WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:08.320 Multiple people in my family clean my father are veterans. 2 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:10.519 The troops that have been to war and now they're 3 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:13.720 back and think and be grateful for their service. 4 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:17.839 Sacrifice, love for their country, just unselfishness, all that they 5 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:18.600 do for us. 6 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:22.079 There are some people in this country who take extraordinary 7 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:25.000 steps to provide for the freedom and security. 8 00:00:25.239 --> 00:00:28.160 We forget that those people exist. We know them as 9 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:32.840 the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. They 10 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:39.240 call themselves soldiers, seals, rangers, airmen, sailors, devil dogs, and 11 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:47.119 so much more. We call them fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, mothers, daughters, 12 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:52.560 sisters and wives. We call them friend and neighbor. These 13 00:00:52.640 --> 00:01:00.719 veterans answered the call. Now we answer Theirs are the 14 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:05.519 best our country has to offer, and we love them. Today, 15 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:12.959 we honor them and we serve them. David Malsby is 16 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:16.879 your host, and he welcomes you to this community of veterans, 17 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:23.280 as together we are building the road to hope. 18 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:24.760 And indeed we are glad to have you along. 19 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:27.400 On a Sunday afternoon, the k p RC the ninety 20 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:29.519 five oh on the AM dial, thank you for joining 21 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:34.120 us as you as you circle endlessly on Luke six 22 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:37.519 ' ten or the the Beltway or the ninety nine, 23 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:41.400 whichever one you care to circle on the most. Thank 24 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:43.599 you for joining us. Those of you listening to us 25 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:45.879 through the magic of podcasts, Thank you so very much 26 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:49.280 for listening. Wherever you listen to podcasts, just look for 27 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:50.560 Road to Hope Radio. 28 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:51.040 There we are. 29 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:55.280 We got eight and a half years I think of 30 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:58.319 shows something like that on there, so lots and lots 31 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:01.120 of lots of lots of hope to share it, and 32 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:04.599 it's absolutely free. You never know who might come into 33 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:08.199 the awareness of the organization. What we do with the 34 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:12.439 PTSD Foundation of America and Camp Hope, or our Warrior groups, 35 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:17.400 our family support groups. All of that, by the way, 36 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:20.240 is at zero cost to the veteran or their family 37 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:23.159 member because we live in the greatest community in the 38 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:27.159 world taking care of our veterans. So we truly do 39 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.919 appreciate you sharing Road to Hope Radio with everyone you 40 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:34.319 possibly can. You never know who might hear about us 41 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:37.319 for the first time, or maybe it's the tenth time, 42 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:40.319 but it's the first time it clicked and they need us, 43 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:43.039 or someone that they know needs us. Road to Hope 44 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:44.599 Radio wherever you listen to podcasts. 45 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:45.240 Thank you for. 46 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:50.159 Subscribing and sharing liberally. We appreciate it immensely. Big thank 47 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:53.479 you to our show sponsors allow us this opportunity each 48 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:56.039 and every week. Our awesome friends Billy and Connie Stagner 49 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:58.719 are down at a Corey Diamond and Design in friends 50 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.680 would two eight one four rate two forty seven fifty five. 51 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:06.400 We are hot and heavy on It's Valentines. It's right 52 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:07.080 in front of us. 53 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.080 So, uh yeah, you waited too long. Don't go to 54 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:11.719 them all? Don't do that? 55 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:15.800 Uh a Cory ac r I A Corey Diamond and 56 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:19.439 Design two a one four A two forty seven fifty five. 57 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:23.960 And because we all do it, all of us have 58 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.280 been guilty the Oops moments in life Oops steam dot 59 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.599 com oopsteam dot com two eight one eight two two 60 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:34.919 zero five six ' one A lot more than just 61 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:38.719 carpet cleaning. They do just about anything needs to be cleaned, 62 00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:41.680 including your ducks, air ducts in the house, all that 63 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:45.080 stuff two a one a two two zero five six 64 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:48.960 one are just online oopsteam dot com and looking to 65 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:51.439 uh build that dream home you want. 66 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:55.120 To do it? Uh in a great space. 