May 29, 2025 • 35 mins
Raising funds with USA Cares at Hardee's in Shelbyville
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're broadcasting live in the support of USA Cares. They
do so much good for so many veterans, And I
got to tell you a lot of people can say that, yeah,
we support the veterans, and maybe you do. But I've
never seen anybody work so tirelessly that I have Heather
French Henry every single and I mean that sincerely, because
(00:21):
I'll follow you and I'll see you at all these
veteran events and you're working NonStop.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Is that because of your father?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Yes, of course.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
You know Miss America was one thing, and of course
that was twenty five years ago, and that's what started
my national platform. But I always be the daughter of
a disabled Vietnam veteran. You know, that story never ends,
that title never gets old. And my dad's doing great today,
so I cannot complain. He is Mister America. So sorry
you too. You know that that title's gone. But when
I think about the men and women that he served
(00:51):
with and those who have come after, there are still
so many needs that are out there.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
And while we have.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
More resources than we've ever had before, it's just even
twenty five years later, all the things that we worked
on during my current Miss America year legislation for homeless veterans,
housing healthcare. It is more important than ever because just
because there's not a war a current war, doesn't mean
there's not a need. And that's what we ran into
twenty five years ago. We were sort of in between, right.
(01:18):
It was like after the First Golf War and people
had gone grown pretty apathetic. And we still see the
need today. So it doesn't matter that there's a war
going on. Military veterans and their families still need our support.
And that's our job, right because absolutely fat percent, you know,
choose to sign up and serve, and so the other
ninety nine point five percent of us, that's our responsibility.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Absolutely. By the way, if you're just out and about,
we are at Hearty's in Shelbyville. Hardy's in Shelbyville. If
you come by and you make a donation, you get
a free sausage biscuit.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Oh I love the sauceage bug?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Am I sweating?
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I might sweeten the pot. Let's make a sausage biscuit
and a Dwhite.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
Hug, Okay, and a Dwight hug. This place isn't that big? Shelbyville.
Speaker 6 (01:59):
On out to see us Exit thirty two off sixty
four East and it's about a mile down the road
to come see us today. Harty's is We're at Hardy's
not by accident because they're a big supporter of USA
Cares and is important again Memorial Day weekend. We always
try to do stuff around the biggies, but this is
every single day for them, and the need is a
lot greater than their resources, and they're trying to That's
(02:22):
why we're here, that's why they're partners with our show,
and of course iHeartMedia as we raise money for them.
And again not no fault to the government, but a
lot of times this is just a stop gap between
paperwork tends to take a little bit longer. My son
commissioned in the Navy and today he showed up for
his first duty station and they were like four hours
(02:42):
of paperwork on base before he even gets to even move.
So again the paperwork is long. And then so there's
a mom with two kids. Well, guess what, the water
bill comes, electric bill comes, and food comes.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
So this is a stop gap between it. What is
your relationship with USA Care Goodness.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
I've been involved with USA Cares from the very beginning,
when we first did infomercials. I think on insight maybe
it's work.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Dat anniversary. Now I do know.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
But you know, I've been an advocate because I love
having homegrown organizations that are right here in Kentucky. So
I've seen it grow from just a Kentucky based organization
helping Kentucky veterans to becoming a national organization. And it's
really important for the community to be able to get
involved because government in and of itself is it does
great work. When I was Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, we
(03:36):
had over a thousand employees that did an amazing amount
of work for our communities. But the community has a
responsibility and this is a great way for the community
to take ownership of that to be able to contribute
for those veterans in their families in need. And I
love the fact that while nationally USA Cares still focuses
(03:56):
on Post nine to eleven veterans, here in Kentucky and in
the common Way health and many people may not know this,
but they also are able to support pre nine to
eleven veterans and Post nine eleven veterans right here in
Kentucky because of some legislation that passed that I allocated
some extra funds for USA Cares just for those Kentucky
based veterans and their families.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Heather French Henry is our guest Miss America twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
It seems like yesterday.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
It is greatful.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
But we're talking about USA Cares, the veterans organization, and
I've had the pleasure of seeing USA Care in works
with two different veterans that I went Actually, Greg Getcher
went with me, the sneak and deacon. We both went
on behalf of two different veterans and we saw the
process at work. And Tony was talking about the red
tapes of the government. That wasn't the case with USA Care. Sure,
(04:46):
we sat down across from a board and we met
with them. We gave details on the veterans a whole bit,
and there was a process, application process, but we were
having a witness results pretty quick.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
The government federal.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I feel like, I feel like stay given more so
little faster than federal government. But USA Cares as community
based organizations, they can work faster. Actually, they have boards
and they are there to meet that immediate need. That's
why it's it's called financial emergency, financial assistance. And of
course we see the same things with like home for
your rent and mortgage. That's still kind of the number
(05:25):
one need, car, payments for repossession, utilities, phones, and even
an interesting one that's come up lately, daycare for some
of our veterans family so that they can go out
and find a job.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
Exists on two household incomes. Absolutely, that's the bottom line.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Well, Steve and I both work.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
You know, maybe we don't have to, but we just
our girls are in college and we know what those
expenses are like. And being raised in a family, you know,
in more rural Kentucky like I was with one of
four children, my father and all of his issues. No,
that financial assistance is the difference between you know, having
a home and not having a home, feeding your kids
(06:07):
and not feeding your kids. So we certainly appreciate all
the USA cares.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
By the way, just providing relief on rent, on maybe
your mortgage, on what are LGD what those are all
contributors that could bring a veteran even further down. There's
twenty two veteran suicides a day, by the way, Suicide
Hotline nine eight eight nine eight eight. But there's twenty
two veteran suicides per day So it's tough enough out there.
(06:32):
And like you said, it doesn't have to be just rent,
you know, the usuals Rent, Lgen whatever. You can think
outside the box and you can go.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
To wellness, folks. Well wellness is important.
Speaker 6 (06:43):
We talk about it all the time with the little
police Department and certainly with our veterans. By the way,
any of the Carl Junior or Hardy's location, if you
don't a dollar, the Dixie Highway location, we did that
last time. Someone walked in at ten thousand dollars. Yes,
during our remote he was unbelieved. Wow, that's not saying
Shelby Bill needs to step up and beat out of
ten thousand.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Oh sure, somebody out there would like to do that.
They certainly can. They'd be amazing.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Any Carl Juniors or Harty's location donate at least one
dollar to the Stars of Heroes campaign by purchasing a
star shaped cutout and then register to win more. All right,
so the funds raised, so of course go to USA Cares.
It is a rainy Monday after a long weekend. And
how are you doing personally? Everything good?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Everything?
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Your kids are my kids age to thank you.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Our kids are twenty one and twenty three, and I'm
very proud. Harper's headed to medical school at u of
L this fall. Taylor's headed she's pre law at u
of L and she's headed to Miss Kentucky in a
couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
She's Miss Derby City.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
But you know, she went into the Navy, and she
was injured during boot camp and got shipped out, but
she has maintained a steadfast support, obviously of our military.
And that's how you know, you have to raise children
to see what patriotism looks like. And patriot Susan can
take many forms, obviously, but we honor those who serve
(08:00):
because we want future generations to see that honor. Right,
So if you're not showcasing that, then they don't know
that our veterans and military can be taken care of.
And so Taylor joins the military, she gets injured, she
comes home, but she is utilizing her platform, just like
I did with mine as mister Vy City, to raise
warterness for suicide prevention, and so within that she's created
(08:24):
fragments for you know, civilian population and military population. And
when we think about that epidemic of suicide, it is
an epidemic for their generation. When I grew up, I
only knew maybe one that had died by suicide. But
then you encompass that with veterans, which when we talk
about that twenty two a day, you know, half of
those veterans that died by suicide are older veterans. It's
(08:45):
not just younger veterans, and they're not VA enrolled veterans.
So when you think about the lack of informational resources
and educational resources that are out there, it's really important
that we get out to our communities in a variety
of ways, multi generational, and let them know what resources
are available.
Speaker 6 (09:03):
It is weird we have vehicles. Friends that didn't get
PTSD tools. He was sixty five, he fought in Vietnam,
and you know, he just woke up one morning, you know,
and he had Look, you're not.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
The same person you were thirty forty years ago.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
The change as a person, and then you realize maybe
you know things.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Maybe that trauma, maybe that's trauma.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
All the way.
