The Omar Al-Abase-Interview Jan 2026

Surviving War and Starting Over_ Ahmed Al Abbasi’s Journey from Iraq to America

What is it like to grow up amid war, survive unimaginable violence, and rebuild your life in a new country? In this episode of The Military Historian Podcast, I speak with Ahmed Al Abbasi about his extraordinary childhood in Iraq — losing his father, living through brutal attacks, and eventually finding safety and a future in America. 1. Ahmed opens up about: The day his father was killed while trying to secure passports for the family Living under constant threat, learning to defend his home as a child  2.The terrifying raids, ambushes, and survival tactics in a war zone 3. The cultural richness of Iraq — family, food, and deep historical roots  4. Starting over as a refugee and adapting to life in the U.S. 5. Lessons of resilience, identity, and hope 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & introduction by host Lloyd Shellenberger  00:39 – Starting the conversation; Ahmed introduces himself 01:06 – Background on Ahmed’s father and mission to Baghdad 02:25 – The day of the attack — losing his father and brother 05:00 – Family’s immediate survival plans and self-defense as children 07:38 – Fear, community danger, and early trauma in wartime Iraq 10:00 – Violence and survival culture — letters with bullets, constant threats 11:06 – Psychological toll of war on childhood 12:10 – Learning to defend the family home with weapons and dogs 16:58 – Timeline of leaving Iraq and journey to America 20:00 – Family’s struggle to make a living in war-torn Iraq (scrap metal, survival jobs) 22:22 – Cultural identity and navigating ethnic/religious divisions 24:04 – Ahmed’s father’s defiance against Saddam’s regime and consequences 27:14 – Ahmed’s mother’s resilience and survival strategies 28:28 – Arrival in the U.S. and adapting to a new life 29:34 – Importance of allies and support from American soldiers and friends 30:00 – Closing reflections on identity, resilience, and hope 👉 If Ahmed’s story moved you, hit like and subscribe — we bring real, human stories from conflict and survival to life.  💬 Share your thoughts in the comments — what part of Ahmed’s journey stayed with you? 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎥 Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rz7hFJGQ8&list=PL1rLt9IdAnJ8_q7EV9VKt6FMoguD5uVim&pp=gAQB0gcJCaIEOCosWNin 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryhistorian/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themilitaryhistorianpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Like and Share the Military Historian as he shares stories from service members and those who have seen the tip of the spear and survived! Themilitaryhistorianpod@gmail.com

Navy vs Army_ Two Brothers Break Down the REAL Differences (Jim & Lloyd Shellenberger)