67 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:58.039 You can go far and wide and not find anything 68 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:03.479 better than Republic Ranch Republic Grand Ranch dot com, longtime 69 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:08.199 supporters of the PTSD Foundation of America and Camp Hope. 70 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:10.039 We love these people. 71 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:15.319 Awesome folks, the right values, the right location, the right price. 72 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:20.439 Republic Grand Ranch dot Com. Couple of veterans in the 73 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:23.160 studio with us today. We're glad to have you back. Andrew, 74 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:25.079 want to reintroduce yourself to the world. 75 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:27.879 Yeah, So my name is Andrew. I'm a Navy veteran. 76 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:31.199 I'm a graduate of the Camp Hop program and I'm 77 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:34.639 currently a mentor within the Foundation, and I'd like to 78 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:35.439 thank you for having me here. 79 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:37.279 We're glad to have you back. 80 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:42.360 And if I have time, I'll go back and find 81 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:45.079 you were on not too long ago, a month or 82 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:48.279 so ago, and shared a little bit of your story 83 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:49.319 about how you got here. 84 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:50.439 And it's a really unique story. 85 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:53.000 Yes, I love it, so I won't ask you to 86 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:54.800 do that again today, but I'll try to find that 87 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:57.079 and post that. By the way, follow us on Facebook 88 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:01.560 just Road to Hope Radio. We share some events that 89 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:04.879 are coming up for the PTSD Foundation of America, and 90 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:06.879 we also will share some. 91 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:09.600 Veteran related stories. 92 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:12.639 But if I can find that show, I'll put that 93 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.079 on our Facebook page because it's a great story of 94 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:18.519 how you found your way to. 95 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:21.040 Camp Hope. 96 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:23.800 It's a great, great story also with us. Todd, want 97 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:24.480 to introduce yourself. 98 00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:27.040 Yeah, my name is Michael Todd Elliott. I go by Todd. 99 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:29.480 I'm a resident right now at Camp Hope. 100 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:36.000 And you are from the Marine Corps veteran from from Katie, 101 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:38.240 so not too far away from here from justin you 102 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:40.959 could almost I mean you could, but I wouldn't buyse it. 103 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:43.639 So you could almost walk there in here, but I 104 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:44.319 wouldn't do it. 105 00:05:44.839 --> 00:05:45.319 Don't do it. 106 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:48.480 It tend gets a little crazy on a rare occasion, 107 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:49.839 like every day. 108 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:52.680 Uh but yeah, okay, And you deployed where. 109 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:55.439 I went to Iraq and then was on a mew 110 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:59.680 that went to several different places. When you were when 111 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:04.519 in two thousand and four, it was during the second 112 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:06.720 invasion of Flusia, Operation Phantom Fury. 113 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:12.519 Yeah, I have a good friend that died as a 114 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:17.600 result of some wounds from Fallujah in that second attack. Anyway, 115 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:18.959 glad to have you in the show. How long you've 116 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:19.480 been at Camp. 117 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:21.160 By the way, about three months? 118 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:24.000 Okay, Yeah, all right, So we'll talk a little bit 119 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:26.920 about that So were you born and raised in Katie. 120 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:30.800 I was born in Lansing, Michigan. Moved to Katie when 121 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:33.000 I was about one years old. 122 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:34.759 Okay, well then you get grace, Yeah. 123 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:36.839 Thank you. Yeah, I consider myself a Texan. 124 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:37.120 Yeah. 125 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:41.360 We can only allow a certain number of folks from 126 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:44.759 the northern parts of the country at a particular time. 127 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:45.879 We have to kind of ration that. 128 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:47.560 One of the things I think one of the great things, 129 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:48.920 and don't talk about this all the time, one of 130 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:51.560 the great things about what we do at Camp Hope 131 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:54.519 bringing in veterans from all across the country, but we 132 00:06:54.639 --> 00:07:00.439 bring them in from every era of war, every military 133 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:02.839 branch that we don't have Space Force representative. We haven't 134 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:04.959 quite got anyone from that yet. 135 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:05.519 Uh. 136 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:08.439 I'm sure it's coming. I'm sure it happens someday. 