Speaker 6 (09:24):
Yeah, you just tumbed through and then at some point
it becomes different.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
But that's why we're.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Here to maybe that jerk reaction you had to that
noise or you know, the crowd, all of a sudden,
you realize, hey, you know that's part of the trauma
that I went through. And while PTSD isn't just a
military term and a diagnosis, we think about those who
don't talk about it when they come home, and so
being able to provide resources and when we talk about
(09:49):
financial assistance, any of those stressors that can just compound
the issues, right, it means that they start giving up
hope and things just start to look bleak. And so
when you're a even to offer just that simple act
of assistance.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Or answering the phone, how about that?
Speaker 4 (10:06):
How about helping to customize Maybe you know it's you
can't meet all the need, but you have other resources
and other people and other networks. That's what I find
is even the most helpful is just being there and
not dropping the ball when if it's not if you
can't take care of all of the solution, you know
other organizations that can. And that's really what I would
(10:30):
implore to veterans organizations and USA Cares has done so beautifully,
is that they're all tied into this community, a network
of help, and one begets the other. And so the
community has a lot of ways that they can give back.
And I love that about USA Cares that it's multifaceted,
but they're in they're integrated in the community, and not
just here in Kentucky but all over the United States.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Well, let's get back to anniversaries.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
It's twenty fifth anniversary from you winning Miss America, but
it was also fiftieth anniversary of the end of Vietnam.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
And a dear friend of mine, really dear friend of mine.
I'm not gonna call him by name, uh, but he was.
He's a Vietnam veteran. And think about fifty years ago.
They didn't fifty years ago, Vietnam veteran. He had gotten
diagnosed with PTSD and he's lived with it, obviously for
more fifty years or more, but he's he told me,
(11:25):
he shared with me that, you know, he could suppress, suppress, suppressed, suppress,
but then eventually it started to manifest in anger and
depression and more importantly with him anger because he was
taken down on the ones that he loved. So thanks
to USA Cares, you have the ability to look for answers,
solutions when it comes to PTSD.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And let me tell you, man.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
It's well, what follows that is homelessness, so absolutely only.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
One check away.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
If they lose something, something bad happens, it just creates
that down world spiral. And so the ultimate downwards brau
is they wind up on the street. Maybe they have
a chronic mental illness, maybe they have substance abuse, which
my father came home with co occurring issues with substance
abuse and PTSD.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
And in those days.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
It was just prescription drugs were just being kind of
shoved on them because we just didn't talk about past
extress disorder. And so fifty years later at the end,
you know now that we're commembering the end of the
war and we'll be at the State Fair again doing
our correguge military education will which takes me about twenty
three days the build show and tear down, but we'll
be doing that and that's ultra important because again you're
(12:31):
getting that information out in a creative way to people
who may not understand or know where the resources are,
and you're able to help tell a story and to
honor their service.
Speaker 6 (12:41):
But since not to look Vietnam, there was some that
did not volunteer. They were called by the government from
the draft right. But since then we are an all
all volunte volunteer force, and the rest of the world
is like, how do they do that? They have the
greatest fighting force in the history of man and they're
all volunteers.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Well, we don't do it successfully though.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
We've had a draw down in numbers over our recruiting numbers.
Over the years, I've been serving as an ambassador for
the Department of the Navy. Other brands and service have
like programs as well. We try to do two ambassadors
per state, and so trying to make that human connection
for young men and women to say this is something
that's viable for me to do. We do a good
(13:22):
job of honoring our veterans more than we ever have before. Right,
we have the parades, we have the welcome homes, we
have services. We try to get out there. People are
shaking hands, saying thank you. But what has happened through
some studies is that there's a little bit of a
disconnect where we see the heroes. We've created these heroes,
but young men and women aren't necessarily seeing themselves in
(13:44):
that role. So we have to create that human touch
point to increase our recruiting numbers, which we're starting to
do well.
Speaker 6 (13:50):
I will say this, I've been on We just got
back from Purdue, and I will tell you my son's class.
There's all these engineers from Purdue. They chose to serve.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Let it go.
Speaker 6 (14:01):
Now he's living in Charleston with a bunch of Vandy graduates.
These are all young, smart kids. They're talking would have
gone into the industry, aerospace.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Engineer in best brid in the middle.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
They're all going in and they're serving, and it's it's
just as a bright spot of that conversation. There's a
lot of young, really smart people putting off the money.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
For a while.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
And by the way, by the way, if you don't
know the services are paying now, I mean if you yeah,
if you if you're an officer, you you're getting paid, buddy.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
The challenge, though, so when we think about the future
of their service and what we want to make sure
is that once they're in the service, they understand how
to build their finances, they understand that transition once they
discharge and become a veteran that they usually don't have
that O crap moment for about six months after they
get out of service. And that's where we find that
(14:51):
that is that like that adjustment that transition becomes a
little tougher, and that's where they don't know the resources.
And that's why I love the fact that USA cares
and they started they started predominantly on Post nine eleven
because that's what was happening. These families were getting out
and there just wasn't the availability of services and the
understand they were out there, and then that O crap
(15:12):
moment hits and once they're discharging their off base and
the military is not paying for all the things, and
maybe paperwork's going slow on benefits and and maybe you
know the disabilities that were that were coming in and
then you go, where do I go? That's the worst
moment for them.
Speaker 6 (15:28):
Yeah, then they're stuck working with guys. They you know,
they have to go work at an office with Dwightonna.
So they're just like, I can't get an email back
I was in the military, EMIL immediately back. Yeah, so
(15:51):
we are celebrating, uh and remembering Memorial Day.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
Did you do a cookout or anything?
Speaker 7 (15:57):
You know.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
I got a chance to go home to Brooksville, to
Bracken Camp, my home county. I always have two hometowns,
Maysville and Augustus and Mason and Bracken, and we got
to see it's right on the Ohio River, in the
Ohio River Valley near Cincinnati. Always say from the northeastern
pie of Kentucky, so not northern, not eastern, or like
(16:18):
Alexandria to Ashland, is northeastern. So home of Clooney, we
have the Rosemary Clooney House. So I got a chance
to go home and do a really a hometown commemoration
which was really great. And our current Miss Kentucky was
Air Chapel, who was part of my Veterans Youth Council
when I was when I was Commissioner, and she too
has a veterans platform. So what I am seeing are
(16:40):
that younger generations, because of work like what USA Care
the Cares has done, legacies that I feel like I've
also been a part of, You're seeing younger generations that
are building that platform of care. I also want before
we go, I also want to implore you We've got
the USA Cares Gala that's coming up July nineteenth, so
you can go on their website and find out how
(17:01):
you can support their so U SA Cares dot org.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Okay, yeah, all.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Right, we're gonna head we're going to break, so I
need you to hand your headset to your drive.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
Steve.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Yeah, I'm gonna give you a h this America joke.
Speaker 6 (17:18):
No no, no, no, We're gonna get okay, Steve is
gonna do a great job.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Of course, picture keeping up with this. I get it.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
I get it again. How are you, sir?
Speaker 7 (17:32):
I'm doing well.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
You got a couple of coffee in you, so you're
ready to go?
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Are you ready for jokeing today?
Speaker 5 (17:36):
I got decaf here. We love you are right now.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
So I'm so plead, not that you would say anything inappropriate,
but okay, so joking the day is now your your turn?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Is this where I put a dollar in?
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Or dollar?
Speaker 5 (17:53):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (17:54):
No, no, no, no, no no no no you have you
have immunity music right right now?
Speaker 5 (17:58):
Yes, so you don't hear it. But it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
How how bad of a sticker it is, it won't
cost you. Yeah, all right today today, Seve Henry all right.
Speaker 7 (18:08):
You know there's a tradition in Kentucky, okay, primarily an
Eastern Kentucky, when a baby is worn, an angel will
descend out of heaven wow and greet the baby. Sometimes
the baby sees the glow of the angel and reaches up,
and the angel takes the hand and kisses the hand,
and that baby becomes a great writer.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
It's beautiful, man our surgeon.