What’s the real difference between serving in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy? On this episode of The Military Historian Podcast, I sit down with my brother Jim Shellenberger, a Navy veteran who served in the Middle East in the early 1990s. Together, we break down the roles, missions, and capabilities of every branch of the U.S. military — from boots on the ground to aircraft carriers acting as floating cities. Jim served aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) with the VF-31 Tomcatters, working with F-14s, F-18s, A-6s, and more. His firsthand knowledge of carrier operations, fleet defense, and global power projection gives incredible insight into what the Navy actually does — and how it differs from the Army’s mission on land. 1. We cover: Life aboard a massive aircraft carrier (5,100 personnel!) 2. How carrier groups dominate global airspace Fleet defense, strike packages, and modern Navy aircraft China’s “anti-access bubble” and why it matters 3. The American military’s technological edge 4. The roles of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force & Merchant Marines 5. How AI is transforming future warfare 6. Why logistics decide every war 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Army vs Navy on The Military Historian 00:32 – Introducing Jim Shellenberger 00:53 – Jim’s service timeline and Desert Storm era 01:09 – Boot camp (1992), San Diego, and joining VF-31 Tomcatters 01:41 – Life on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) 01:49 – 5,100 people on a floating military city 02:14 – Lloyd’s Army vs Jim’s Navy: Mission comparison  02:46 – What aircraft carriers actually do 03:28 – Supporting the Marines and expeditionary units  04:01 – Amphibious operations explained 04:30 – F-14 squadron duties and fleet defense 05:36 – Gen-4 aircraft and Navy aviation evolution 06:26 – F-14 history and retirement 06:32 – Comparing global airpower (Russia, China, US) 06:56 – China’s rapid development and anti-access “bubble” 07:54 – Island-building and missile sponge strategy 08:41 – Why China pushes the maritime bubble outward 09:24 – What a U.S. carrier can dominate (California to Nevada example) 10:00 – The role of AI in modern warfare 10:40 – Material science, radar advancements, and future tech 11:21 – Why humans will stay in the kill chain 12:40 – Golden Dome, Iron Dome, and future defense systems 1 2:53 – Why Russia is not a true superpower 3:42 – China’s emerging power in the Pacific 4:13 – Breaking down each military branch (Army first) 14:25 – Army: capturing & holding territory 14:40 – Marines vs Army in offensive operations 15:22 – Navy: controlling seas & commerce 15:50 – Carrier dominance and airspace control 16:11 – Air Force: missiles, strategic bombers & logistics 16:38 – Heavy bombers and recent uses 17:01 – Fighter support & global airlift 17:28 – Merchant Marines & Coast Guard roles 17:57 – Marines as rapid assault forces 18:30 – Deception tactics and amphibious warfare 19:19 – Closing reflection: Life, service & family 20:07 – Final sign-off and gratitude 👉 If you enjoy these breakdowns, hit like and subscribe — we simplify complex military topics every week. 💬 Comment: Which branch do you think has the hardest mission? 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎥 Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rz7hFJGQ8&list=PL1rLt9IdAnJ8_q7EV9VKt6FMoguD5uVim&pp=gAQB0gcJCaIEOCosWNin 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryhistorian/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themilitaryhistorianpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Like and Share the Military Historian as he shares stories from service members and those who have seen the tip of the spear and survived! Themilitaryhistorianpod@gmail.com

Berlin Rendezvous

On this episode of The Military Historian, Lloyd Shellenberger goes back to post war Berlin to talk about what Berliners went through, what he saw on my visit to Checkpoint Charlie decades later! 1. What was it like during my early military years and what leadership did to teach a young impressionable soldier?  2. Basic at Fort McLellan and what has happened to it since BRAC realignment.  3. Germany and the culture. The best duty station I ever served at. 4. 207th Aviation Company Heidelberg Germany. What has happened to this once great military post and unit since it was relocated, and why the post was closed and abandoned. 5.  General Alexander Haig as the Commander of U.S. European forces from 1974-1979. 6.  The importance of assimilating to the German culture. 7.  We discuss our time in Iraq and the things we saw as soldiers. 8. The beauty of Berlin, a city bathed in sadness and occupation 9. One look in the eyes of an east German youth and what life lesson it taught me. 10. Why didn’t communism work back then and why it will never work. 11. The importance of choosing your leaders wisely and why you should believe your elected officials when they tell you something. Please leave a comment at ThemilitaryhistorianPod@gmail.com If you would like to see more of our continuing series on reflections of my military career, email me at the above address and I will try to accommodate my listeners. 👉 Like & Subscribe if you value honest, ground-level military stories. 💬 Comment: What do you think? 🔔 Turn on notifications so you don’t miss future episodes. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎥 Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rz7hFJGQ8&list=PL1rLt9IdAnJ8_q7EV9VKt6FMoguD5uVim 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryhistorian/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themilitaryhistorianpod IHEART RADIO SPREAKER LINK BELOW https://www.spreaker.com/show/7001526/episodes/feed Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Like and Share the Military Historian as he shares stories from service members and those who have seen the tip of the spear and survived! Themilitaryhistorianpod@gmail.com

