Freedom’s Pulse

Ep. 37 Justen's American Story

Justen Mellor grew up in small town USA.  He had an idyllic childhood; knew it was time to ride his bike home when the street lights turned on.
Both of Justen's grandfathers served in WW2.  One grandfather was a German POW; and the other served in the Pacific.  One of Justen's prize possessions is his grandpa's POW journal.
Justen longed to join the military, but as a diabetic this was impossible.  He remembered a lonely summer in his patriotic town when many of his friends found their way to boot camp or basic training.  He was left alone.
Justen's father passed away due to diabetes complications.  This coupled with the grief of losing his mother caused Justen to turn to alcohol and medication to deal with his broken heart.
Justen's first marriage collapsed.  His second marriage was following the same direction.  Justen's existence was depressing.  He woke up with a hang over, went to work, came home and drank, followed by a hang over the next morning.  It was a vicious cycle.
Justen went to the family cabin with the intention to end his life.  He triple stacked drugs and alcohol, and woke up the next morning with a clear head.  With divine help, Justen was alive.
He entered a rehab center, dedicated to his recovery.  After leaving the center, life began to take its toll.  Work was drudgery and the temptation to drink again was always close.  A co-worker, a veteran, asked Justen to run a ruck race with him in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  The experience was life changing.
In 2018, Justen created United We March.  His organization helps veterans and first responders.  Every September UEM hosts Gut Check.  It is a weekend of races, fundraising dinner, and more.  All proceeds go to help the few people (veterans, first responders) who have served and sacrificed so much for our country.  This year, 2021, the event will be held September 10-11; 20 years after the terrorist attack on the United States.
Justen was unable to serve in the military, but he considers it a huge blessing to serve without a uniform.  Those who participate in Justen's organization leave a lasting impression on him with their determination, courage, and positive attitude.
In Justen's episode, we talk about two previous guests from the podcast.  You can listen to Kyle's American Story and Matthew's American Story by visiting the podcast website, We The People Our American Story  If you haven't heard their episodes, you want to hear the incredible stories they share.

Ep. 36 Blown Up Twice-John's American Story

John Peck is one of the five surviving quad amputees from the war on terror.  He was blown up not once, but twice; the first time John lost years of his memory and the second time, he lost all four limbs.
John grew up with a single mom.  He took care of himself a great deal of time as his mom was always working.
John joined the marines after high school.  He was deployed to Iraq where an IED caused him to suffer a traumatic brain injury.  John lost years of his memory.
He petitioned to re-enlist and was approved.  John was deployed to Afghanistan.  On May 24, 2010 while serving in the Helmand Province, Peck was clearing an empty compound, searching for explosives. He was the first man in, using a slow, sweeping arc with his metal detector.
John immediately lost three limbs.  Peck's remaining arm was amputated soon after. He’s one of only two living people to survive the flesh-eating fungus he contracted in recovery at Walter Reed.
 In 2016, Peck underwent a groundbreaking bilateral arm transplant, receiving two new arms. To date, the surgery has been successful.
This episode with John was more like a conversation between two friends.  I found him to be funny, down to earth, and candid.
You can read John's book, Rebuilding Sergeant Peck
 
 

Ep. 34 Follow The Flag-Kyle's American Story

What started off as a prank, changed the life of Kyle Fox.  In 2015 he and his friends hung a flag in Grove Canyon, located in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
The action caught the attention of Kyle's community, and Follow The Flag was born.
Honor, Heal, Inspire is the motto of the organization.  Kyle and his fellow volunteers spread love of country and the flag by lining the streets for returning military members, honoring those who gave the greatest sacrifice, hanging enormous flags in canyons, and bringing smiles to countless faces as they participate in communities celebrating America and our flag.
In this episode we mention three previous guests:  Ep. 25 No Legs, No Vision, No Problem-Matthew's American Story; Ep. 23 Tom's American Story-82nd Airborne & Drill Sergeant; Ep. 6 Jennie, A Gold Star Widow's American Story.  They are amazing people and have inspiring words to share.
You can find Follow The Flag:  https://followtheflag.org/ , Facebook at Follow The Flag, and Instagram Follow The Flag
 
