Operation Insight

Chris Lenington - U.S. Army Combat Veteran & Purple Heart Recipient

Chris Lenington signed an early entry for the Army in 1998. Chris would serve twenty years and was deployed in Kosovo, one tour in Iraq, and three tours in Afghanistan including one stop at Camp Seray an outpost high in the mountains, which was attacked by Taliban fighters almost daily. Chris finished his Army career at Fort Campbell Kentucky with the 101st Airborne. Tonight, Chris joins us to discuss his time in the military and the tough transition to civilian life after serving twenty years including four combat zone deployments.

Colonel Robert Leeker - Air Force Fighter Pilot and Base Commander

Robert Leeker started his military career as a one striper in the Air Force in 1971 and went to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. After working as a mechanic on planes, Bob decided he wanted to fly them. He earned his associates degree at Meramec Community College and took flying lessons on his own dime to ready himself to become an Air Force pilot. Bob trained on the T37 and T38 and earned his wings. Flying fighters was thirty-three years of his Air Force career including flying F4's, F15's, and later the B2 bomber. Bob attained the rank of Colonel and Commander of the air base in Kirkuk Iraq. Some of Bob's most vivid memories are while he was stationed at Kirkuk. Listen as Bob shares his story and rise through the ranks of the Air Force and what it was like to be a base commander at an air base in Iraq during the war and the  tough transition from military to retirement.

Dogs For Our Brave

Service dogs enrich and improve the lives of their veterans every day. At Dogs For Our Brave, our mission is to provide professionally trained service dogs at no cost to veterans who have suffered debilitating injury or illness while in service to our country. Our goal is to use rescue dogs at every opportunity, thus saving two lives at once. In order to fully realize our mission without adding financial burden, we also provide a continuum of free support that covers all food, veterinary care, and pharmaceuticals for the life of the dog. Our guests in studio are April Haskins, Shannon Durington, and Bridget McAuley.

Seamus K. O’Neel, Staff Sergeant and Recruiter, U.S. Army

Beginning in 1973, America went to an all volunteer military service. An All-volunteer military isn't without challenges. Today the branches of service are struggling to find able bodied recruits. According to the CDC, an estimated 70% of young Americans are unfit for military service. Historically, family life has not always worked for military families and roughly 20% of the military are women. Others say the combination of low unemployment and the ease of finding private sector jobs means fewer young people join the service. The Marines are likely the only branch of service to make their quota in 2022. Our guest in studio tonight is Seamus K. O'Neel, Staff Sergeant, recuiter in the U.S. Army in the St. Louis Metro area. 

Sergeant Benjamin Demoulin, Marine & Local St. Louis Recruiter

Beginning in 1973, America went to an all volunteer military service. An all volunteer military isn't without challenges. Today the branches of services are struggling to find able bodied recruits. According to the CDC, an estimated 70% of young Americans are unfit for military service. Historically, family life has not always worked for military families and roughly 20% of the military are women. Others say the combination of low unemployment and the ease of finding private sector jobs means fewer young people join the service. The Marines are likely the only branch of service to make their quota in 2022. Our guest tonight is Sergeant Benjamin Demoulin, local St. Louis recruiter.

Pat Swinger, O’Fallon Historian, Author

The City of St. Louis, and nearby St. Louis and St. Charles County became known as the "Gateway to the West" because it was an ideal spot for tradesmen, adventurers, and traders to transact because it’s connected to the Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri rivers. The story of O'Fallon Missouri feature many of the same storylines. American revolutionary war veterans were the early settlers, and many are buried nearby. During the War of 1812, there were several forts, including nearby Fort Zumwalt built to defend the settlers against Indian attacks. During the Civil War, the metropolitan area was very conflicted and were both Northern and Southern sympathizers. Our guest tonight is Pat Swinger. While Pat knows O'Fallon and St. Charles best, the same struggles were experienced throughout the area.

Chris Lagemann, U.S. Navy Submarine Commander

Sailing on a U.S. nuclear submarine is a trip into a cramped, timeless, and windowless undersea world. Today's submarines will often spend up to ninety percent of their time underwater making night and day indistinguishable. While on patrol, the crew is largely cut off from the outside world, including their families, for long periods of time. There are regular launch drills which challenge the physical and psychological stamina of the crew. More so than on a surface ship, the submarine commander and officers face additional challenges because of the stress, tight living, and working environment. Here tonight, Chris will share his story about life aboard, commanding a nuclear submarine.
 

James Dale Feltz - US Navy 1942-1946

The many missions of Jim Feltz aboard the Gleaves- class destroyer, USS Plunkett culminated in a heated battle for the crew and a fight for their lives when a German Ju-88 released it's payload and all hell broke loose. Jim's quick thinking and disobeyed orders saved his life and the lives of others. Jim is a legend and true hero!

SGT Robert Garvey - WWII Veteran B24 Crewman

Tonight we bring you the heroic story of B24 Crewman SGT Robert Garvey. After flying 29 missions with his regular crew he was "volunteered" to be a substitute gunner with another crew. During this mission Robert was forced to bail out when his plane was damaged and going to crash after being jumped by German planes. Once on the ground Robert was hit multiple times by enemy fire then captured and became a POW. This story is one of courage, resilience and the American spirit!
 

Veteran Suicide Awareness, Misty Blum

Tonight's guest is Misty Blum. Misty's husband Michael served his country in the United States Marines for 20 years including four tours of duty in Iraq. While U.S. Soldiers were deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, more service members are dying at home than at war. Everyday 22 veterans lose their battle to post traumatic stress on American soil. That is 1 veteran every 65 minutes. For most combat veterans, the toughest battle begins when they come home. Misty's husband Michael lost his battle on September 15, 2013. While he will never be listed as a casualty of war, he is a casualty caused by the war. Misty has become a writer and advocate dedicated to veteran PTS suicide prevention and awareness. Misty hopes by telling her story, it will help others.