Speaker 7 (18:28):
Then sometimes the baby is asleep and the angel doesn't
wake the baby up and just kisses it on the lips.
And you know, sometimes babies lay on their tummies and
their bottoms kind of sticking up in the air, and
the angel just can't help. But those become politicians that
(18:55):
I know.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
He comes through it.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
He tries State Men's Health guys. How you feeling around
one or two in the afternoon. You're getting tired of lethargic.
What about the weekends? Are you getting stuff done with
the family or are you're just sitting on the couch.
I used to be as tired in lethargic all of
the time. I had my testosterone checked and it was low.
Then I started going to try Statemen's Health guys. Make
(19:20):
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low tee quiz. It's all yes or no questions. Take
you bout it maybe a minute and a half. Then
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but listen to what you get lab work done, You
get your blood results back within thirty minutes or less.
You sit down with a licensed medical professional. There was
playing all of your numbers, your PSA, your testosterone, all
(19:42):
of that. Then you make an educated decision. Is testosterone
right for you? It was for me, and it changed
my life so much for the better for thirteen years.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
I'm never going back to the way that I used
to feel. Check them out. I go to try Statement's
health dot com.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Stick around more on the way, including news at the
bottom the hours, we broadcast live with USA CARES News
radioa forty WHAS.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
News Radio eight forty whas, The Tony and Dwight Show,
brought you by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. We're
here with USA Cares again at the Heartys because they
are part of this mission.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Also, as I bring in a dear friend of mine,
he's Senator Aaron reidt I gotta step in this. I
gotta take off my radio host hat, and I gotta
put up my marriage counselor hat for you and your
wife because what happened yesterday was not fair.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
You did the murph.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
You're a Navy seal so for you, that's just like
getting up and changing the champ. Everybody with the Murph
is and by the way, the Burton the Murphy is
a challenge. By the way, it honors Lieutenant Michael Murphy,
who you actually served with. I want to talk about that,
but listen what you do all in one hour? You
do one hundred pull ups, two hundred pushups, three hundred
squads and you finish with a one mile run. Now, well,
(20:56):
here's where I'm getting at. Your wife, who's in cream
aredible shape, she did it with you. Is that a
little bit unfair because you were a Navy seal and
are a Navy seal.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Well, guess what's the Navy seer? Always Navy seal. But
you actually you served with Michael Murphy, Lieutenant Michael Murphy.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, so if I guess, first of all, sorry for
your loss, but uh, talk about doing the Murph and
how important that is.
Speaker 8 (21:21):
Well, first of all, with with my wife, you know, yeah,
a Navy wife job is it's it's up there. It's
pretty elite, especially a Navy seal's wife. You know, being
a seal is one thing, but being a Navy seal's wife,
that's that takes a lot of grit and she's been
she's been there the whole time, rocking and rolling. It's
a probably they say it's the toughest job in the Navy,
you know Navy one.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
Well, because the call comes in during dinner, right, that's
gonna be on a plane in a couple hours.
Speaker 8 (21:46):
Raising babies, having babies while I'm on deployment.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Yeah, it's so you know, Uh, we always have the
horse soldiers on a couple of times a year. And
one of them, Mark Nutch, was talking about when they
were getting to the floor, uh, to go to Afghanistan.
It was right after nine to eleven. He was he
got beat and he was on his way to get
to ploy. He had stop against something. It was at
(22:11):
the gas station and the guy in front of him
was buying cigarettes, lottery ticket whatever. It was taken forever
and he looked at the newspaper and he goes, I
wish we would go and get revenge on these sobs,
and Mark was right behind him going, well, we would
if you had hurt in the black up. But but
you actually you actually served with the Lieutenant Michael Murphy.
(22:32):
The Murphy is it was his workout, was he just
I mean, I guess that's the kind of drive you
have to have to be a Navy seal. But I
guess even in the seals, there's some that just want
to perform e.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
The hire is that that's that's case with him.
Speaker 8 (22:46):
You know, Murph was a unique guy. He was he
was legit, you know, as an officer. You know, I
always thought it was funny. We'd all be working out
in the grinder all you know, me and Marcus Latreil
and all the boys were doing our PTE and getting
after it, and murphould walk out with body armor on,
out of the out of the gym, out of the
locker room with his body armor on. We're all out
there doing push ups and and pull ups, and and
(23:07):
he'd like give us the high sign. He'd take off
on his run. He would literally he'd run a mile
with his body armor on. Then he would come back
and just start knocking out, you know, one hundred pull ups.
Then he would do two hundred push ups, and then
he'd do three hundred squats, and then he both out again,
run another mile and come back.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
And he actually did that workout.
Speaker 8 (23:26):
This wasn't something you know, most of these CrossFit yeah,
you know honor that Honor workouts that they have, you know,
hero workouts.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
They kind of just made those up.
Speaker 8 (23:36):
But this is one that Murph actually did and that's
kind of why it's kind of evolved the way it is.
And you know, I yesterday, my wife and I did
it for They've done it several several years.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Take an hour.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
You gotta do it in an hour?
Speaker 5 (23:48):
Yeah, I have to do it in an hour.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
They go up.
Speaker 8 (23:51):
I'm forty seven years old, right, I got if you notice.
But my success has surrounded There.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Should be a ground.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
There should be as the aide goes right.
Speaker 8 (24:01):
Honestly, it's it's not any less painful. I'm feeling it now.
My wife's probably laying in bed listening to this right now.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
This weekend yesterday, Okay, so I'm sitting there grabbing. I'm sorry.
Speaker 8 (24:15):
You know, we did it at the farm there and
you know we got early yesterday morning and we uh,
I gave him. I tossed my wife some body armors.
He's like, you guys, I can't believe y'all wear this crap.
This is way too heavy. You know, I can't fight
in this, you know, I'm like, well, let's either that or.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
And the heat by the way that well he let's
talk about the headspace here, because you know the seals
are yes, you're doing the push ups and all that,
but again you would know more than all of us.
But the word is it's really the mentally tough that
survived the sealed team buds.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
Is that the buds.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
So the survived that qualification is the guys because I
saw it again. You see a video on Facebook and
they see what guys says, Look, a lot of these
guys that came in that were cross country and they
did the of marathons and stuff. They have the first
to quit, and he goes the guys that had something
to prove to themselves between the two ears, you know,
the ones that survived.
Speaker 8 (25:08):
The guys that make it through this training. Look you
look at the like like Rudy, remember the movie Rudy. Yeah,
that's the kind of guy that makes it through. The
guys that had struggled, like you know, the guys that
showed up to Buds that could run a five minute
mile or do a thousand.
Speaker 5 (25:23):
Pull ups and push ups.
Speaker 8 (25:25):
Those guys they've never been like if they're just gifted
naturally like athletic they've never felt the pain that a
guy like me or were my buddies that made it
through feels like you, you know you've you had a
pretty good adventure and trek getting back in shape too.
You know, it takes me pain. And if you haven't
felt that pain when you were to buds, having not
felt that pain, those guys ring out, they quit.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, so let's talk about buds. Uh, Basic underwater demolition.
I watched there was a to get you got to
pass that hell we you go through hell we to
become a Navy seal. And I think it's absolutely I
mean it's insane, seventy two hours or so without sleep
and by the way, you're working damn near a little time.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
If you get to eat, it's out of a garbage can.
Speaker 5 (26:07):
I remember seeing the movies.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
I watched it, really because I watched the Blood Class
two thirty four. There was a documentary and that that's
what they were doing. But it is a mental toughness.
Let's talk about what we have going on right here though. Uh,
because this is a really really cool idea.
Speaker 8 (26:28):
Oh yeah, the Veterans Real Outreach transitional housing for homelest
veterans right here in Shelbyville, right, you know my old
family veterinarian, doctor Pippen.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
Everyone knows doctor Pippen.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
H he's a Vietnam veteran. He's given back in him
and all the guys, mister Karen and all the guys
there are they have been. They built these tiny homes,
these humes. Oh yeah, on the break downtown Shelbyville, just
about a block from the courthouse, and they have a
big meeting area there. They have the guys come in
(26:58):
and they'll interviewing there, and they have a place for
him to eat, like if you wanted to come check
him out. Every Thursday at the VRO location. I think
it's five oh six Bradshaw Street in Shelbyville. Every Thursday
they have a dinner at six o'clock for veterans, and
I try to make all them that I can.