 
 

Ep. 33 America Means You Won The Lottery-Todd's American Story

Todd Nicely is one of the Elite 5, one of 5 surviving quadruple amputees from the war on terror.
Todd's military ambition was to graduate school 1/2 a year early and join the army airborne.
His dream of the military began after seeing the movie, "Saving Private Ryan."  Todd watched these men landing on the beach, and Todd believed he owed it to these heroes to keep our country free.
Todd's high school senior year was 2001.  Three days before the army was to deliver his enlistment papers, 9/11 occurred.  His mother refused to sign the papers, telling Todd to do it himself after he graduated.
A girlfriend delayed Todd entering the military.  He took up carpentry, and soon found himself hanging out with the wrong crowd.  Worried he would end up in jail or prison, Todd finally joined the military at the ripe old age of 23.
Only it wasn't the army, Todd joined the marines.  He knew the marines were rumored to have the toughest basic training.  Todd wanted to prove to himself that he could overcome anything with his mind, a motto he has had to use many times over since that day.
After basic training, Todd went to Camp Pendleton for infantry school, followed by a station at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina.
Todd had two overseas deployment, Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan from October 2009-March 2010.
On March 10, 2010 Todd's life was forever changed.  It was only 11/2 months before he was scheduled to return home.  Todd was an infantry squad leader.  His duty was to take  men out on patrol.
Todd remembers that deployment as particularly hard.  Only 7 days into Afghanistan, he lost his best friend.  Suddenly everything was very real.
March 10, 2010 was a quiet day, in fact it was supposed to be Todd's day off.  Todd was sent out to set a marker for others to watch any enemy movement. 
After placing the marker, Todd and his squad were to cross a bridge to head back to base.  Todd led the way.  His first step onto the bridge sent him flying through the air.  He had stepped on an IED.
Todd immediately lost three limbs, the fourth was so damaged and twisted, it had to be removed.  He was in excruciating pain, but did not want to scream in front of his men.  
Waking up in the hospital, Todd knew his legs were gone.  He could not feel them, but strange enough Todd was sure his hands were still there.  He felt them encased in tight wrapping.  He had to be told they too were gone.
Severe PTSD and depression did not happen until after the hospital.  Divorce, isolation, and drinking drove Todd to despair.  In 2016 Todd tried to take his life by shooting himself in the heart.  Miraculously, he survived.
When Todd awoke after the suicide attempt, he saw the faces of his family.  It wasn't the Taliban that caused them so much pain this time, it was Todd.  He vowed never to put his family through that again.
After a few more years of struggling with PTSD and depression, Todd finally got the help he needed through Focus Marines.  They completely changed Todd's life.  
Todd is now remarried.  He is the father of two step-children and one child he and his wife had together.
He plays wheelchair rugby where the only requirement is to have three non working limbs.
If you want to thank a veteran, Todd reminds us to simply stop and say, "Thank you."  
And in his own words, "America means you won the lottery."
You can find Todd at:
Todd Nicely-Wounded Warrior
And If you are a gamer, he plays Call of Duty on Twitch nolimbs0311 and at TikTok under the same name, nolimbs0311
 

Ep. 32 Joe's American Story

Joe James joined the U.S. army at seventeen, and immediately went to basic training the summer after he graduated high school.
Joe was eager to leave home and make a life for himself through the military.
He joined before 9/11 and was ready to protect and defend his country at all costs.
Joe had four deployments, the first in Afghanistan and the following three in Iraq.
He was blessed to make it through the first three deployments unscathed, but his luck would not hold out with his fourth and final deployment.
Joe volunteered for everything during his service.  He kept his mouth shut and his eyes and ears open.  Joe rose the military ladder from the bottom to an E7.
Joe remembers feeling very uneasy about the mission that caused his traumatic injuries.  
This premonition proved true as Joe was injured by an explosion that took both his legs.
Joe is an amazing, courageous, patriotic soul.  He came through an extremely difficult time as what he describes as the worst thing and one of the best things that ever happened to him.
You can find Joe at
https://www.facebook.com/joejames18
 Memories of Honor Website
Wearable Gratitude Website
 
