Veteran Support / Non-Profit Organizations

The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes provides support for Veterans severely wounded during the Global War on Terror. Two representatives join us for this broadcast. Donny Daughenbaugh is the Senior VP for Development and Administration. He was shot in the face when his Marine Squad was engaged south of Baghdad. The bullet lodged at the base of his skull near his spine so doctors chose to leave it in place. Donny suffers tremendous pain to this day. Mary Jessie Herrera [...]

A Soldier’s Child Foundation  was born from a single photograph. The photo by Aaron Thompson won the Associated Press Managing Editor’s Photo of the Year. The compelling image depicts 8 year old Christian Golczynski being presented a folded American flag at the funeral of his father Marc. Daryl Mackin was a neighbor of Marc’s parents. For months after Marc’s death, he did everything he could for them. Then one day Marc’s dad said. “Did it really matter and does anyone [...]

Colton James has always held a deep love for our country and abiding respect for those who serve in the military and first responder communities. Many of this country western artist’s songs reflect those themes. “Our family was red, white and blue all the way.” Both of his grandfathers, five of his uncles and his brother served in the military. Colton himself almost signed up to be a fighter pilot but music took him down a different path.  He began [...]

Combat Control Foundation founding members Mike Lamonica and Mike West join us to discuss some of our military’s most highly trained warriors. The motto of Combat Controllers is “First There” and is derived from World War II when Pathfinders were inserted in advance of other troops in order to provide weather information and visual guidance for inbound aircraft. Today’s Combat Control personnel are trained in air traffic control, Joint Terminal Attack Control, parachuting, explosives and combat diving. Their qualification course [...]

Diane Hight didn’t know why her father had become an alcoholic. It wasn’t until much later in life she realized that he was suffering silently from his experiences in World War II. This discovery and her abiding respect for the generation that fought in WWII and Korea led her to found Forever Young Veterans. “They are a generation that has never asked for anything. I thought at the very least I could grant some special wishes for them.”  Since 2006 [...]

Fisher House Chairman & CEO Ken Fisher is carrying on the wonderful program first created by his great uncle Zachary Fisher.  To date, the Fisher House has provided support to over 430,000 military and Veteran families in the form of free lodging and travel. Neither Ken nor Zachary served in the military. But when Zach heard the USS Intrepid was going to be scrapped he led an initiative to have the ship preserved and converted to a museum that hosts [...]

The transition from military to civilian life is the principle focus of our regular Havok Journal update with Editor Scott Faith.  The transition can be more difficult for some than it is for others. Scott himself is retiring from the Army soon after 28 years in service. Several articles on the topic have been published on Havok Journal and we discuss highlights of each. “Observations of a Transitioning Officer – Time to Go” by Josh McKaskill “A Green Beret Leaves [...]

Valor Club is an innovative master planned community specifically designed for transitioning Veterans. The development will be built on 200 acres five miles southeast of San Antonio. At full build out, the $330 million dollar community will include 1,400 residential units on a campus also featuring various support amenities and services. This community will be the first of its kind on this scale. Michael McDowell is the President  & CEO of Valor Club and a Marine Veteran with multiple combat [...]

Sentinels of Freedom began as a way of honoring young people choosing to join the military out of high school.   Following the 9/11 attacks, Mike Conklin and his group realized that some of these young people would be coming home severely injured and would likely need extra help.  Their first “Sentinel” had been run over by a tank. Mike’s group arranged for a donated four year apartment lease, a car, furniture and everything he would need to start his life [...]