137 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:09.199 Uh. 138 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:13.600 But yeah, like there can only let a certain number 139 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:16.480 of people from up north end of the time, but 140 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.759 we're gonna let We'll count you as a Texan. 141 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:19.879 Okay, I appreciate that. 142 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:27.199 Yes, Uh so high school experience anything great, creative, just 143 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:28.480 like star quarterback. 144 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:32.279 No, I mean, growing up in Katie, they have a 145 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:35.920 huge well, Texas in general is huge on football and Katie, 146 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:39.160 But I didn't. I didn't dabble in football. I did 147 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:41.360 a lot of skating. I grew up on a little 148 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:45.839 crew all right. And we traveled around in Austin, San Antonio. Here, 149 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:47.879 Oh cool, shot a few videos. 150 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:51.519 We'll have to check that out. All We got to 151 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:53.680 take a quick break. We'll be right back in just 152 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:55.399 a moment. More of Road to Hope. 153 00:07:55.480 --> 00:08:00.639 Rate you. 154 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:13.040 Andrew. 155 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:17.759 You a skater, road BMX bikes for most of my childhood. 156 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:18.920 You're a bike guy. 157 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:22.439 Bike Teddy actually convinced me to buy a road bikes 158 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:23.800 so me and him go ride on the weekends. 159 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:25.360 Now I've seen a little bit of that. 160 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:28.959 He always posts awesome yeah about some of his rides. 161 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:31.639 Never thought I would do it, but it's nice getting 162 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:34.159 out back in the nature, and he did. We did 163 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:38.440 a twenty six mile ride last on Sunday, which was 164 00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:39.000 pretty fun. 165 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:39.960 Yeah. 166 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:43.320 And again, you know when we talk about Camp Hope 167 00:08:43.320 --> 00:08:45.399 and what goes on there a lot of times, and 168 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:48.519 we will today too, talk about stories a little bit 169 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.159 about you know what happened or you know your deployment, 170 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:53.000 and we don't we're not the worst story thing, but 171 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:54.840 we'll talk a little bit about that and we talk 172 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.559 a little bit about what brought someone to Camp Hope, 173 00:08:57.559 --> 00:09:00.240 why they needed it, But one of the beautiful things 174 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:03.799 about Camp Hope that we rarely really touch on is, 175 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:10.720 you know, I feel like, in many ways the luckiest 176 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:16.200 man in the world, just because I get to experience 177 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:23.440 firsthand a lot of some true redemption stories, tremendous life 178 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:28.480 trajectory change, and those are the kinds of things we 179 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:31.759 typically talk about on this show. But one of the 180 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:36.440 just beautiful things that happens is you get to meet 181 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:39.240 some of the most amazing people in the world, and yes, 182 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:43.639 certainly in our veteran population. And you know, when you 183 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:48.919 say Fallujah and the common the common person, the common 184 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:51.720 civilian out there, they've heard of Fallujah, so you know, 185 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:54.240 some bad stuff went down there. There's a lot of 186 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:56.559 other places that some bad stuff went down to but 187 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:57.519 didn't make the news. 188 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.759 But if it made the news, you know it was rough. 189 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:02.480 So you hear some of those stories, and you meet 190 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:04.919 some of those people and you realize and recognize what 191 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:09.080 they did, what they had to do. But then also 192 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:12.759 just the people you meet and going about the day 193 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:18.639 to day work of our programs, and one of the 194 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:21.799 things I love to see is you mentioned Teddy and 195 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:25.320 you guys doing the bike thing like you had never 196 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:28.200 met Teddy, right, I mean, there would have been no 197 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:33.080 reason to meet him if it weren't for Camp Hope 198 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:40.320 and just to see you know, years later Teddy came through, man, 199 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:43.720 I mean probably ten years ago. It's been a minute. 200 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:47.840 You came through, graduated in twenty two. 201 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:51.759 The first time. I arrived in twenty twenty, graduated in 202 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:53.799 twenty one, and then I came back through the program 203 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:54.480 in twenty. 