 
 
 
 

Ep. 31 "Never Give Up, Never Quit"-Travis Mills' American Story

Travis Mills is the second of three children, an older sister and younger brother.  He was raised in a small town located in Michigan.  He had an all American upbringing, playing football, baseball, and basketball.  Travis was a star athlete in high school.  He was totally unprepared for his role in college football.
Travis' coach placed him on the sidelines, a role he must have excelled in because that is where he stayed most of the time.
Travis decided college was not the right fit for him.  The military was the next option.  A choice had to be made between the marines and the army.  The $24,000 enlistment bonus from the army sealed the deal.
Travis arrived in Afghanistan as a 19 year old kid, standing at 6'3" and eventually weighing 275 pounds.  He served in the 82nd Airborne.
While on this first deployment, Travis was introduced to  Kelsey through My Space.  Kelsey was the 18 year old sister of his medic, Josh.  Their first date was Cozumel, Mexico.  Travis sets the bar high for first dates.
The two were married shortly thereafter, and settled in Fort Bragg.
Travis served his second deployment, again in Afghanistan.  Unlike his first deployment, Travis was involved in fire fights.  The stakes were much higher.
After the second deployment, Travis came home and the little family of two became a family of three with the birth of their daughter, Chloe.
Travis' third deployment to Afghanistan changed his life forever.  Travis moved up quickly through the ranks.  He was an E6 senior staff, in charge of heavy weapons.
On April 10, 2012 Travis was on patrol.  The ground was mine sweeped, not once, but twice.  It was considered safe.  Travis laid down his 120 pound backpack, and an IED exploded.
Travis immediately lost his right arm and leg.  They were never found.  His left leg and left arm were badly mangled.   Travis had seen men with less severe injuries die.  Travis declined help as he was sure he was a helpless case.
Against his wishes, four tourniquets were immediately wrapped around Travis' limbs.  He remembers his only pain when a sternum IV was administered.
Travis' initial surgery was 14 hours with 9 doctors and 7 nurses.  Four hundred units of blood were donated.  With an uncertain future, Travis' brother-in-law, Josh, was called to escort him back to the states.
Travis woke up on April 14 as a quad amputee, both legs and arms were gone.
Travis spent 19 months recovering at Walter Reed.  Both he and his toddler daughter learned to walk together.
Travis found therapy in making rounds to "recalibrated warriors."  He became known as the "Mayor of Building 62."
Travis and Kelsey welcomed a second child, their son Dax.  
The Travis Mills Foundation was originally founded as Travis and Kelsey began sending care packages to troops. The organization has morphed into something much larger.  The Travis Mills Foundation purchased a facility in Maine, once owned by Elizabeth Arden.  The facility caters to veterans and their families, giving them a barrier free experience.  The foundation hosts 8 families a week.  The goal is 42 weeks with 8 families every week.
Travis Mills is the owner of 4 businesses, one non profit, author, and motivational speaker.  His motto is "Never Give Up, Never Quit." 
He is one of only five surviving quad amputees from the war on terror.
Travis Mills Organization
Travis Mills Facebook
Travis Mills Instagram
 
 
 