Speaker 5 (27:15):
I haven't been there in a little bit, man.
Speaker 8 (27:16):
They always have a good meal and it kind of
brings folks in together and they talk about America and
how great it is and why.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Well.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Another friend of mine, a friend of Tony's as well,
he's retired Special Forces Gunny CO.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
He talks.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
He's the national chapter president of the Veterans MC, and
it all clicked with me when I was at the
MC's clubhouse one night and he explained to me, goes,
you know, I could talk to you for days about
my issues.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
You're never going to comprehend it. You're never going to
understand it.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
But if I commiserate with someone who's been through or
going through what I have, it clicks right a minute immediately.
So there is a veterans community that's needed in a
desperate way.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
If you ask me, yes, I agree.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Let's talk about USA Cares. What that means to you?
Because the USA Cares they do so much for so
many veterans. We're talking about if you're getting ready to
be foreclosed on, maybe you can't keep the lights on. Recently,
there was a child unfortunately passed away last week. But
Greg Getcher and I went to this organization on his behalf,
(28:20):
on his family's behalf, and they came through and they
did wonders. This child needed assistance in a bathroom. He's handicapped,
and they came in, they helped out. What does USA
Cares mean to you? Said or read?
Speaker 8 (28:33):
You know, the USA Carris is one of the outmost
outstanding groups in Kentucky, and I know that the State
Senate has always in the past we've been able to
help them out and kind of anything we can do
to help and be part of that. You know, I've
been to several of their events. It's kind of funny.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
My old.
Speaker 8 (28:54):
Rifle coach, Hank Patten, used to be a part of
him back in the day. So that's that's how far
back he was. He was one of the main guys
and involved in that, and they kind of got me
involved in USA Cares a little bit. And now another
sealed buddy of mine's, his wife is a is actually
an employeet USA Carris and they are really tip of
the sphere as far as helping helping veterans. The calls
(29:15):
come in, you know, they're all different. They all needed
actually well had a different need, and there's a really good,
diverse group of folks that are that are ready to
help them.
Speaker 6 (29:25):
So Kentucky, most people think that bourbon and horse racing
is the leading industry in Kentucky, but the truth is
about twelve or thirteen billion dollars a year or from
the two big bases.
Speaker 5 (29:37):
Right, what is Frankfurt? Where do we stand in Kentucky?
Speaker 6 (29:41):
With veterans helping veterans compared to the states around US.
Speaker 8 (29:46):
Oh man, you know what, that's a good one. I've
got a lot of people. You know, I'm the I'm
the vice chair of the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public
Protection Senate Committee, and you know, we we're constantly looking
for or for veterans to help. I don't know that
we're number one right now, but you know that's my goal.
I'd love to bring us up a notch, several notches
(30:08):
so that we are the shining city on a hill,
so to speak, for the veterans in America, because I
want Kentucky to be that place where veterans feel welcome
to come, you know, anything that we can do for
them to make their lives easier because they earned it.
You know, it's not like they deserve it. They usually
they earned it. They deserve it. And I guess the
difference between titlements and something that you've earned, it's a
(30:30):
big difference there.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Senator Aaron Reed joins as that we broadcast live for
USA Cares usacres dot org. It doesn't get any better
than this organization.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
If you're looking for.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Someone to support, I want to talk about something maybe
you know this as a veteran, maybe not. Is there
any type of organization out there, because it's been put
on my heart recently that a lot of problems with
our older veterans are that they're just warehoused. They're gonna
be put into a old folks home. And that's just
mister Henderson in two thirty four or that's to that.
Do you know if any organizations they specifically go to
(31:05):
visit these warehouse veterans that If not, maybe we should
start one.
Speaker 5 (31:09):
That's a good point.
Speaker 8 (31:10):
I would say that the v r O here in Chubbyville.
They they're really good at that, are they. You know,
they they'll bring they'll bring you in if they can
find they find out that you're in need here locally.
You know, they they help you with your VA claims.
There's crazy, there's it's there's people out there that haven't
ever had the opportunity to put into VA claim and
they're disabled veterans and no help you do that. You know,
(31:32):
there's there's a lot of groups out there. I'll talk
about my dad's group. He uh, he's founded the Kentucky
Wounded Heroes here in Kentucky and they take guys all
over the country hunting and fishing.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
You know, wow, that's.
Speaker 8 (31:45):
That's something that gets the veterans together and allows them
to kind of vent, you know, while they're while they're fishing.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
Well, on that note, tell us about Shellville.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
This is your area center and you grew up here obviously,
and tell me about Shellville.
Speaker 5 (31:57):
Why is it? Why do you like it?
Speaker 8 (32:00):
Well, like, you're right, I grew up here, graduated Shelby
County High School in nineteen ninety five.
Speaker 5 (32:05):
I was an eagle scout here.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Wow, that's tough man. That's rare Eagle scouts.
Speaker 5 (32:11):
Letting not his tough as seal team.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Well, I'm saying no, it is.
Speaker 5 (32:16):
It's an accomplish Well, you hain't service project and all.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
What's good is?
Speaker 8 (32:20):
You know being an eagle scout? You're right, it is.
It is something to be proud of.
Speaker 5 (32:23):
You know.
Speaker 8 (32:23):
My brother was an eagle scout as well. My dad
was an eagle scout. My son's an eagle scout. I
always like to tell the story to kind of put
an emphasis on it. My brother, he graduated Mby Riddle
Aeronauticals at school and he was I guess twenty one
when he graduated one of the youngest pilots to be
to put out his resume, and then Continental Airlines the
chief captor. The chief pilot was an Eagle Scout and
(32:45):
I was like two hundred and fifty applicants. He was
my brother was then only Eagle Scout and the guy
just went fam That.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Guy right there at Eagle Scout.
Speaker 8 (32:50):
He wasn't smoking and doing drugs in high school and
he was squared away. And then the same thing happened.
He applied for ups to be a pilot. He was
the only Eagle Scout in the group and chief pilot
was an Eagle Scouts advance.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
That guy.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
Wow, See, I was in the pilot for a reason.
That's why.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
That's why I was in the Campfire Girls for three years.
But then it's gotten me nowhere, Yeah, nowhere.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Aaron reads our guest Listen us A Cares USA Cares
dot RG. If you're looking for a way to support
men and women that have served, this is it.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
We're talking about relief.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Uh maybe there's a viction of foreclosed, or maybe utility
is getting ready to get shut off, car repossession, food scarcity.
This organization is the one that helps veterans and no
repayment is required back. I have actually seen this organization
in action twice with two veterans families, and I can't
say enough good things about them.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
They are the real deal. They are USA Cares.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Thank you for coming on with a yes, sure, oh wait,
and then uh you and the wife finish the murph
in an hour, he.
Speaker 6 (33:54):
Said, he's forty seven, just over an hour.
Speaker 8 (33:57):
It was a little over now that it's a marathon
at this point.
Speaker 6 (34:02):
Right now, I'm going to tell you about a toilet, Senator, Yeah,
listen to okay, toilet. This is the I just got
this toilet, all right, it's it's called a toto, but.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Hair from it doesn't vice, it doesn't.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
That's where they're from. DK Plumbing supply called four nine
fifty nine.
Speaker 6 (34:22):
As for John, appropriately, they will raise because you have
to have an electrician, you see, Senator comes in because
it's an all electric.
Speaker 5 (34:31):
So when you walk up to it, he goes, the
lid goes up.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
You've seed it, you've seen it.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
With them.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Okay, can I just say one thing for Can I
say one thing about this? I was gonna get one
of these toilets, but I used his and it started
laughing at me.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
I don't need that in my life.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
So the steal team approved the the Toto system called
fifty nine hundred that is VK Plumbing Supply dot com.
They'll get it installed for you. Have had it for
about six months. Jackie wasn't sold on it, and now
that's the only toll that she uses.
Speaker 5 (35:03):
Don't be scared. Don't be scared. They're great. There you go.
I love it.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
I would like to have my butt hairstyled.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
All right, stop, all right now, you're ruining it.