204 00:10:54.200 --> 00:11:00.720 Two, twenty two, So I mean that's probably eight years 205 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:03.600 after Teddy came through. I mean, it was literally that 206 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:07.679 long ago and he came through and now both of 207 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:11.799 you on staff. But you know, just that camaraderie, the friendship. 208 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:13.759 I just love those stories. 209 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:15.279 I just I think that's the coolest thing in the 210 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:18.000 world because everybody needs that, and that's what It's one 211 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.240 of the big things we do at Camp's peer to peer. 212 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:26.799 But we always teach you can't stop doing what you've 213 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:29.399 learned to do at Camp Hope when you leave Camp Hope. 214 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:34.399 So maintaining some sort of friendship relationship like that's just 215 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:37.960 it's cool on a thousand levels. But it's also important 216 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:44.399 to maintaining the positive change in your lives. So it's 217 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:47.200 cool to see. I like it when you guys post 218 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:47.600 that stuff. 219 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:51.240 Look at those idiots out there right and that bike 220 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:52.360 for four hundred hours. 221 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:55.120 He convinced me to buy some some like Spandex and 222 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:56.200 all of that get up. 223 00:11:56.679 --> 00:12:00.519 You did it right to go ally. 224 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:01.799 If you're gonna do it right, this is the way 225 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:07.360 you do it is okay. So skating was your thing, 226 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:12.279 all right, So you traveled, So what what what? I'm 227 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:15.159 not familiar with the skating world. So is that like 228 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.559 some sort of a team and in competition type deal. 229 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:21.519 No, I was never like sponsored or in competitions. It 230 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:24.600 was just a group of us that from around the 231 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:27.919 Houston area that would get together a lot and go 232 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:31.440 skating in the street or at the time, they had 233 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:34.360 a huge skate park, Vanced skate park here in Houston. 234 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.799 It's not here anymore, but we would go there a 235 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:40.639 lot and uh and and and skate. 236 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:41.639 Yeah. 237 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:44.279 And then eventually it got big enough to where we 238 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:45.960 you know, we got old enough that we had our 239 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.279 own cars and then we'd take weekend trips to you know, Austin, 240 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:54.039 San Antonio. Got kicked out of the Capitol in Austin 241 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:55.200 for skating and jumping out. 242 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:57.600 They didn't they didn't care for that. 243 00:12:57.720 --> 00:12:58.879 Yeah, no, not too much. 244 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.120 I wonder. 245 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:03.559 How in the world, what's what's wrong with that? It 246 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:08.000 is public property, right, Okay? Uh did you join the 247 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:10.639 Did you join the Marine Corps right out of high school? 248 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:13.120 Or yeah? I joined right out of high school. 249 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:16.919 I was not the best student, graduated somewhere in the 250 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:20.080 bottom of my class. I didn't have an idea of 251 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:23.200 what I wanted to do, and I joined because the 252 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:28.039 recruiter bought me Burger King. So well, your price was low, yeah, 253 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:30.919 Burger King. It could have been at least been Waterberg. 254 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:33.159 I had no thoughts of joining. 255 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:35.840 No one in my family was in and uh yeah 256 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:38.320 he uh picked me up one day and there's a 257 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:40.120 Burger King in the same pocket parking lot. 258 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:44.879 Bought me a whopper and I said, okay, Jeff. 259 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:47.519 Forgetting Yeah, getting in a car with strangers. Let's see 260 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:50.480 what happens. Burger King Marine Corps IRAQ. 261 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.799 Yeah, what year did you join? 262 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:53.279 Two thousand and two? 263 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:53.840 Oh too? 264 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:58.000 Yeah, okay, So it had to dawn on you. This 265 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:01.480 is going to end me going someplace that really don't 266 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:01.919 want to go. 267 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:07.120 Yeah, I mean it was a thought, but that's all 268 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:10.679 it spoke. Yeah, I mean that was my mindset back then. 269 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:13.679 I was and still now A lot is just going 270 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:17.039 with the flow and I guess just really being in 271 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:17.879 the day that I'm in. 272 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:23.480 Yeah, yeah, seventeen ish yep, yeah, yeah, well you know, 273 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:27.039 not the first person at seventeen to not really think 274 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:30.639 long term. Yeah, on some decisions life decisions like. 275 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:32.440 That turned into a twelve year career. 