Richard Botkin, Author of Ride the Thunder/Outstanding Post 2780

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-First off, we talk to Jack Pickard, member of VFW Post 2780 in Traverse City, Michigan. His Post helped raise funds to pay for buses that transferred troops from Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin back home to Northern Michigan for three days before deploying to Iraq. Without the help from Post 2780 and other Posts and organizations, many of these troops would have had no way to travel home to see their family before they left.
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-Ride the Thunder is a new book by Richard Botkin that recounts the amazing exploits of U.S. Marine Captain John Ripley and South Vietnamese Major Le Ba Binh. It recasts Vietnam's tainted image, and tells the inspiring story of American heroism and the South Vietnamese relentless fight for freedom. We talk to Botkin about dispelling the notion that the military situation in Vietnam was lost.
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Best Warrior Competition, Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin

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-We continue the show this week from the Best Warrior Competition held at Ft. McCoy in Tomah, Wis., where the purpose is to find the best warrior in the Army Reserves. First this week, we speak with Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz. He talks to us about the benefits of hiring veterans, and the high retention rate of the Army Reserves.
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-Next, we speak with CSM Leon Caffie with the Army Reserves about winning last year's competition, and the camaraderie among the soldiers. He also talks about the radical change the Army Reserves has undergone, and why 2008 was a pivotal year for the Army Reserves.
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Best Warrior Competition, Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin

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-This week's show comes to you from the Best Warrior Competition held at Ft. McCoy in Tomah, Wis. The purpose of the competition is to find the best warrior in the Army Reserves. The week-long event started Monday, and challenges soldiers' physical and mental stamina as well as their will. First, we talk with Public Affairs Officer, Captain Corey Shultz about some of the specifics of the competition. Tommy Tradewell, who will become VFW National Commander in August, also joins us to talk about the importance of the Army Reserves.
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-Next, we speak with the only female competitor left standing in the competition. Staff Sergeant Elizabeth Carroll from Colorado joins us to talk about what it's like being the only female left in the Best Warrior Competition, and the physical challenges involved. Staff Sergeant Aaron Butler and Specialist Christopher Ludwig also sit down with us to discuss some of the events involved in the competition and the lack of sleep that comes with it.
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-We speak with a couple more warriors in the competition, Sergeant Luke Heideman and Shawn Zimmerman from Hays, Kan., about sore feet and what it's like being in the Army Reserves, working full-time, and going to school full-time.
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Operation Purple Camp/Lt. Brian Bradshaw/Outstanding Post 2473

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-First this week, we talk to Michelle Joyner with the National Military Family Association (NMFA) about Operation Purple Camp: a camp created to help military children struggling with the stresses of war.
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-Next, we discuss the death of Lt. Brian Bradshaw. Bradshaw was killed by an explosive device in Afghanistan on June 25, the same day Michael Jackson died.
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-Jim Mazzo, quartermaster of VFW Post 2473 joins us for our Outstanding Post segment. He tells us what his Post is doing to appeal to younger veterans.
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-To finish up this week, we discuss the latest news from Iran. We also have details about next week's show from Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin.
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