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In this episode 22 of Rueff Around The Edges, Vietnam veteran Lanny Tucker shares his journey from growing up on a small Illinois farm to being drafted into the Army in 1969. Lanny reflects on his time serving as a mechanic in Vietnam, offering firsthand insight into daily life, close calls, and the camaraderie among soldiers.

Lanny also opens up about returning home, building a career, and how the war and its aftermath shaped his life and perspective. A candid and personal look at one veteran’s story from a defining era in American history.

Please enjoy episode 22 with Lanny Tucker. Thank you.

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In this episode of RUEFF AROUND THE EDGES, Josh sits down with Eli and Joe McDowell, two of the McDowell triplets and newly minted United States Marines. After graduating high school in May 2025, Eli and Joe left shortly after for Marine Corps boot camp in July. Now, having completed both boot camp and Marine Combat Training, they join the show to share their experiences, challenges, and the journey from high school graduates to Marines. Tune in as they talk about what the process was really like, what pushed them through the toughest moments, and what comes next in their Marine Corps careers.

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Sergeant First Class Chris Durbin has spent his life in high-risk environments. A current member of the Illinois National Guard and former soldier with the 25th Infantry Division, Chris served as both an 11 Bravo and 11 Charlie infantryman in the United States Army. He deployed multiple times to the Middle East and Africa with the U.S. Army and later with private security contractor Triple Canopy. He survived numerous enemy engagements, including a suicide bomber attack. After his deployments, Chris worked with the Israeli Consulate and now serves on the front lines of the U.S. justice system in the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a Correctional Officer. Please enjoy Episode 20 with Chris Durbin.

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Episode 19 has been updated with a newly edited version due to technical issues in the original release. If you notice an echo around the 29-minute mark, please delete the episode from your device and refresh your feed to download the corrected version. This should only affect a small number of listeners who downloaded the episode immediately after it was first published.

Thank you for your understanding,

-Carter Bland-

Welcome back to RUEFF Around the Edges, the podcast where we sit down with people who’ve lived remarkable lives and share the stories that shaped them.

Today’s guest is Barry Thompson, a Vietnam War Veteran who served in U.S. Army Aviation during one of the most intense periods in American military history. Barry spent his time in Vietnam aboard the CH-47 Chinook helicopter, taking on multiple roles including door gunner, crew chief, and flight engineer, each with its own risks, responsibilities, and unforgettable moments.

Barry’s passion for aviation didn’t end when the war did. After returning home, that love of flight stayed with him, eventually leading him to purchase two ultralight aircraft and continue flying for the pure joy and challenge of it. In this episode, Barry takes us from the skies over Vietnam to unexpected emergency landing crashes in Illinois, sharing stories that are equal parts intense, humbling, and human.

This is a conversation about service, survival, and a lifelong pull toward the sky.

Please enjoy our time with Barry Thompson on Episode 19 of the Rueff Around The Edges Podcast.

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Please enjoy Episode 18 with our guest Tom Drake. Tom is no stranger to the Rueff Around The Edges Podcast as he returns for more discussion. In this episode, we journey deep into the realm of conspiracy, science, and mystery. The conversation kicks off with theories about artificial intelligence and its hidden potential, before unraveling Bob Lazar’s controversial claims about alien technology and the mysterious Element 115. From there, we expand into humanity’s own achievements, marveling at how rovers designed for short missions have outlived all expectations, still sending back images and information from far beyond their intended lifespans — stretching the boundaries of what we thought possible. The discussion also touches on the legends of ancient giants, blending hard science with speculation, this episode asks big questions about who we are, what we’re capable of, and what truths may lie beyond the stars. Please enjoy episode 18 with Tom Drake. Thanks for listening.

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Episode 17 of the Rueff Around The Edges Podcast-

On this episode, we are talking with our guest Mike Spilman. Mike is a proud veteran of the U.S. Army who served as a 13 FOXTROT Forward Observer (Fire Support Specialist). His service took him all over, including a year in Korea. Mike and Josh reminisce and share some stories from the their time served in the United States Military. Please join us with Mike Spilman.

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Today's guest is Gabe Cesaretti. Gabe retired from the Illinois Department of Corrections after over 30 years of wrangling inmates at both the state and county levels. Gabe is also a successful high school coach, a longtime volunteer firefighter, and oddly enough, public enemy number one...to birds everywhere. What did he do to ruffle so many feathers? Tune in to Episode 16 of the Rueff Around The Edges and find out why the birds hate Gabe Cesaretti and we all like him. Please enjoy episode 16.

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We welcome our guest Harold Hubner on Episode 15 of the Rueff Around The Edges Podcast. Harold grew up on a dairy farm North of Dollville, Illinois. He was born in 1944 at home without any electricity. After working for 31 years and retiring from the Firestone Factory in Decatur, Illinois he decided to go to college. Harold graduated with an Associate Degree in Blueprint Engineering with a certification in Pipeline Welding. The Last 9 years Harold has devoted his time to custom knife making. Please enjoy Episode 15 with Harold Hubner. Thanks for listening!