the structure of what would eventually become US Cyber Command. Cyber war doesn’t just involve battles in the digital realm. Real world forces are intricately [...]