Ep. 30 "Mine Hounds" Geoffrey's American Story

Geoffrey Quevedo is the son of two Mexican immigrants. They came to America to give their family a better life.
Geoffrey's parents worked in the California fields to provide for their three children. They believed in the American dream and worked hard to achieve it.
Geoffrey's uncle opened a restaurant which his family rallied around to provide support.  His mother worked in a laundromat. She worked three jobs for several years.
Geoffrey grew up in the small town of Cutler, California with his brother and sister.  He maintained his 2.0 GPA to stay on the soccer team.
The family moved to Wheatley, California where Geoffrey graduated from high school.  There, he met his future wife, although at the time they couldn't stand each other.
Geoffrey's classmates dreamed of going to college.  He only wanted to join the U.S. army, which Geoffrey enlisted at the age of 18.
Geoffrey attended basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky in 2010.  This was followed by a stint at Fort Drum, NY, a stone's throw from the Canadian border.
Geoffrey's one and only deployment was to Afghanistan.  He arrived in the foreign country as a cavalry scout, and volunteered to work the mine detector.  
From April to September of 2011, Geoffrey was able to escape injury. He went home for a two week leave, and came back ready to do his duty to the best of his ability.
On November 30, 2011, Geoffrey and his partner were "sweeping" a compound.  The day was ending, they were finishing their assignment when Geoffrey's partner decided to do one last extra. 
Boosted over a 8-9 foot mud wall, Geoffrey followed his partner down a tight alley way, which opened onto a backyard area.  Geoffrey's partner began setting up for the probe. Geoffrey had his left arm on the wall and his left foot forward.  BOOM!
Geoffrey woke up a week later at Walter Reed hospital.  His injuries were extensive:  missing toes on his left foot; broken left knee cap; missing left arm; shrapnel damage from the waist down; collapsed lung; 16 unit blood transfusion; half of his face broken; four front teeth missing; half of his palate gone; nose broken; and damage to his eyes.
It was a long road back.  Geoffrey fought hard with fortitude and humor. something that still carries him through every day.
Geoffrey admits he lives with pain on a daily basis, but he won't let it dampen his outlook on life. He lives with humor, gratefulness, and a longing to understand people.
Geoffrey completed his bachelors degree in psychology. He lives in California with his wife, two sons, and a princess daughter.
You can find Geoffrey on Facebook at Geoffrey Quevedo on Facebook
He is passionate about Homes For Our Troops, an organization from which his family has personally benefited.

Ep. 29 "Dead Soldier," Carmelo's American Story

Carmelo Rodriguez was born in New York City.  He spent his early youth in NYC, followed by shuttling between Pennsylvania and New York in his later teen years.
Carmelo joined the military when he was 18 years old.  He felt it was the only way to get out and escape the poverty which engulfed him.  
Homelessness and hunger were not foreign to Carmelo as a child.  He understood what it was to fight for every meal and every well rested night of sleep.  Carmelo was grateful for every glass of fresh water.  He calls it the lowest point of his life.
For the first time in his life, Carmelo felt peace in the most unlikeliest of places, basic training.  Never in his 19 years had he felt safe.
After completing basic training at Fort Knox and a stint in Korea, Carmelo was shipped to the border of Canada.  It was there he was introduced to "weatherizing."  The soldiers ran in shorts through 8 feet of snow. 
Carmelo arrived in Iraq as a dismount.  His responsibility was to to find the bad guys and bring them in.
A few months into the deployment, Carmelo took on a new position as gunner.  He describes feeling like "the man, GI Joe, or Rambo" behind the powerful weapon.
Carmelo volunteered for a second deployment, but his military career abruptly ended.  His lungs had several holes caused from near IED explosions.
Coming home from deployment was a confusing time.  Carmelo saw veteran buddies give in to substance abuse.  He feared going down the same path.  Returning troops miss the high from constant guard and danger.  Some search for the next high in drugs and alcohol.
Carmelo was heading down a dangerous path.  As a student at Penn State, he was surrounded by 18 year olds, critical of war and the military.  Vietnam vets were Carmelo's biggest help.  They showed him the way back.
Carmelo was engulfed in school and work.  He did not see the upcoming crisis.  Family and friends left several messages on his phone, begging for Carmelo to call back and assure them he was alive.
Carmelo received his first letter from the VA, addressed to the estate of Carmelo Rodriguez, under the guise he had died on October 31, 2016.
The letter was followed by a check in the mail for burial allowance; multiple death notifications of his benefits ceasing, and a final benefit check.   The IRS informed Carmelo he was being investigated for for fraud.
Carmelo's bank account was shut down.  He no longer attended school, a place he found refuge with other vets.  
Carmelo had nowhere to turn.  Fifty attorneys turned down his case.  
After some persuasion from friends, Carmelo contacted the national news.  The wheels began to grind.  A mysterious, anonymous caller gave Carmelo specific steps to end the catastrophe.
Carmelo never found out who the caller was, but after two years the VA resurrected him from the dead.  He was back.
Carmelo wrote a book, "Dead Soldier," detailing his road back to the living.  That book is now in production as a movie.
Carmelo is an author of 11 books, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and veteran.  He is proof ANYONE in AMERICA can achieve success.
You can find Carmelo on Carmelo Rodriguez Facebook
 
