There at 88,000 MIA/POWs from America's wars. It is important to keep the search for people and remains alive. USAF vet Mike Sands explains why he remains involved and efforts to obtain a memorial chair in Lansing, Michigan so school kids ask about it and learn about the sacrifices what were made for their freedoms. Mike discusses with host Jim Fausone his background and the efforts.

Major Wayne DeLoria, a 20 year Army vet, retired and went back to his first passion - music. He has been performing for decades entertaining people in Michigan and Florida. He is bringing his talent to Veterans Radio's 2025 Radio on the River in September 2025. He talks about his music and his military career.

GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL!

• Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans Radio
• Brig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help For Veterans
• David Saims – Director, Washtenaw County Veteran Service OfficeDavid Saims is the Director of the Washtenaw County Michigan Veteran Service Office, where he leads a team of experts dedicated to helping veterans access the benefits they’ve earned. An accredited service officer since 2011 and a member of the County Veterans Service Officers since 2013, David has advanced through the ranks from Veteran Service Officer to his current leadership role. A U.S. Army veteran (1990–1993) and Army Reservist, he earned his BBA with honors from Eastern Michigan University.Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone (Ret.) served her country for 36 years. She served as the Assistant Adjutant General of Veterans Affairs for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs of the State of Michigan advocating for Veterans from 2003-2011.General Fausone graduated from the University of Michigan School of Nursing in 1975 and in 1977 received her commission in the United States Air Force as a medical officer. She served on active duty in various nursing positions and in late 1981 transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard. In 1983 and 1995, she completed a Master of Science in Administration and a Master of Science in Nursing from Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan.General Fausone has written over 25 Veterans Disability EBooks for Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC since 2013. In 2021, General Fausone co-authored "Impact on Health from Exposures: Case Examples from Military Eras and Guide for Clinical Practice - Practical Guide for Managing the Health of Veterans After War/Conflict Exposure: Case Examples from Recent Events" published in the Journal of Nursing Practice. She partnered with the University of Michigan School of Nursing to create 360 Virtual Education, a series of immersive videos created to support healthcare providers when they are caring for military veterans in a variety of healthcare settings to address health inequities and give nursing students the tools to engage in culturally competent clinical practice.Carol Ann Fausone continues serving by “Taking Care of Our American Heroes and their Families” to obtain the benefits they deserve.

A quick story on the Polar Bear Expeditionary Force sent to Russia at the end of WWI. The American Expeditionary Force, North Russia (AEF in North Russia) (also known as the Polar Bear Expedition) was a contingent of about 5,000 United States Army troops[1] that landed in Arkhangelsk, Russia as part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. It fought the Red Army in the surrounding region during the period of September 1918 through to July 1919.

Our first guest is Alex Vernon author of Peace is a Shy Thing: The Life and Art of Tim O'Brien

The first literary biography of Tim O'Brien, the preeminent American writer of the war in Vietnam and one of the best writers of his generation, drawing on never-before-seen materials and original interviews. "Vietnam made me a writer." ―Tim O'Brien Featuring over one hundred interviews with family, friends, peers, and others―not to mention countless exchanges with Tim O'Brien himself―Peace is a Shy Thing provides a nearly day-by-day, gripping account of O'Brien's thirteen months as an infantryman in Vietnam and gives equal diligence to reconstructing O'Brien's writing process. This meticulously researched biography explores the life and journey that turned O’Brien into a literary icon and a household name. It includes an unpublished short story about O'Brien from a college girlfriend, documentation of his comical involvement with the Washington Post's coverage of Watergate, and a 1989 attic exchange between American and Vietnamese writers on the eve of the publication of O'Brien's most beloved book, The Things They Carried, years before the two countries normalized relations. Peace is a Shy Thing is as much a history of the era as it is a story of O'Brien's life, from his small-town midwestern mid-century childhood, to winning the National Book Award and his status as literary elder statesman. A story which Vernon, a combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War and a literary scholar trained by officers and professors of the Vietnam era, is uniquely suited to tell.

2. Wayne Deloria, who is one of our performers at Radio on the River.

Wayne DeLoria is a solo guitarist/vocalist, playing and singing selections from the 1960’s through today. He has been performing since the ‘70s with a repertoire that includes some older standards, folk, soft rock, country, as well as, contemporary alternative. Wayne’s influences include The Beatles, Elton John, The Kingston Trio, James Taylor, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffet, Zac Brown and others. His talents are ideal for parties and other events where background or featured music is desired. He presents with a full sound, including percussion, harmonies, and harmonica accompaniment. All music is performed live – no background recordings!

Visit Wayne's website to learn more, hear clips, and find upcoming performances!

3. Finally is Jim's interview with Joe Ortiz, a PuroClean franchise owner.

National Veterans Business Development Council CEO Keith King talks about NVBDC.org's expansion of opportunities for certified veteran owned business in the export / import arena. King explains its partnership with agencies that can help veteran businesses in that space. He catches up with host Jim Fausone about these opportunities.

Welcome our guests, Richard Zowie from Meals for Vets out of Frederickburg, Texas. Providing consistent access to healthy, nutritious meals for hungry Texas Veterans, primarily 59 and younger, who are low or no income. Meals for Vets | MealsForVets.org

And Marine Veteran G. Craige Edgerton

Former Vietnam combat Marine G. Craige Edgerton struggled with PTSD for many years but found healing through writing. His journey led him to create Permission to Walk in Peace, an anthology of original short stories, poems, and essays by himself and other combat veterans, reflecting not only trauma but also hope and healing after war.

Permission to Walk in Peace is a profound anthology crafted by combat veterans, offering a unique blend of poetry, essays, and stories that explore the intense and personal aftermath of war. Edited by G. Craige Edgerton, this collection diverges from traditional narrative structures, opting instead for a tapestry-like format that refleccts the fragmented yet healing journey of its contributors. The book is divided into three main sections: Experience, Handrails, and Mending Fences, with an additional segment dedicated to family and friends. Through their raw and often graphic recounting of events, the veterans share their battles with PTSD and other traumas, aiming to foster understanding and healing among fellow veterans and anyone touched by similar experiences. This anthology not only serves as a testament to the struggles faced by those who have served but also as a beacon of hope, illustrating the transformative power of sharing and artistic expression in the journey toward peace.

Learn more about Permission to Walk in Peace.

Tune in to our guest Bill Krieger and his interview with WWII Veteran Art Hill

Host Dale Throneberry welcomes back Bill Krieger, Founder and President of Veterans Archives. Bill shares a remarkable conversation with World War II veteran Art Hill.

Born in rural Michigan during the Great Depression, Art’s journey takes listeners from his enlistment at 18 to his service in Europe, where his recollections are filled with humor, ingenuity, and moments of unexpected adventure. From surviving a transatlantic voyage with an unconventional seasickness cure to building treehouses in wartime Germany, Art’s stories capture the spirit and resilience of the Greatest Generation. His postwar life, marked by hard work and professional success despite lacking formal education, offers a timeless reminder of perseverance and grit.

Learn more about the Veterans Archives podcast.