276 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:33.240 Yeah. 277 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:35.159 Well, you know that's something to be said for that. 278 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:37.399 I mean you turn and look at like that's pretty 279 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.240 pretty awesome. 280 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.679 Yeah, yeah, I enjoyed it. 281 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:43.120 Burger King should probably turn that into some kind of 282 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:47.320 a promo. I mean, we got to be able to 283 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:50.519 make some sort of a deal with Burger King on that. 284 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:54.039 Come on, guys, you got a guy off to Iraq 285 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:57.879 and Flujah for that. For a Burger King, it's got 286 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:02.440 to be for something, all right. So what were you 287 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:04.399 doing in a right? What was your day to day? 288 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:08.120 I was in communications, Actually I was data side six 289 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:14.519 fifty six. Most didn't even exist anymore and most of 290 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:18.559 the time, like we went to haditha Dam. We were 291 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:21.159 there for about three months, and then I was also 292 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:24.600 at a little place asp Wolf with Bravo Company. I 293 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:30.120 was a first Battalion, eighth Marines. Stayed there for a 294 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:33.200 bit and then Flujah kicked off and they put me 295 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:37.519 on ECP duty and QRF team. 296 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:40.039 Okay for someone driving around six ' ten right now 297 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:44.720 that those letters mean nothing to them, help them understand 298 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.320 what you were doing. 299 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:50.720 Well ECP, Well, my main job when I was there 300 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:53.639 was wiring up a lot of the buildings. The dam 301 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:57.200 in particular, it had no power, so and I was 302 00:15:57.240 --> 00:16:01.279 the only non NCO. I was the worker in the group. 303 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:04.320 There's only four of us there, and I just wired 304 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:08.559 up the whole damn with Cat five data, set up 305 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:14.879 the servers, program the routers, the servers are switches, everything 306 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:15.840 to get it going in there. 307 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:17.320 And then. 308 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:21.600 When Fallujah kicked off, yeah, I got put on Entry 309 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:26.639 Control Point duty, which was just maintaining the INTR control 310 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:31.200 points to Camp Fallujah, the main base. And then on 311 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:34.240 our off time that was I think we did sixteen 312 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:36.519 hours of watch and then the rest of our time 313 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:42.919 was for sleeping and then stand by QRF, which you 314 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:44.600 know I got called out a couple times for that. 315 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:49.399 You mentioned you were the worker. I just in my mind. 316 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:51.919 I just conjured out the image of a road work crew, 317 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:55.519 one guy working in four or five guys standing around 318 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:57.360 overseeing the one guy working. 319 00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:59.559 It's just what pops up in my. 320 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:02.840 Brain before we run to the news break on the 321 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:06.799 nine to five O. Those listening through the radio, a 322 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:11.720 reminder PTSD post traumatic stress disorder PTSD USA dot org 323 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.680 is the website you can find out all the information 324 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:19.480 regarding Camp Hope, the interim housing program for our combat vets, 325 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:24.640 as well as our warrior support groups, our family support 326 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:27.880 groups which by the way, and our warrior groups online. 327 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:34.480 There are also first responders, law enforcement contractors. It's not 328 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:40.839 just constricted only to combat related PTSD, so ptsdusa dot 329 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:44.039 org for all that information, all of it again at 330 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:48.119 zero cost to the veteran or to their family. Check 331 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:50.200 it out. We'd love to have you join up in 332 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:52.240 one of our groups. We right back with more of 333 00:17:52.440 --> 00:18:09.839 Road to Hope Radio, you know indeed, and we welcome 334 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:10.880 back Rode to Hope Radio. 335 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:11.599 Glad to have you long. 336 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:14.240 David Malsby here, big thank you to our friends. iHeart 337 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:19.720 Houston Media. Not only do they work with us to 338 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:24.920 allow us this opportunity to have this show every Sunday afternoon. 