Speaker 6 (35:12):
All right back after this news radio eight forty wh
We're broadcasting live in the support of USA Cares. They
do so much good for so many veterans, And I
got to tell you a lot of people can say that, yeah,
we support the veterans, and maybe you do. But I've
never seen anybody work so tirelessly that I have Heather
French Henry every single and I mean that sincerely, because
(00:21):
I'll follow you and I'll see you at all these
veteran events and you're working NonStop.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Is that because of your father?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Yes, of course.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
You know Miss America was one thing, and of course
that was twenty five years ago, and that's what started
my national platform. But I always be the daughter of
a disabled Vietnam veteran. You know, that story never ends,
that title never gets old. And my dad's doing great today,
so I cannot complain. He is Mister America. So sorry
you too. You know that that title's gone. But when
I think about the men and women that he served
(00:51):
with and those who have come after, there are still
so many needs that are out there.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
And while we have.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
More resources than we've ever had before, it's just even
twenty five years later, all the things that we worked
on during my current Miss America year legislation for homeless veterans,
housing healthcare. It is more important than ever because just
because there's not a war a current war, doesn't mean
there's not a need. And that's what we ran into
twenty five years ago. We were sort of in between, right.
(01:18):
It was like after the First Golf War and people
had gone grown pretty apathetic. And we still see the
need today. So it doesn't matter that there's a war
going on. Military veterans and their families still need our support.
And that's our job, right because absolutely fat percent, you know,
choose to sign up and serve, and so the other
ninety nine point five percent of us, that's our responsibility.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Absolutely. By the way, if you're just out and about,
we are at Hearty's in Shelbyville. Hardy's in Shelbyville. If
you come by and you make a donation, you get
a free sausage biscuit.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Oh I love the sauceage bug?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Am I sweating?
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I might sweeten the pot. Let's make a sausage biscuit
and a Dwhite.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
Hug, Okay, and a Dwight hug. This place isn't that big? Shelbyville.
Speaker 6 (01:59):
On out to see us Exit thirty two off sixty
four East and it's about a mile down the road
to come see us today. Harty's is We're at Hardy's
not by accident because they're a big supporter of USA
Cares and is important again Memorial Day weekend. We always
try to do stuff around the biggies, but this is
every single day for them, and the need is a
lot greater than their resources, and they're trying to That's
(02:22):
why we're here, that's why they're partners with our show,
and of course iHeartMedia as we raise money for them.
And again not no fault to the government, but a
lot of times this is just a stop gap between
paperwork tends to take a little bit longer. My son
commissioned in the Navy and today he showed up for
his first duty station and they were like four hours
(02:42):
of paperwork on base before he even gets to even move.
So again the paperwork is long. And then so there's
a mom with two kids. Well, guess what, the water
bill comes, electric bill comes, and food comes.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
So this is a stop gap between it. What is
your relationship with USA Care Goodness.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
I've been involved with USA Cares from the very beginning,
when we first did infomercials. I think on insight maybe
it's work.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Dat anniversary. Now I do know.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
But you know, I've been an advocate because I love
having homegrown organizations that are right here in Kentucky. So
I've seen it grow from just a Kentucky based organization
helping Kentucky veterans to becoming a national organization. And it's
really important for the community to be able to get
involved because government in and of itself is it does
great work. When I was Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, we
(03:36):
had over a thousand employees that did an amazing amount
of work for our communities. But the community has a
responsibility and this is a great way for the community
to take ownership of that to be able to contribute
for those veterans in their families in need. And I
love the fact that while nationally USA Cares still focuses
(03:56):
on Post nine to eleven veterans, here in Kentucky and in
the common Way health and many people may not know this,
but they also are able to support pre nine to
eleven veterans and Post nine eleven veterans right here in
Kentucky because of some legislation that passed that I allocated
some extra funds for USA Cares just for those Kentucky
based veterans and their families.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Heather French Henry is our guest Miss America twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
It seems like yesterday.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
It is greatful.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
But we're talking about USA Cares, the veterans organization, and
I've had the pleasure of seeing USA Care in works
with two different veterans that I went Actually, Greg Getcher
went with me, the sneak and deacon. We both went
on behalf of two different veterans and we saw the
process at work. And Tony was talking about the red
tapes of the government. That wasn't the case with USA Care. Sure,
(04:46):
we sat down across from a board and we met
with them. We gave details on the veterans a whole bit,
and there was a process, application process, but we were
having a witness results pretty quick.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
The government federal.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I feel like, I feel like stay given more so
little faster than federal government. But USA Cares as community
based organizations, they can work faster. Actually, they have boards
and they are there to meet that immediate need. That's
why it's it's called financial emergency, financial assistance. And of
course we see the same things with like home for
your rent and mortgage. That's still kind of the number
(05:25):
one need, car, payments for repossession, utilities, phones, and even
an interesting one that's come up lately, daycare for some
of our veterans family so that they can go out
and find a job.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
Exists on two household incomes. Absolutely, that's the bottom line.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Well, Steve and I both work.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
You know, maybe we don't have to, but we just
our girls are in college and we know what those
expenses are like. And being raised in a family, you know,
in more rural Kentucky like I was with one of
four children, my father and all of his issues. No,
that financial assistance is the difference between you know, having
a home and not having a home, feeding your kids
(06:07):
and not feeding your kids. So we certainly appreciate all
the USA cares.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
By the way, just providing relief on rent, on maybe
your mortgage, on what are LGD what those are all
contributors that could bring a veteran even further down. There's
twenty two veteran suicides a day, by the way, Suicide
Hotline nine eight eight nine eight eight. But there's twenty
two veteran suicides per day So it's tough enough out there.
(06:32):
And like you said, it doesn't have to be just rent,
you know, the usuals Rent, Lgen whatever. You can think
outside the box and you can go.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
To wellness, folks. Well wellness is important.
Speaker 6 (06:43):
We talk about it all the time with the little
police Department and certainly with our veterans. By the way,
any of the Carl Junior or Hardy's location, if you
don't a dollar, the Dixie Highway location, we did that
last time. Someone walked in at ten thousand dollars. Yes,
during our remote he was unbelieved. Wow, that's not saying
Shelby Bill needs to step up and beat out of
ten thousand.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Oh sure, somebody out there would like to do that.
They certainly can. They'd be amazing.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Any Carl Juniors or Harty's location donate at least one
dollar to the Stars of Heroes campaign by purchasing a
star shaped cutout and then register to win more. All right,
so the funds raised, so of course go to USA Cares.
It is a rainy Monday after a long weekend. And
how are you doing personally? Everything good?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Everything?
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Your kids are my kids age to thank you.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Our kids are twenty one and twenty three, and I'm
very proud. Harper's headed to medical school at u of
L this fall. Taylor's headed she's pre law at u
of L and she's headed to Miss Kentucky in a
couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
She's Miss Derby City.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
But you know, she went into the Navy, and she
was injured during boot camp and got shipped out, but
she has maintained a steadfast support, obviously of our military.
And that's how you know, you have to raise children
to see what patriotism looks like. And patriot Susan can
take many forms, obviously, but we honor those who serve
(08:00):
because we want future generations to see that honor. Right,
So if you're not showcasing that, then they don't know
that our veterans and military can be taken care of.
And so Taylor joins the military, she gets injured, she
comes home, but she is utilizing her platform, just like
I did with mine as mister Vy City, to raise
warterness for suicide prevention, and so within that she's created
(08:24):
fragments for you know, civilian population and military population. And
when we think about that epidemic of suicide, it is
an epidemic for their generation. When I grew up, I
only knew maybe one that had died by suicide. But
then you encompass that with veterans, which when we talk
about that twenty two a day, you know, half of
those veterans that died by suicide are older veterans. It's
(08:45):
not just younger veterans, and they're not VA enrolled veterans.
So when you think about the lack of informational resources
and educational resources that are out there, it's really important
that we get out to our communities in a variety
of ways, multi generational, and let them know what resources
are available.
Speaker 6 (09:03):
It is weird we have vehicles. Friends that didn't get
PTSD tools. He was sixty five, he fought in Vietnam,
and you know, he just woke up one morning, you know,
and he had Look, you're not.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
The same person you were thirty forty years ago.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
The change as a person, and then you realize maybe
you know things.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Maybe that trauma, maybe that's trauma.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
All the way.
