On January 31, 1945, Pvt. Eddie Slovik became the first American soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion-and the only one who suffered such a fate during World War II. This podcast episode tells his story. Pvt. Eddie Slovik was a draftee. Originally classified 4-F because of a prison record (grand theft auto), he was reclassified 1-A when draft standards were lowered to meet growing personnel needs. In January 1944, he was trained to be a rifleman, which was not to his liking, as he hated guns. In August of the same year, Slovik was shipped to France to fight with the 28th Inf ..read more

According to Tommy Anderson, "Our best days are ahead of us...You can do whatever you want to do. There's no excuse." Tommy Anderson is a multiple best-selling author and screenwriter.  Tommy enjoys his role as a motivational speaker and Host of "The Real Tommy Unleashed" on the IQ Podcast Network in San Diego.  Tommy's show is heard on multiple streaming platforms, iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Apple Play, and more. An accomplished screenwriter, he has written and produced "Life After Oblivion," a film based on his award-winning screenplay. “PTSD-A soldiers Revenge," which he wrote, is ..read more

Bill Lauper: "As a society, it's all about the future, and it starts with our children. We teach them right, our society is going to be just  fine." Retired Navy Commander William "Bill" Lauper has devoted his life to mentoring American youth. After serving all over the world, he retired to his wife's home state of California. He was not ready, however, to rest on his laurels.  As a man accustomed to service, he has accepted positions educating our youth. As a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at three Southern California high schools,  he instills high mora ..read more

As the Auditor-Controller for Riverside County, California, Paul Angulo manages a budget in the tens of billions of dollars, amounts larger than the operating budget of half the U.S. States. His responsibilities are immense.  Enlisting in the Army at age 18, Auditor-Controller Angulo attributes a great deal of his later success to lessons in leadership and ethical behavior he learned in the United States Army from 1971-1974.  He describes the example set for him by Vietnam combat veterans and noncommissioned officers and how he has incorporated those lessons into managing the enormo ..read more

Greg Coker, retired Army Command Sergeant Major and a previous guest on The Veteran Experience, returns to discuss the impact of 9/11 on the U.S. and on Greg and his family.  Sergeant Major Coker has devoted his life to helping veterans. Through his role as CEO of the Reaching New Heights Foundation and as chief mentor of the Riverside and San Bernardino County Veterans Treatment Courts, SGM Coker has been able to touch innumerable lives.  Greg will discuss where he was on that fateful day in 2001. He will talk about his feelings, knowing he would be leaving his family for the two ..read more

Navy Veteran Greg Sanchez's life was at rock bottom. His drinking was out of control. He was hospitalized 6 times in one year for alcohol poisoning. He was "couch-surfing" and living on the streets. Arrested, incarcerated and facing serious felony criminal charges, Greg asked himself. "What is it that I am living for?" That was in 2018. After a great deal ofsoul-searching in jail, Greg answered that question. "You have to say that life is worth living," Greg said. "I did." He believed his life was worth living. Today, Greg has almost 4 years of sobriety and is married to a wonderful lady. He ..read more

Judge Randy Stamen is a hero to veterans in the Inland Empire. Since January 2020, Judge Stamen has presided over the Riverside County Veterans Court. In this role, he is charged with rehabilitating hundreds of justice involved veterans. A Riverside  native, he brings a firm and just hand to guiding veterans through the veterans court and military diversion programs. Judge Stamen is no stranger to adversity. Once suffering from serious health problems, he received kidney and pancreas transplants. This taught him an invaluable lessons he shares with our veterans. "Maintain your health and ..read more

Attorney Virginia Blumenthal is a Riverside icon. The first woman attorney in Riverside, Virginia has risen to fame as  one of the undisputed best lawyers in the United States. Virginia has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to her community by the Riverside Mayor and City Council; the Riverside County Board of Supervisors; the California Governor and Assembly; and the President of the United States.  Virginia's began her working life as a school teacher. She became a lawyer in 1975, opening her own law practice. Over the years, Virginia has handled the toughest cases ..read more

Sandy Duchac of "Veteran Sisters " is an American hero. Serving honorably in the United States navy, Sandy was the victim of Military Sexual Trauma.  Sandy turned the scourge of MST into a source of strength. Now, this remarkable woman devotes her life to assisting victims of MST as an advocate and in healing.  Listen as she describes her journey.  Veteran Sisters can be contacted at veteransisters.org. From their webpage: "Learn how you can help #EndMST.  We must hold perpetrators of rape and sexual assault accountable with consistent, action-deterring military punishmen ..read more

This is a followup to our third podcast episode where we discussed raising claims for burn pit exposure. Grant Gautsche, director of the Riverside Office of Veterans Affairs returns to discuss exciting new developments. Since that episode was broadcast, the Senate has passed the 2022 PACT Act, the largest expansion of benefits for our veterans in US history.  On the thumbnail is a hero for all our veterans, Riverside Congressman Mark Takano, author of the PACT Act, giving protection  to countless more veterans suffering from illnesses related to exposure to toxic chemicals/burn pits ..read more