339 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:30.400 But they do a lot of a lot of airtime 340 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:33.440 for us throughout the week on several of their stations 341 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:36.759 here in the Houston area, to the tune of over 342 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.200 I think last year was over two hundred thousand dollars 343 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:44.680 of donated airtime to the foundation. We cannot think them, literally, 344 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:50.680 cannot think them enough. The awareness deal. Our thing is, 345 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:54.039 we cannot afford to be the best kept secret down. 346 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:59.200 We are still losing, according to research, up to forty 347 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:02.160 four veterans every every single day to their own hands. 348 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:07.519 That could be suicide, it can be overdoses. Whichever, all 349 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:11.920 those forty four are preventable, and whatever you happen to 350 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:14.240 believe the number is, we all agree that the number 351 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:17.160 is way, way too high and we have to do 352 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:20.400 everything we can to lower that number. And part of 353 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:25.400 that is just letting veterans their families know that they 354 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:30.400 have the awareness that we are here and it's not gonna, 355 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:36.079 you know, bankrupt them to do our program. So big, 356 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:39.519 big thank you to our awesome, awesome friends here. iHeartMedia 357 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:43.160 Houston been such great friends for so many years now 358 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:47.559 and we are forever indebted to them for their support. 359 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:51.799 All Right, So you joined in O two. You said 360 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:54.559 you were in for twelve Yeah. 361 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.920 Was Iraq your first employment? Yes? 362 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:03.039 Okay, Then you mentioned you had several other views. Obviously 363 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:07.319 because since you're at Camp Hope. There's a mental health issue, 364 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:14.279 mental health diagnosis. As you look at it today and 365 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:19.039 you look back on your time in the military and 366 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:24.400 in combat situations, when did you begin to notice And 367 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:26.319 you may not have noticed them, but as you look back, 368 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:28.960 when did things begin to happen for you the mental 369 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.960 illness side. 370 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:36.039 Looking back at it, I I mean I noticed right 371 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:39.119 away when I got back from my rack, spending time 372 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:41.759 on leave, you know, with my wife at the time 373 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:47.200 and family, like loud noises would startle me. I remember 374 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:51.160 one time walking in the mall and I don't know 375 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:54.000 what caused the noise, but it almost caused me to 376 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:58.000 hit the floor, you know, drop to the ground. I 377 00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:02.599 was always pacing at night, peeking out the blinds at night, 378 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:05.720 looking out the windows, always feeling like there was impending 379 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:11.519 doom just around the corner. But I felt like it 380 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:14.359 kind of went away after a bit, and then it 381 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:17.160 wasn't until I got out of the Marine Corps that 382 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:21.000 it really started hitting me hard, like depression and the 383 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:26.720 anxiety and then the self isolation. Was My biggest thing 384 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:31.759 that came out of having PTSD was I eventually ended 385 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:36.119 up pulling away from everyone really, family, friends, my wife, 386 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:39.920 my son, I held your boy. 387 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:43.960 I have two sons, ones twenty and the others thirteen. 388 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:54.759 Okay, So as you start realizing these symptoms, and I know, 389 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:56.680 I just don't know your store of it. I know, 390 00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:58.920 having talked to a lot of guys, when something like 391 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.920 that happens you mentioned at the story at the mall, 392 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:10.559 when there's that visible physical reaction, there's the obvious of 393 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:18.240 just that, but there's also the resulting. It's embarrassing for 394 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:20.160 you know, you don't want your family to see that, 395 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:22.599 you don't want people to view you that way. 396 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.839 Were you dealing with some of that? 397 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:30.319 I don't think I was ever feeling embarrassed when that 398 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:33.119 kind of thing happened. It was more of a rush 399 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:38.480 of you know, anxiety over my body really just not 400 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:41.480 wanting to be in that place or situation, you know, 401 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:45.079