Speaker 6 (09:24):
Yeah, you just tumbed through and then at some point
it becomes different.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
But that's why we're.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Here to maybe that jerk reaction you had to that
noise or you know, the crowd, all of a sudden,
you realize, hey, you know that's part of the trauma
that I went through. And while PTSD isn't just a
military term and a diagnosis, we think about those who
don't talk about it when they come home, and so
being able to provide resources and when we talk about
(09:49):
financial assistance, any of those stressors that can just compound
the issues, right, it means that they start giving up
hope and things just start to look bleak. And so
when you're a even to offer just that simple act
of assistance.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Or answering the phone, how about that?
Speaker 4 (10:06):
How about helping to customize Maybe you know it's you
can't meet all the need, but you have other resources
and other people and other networks. That's what I find
is even the most helpful is just being there and
not dropping the ball when if it's not if you
can't take care of all of the solution, you know
other organizations that can. And that's really what I would
(10:30):
implore to veterans organizations and USA Cares has done so beautifully,
is that they're all tied into this community, a network
of help, and one begets the other. And so the
community has a lot of ways that they can give back.
And I love that about USA Cares that it's multifaceted,
but they're in they're integrated in the community, and not
just here in Kentucky but all over the United States.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Well, let's get back to anniversaries.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
It's twenty fifth anniversary from you winning Miss America, but
it was also fiftieth anniversary of the end of Vietnam.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
And a dear friend of mine, really dear friend of mine.
I'm not gonna call him by name, uh, but he was.
He's a Vietnam veteran. And think about fifty years ago.
They didn't fifty years ago, Vietnam veteran. He had gotten
diagnosed with PTSD and he's lived with it, obviously for
more fifty years or more, but he's he told me,
(11:25):
he shared with me that, you know, he could suppress, suppress, suppressed, suppress,
but then eventually it started to manifest in anger and
depression and more importantly with him anger because he was
taken down on the ones that he loved. So thanks
to USA Cares, you have the ability to look for answers,
solutions when it comes to PTSD.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And let me tell you, man.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
It's well, what follows that is homelessness, so absolutely only.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
One check away.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
If they lose something, something bad happens, it just creates
that down world spiral. And so the ultimate downwards brau
is they wind up on the street. Maybe they have
a chronic mental illness, maybe they have substance abuse, which
my father came home with co occurring issues with substance
abuse and PTSD.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
And in those days.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
It was just prescription drugs were just being kind of
shoved on them because we just didn't talk about past
extress disorder. And so fifty years later at the end,
you know now that we're commembering the end of the
war and we'll be at the State Fair again doing
our correguge military education will which takes me about twenty
three days the build show and tear down, but we'll
be doing that and that's ultra important because again you're
(12:31):
getting that information out in a creative way to people
who may not understand or know where the resources are,
and you're able to help tell a story and to
honor their service.
Speaker 6 (12:41):
But since not to look Vietnam, there was some that
did not volunteer. They were called by the government from
the draft right. But since then we are an all
all volunte volunteer force, and the rest of the world
is like, how do they do that? They have the
greatest fighting force in the history of man and they're
all volunteers.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Well, we don't do it successfully though.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
We've had a draw down in numbers over our recruiting numbers.
Over the years, I've been serving as an ambassador for
the Department of the Navy. Other brands and service have
like programs as well. We try to do two ambassadors
per state, and so trying to make that human connection
for young men and women to say this is something
that's viable for me to do. We do a good
(13:22):
job of honoring our veterans more than we ever have before. Right,
we have the parades, we have the welcome homes, we
have services. We try to get out there. People are
shaking hands, saying thank you. But what has happened through
some studies is that there's a little bit of a
disconnect where we see the heroes. We've created these heroes,
but young men and women aren't necessarily seeing themselves in
(13:44):
that role. So we have to create that human touch
point to increase our recruiting numbers, which we're starting to
do well.
Speaker 6 (13:50):
I will say this, I've been on We just got
back from Purdue, and I will tell you my son's class.
There's all these engineers from Purdue. They chose to serve.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Let it go.
Speaker 6 (14:01):
Now he's living in Charleston with a bunch of Vandy graduates.
These are all young, smart kids. They're talking would have
gone into the industry, aerospace.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Engineer in best brid in the middle.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
They're all going in and they're serving, and it's it's
just as a bright spot of that conversation. There's a
lot of young, really smart people putting off the money.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
For a while.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
And by the way, by the way, if you don't
know the services are paying now, I mean if you yeah,
if you if you're an officer, you you're getting paid, buddy.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
The challenge, though, so when we think about the future
of their service and what we want to make sure
is that once they're in the service, they understand how
to build their finances, they understand that transition once they
discharge and become a veteran that they usually don't have
that O crap moment for about six months after they
get out of service. And that's where we find that
(14:51):
that is that like that adjustment that transition becomes a
little tougher, and that's where they don't know the resources.
And that's why I love the fact that USA cares
and they started they started predominantly on Post nine eleven
because that's what was happening. These families were getting out
and there just wasn't the availability of services and the
understand they were out there, and then that O crap
(15:12):
moment hits and once they're discharging their off base and
the military is not paying for all the things, and
maybe paperwork's going slow on benefits and and maybe you
know the disabilities that were that were coming in and
then you go, where do I go? That's the worst
moment for them.
Speaker 6 (15:28):
Yeah, then they're stuck working with guys. They you know,
they have to go work at an office with Dwightonna.
So they're just like, I can't get an email back
I was in the military, EMIL immediately back. Yeah, so
(15:51):
we are celebrating, uh and remembering Memorial Day.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
Did you do a cookout or anything?
Speaker 7 (15:57):
You know.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
I got a chance to go home to Brooksville, to
Bracken Camp, my home county. I always have two hometowns,
Maysville and Augustus and Mason and Bracken, and we got
to see it's right on the Ohio River, in the
Ohio River Valley near Cincinnati. Always say from the northeastern
pie of Kentucky, so not northern, not eastern, or like
(16:18):
Alexandria to Ashland, is northeastern. So home of Clooney, we
have the Rosemary Clooney House. So I got a chance
to go home and do a really a hometown commemoration
which was really great. And our current Miss Kentucky was
Air Chapel, who was part of my Veterans Youth Council
when I was when I was Commissioner, and she too
has a veterans platform. So what I am seeing are
(16:40):
that younger generations, because of work like what USA Care
the Cares has done, legacies that I feel like I've
also been a part of, You're seeing younger generations that
are building that platform of care. I also want before
we go, I also want to implore you We've got
the USA Cares Gala that's coming up July nineteenth, so
you can go on their website and find out how
(17:01):
you can support their so U SA Cares dot org.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Okay, yeah, all.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Right, we're gonna head we're going to break, so I
need you to hand your headset to your drive.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
Steve.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Yeah, I'm gonna give you a h this America joke.
Speaker 6 (17:18):
No no, no, no, We're gonna get okay, Steve is
gonna do a great job.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Of course, picture keeping up with this. I get it.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
I get it again. How are you, sir?
Speaker 7 (17:32):
I'm doing well.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
You got a couple of coffee in you, so you're
ready to go?
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Are you ready for jokeing today?
Speaker 5 (17:36):
I got decaf here. We love you are right now.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
So I'm so plead, not that you would say anything inappropriate,
but okay, so joking the day is now your your turn?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Is this where I put a dollar in?
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Or dollar?
Speaker 5 (17:53):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (17:54):
No, no, no, no, no no no no you have you
have immunity music right right now?
Speaker 5 (17:58):
Yes, so you don't hear it. But it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
How how bad of a sticker it is, it won't
cost you. Yeah, all right today today, Seve Henry all right.
Speaker 7 (18:08):
You know there's a tradition in Kentucky, okay, primarily an
Eastern Kentucky, when a baby is worn, an angel will
descend out of heaven wow and greet the baby. Sometimes
the baby sees the glow of the angel and reaches up,
and the angel takes the hand and kisses the hand,
and that baby becomes a great writer.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
It's beautiful, man our surgeon.
Speaker 7 (18:28):
Then sometimes the baby is asleep and the angel doesn't
wake the baby up and just kisses it on the lips.
