Veterans Breakfast Club

An Iraq Interpreter Tells His Story

Joining The Scuttlebutt this week is former Iraqi Interpreter Ehab Al Akrawi. Ehab was born in Nasiriyah in 1986 and clearly remembers watching cruise missiles cross the sky during Desert Storm. But it wasn't until the 2003 invasion of Iraq that he saw his first American soldier. Mesmerized by their appearance and stature, Ehab got up the courage to speak to one and soon after began interpreting for a unit --- at the age of 15! With all the news regarding Afghan interpreters, it's easy to forget that there are still Iraqi interpreters making their way through the SIV program to gain admittance to the US. Ehab was one of the lucky ones. For more information about our duty to Iraq and Afghan interpreters see Modern War Institute. To understand more about the SIV program visit Travel.State.gov and WashingtonPost.com.

 

Last week Army Veteran Adam Zaffuto opened up on The Scuttlebutt about his time serving in Afghanistan. For the full effect of this week's episode, please be sure to check out Part 1 by CLICKING HERE. This week, Adam talks about the end of the war and how we as Americans can come to the aid of the refugees and interpreters finding themselves in a new country after having lost their home forever. Listener discretion is advised. 

Thank you for listening and if you would be so kind, please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts and be sure to like, share, subscribe, and ring the bell on YouTube. 

Adam Zaffuto served in the Army during The Global War on Terror. He was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and joins the Scuttlebutt this week to talk about his service. Specifically his experiences in Afghanistan. His story is equal parts heartwrenching and frustrating. Many Afghanistan veterans have expressed their discontent with the decisions made and question the reasons we were there. Adam is no different. His story is frank and unedited. A trigger warning is provided for the content of this episode due to the graphic nature of our discussion as we speak of the brutality and ugliness of war and of some of the atrocities committed by the Taliban. 

The Scuttlebutt honors National Suicide Prevention Month and Gold Star Mothers and Family Day by welcoming Gold Star Wife, Sara Wilkinson to the program. Sara's husband, Chad Wilkinson, served for 21 years, was a Navy SEAL, and Silver Star recipient. Chad unfortunately died by suicide in 2018 due to the effects of numerous deployments, several TBIs, blast wave injuries and PTSD. With all the love Sara still carries for Chad she partnered with GORUCK to create Chad 1000x, a crossfit inspired step-up workout Chad himself used to train for climbing mountains. The workout is now used to celebrate his life and honor his memory with all proceeds going to support Veteran Mental Health Initiatives. For more information about the new report on Veteran suicide check out MilitaryTimes.com. 

 

Veterans experiencing a mental health emergency can contact the Veteran Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and select option 1 for a VA staffer. Veterans, troops or their family members can also text 838255 or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for assistance.

The Scuttlebutt welcomes Reid Ahl (co-host, Ryan Ahl's dad!) to the program to talk about his recent firsthand account of being evacuated from Afghanistan. Reid is an Air Force veteran and Personal Services Contractor (USPSC) with a civilian U.S. government agency (not associated with DoD or Military) who was at the US embassy in Kabul as the evacuations picked up in August. For more information about what it was like at the US Embassy check out FastCompany.com and NYPost.com. And watch the video version at veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt. Thank you to Millerstown Pic-A-Part for sponsoring this episode!

 

The Scuttlebutt welcomes veteran, educator, and writer, Ben Abel to the program to talk about his recent op-ed in Task & Purpose, ‘You either went to war or you didn’t’ — How deployments divide the vet community. Ben and Shaun talk about his service, his family's extensive military history, the military/civilian divide, and the language divide that exists in the veteran community between those who saw combat and those who didn't. For more information as to why veterans who didn't see combat may feel guilty or cheated, check out this Military.com article. And as always, please like, share, subscribe, and ring the bell on YouTube.

Ben's article

Jim LaPorta's article

The Scuttlebutt teams up with WTRF's Veterans Voices host Kathryn Ghion for a conversation with two special guests working with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Jim Bell is an Army veteran and Identification Specialist and Sgt. First Class Sean Everette is a Spokesman for the DPAA. The DPAA is a government agency whose mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation. Recently, Kathryn reported on the returned remains of WWII veteran, Army Private First Class John. J. Sitarz to his family in Weirton, WV. To find out more about how remains are recovered you can visit the DPAA website. For those interested in the Army's DNA testing visit Wired.com. Head to veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt to watch the video version of this episode. Thank you to Millerstown Pic-A-Part for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Scuttlebutt we begin our trek through Post-9/11 war movies by welcoming back Ryan Ahl, Kathryn Ghion, and filmmaker Evan Mulgrave to review BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK and SAND CASTLE. Each movie covers the warrior's journey but in very different ways. One's a hero, the other breaks his own hand to get out.  Neither film fared well on Rotten Tomatoes (BILLY LYNN - 44%, SAND CASTLE - 47%) but did they deserve the bad reviews? We'll answer that and other questions: Did they accurately portray life in the military? Did Ryan catch any inaccuracies? And most importantly - did either movie give us something to rant about? You betcha! Check out the new episode to see what all the fuss is about at veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt. Thank you to Millerstown Pic-A-Part for sponsoring this episode!

 

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUULFJ_I048

Sandcastle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hq28cZ938E

The Scuttlebutt takes a field trip this week to North Allegheny High School (Pennsylvania) to talk with Air Force JROTC instructors, Terry Speer, CMSgt (Ret. Air Force) and Don Accamando, Lt. Col. (Ret. Air Force) about the benefits, challenges, and successes that await you in the Junior ROTC. They are joined by Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Josephine "Josie" Olmstead and Cadet Major Makenzie "Kenna" Shannon who offer insightful first hand accounts of their time in Junior ROTC and how it has prepared them for successful careers after high school. You can find out more about JROTC at USarmyjrotc.com or if you are interested in joining a Junior ROTC program, you can read more at Mefa.org. Watch the full episode at veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt. Thank you to Millerstown Pic-A-Part for sponsoring this episode!

The Scuttlebutt goes medieval this week with special guest Zack Knight. Zack started his leadership journey working in the metro-Atlanta area as a police officer and SWAT Operator. After seven years serving his local community, he transitioned to the role of an Infantry Leader in the U.S. Army and continued to serve during a combat deployment to Afghanistan and locally with the Georgia National Guard. His desire to become an influential leader has led him to start six businesses including a security consulting firm, a domestic violence awareness non-profit, and an international dance competition. Zack's podcast, Be A Tactical Leader, provides a platform for industry leaders from around the world to discuss their own journey of self-mastery and define the art of true leadership. Watch the video version at veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt! Thank you to Millerstown Pic-A-Part for sponsoring this episode! http://picapartyard.com/