 

Ep. 28 Service Before Self, Eddie's American Story

Eddie Quimby was born into a family with a strong military legacy.  His father served in the army for 34 years and his mother for 20.  Eddie's mother's father served in WW2; his father's father served in the Korean War; and his great grandfather served in WW1.
At age 16, Eddie's father told him to join the army.  Eddie had no interest until he began researching on his own and discovered the army was the perfect training for his life long dream profession, law enforcement.
Merely a junior in high school, Eddie joined the army at 17 years old.  In the summer between his junior and senior year in high school, Eddie went to basic training in the reserve component.
At the tender age of 18, Eddie had his first deployment to Afghanistan from 2007-2008.  In the most unlikely of places, a country with people fighting for their freedom, Eddie found his freedom.  He enjoyed his new found freedom serving in the U.S. military.
Eddie's second deployment was from 2008-2009.  He grew especially close to his partner, Cheetah.  Eddie was the 1st reserve combat tracking dog handler to graduate from the program in 2008.  Cheetah was his right hand "Man."  It was especially hard to say goodbye when their time ended.  Eddie often wondered what became of Cheetah.
Eddie's third and final deployment was 2011-2012 in Afghanistan as a military police officer.
Eddie considers himself very blessed that through three deployments in some of the most dangerous parts of the world, he emerged unscathed.
His dream job of law enforcement changed, as he grew to love the military and the opportunities available in the U.S. army.
For the last 61/2 years, Eddie has spent his days as a recruiter.  He enjoys talking to people, and has managed to keep in touch with over 90% of his young recruits.
Eddie's service before self motto has led him to two worthwhile organizations.  He is a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Assn. (vets helping vets), and Heroes Sports (encouraging vets to participate in sports).
Recently Eddie embarked on the Baatan Memorial Death March.  This 26.2 march in April of 2021 entailed carrying 35 pounds on his back, commemorated the suffering and loss of the men during the infamous Baatan death march during WW2.  Money raised was donated to Heroes Sports.
Eddie is happily married, and is the father of four boys.  
 
 
 
 

Ep. 27 IEDs, Red Lobster, and Alpacas-Marcus' American Story

In November of 2006 Staff Sergeant Marcus Wilson was seriously injured in Haditha Iraq as a result of an IED hitting his humvee.  Marcus was the only survivor.
As a result, Marcus lost his left leg and sustained massive injuries throughout his body.  Marcus has memories of being taken to the landing zone atop a tank with the sounds of bullets hitting the armored beast.
Marcus Wilson was born in the small town of Dermott, Arkansas.  His father was in the marines, and tried to dissuade Marcus from doing the same.  Marcus had other plans.  He joined the marines in 1993 at the tender age of 16 and entered boot camp after graduation at only 17 years old.
Marcus had multiple deployments to Okinawa, Japan.  It was there he heard about the September 11 attacks on America.  
He served in Afghanistan in 2005 and came out unscathed.  His next deployment, Iraq, was a different story.  The level of violence was at a whole other level.  IEDs and snipers occurred on almost a daily basis.  By the time that deployment ended, half of Marcus' platoon had purple hearts.
Marcus received two purple hearts.  His first IED left him with a couple of stitches.  A month later, Marcus was traumatically injured with a second IED.
Marcus spent 31/2 to 4 years at Walter Reed Hospital.  The first two years were in rehabilitation and the second half was helping other injured service members.
Marcus was a pivotal part of Matthew Bradford's recovery.  You can listen to Matthew's American Story here.
Marcus has found peace in hunting.  He has opened this door to other vets looking for solace.
Marcus lives on 5 acres with his wife, children, and beloved alpacas.
You can find Marcus on Facebook at Marcus Wilson on Facebook