And you know, sometimes babies lay on their tummies and
their bottoms kind of sticking up in the air, and
the angel just can't help. But those become politicians that
(18:55):
I know.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
He comes through it.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
He tries State Men's Health guys. How you feeling around
one or two in the afternoon. You're getting tired of lethargic.
What about the weekends? Are you getting stuff done with
the family or are you're just sitting on the couch.
I used to be as tired in lethargic all of
the time. I had my testosterone checked and it was low.
Then I started going to try Statemen's Health guys. Make
(19:20):
your appointment. Go to try statemenshealth dot com. Take that
low tee quiz. It's all yes or no questions. Take
you bout it maybe a minute and a half. Then
go to try Statement's Health. Your appointment's ninety nine dollars
but listen to what you get lab work done, You
get your blood results back within thirty minutes or less.
You sit down with a licensed medical professional. There was
playing all of your numbers, your PSA, your testosterone, all
(19:42):
of that. Then you make an educated decision. Is testosterone
right for you? It was for me, and it changed
my life so much for the better for thirteen years.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
I'm never going back to the way that I used
to feel. Check them out. I go to try Statement's
health dot com.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Stick around more on the way, including news at the
bottom the hours, we broadcast live with USA CARES News
radioa forty WHAS.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
News Radio eight forty whas, The Tony and Dwight Show,
brought you by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. We're
here with USA Cares again at the Heartys because they
are part of this mission.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Also, as I bring in a dear friend of mine,
he's Senator Aaron reidt I gotta step in this. I
gotta take off my radio host hat, and I gotta
put up my marriage counselor hat for you and your
wife because what happened yesterday was not fair.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
You did the murph.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
You're a Navy seal so for you, that's just like
getting up and changing the champ. Everybody with the Murph
is and by the way, the Burton the Murphy is
a challenge. By the way, it honors Lieutenant Michael Murphy,
who you actually served with. I want to talk about that,
but listen what you do all in one hour? You
do one hundred pull ups, two hundred pushups, three hundred
squads and you finish with a one mile run. Now, well,
(20:56):
here's where I'm getting at. Your wife, who's in cream
aredible shape, she did it with you. Is that a
little bit unfair because you were a Navy seal and
are a Navy seal.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Well, guess what's the Navy seer? Always Navy seal. But
you actually you served with Michael Murphy, Lieutenant Michael Murphy.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, so if I guess, first of all, sorry for
your loss, but uh, talk about doing the Murph and
how important that is.
Speaker 8 (21:21):
Well, first of all, with with my wife, you know, yeah,
a Navy wife job is it's it's up there. It's
pretty elite, especially a Navy seal's wife. You know, being
a seal is one thing, but being a Navy seal's wife,
that's that takes a lot of grit and she's been
she's been there the whole time, rocking and rolling. It's
a probably they say it's the toughest job in the Navy,
you know Navy one.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
Well, because the call comes in during dinner, right, that's
gonna be on a plane in a couple hours.
Speaker 8 (21:46):
Raising babies, having babies while I'm on deployment.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Yeah, it's so you know, Uh, we always have the
horse soldiers on a couple of times a year. And
one of them, Mark Nutch, was talking about when they
were getting to the floor, uh, to go to Afghanistan.
It was right after nine to eleven. He was he
got beat and he was on his way to get
to ploy. He had stop against something. It was at
(22:11):
the gas station and the guy in front of him
was buying cigarettes, lottery ticket whatever. It was taken forever
and he looked at the newspaper and he goes, I
wish we would go and get revenge on these sobs,
and Mark was right behind him going, well, we would
if you had hurt in the black up. But but
you actually you actually served with the Lieutenant Michael Murphy.
(22:32):
The Murphy is it was his workout, was he just
I mean, I guess that's the kind of drive you
have to have to be a Navy seal. But I
guess even in the seals, there's some that just want
to perform e.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
The hire is that that's that's case with him.
Speaker 8 (22:46):
You know, Murph was a unique guy. He was he
was legit, you know, as an officer. You know, I
always thought it was funny. We'd all be working out
in the grinder all you know, me and Marcus Latreil
and all the boys were doing our PTE and getting
after it, and murphould walk out with body armor on,
out of the out of the gym, out of the
locker room with his body armor on. We're all out
there doing push ups and and pull ups, and and
(23:07):
he'd like give us the high sign. He'd take off
on his run. He would literally he'd run a mile
with his body armor on. Then he would come back
and just start knocking out, you know, one hundred pull ups.
Then he would do two hundred push ups, and then
he'd do three hundred squats, and then he both out again,
run another mile and come back.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
And he actually did that workout.
Speaker 8 (23:26):
This wasn't something you know, most of these CrossFit yeah,
you know honor that Honor workouts that they have, you know,
hero workouts.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
They kind of just made those up.
Speaker 8 (23:36):
But this is one that Murph actually did and that's
kind of why it's kind of evolved the way it is.
And you know, I yesterday, my wife and I did
it for They've done it several several years.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Take an hour.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
You gotta do it in an hour?
Speaker 5 (23:48):
Yeah, I have to do it in an hour.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
They go up.
Speaker 8 (23:51):
I'm forty seven years old, right, I got if you notice.
But my success has surrounded There.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Should be a ground.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
There should be as the aide goes right.
Speaker 8 (24:01):
Honestly, it's it's not any less painful. I'm feeling it now.
My wife's probably laying in bed listening to this right now.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
This weekend yesterday, Okay, so I'm sitting there grabbing. I'm sorry.
Speaker 8 (24:15):
You know, we did it at the farm there and
you know we got early yesterday morning and we uh,
I gave him. I tossed my wife some body armors.
He's like, you guys, I can't believe y'all wear this crap.
This is way too heavy. You know, I can't fight
in this, you know, I'm like, well, let's either that or.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
And the heat by the way that well he let's
talk about the headspace here, because you know the seals
are yes, you're doing the push ups and all that,
but again you would know more than all of us.
But the word is it's really the mentally tough that
survived the sealed team buds.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
Is that the buds.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
So the survived that qualification is the guys because I
saw it again. You see a video on Facebook and
they see what guys says, Look, a lot of these
guys that came in that were cross country and they
did the of marathons and stuff. They have the first
to quit, and he goes the guys that had something
to prove to themselves between the two ears, you know,
the ones that survived.
Speaker 8 (25:08):
The guys that make it through this training. Look you
look at the like like Rudy, remember the movie Rudy. Yeah,
that's the kind of guy that makes it through. The
guys that had struggled, like you know, the guys that
showed up to Buds that could run a five minute
mile or do a thousand.
Speaker 5 (25:23):
Pull ups and push ups.
Speaker 8 (25:25):
Those guys they've never been like if they're just gifted
naturally like athletic they've never felt the pain that a
guy like me or were my buddies that made it
through feels like you, you know you've you had a
pretty good adventure and trek getting back in shape too.
You know, it takes me pain. And if you haven't
felt that pain when you were to buds, having not
felt that pain, those guys ring out, they quit.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, so let's talk about buds. Uh, Basic underwater demolition.
I watched there was a to get you got to
pass that hell we you go through hell we to
become a Navy seal. And I think it's absolutely I
mean it's insane, seventy two hours or so without sleep
and by the way, you're working damn near a little time.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
If you get to eat, it's out of a garbage can.
Speaker 5 (26:07):
I remember seeing the movies.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
I watched it, really because I watched the Blood Class
two thirty four. There was a documentary and that that's
what they were doing. But it is a mental toughness.
Let's talk about what we have going on right here though. Uh,
because this is a really really cool idea.
Speaker 8 (26:28):
Oh yeah, the Veterans Real Outreach transitional housing for homelest
veterans right here in Shelbyville, right, you know my old
family veterinarian, doctor Pippen.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
Everyone knows doctor Pippen.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
H he's a Vietnam veteran. He's given back in him
and all the guys, mister Karen and all the guys
there are they have been. They built these tiny homes,
these humes. Oh yeah, on the break downtown Shelbyville, just
about a block from the courthouse, and they have a
big meeting area there. They have the guys come in
(26:58):
and they'll interviewing there, and they have a place for
him to eat, like if you wanted to come check
him out. Every Thursday at the VRO location. I think
it's five oh six Bradshaw Street in Shelbyville. Every Thursday
they have a dinner at six o'clock for veterans, and
I try to make all them that I can.