Letters from Baghdad Fatima's Story Part 2

Letters From Baghdad. Fatima’s story Part 2. In this episode of The Military Historian, Lloyd Shellenberger sits down with former Iraqi war refuge and Widow Fatima Al Abase turned proud American.   We dive deep into her new life and the struggles she has endure to crave out a life in America for her family. We discuss the newfound freedoms and what Iraq still means to her in a post war era. Fatima Al Abase, and Ahmed Al Abase, native Iraqis talk about what they have seen in their recent visits to Iraq and the future of their beloved country and 21 years later since they left Iraq. Ahmed and Fatima remember the days when Iraq wasn’t so friendly a place to be and the dangers he and his family navigated to leave Iraq and escape certain death. Fatima talks about the murder of her sister by the Iraqi regime and Saddam. Both Fatima and Ahmed believe she is dead and will never be seen again. Fatima discusses January 16, 2005, the day her husband was murdered and her son Omar was also believed to be dead. Her initial reaction and her call to action to save her family and children from certain death. Despite the lingering US "Do Not Travel" advisory, the city's physical appearance has shifted dramatically in the last 3 years. Since this time, Fatima and Ahmed have visited family members back in Iraq. They give us their impression of Iraq today and where it may be going in the future. Fatima speaks directly to the people of Iraq asking them to have patience and believe in the process and to keep hope alive for the future of Iraq while progress slowly erases T-barriers and U.S. military bases. 👉 Like & Subscribe if you value honest, ground-level military stories. 💬 Comment: What do you think? 🔔 Turn on notifications so you don’t miss future episodes. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎥 Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rz7hFJGQ8&list=PL1rLt9IdAnJ8_q7EV9VKt6FMoguD5uVim 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryhistorian/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themilitaryhistorianpod IHEART RADIO SPREAKER LINK BELOW https://www.spreaker.com/show/7001526/episodes/feed Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Like and Share the Military Historian as he shares stories from service members and those who have seen the tip of the spear and survived! Themilitaryhistorianpod@gmail.com

Guarding Nuclear Weapons in Cold War Germany | Crystal Turner’s Untold Army Story

What was it like to guard declassified nuclear weapons during the Cold War — while officially “not existing”? In this episode of The Military Historian, host Lloyd Shellenberger sits down with Crystal Turner, a former U.S. Army Military Police officer whose service in Germany placed her at one of the most secretive and dangerous assignments of the era. 1. Crystal shares her journey from growing up in Milwaukee to joining the Army nearly five decades ago, becoming a female MP in a male-dominated MOS, and serving at isolated nuclear sites that never appeared on any map. 2. She opens up about racism in basic training, the pressure of 24-hour nuclear security shifts, facing armed responses even while in uniform, and living under constant Cold War threat from terrorist groups like the Baader-Meinhof Gang. 3. This episode explores: - Life at classified nuclear sites in Cold War Germany - 4. Being the only woman on isolated military assignments - 5. Armed encounters, strict security protocols, and constant drills -  6. Racism, resilience, and breaking barriers as a Black female MP - 7. The reality of Cold War terrorism targeting U.S. forces - 8. Faith, service, and Crystal’s lifelong motto: “God First” 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Crystal Turner and her Army service 01:10 – Why Crystal joined the Army as a single mother 02:45 – Choosing a male-dominated MP MOS 04:30 – Basic training at Fort McClellan and early challenges 06:10 – Racism and leadership pressure during training 08:20 – Assignment to isolated nuclear weapons sites in Germany 10:50 – “We were never on the map” — life at classified locations 12:05 – Guns drawn on Crystal while in uniform 13:45 – Constant drills, heightened alerts, and nuclear security 15:00 – Cold War terrorism and the Baader-Meinhof threat 18:10 – Living near active terror cells while pregnant 20:55 – The pressure that broke many soldiers 22:30 – Faith, strength, and surviving the mission 25:10 – Breaking barriers as a Black female MP 26:45 – “God First” — Crystal’s lifelong motto 28:30 – Closing reflections and final thoughts 👉 Like & Subscribe if you value real military history told by the people who lived it. 💬 Comment: What part of Crystal’s story surprised you the most? 🔔 Turn on notifications so you don’t miss future episodes. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎥 Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rz7hFJGQ8&list=PL1rLt9IdAnJ8_q7EV9VKt6FMoguD5uVim&pp=gAQB0gcJCaIEOCosWNin 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryhistorian/ 🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themilitaryhistorianpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-military-historian-podcast--7001526/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Like and Share the Military Historian as he shares stories from service members and those who have seen the tip of the spear and survived! Themilitaryhistorianpod@gmail.com