Berlin Rendezvous

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

The Dire Straits of Hormuz

On this episode of the Military Historian Host Lloyd Shellenberger does a deep dive into the Hormuz Conflict and the severe long-term friction over nuclear and proxy activities. What events led up to the military conflicts within the region? 1. The Irgc is believed to have killed 30-50 thousand of its own citizens. While actual numbers may never be verified, the mass genocide of its own people has been verified. 2. Pathway Defunct: Iran's primary potential source for weapons-grade plutonium was the heavy-water research reactor at Arak. Under the original 2015 JCPOA, under this framework, the core of this reactor was rendered inoperable (filled with concrete). 3. Focus on Uranium: All mid-2026 U.S. intelligence and IAEA tracking data focus strictly on Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles. As of early 2026, Iran held an estimated 440 kg (970 lbs) of uranium enriched up to 60% (near-weapons grade) 4. Declassified U.S. intelligence assessments and statements from the IAEA continue to state that while Iran possesses the technical capacity to produce fissile material quickly via uranium, there is no evidence the Supreme Leader has ordered the resumption of a structured, systematic nuclear weaponization program. 5. What was the deal that Trump made with Iran yesterday and do we get the enriched Uranium and was there money exchanged? 6. On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, President Trump officially signed a 14-point temporary framework and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the G7 summit in France. What are the particulars? 7. The details regarding the uranium and the financial terms of this preliminary deal outline a distinct shift from the administration's initial demands: 8. The Retaliation (March 4, 2026): Within 48 hours, Iran officially declared the Strait of Hormuz "closed," immediately targeting civilian merchant shipping. Major global shipping conglomerates suspended all routine operations. 9. The Counter-Blockade (April 13, 2026): While Iran initially tried to continue exporting its own oil while denying passage to others, the U.S. Navy implemented a strict "blockade of the blockaders," systematically stopping and disabling unauthorized tankers. 10. The Tactical Hardware: Asymmetric Warfare vs. Naval Supremacy 11. The battle in the Strait of Hormuz is a classic conflict between high-tech conventional defense and cheap, distributed, asymmetric offense. 12. Loitering Munitions (Drones): Anti-Ship Ballistic & Cruise Missiles Swarming Fast Attack Craft (FAC) Smart Sea Mines Dusting off the A-10 Warthogs for duty. AEGIS Combat System: Deployed on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. "Naval Overwatch" & Omani Coastal Escorts Phalanx CIWS & RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles 13. Kharg Island is the single most important geographic location to understand regarding the economic leverage of this war. . Kharg Island handles over 90% of Iran's total crude oil exports. It holds massive storage tank farms, loading docks, and deep-water berths capable of loading massive Supertankers (VLCCs). 14. The 5,000 personnel ordered to the Middle East by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 15. Regional Strategic Hubs: Elements are tasked with supporting U.S. Central Command objectives, which includes reinforcing the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and securing maritime transit corridors 16. The Broader Macroeconomic Ripple Effects. The closure of the Middle East's primary maritime corridors—with both the Strait of Hormuz blocked and the Suez Canal disrupted by simultaneous drone warfare—has triggered a global economic supply shock. 17. The Veins of Global Commerce If the global economy has a circulatory system, maritime chokepoints are its major arteries. 18. The Other Global Chokepoints: Economic & Military Profiles 19. With upcoming Midterms a few months away, only time will tell if this conflict remains in the forefront of American voters minds come election time. here’s what's at stake: Voters will decide the composition of Congress, including all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate, alongside numerous state and local offices. • Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. • Scope: All 435 House seats, 33 Senate seats, and 36 gubernatorial races. • As of June 18, 2026 this is where stand 20. The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Terms)  Please leave a comment at ThemilitaryhistorianPod@gmail.com If you would like to see more of our continuing leadership series, 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

“I Wasn’t Ready for Iraq” — Josh Klundt on Fear, Brotherhood & Combat Reality

What goes through your mind when you find out you’re deploying to Iraq — and you’re not sure you’re ready? In this episode of The Military Historian. 1. Lloyd Shellenberger sits down with Josh Klundt, a former Army specialist with B Company, 141st out of North Dakota, who deployed to Iraq alongside Grant Wills and Shane Beckert, serving as Shane’s driver. Josh opens up about:  2. Receiving the news that he was going to Iraq The fear and disbelief that set in before deployment Life in miserable, unfamiliar conditions overseas Brotherhood forged through shared hardship Learning fast in a combat zone with no room for mistakes. 3. The reality of war versus expectations back home This episode captures the raw, unfiltered perspective of a young soldier thrown into a war zone — not as a hero from a movie, but as a human being learning to survive, trust his team, and do his job under pressure. 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Josh Klundt 00:42 – Meeting Josh and confirming his unit and role 01:12 – Deploying with Grant Wills and Shane Beckert 01:15 – Serving as a driver in Iraq 03:13 – Miserable living conditions and early experiences 03:23 – Finding out about deployment to Iraq 03:27 – Fear, disbelief, and mental preparation 05:10 – Equipment shortages and harsh realities 07:45 – Brotherhood and reliance on teammates 10:30 – Adjusting to life in a combat zone 13:15 – Lessons learned early in deployment 16:40 – The emotional weight of war 19:20 – How Iraq changed Josh permanently 22:05 – Reflections on service and brotherhood 24:00 – Closing thoughts 👉 Like & Subscribe if you value honest, ground-level military stories. 💬 Comment: What do you think is the hardest part of deploying for the first time? 🔔 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 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