GRP 96- The Commando: The life and death of Cameron Baird.

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GRP 96-Corporal Cameron Baird is one of Australia’s most highly decorated warriors. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in leading a team of Australian Commando’s assaulting an enemy strong hold on June 22, 2013 in Afghanistan.  Author Ben Mckelvey just published the book “The Commando: The life and death of Cameron Baird”.

I have Ben on for this podcast alongside former Australian Special Forces operator Eddie Robinson. Cam and Eddie were best friends having grown up in Special Forces together. We talked about the process of writing the book, and Ben sitting down with Cameron’s wonderful parents Doug, and Kaye Baird. Ben and Eddie shared some details from the book and it really gives some insight into a man like Cam who not only was a remarkable warrior, but was also a deep thinker with interest in philosophy and history.

Eddie shares a story of a time when they were on patrol in Afghanistan and the children of this particular village were running alongside the vehicle’s probably hoping to get some candy or water. They had nothing left to give them so Eddie decided to hand them bottles of hot sauce. Cam proceeds to tell Eddie this will likely get them into a fight. A few minutes later they got ambushed. LOL  

0:00-Episode overview

6:58-History and insight into the Victoria Cross

31:06-Shaping the book “The Commando”. Utilizing the 2nd Commando Regiment in Afghanistan.

35:00-Eddie Robinson’s background in Special Forces and how he met Cam. Ben Mckelvey’s background.

1:08-A story of a time when Cam and Eddie were on patrol in Afghanistan eventually getting ambushed because Eddie gave out hot sauce to kids in the village LOL

1:27:00-” If there’s anyway he could have gone out this is how he would of went. With a hot weapon in his hand”- Eddie Robinson  

You can get a copy of the book here https://www.hachette.com.au/ben-mckelvey/the-commando

Below is the official website of Australia’s 2nd Commando Regiment:

http://2commando.gov.au

Follow Eddie on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/fast_eddie_079/

Follow Ben McKelvey here:

https://www.instagram.com/bennymck/

Follow my co-host and my pages on social media. Links below.

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HP Lefler:

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Chantel Taylor:

https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical

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Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

GRP 95- The Reality of War: Perspective of SAS Trooper and Victoria Cross recipient Mark Donaldson

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GRP 95- We know you’ve all been anticipating part two of the conversation we had with Mark Donaldson. Mark is a veteran of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and recipient of the Victoria Cross. The VC is Australia’s highest award given for valor in combat. In this segment Mark talks about running operations with U.S Army Special Forces Green Berets in Afghanistan. It was on one of these operations in which the battle took place where Mark went above and beyond the call of duty.
    
Mark walks us through that operation in vivid detail. The most important piece of this conversation is when Mark gives us the reality of it all when saying yes, he’s been celebrated for his actions that day, but for many it was the worst day of their lives. There are second and third effects for the family and friends of the warriors who were wounded, or killed during the chaos and confusion of that battle. It wasn’t said to dampen our moods, but to add perspective to what is generally looked at as something glamorous.

0:00-Episode overview
1:43- 2008 SAS deployment to Afghanistan, running operations with U.S Army Special Forces Green Berets.

6:20-Battle in which Mark was awarded the Victoria Cross

52:15- The realities of war, and remembering the Victoria Cross from the perspective of the men on the ground. 

Follow my co-host and my pages on social media. Links below.

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HP Lefler:
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https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv

Music provided by Caspian:
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GRP 93-Victoria Cross: The story of Mark Donaldson an SAS Trooper

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GRP 93- It’s with great reverence that I introduce our guest for this week’s podcast. Mark Donaldson is a retired Australian Special Air Service Regiment trooper and recipient of the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross is Australia’s highest award for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valor or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. It’s the Australian equivalent to our Medal of Honor. 

We discussed Mark’s early life and motivation for joining the Army as he experienced a traumatic event with the loss of his mother at the age of 19. We discussed how one can turn a tragic event into a motivating force. We discussed the mindset required to train for and get selected into a Special Operations unit like the SAS, and how that same mindset can help surmount obstacles in life. We discussed leadership, the bottom-up approach, and the changing strategy and role for western forces in Afghanistan. This is part one of the interview. The second part will be released within the coming days. 

Three U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets have been killed in action this week while on patrol through western Mali, in Niger. We’d like to send our deepest condolences to the friends, teammates, and family of these fallen warriors.

0:00- Episode Overview

6:36:00- Motivation to join the Army, and later the SAS. Using the loss of a loved one to drive you forward in life.

15:51:00- “The best way to honor my mates is to come back and live a good life”-Australian WW1 veteran

28:19:00-The mindset required to make it into Special Operations and surmount obstacles in life. Training for selection. 

57:06:00- The bottom-up approach. Leadership and team building. “I’m the guy on the ground I decide what I drop”-British Special Boat Service JTAC to brigade command over the radio
1:09:00- The evolution of the strategy in Afghanistan and the changing role of the special operations units. 

This episode is sponsored by Abes Baumann a law firm that provides legal services and fights for the rights of disabled veterans. To learn about what they can offer you visit http://www.abesbaumann.com/vets

Follow my co-host and my pages on social media. Links below.

Global Recon:
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Chantel Taylor:
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Music provided by Caspian:
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GRP 56-2 Commando, Eddy Robinson, Iraq, Counter Terrorism

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GRP 56-Co hosting for this podcast is Army veteran Tim Kolczak the man behind the Veterans Project. On with us for this podcast is Australian Special Forces Veteran Eddy Robinson. Eddy has multiple combat rotations with the 2 Commando Regiment. We discuss Eddy's career path, get into some combat stories, and honor Eddy's best friend Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG. Corporal Cameron Baird is the first Australian commando to be awarded a Victoria Cross and the first posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia. Corporal Baird is also the 100th Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross. He's one of Australia’s most highly decorated soldiers of the modern era. We discuss Iraq, counter-terrorism, and Afghanistan. Below is an excerpt from the episode:

John: I'm reading about the rise and roots of ISIS. A lot of it is credited a to the Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The U.S. named him as one of the reasons for going into Iraq when he was just in charge of a small terror cell prior to that. After naming him it catapulted him into the spotlight.  Making him a major player. He then stoked the flames for a civil war between Sunni and Shia Muslims throwing the country into chaos.

Eddy Robinson:  My experience there was from a contracting perspective 05-06 period. Every morning before 10'o clock you hear the huge IED's being detonated. For the guys on the ground, it was relentless.  Zarqawi was the perfect catalyst for making the situation worse. We got our intelligence reports about mass graves being found on the side of the road. People being mass executed by these guys. It was a very difficult situation during that time.

Tim Kolczak: I joined in 05 I was 17. My drill sergeants were coming back from their 18-month tours. You could just tell how it affected them. We were the first trainees to get trained up by these guys. I remember the recruiter telling me not to become a truck driver because 1 in 5 was getting killed. One of the guys I knew was killed by a Somali contingent in Samarra. We were fighting people from all over the globe.

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www.thevetsproject.com

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