American Warrior Radio
What is American Warrior Radio?
American Warrior Radio tells the stories of our men & women in the military and those who support them while also sharing issues of importance to veterans and their families.
Meet Your Host - Ben Huehler-Garcia
Ben Buehler-Garcia never served in the military or carried a badge. This is why he considers it his duty to support those who have.
For nearly three decades he has volunteered with several initiatives to support military and first responder families including the Tucson Chamber Military Affairs Committee, the 9/11 Never Forgotten Tower Challenge Foundation, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, USS Tucson 770 Club, the Tucson Community Cares Foundation, Honorary Commander for the 12th Air Force/Air Forces South and is the Arizona Ambassador for the Green Beret Foundation.
DFC Society Members Interviewed
Major General Don Shepperd
January 25, 2015 - “MISTY FORWARD AIR CONTROLLERS OVER VIETNAM” – MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD – FRIDAY PILOTS
A small group of volunteers flew very dangerous Forward Air Control missions over North Vietnam in F-100 Super Sabre aircraft. 28% were shot down, some twice.
Brig General Jim McDivitt
April 10, 2016 - ASTRONAUT JIM MCDIVITT – “CAREER LIMITING CAPERS”
Astronaut Jim McDivitt’s path toward being the 20th man in space was a circuitous one..including 145 combat missions in Korea and a Colonel who called him a “traitor” for leaving the Air Force to go to NASA.
Colonel Martin Lenzini
June 5, 2016 - THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS SOCIETY
Martin Lenzini was awarded FOUR DFC’s during a 13 month tour of duty as a Marine pilot in Vietnam. One of these close air support missions epitomized the word “close” when he dropped bombs with pinpoint accuracy within 80 yards of friendly forces.
Colonels Kim and Scott Campbell
October 30, 2016 - THE DISTINGUISHED COUPLE
Colonels Kim and Scott Campbell are both Air Force fighter pilots, both fly A-10 aircraft, they are married and..they both have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Brig General Ross Detwiler
July 19, 2022 - ROSS DETWILER – DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
Three time DFC recipient Ross Detwiler and his fellow “Misty” pilots volunteered to fly some of the most dangerous missions of the Vietnam War. Twenty two percent of the forward air controllers were shot down. Ross was among them.
Major Lew Jennings
September 18, 2022 - COBRA GUNSHIP PILOT LEW JENNINGS
Lew describes some of the more heroic and tragic missions of his time in combat. These included one pilot who climbed out of the cockpit while airborne to kick lose a misfired rocket. One of my favorites was a mission with Eddy “Mad Bomber” Joiner.
Wade Hubbard
January 1, 2023
Wade Hubbard only spent five years in the Air Force. During that time, he was awarded FIVE Distinguished Flying Cross medals, Thirty Air Medals and the Purple Heart. He flew in Vietnam as a “back seater” in the F-4 Phantom completing 427 ½ combat missions. Wade participated in both Operation Linebacker and Operation Linebacker 2.
Space Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins
February 19, 2023
Space Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins has spent more than 872 hours in space and logged 6,751 hours in the cockpits of 30 different types of aircraft. In 1995 she became the first woman to pilot a space shuttle and then in 1999, the first woman to command a space shuttle mission. Eileen joins us as part of our educational partnership with the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.
Kim Campbell
March 19, 2023
A-10 fighter pilot Kim Campbell picked up many leadership lessons over the course of a 24 year Air Force career. Some came in a “crucible moment” over Baghdad on April 7, 2003. While providing close air support for troops in contact, her aircraft was struck by a surface to air missile, knocking out all of the plane’s hydraulics.
Royce Williams
June 4, 2023
Royce Williams kept a huge secret for fifty years. He had been given strict orders. Royce joins us as part of our partnership with the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.
Royce and his brother signed up after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During his career he flew everything from open cockpit biplanes to jets at Mach 2 in three wars.