Speaker 5 (27:15):
I haven't been there in a little bit, man.
Speaker 8 (27:16):
They always have a good meal and it kind of
brings folks in together and they talk about America and
how great it is and why.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Well.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Another friend of mine, a friend of Tony's as well,
he's retired Special Forces Gunny CO.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
He talks.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
He's the national chapter president of the Veterans MC, and
it all clicked with me when I was at the
MC's clubhouse one night and he explained to me, goes,
you know, I could talk to you for days about
my issues.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
You're never going to comprehend it. You're never going to
understand it.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
But if I commiserate with someone who's been through or
going through what I have, it clicks right a minute immediately.
So there is a veterans community that's needed in a
desperate way.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
If you ask me, yes, I agree.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Let's talk about USA Cares. What that means to you?
Because the USA Cares they do so much for so
many veterans. We're talking about if you're getting ready to
be foreclosed on, maybe you can't keep the lights on. Recently,
there was a child unfortunately passed away last week. But
Greg Getcher and I went to this organization on his behalf,
(28:20):
on his family's behalf, and they came through and they
did wonders. This child needed assistance in a bathroom. He's handicapped,
and they came in, they helped out. What does USA
Cares mean to you? Said or read?
Speaker 8 (28:33):
You know, the USA Carris is one of the outmost
outstanding groups in Kentucky, and I know that the State
Senate has always in the past we've been able to
help them out and kind of anything we can do
to help and be part of that. You know, I've
been to several of their events. It's kind of funny.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
My old.
Speaker 8 (28:54):
Rifle coach, Hank Patten, used to be a part of
him back in the day. So that's that's how far
back he was. He was one of the main guys
and involved in that, and they kind of got me
involved in USA Cares a little bit. And now another
sealed buddy of mine's, his wife is a is actually
an employeet USA Carris and they are really tip of
the sphere as far as helping helping veterans. The calls
(29:15):
come in, you know, they're all different. They all needed
actually well had a different need, and there's a really good,
diverse group of folks that are that are ready to
help them.
Speaker 6 (29:25):
So Kentucky, most people think that bourbon and horse racing
is the leading industry in Kentucky, but the truth is
about twelve or thirteen billion dollars a year or from
the two big bases.
Speaker 5 (29:37):
Right, what is Frankfurt? Where do we stand in Kentucky?
Speaker 6 (29:41):
With veterans helping veterans compared to the states around US.
Speaker 8 (29:46):
Oh man, you know what, that's a good one. I've
got a lot of people. You know, I'm the I'm
the vice chair of the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public
Protection Senate Committee, and you know, we we're constantly looking
for or for veterans to help. I don't know that
we're number one right now, but you know that's my goal.
I'd love to bring us up a notch, several notches
(30:08):
so that we are the shining city on a hill,
so to speak, for the veterans in America, because I
want Kentucky to be that place where veterans feel welcome
to come, you know, anything that we can do for
them to make their lives easier because they earned it.
You know, it's not like they deserve it. They usually
they earned it. They deserve it. And I guess the
difference between titlements and something that you've earned, it's a
(30:30):
big difference there.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Senator Aaron Reed joins as that we broadcast live for
USA Cares usacres dot org. It doesn't get any better
than this organization.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
If you're looking for.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Someone to support, I want to talk about something maybe
you know this as a veteran, maybe not. Is there
any type of organization out there, because it's been put
on my heart recently that a lot of problems with
our older veterans are that they're just warehoused. They're gonna
be put into a old folks home. And that's just
mister Henderson in two thirty four or that's to that.
Do you know if any organizations they specifically go to
(31:05):
visit these warehouse veterans that If not, maybe we should
start one.
Speaker 5 (31:09):
That's a good point.
Speaker 8 (31:10):
I would say that the v r O here in Chubbyville.
They they're really good at that, are they. You know,
they they'll bring they'll bring you in if they can
find they find out that you're in need here locally.
You know, they they help you with your VA claims.
There's crazy, there's it's there's people out there that haven't
ever had the opportunity to put into VA claim and
they're disabled veterans and no help you do that. You know,
(31:32):
there's there's a lot of groups out there. I'll talk
about my dad's group. He uh, he's founded the Kentucky
Wounded Heroes here in Kentucky and they take guys all
over the country hunting and fishing.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
You know, wow, that's.
Speaker 8 (31:45):
That's something that gets the veterans together and allows them
to kind of vent, you know, while they're while they're fishing.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
Well, on that note, tell us about Shellville.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
This is your area center and you grew up here obviously,
and tell me about Shellville.
Speaker 5 (31:57):
Why is it? Why do you like it?
Speaker 8 (32:00):
Well, like, you're right, I grew up here, graduated Shelby
County High School in nineteen ninety five.
Speaker 5 (32:05):
I was an eagle scout here.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Wow, that's tough man. That's rare Eagle scouts.
Speaker 5 (32:11):
Letting not his tough as seal team.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Well, I'm saying no, it is.
Speaker 5 (32:16):
It's an accomplish Well, you hain't service project and all.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
What's good is?
Speaker 8 (32:20):
You know being an eagle scout? You're right, it is.
It is something to be proud of.
Speaker 5 (32:23):
You know.
Speaker 8 (32:23):
My brother was an eagle scout as well. My dad
was an eagle scout. My son's an eagle scout. I
always like to tell the story to kind of put
an emphasis on it. My brother, he graduated Mby Riddle
Aeronauticals at school and he was I guess twenty one
when he graduated one of the youngest pilots to be
to put out his resume, and then Continental Airlines the
chief captor. The chief pilot was an Eagle Scout and
(32:45):
I was like two hundred and fifty applicants. He was
my brother was then only Eagle Scout and the guy
just went fam That.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Guy right there at Eagle Scout.
Speaker 8 (32:50):
He wasn't smoking and doing drugs in high school and
he was squared away. And then the same thing happened.
He applied for ups to be a pilot. He was
the only Eagle Scout in the group and chief pilot
was an Eagle Scouts advance.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
That guy.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
Wow, See, I was in the pilot for a reason.
That's why.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
That's why I was in the Campfire Girls for three years.
But then it's gotten me nowhere, Yeah, nowhere.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Aaron reads our guest Listen us A Cares USA Cares
dot RG. If you're looking for a way to support
men and women that have served, this is it.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
We're talking about relief.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Uh maybe there's a viction of foreclosed, or maybe utility
is getting ready to get shut off, car repossession, food scarcity.
This organization is the one that helps veterans and no
repayment is required back. I have actually seen this organization
in action twice with two veterans families, and I can't
say enough good things about them.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
They are the real deal. They are USA Cares.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Thank you for coming on with a yes, sure, oh wait,
and then uh you and the wife finish the murph
in an hour, he.
Speaker 6 (33:54):
Said, he's forty seven, just over an hour.
Speaker 8 (33:57):
It was a little over now that it's a marathon
at this point.
Speaker 6 (34:02):
Right now, I'm going to tell you about a toilet, Senator, Yeah,
listen to okay, toilet. This is the I just got
this toilet, all right, it's it's called a toto, but.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Hair from it doesn't vice, it doesn't.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
That's where they're from. DK Plumbing supply called four nine
fifty nine.
Speaker 6 (34:22):
As for John, appropriately, they will raise because you have
to have an electrician, you see, Senator comes in because
it's an all electric.
Speaker 5 (34:31):
So when you walk up to it, he goes, the
lid goes up.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
You've seed it, you've seen it.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
With them.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Okay, can I just say one thing for Can I
say one thing about this? I was gonna get one
of these toilets, but I used his and it started
laughing at me.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
I don't need that in my life.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
So the steal team approved the the Toto system called
fifty nine hundred that is VK Plumbing Supply dot com.
They'll get it installed for you. Have had it for
about six months. Jackie wasn't sold on it, and now
that's the only toll that she uses.
Speaker 5 (35:03):
Don't be scared. Don't be scared. They're great. There you go.
I love it.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
I would like to have my butt hairstyled.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
All right, stop, all right now, you're ruining it.
Speaker 6 (35:12):
All right back after this news radio eight forty wh
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True Crime Tonight
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.