July 3, 2025 • 4 mins
Staff Sergeant Monte Bernardo joins us to discuss an unforgettable story about his service and what happened on July 4 in Afghanistan.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Just to shift in perspective that makes you appreciate things
all the more. This is West Michigan's Morning News Steve
Kelly and Brett Bikita. We are joined on the live
line by an American hero Army veteran Purple Heart recipient,
staff Sergeant Monte Bernardo. Can you put in perspective? And
we need to start this conversation by saying, not only
(00:21):
thank you for your service, but for your sacrifice for
this country. As we're doing amazing things this Independence Day weekend,
we owe our freedom to heroes like you, So thank
you very much for all that you've done for us.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Oh my pleasure, I do it again in our.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
And that's saying something because in twenty twelve on Independence Day,
you lost a lot for your country as well. Can
you put that sacrifice in perspective? And why you celebrate today.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Twenty twelve out on a boll happen to be the
lucky guy that found the bomb of my foot, my
both my legs and my left hand.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Story therefore, you well listen, you're doing the talk show circuit.
We don't want you to relive your trauma. But the
thing that I take away from all that I've heard
from you is your amazing attitude and celebration of family
and what you have and not what you lost. Can
you put that in perspective, yes.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Sir, I mean it's not really like you said, it's
not really about what I've lost. It's doing something with
what I have left and being somebody that my kids
can look up to, and you know, somebody somebody that
everybody can just like, Okay, you know that guy's doing it,
like why not? Why shouldn't I. That's kind of what
(01:46):
I strive for. Man, I'm in the gym every day.
I'm out here, you know, teaching my kids to do
things that I don't Personally I can't still say, you know,
I can't do it because I don't have the limbs
or whatever. But I still out there trying to teach
him to do it. You know. It's that drive.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Steph Sargeant, thank you so much as we get ready
for the fourth of July again for your service. Like
Steve said, and I just want to share with you
something that maybe you've heard this story, maybe you haven't,
but one of the things, you know, we're talking news
and information every day on our show that puts a
smile on my face because I've had family and friends
that have served. I have not, but the numbers of
(02:25):
recruitment have gone up and they've already hit the cap
for what they expected for this year. And I say
that in relation to you and your service, how does
that make you feel? That's going to make you feel good?
And all the other people that you serve with, and
the fact that people are stepping up and want to
represent this country.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I think it's a great thing. I think everybody should
at least have the experience. You know, maybe military is
not meant for everybody, but do theyk at a minimum?
It's a great steppingstone in life, a good learning experience
that everybody should have. So choosing to support this great country,
but I fully support that. I feel great about it.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I wish more would tell us about that purple heart ceremony.
There were kind of two of them, right, One of
them it was just sort of pinned on you, and
another was a surprise. Can you tell us about that?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It was so the first one, obviously, I don't don't remember.
I was in a medically induced soma in Kandahar. I
believe it was in Kandahar. I don't know if I
was asleep. But the second one was actually put together
with my wife, with my brother in law and sent
(03:39):
her five fund are the fund, And they surprised me
up at Walter reed with that, and that was and
that's the one I keep with me and not the
one I got when I was asleep. That's the one
I have in my drawer, is the one that they
presented me with up there. That's I mean, just another
(03:59):
token of of the fund, you know, approaching every aspect
of service member's life. It's there. There's amazing when it
comes to that.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, you will put the link in the podcast section
atwood radio dot com to that nonprofit that helps so
many people. But uh, he is celebrating life dot org.
Say that one more time thefund dot org. Excellent, we'll
get that in the podcast section again. Thank you for
your time today, your service and sacrifice, and God bless
(04:32):
them this Independence weekend.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
You'll have a good rest of today.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
We will staff Sergeant Monty Bernardo
Just to shift in perspective that makes you appreciate things
all the more. This is West Michigan's Morning News Steve
Kelly and Brett Bikita. We are joined on the live
line by an American hero Army veteran Purple Heart recipient,
staff Sergeant Monte Bernardo. Can you put in perspective? And
we need to start this conversation by saying, not only
(00:21):
thank you for your service, but for your sacrifice for
this country. As we're doing amazing things this Independence Day weekend,
we owe our freedom to heroes like you, So thank
you very much for all that you've done for us.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Oh my pleasure, I do it again in our.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
And that's saying something because in twenty twelve on Independence Day,
you lost a lot for your country as well. Can
you put that sacrifice in perspective? And why you celebrate today.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Twenty twelve out on a boll happen to be the
lucky guy that found the bomb of my foot, my
both my legs and my left hand.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Story therefore, you well listen, you're doing the talk show circuit.
We don't want you to relive your trauma. But the
thing that I take away from all that I've heard
from you is your amazing attitude and celebration of family
and what you have and not what you lost. Can
you put that in perspective, yes.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Sir, I mean it's not really like you said, it's
not really about what I've lost. It's doing something with
what I have left and being somebody that my kids
can look up to, and you know, somebody somebody that
everybody can just like, Okay, you know that guy's doing it,
like why not? Why shouldn't I. That's kind of what
(01:46):
I strive for. Man, I'm in the gym every day.
I'm out here, you know, teaching my kids to do
things that I don't Personally I can't still say, you know,
I can't do it because I don't have the limbs
or whatever. But I still out there trying to teach
him to do it. You know. It's that drive.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Steph Sargeant, thank you so much as we get ready
for the fourth of July again for your service. Like
Steve said, and I just want to share with you
something that maybe you've heard this story, maybe you haven't,
but one of the things, you know, we're talking news
and information every day on our show that puts a
smile on my face because I've had family and friends
that have served. I have not, but the numbers of
(02:25):
recruitment have gone up and they've already hit the cap
for what they expected for this year. And I say
that in relation to you and your service, how does
that make you feel? That's going to make you feel good?
And all the other people that you serve with, and
the fact that people are stepping up and want to
represent this country.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I think it's a great thing. I think everybody should
at least have the experience. You know, maybe military is
not meant for everybody, but do theyk at a minimum?
It's a great steppingstone in life, a good learning experience
that everybody should have. So choosing to support this great country,
but I fully support that. I feel great about it.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I wish more would tell us about that purple heart ceremony.
There were kind of two of them, right, One of
them it was just sort of pinned on you, and
another was a surprise. Can you tell us about that?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It was so the first one, obviously, I don't don't remember.
I was in a medically induced soma in Kandahar. I
believe it was in Kandahar. I don't know if I
was asleep. But the second one was actually put together
with my wife, with my brother in law and sent
(03:39):
her five fund are the fund, And they surprised me
up at Walter reed with that, and that was and
that's the one I keep with me and not the
one I got when I was asleep. That's the one
I have in my drawer, is the one that they
presented me with up there. That's I mean, just another
(03:59):
token of of the fund, you know, approaching every aspect
of service member's life. It's there. There's amazing when it
comes to that.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, you will put the link in the podcast section
atwood radio dot com to that nonprofit that helps so
many people. But uh, he is celebrating life dot org.
Say that one more time thefund dot org. Excellent, we'll
get that in the podcast section again. Thank you for
your time today, your service and sacrifice, and God bless
(04:32):
them this Independence weekend.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
You'll have a good rest of today.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
We will staff Sergeant Monty Bernardo
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