Episode 49: My Best Day at Sea & The Pit

Episode 50: Cold War Story & Interview with David Robbins

An Air Force officer serves in a concrete silo deep below the Missouri countryside with codes, a key, and a button to launch a nuclear missile as an act – perhaps a final act– of war. Written by Randall Lanning. Mighty Pen Podcast host David Robbins sits down with audio engineer Ennis Kristansen about to discuss their year of producing the Might Pen Podcast. The Mighty Pen Project is a free writing program for military veterans, offered by the Virginia War Memorial Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. If you’d like to learn more about the Mighty Pen or send us your thoughts, email us at mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org [mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org]. For more information about the Mighty Pen Project or to apply online: https://vawarmemorial.org/mightypen/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/learn/adults/mightypen/]  To access the Mighty Pen Project archives: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/ [https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/]  To support the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and the Mighty Pen Project: https://vawarmemorial.org/support/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/support/]  Hosted by: David L. Robbins Voice Actor: Harry Kollatz Jr. Produced by: David L. Robbins, Ben Lovelace Edited by: Ennis Kristiansen  Music by: Jackson Albrecht

Episode 49: My Best Day at Sea & The Pit

On a troop ship off the coast of Beirut a helicopter pilot tells us what it was like to watch and wait for the moment when it was time to leap in the air and into action. Written by Rob Paylor. Not every military recruit is up for the challenges of basic training. Our second story describes in frightening detail the consequences and dangers of Army basic training, and what kind of raw material the US Army must have in order to make a warrior. Written by John Price. The Mighty Pen Project is a free writing program for military veterans, offered by the Virginia War Memorial Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. If you’d like to learn more about the Mighty Pen or send us your thoughts, email us at mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org [mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org]. For more information about the Mighty Pen Project or to apply online: https://vawarmemorial.org/mightypen/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/learn/adults/mightypen/]  To access the Mighty Pen Project archives: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/ [https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/]  To support the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and the Mighty Pen Project: https://vawarmemorial.org/support/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/support/]  Hosted by: David L. Robbins Voice Actor: Harry Kollatz Jr. & Alan Sader Produced by: David L. Robbins, Ben Lovelace Edited by: Ennis Kristiansen  Music by: Jackson Albrecht

Episode 48: Bombolini

David Aldridge looks back at his three tours in Vietnam to tell us about one soldier, an Army officer, the son of a powerful man who had no business being in a war. The Mighty Pen Project is a free writing program for military veterans, offered by the Virginia War Memorial Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. If you’d like to learn more about the Mighty Pen or send us your thoughts, email us at mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org [mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org]. For more information about the Mighty Pen Project or to apply online: https://vawarmemorial.org/mightypen/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/learn/adults/mightypen/]  To access the Mighty Pen Project archives: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/ [https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/]  To support the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and the Mighty Pen Project: https://vawarmemorial.org/support/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/support/]  Hosted by: David L. Robbins Voice Actor: Alan Sader Produced by: David L. Robbins, Ben Lovelace Edited by: Ennis Kristiansen  Music by: Jackson Albrecht

Episode 47: Bravado & Siren's Call

Daniel Barotti recalls the day when his US Naval Destroyer steamed through contested waters in the South China Sea only to be confronted by a new and equally intimidating Chinese warship. In our second story, Dan details a long treasured tradition of sailors in foreign ports. The Mighty Pen Project is a free writing program for military veterans, offered by the Virginia War Memorial Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. If you’d like to learn more about the Mighty Pen or send us your thoughts, email us at mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org [mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org]. For more information about the Mighty Pen Project or to apply online: https://vawarmemorial.org/mightypen/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/learn/adults/mightypen/]  To access the Mighty Pen Project archives: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/ [https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/]  To support the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and the Mighty Pen Project: https://vawarmemorial.org/support/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/support/]  Hosted by: David L. Robbins Voice Actor: Dean Knight Produced by: David L. Robbins, Ben Lovelace Edited by: Ennis Kristiansen  Music by: Jackson Albrecht

Episode 46: 3311 Elvis

Joe Maslanka spent his teen years banging on an electric guitar. When his Marine Corps drill instructor found out he was good, Joe wound up standing on a stool in the barracks, crooning Elvis. The Mighty Pen Project is a free writing program for military veterans, offered by the Virginia War Memorial Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. If you’d like to learn more about the Mighty Pen or send us your thoughts, email us at mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org [mppodcast@vawarmemorial.org]. For more information about the Mighty Pen Project or to apply online: https://vawarmemorial.org/mightypen/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/learn/adults/mightypen/]  To access the Mighty Pen Project archives: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/ [https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/mighty_pen_archive/]  To support the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and the Mighty Pen Project: https://vawarmemorial.org/support/ [https://vawarmemorial.org/support/]  Hosted by: David L. Robbins Voice Actor: Harry Kollatz Jr.  Produced by: David L. Robbins, Ben Lovelace Edited by: Ennis Kristiansen  Music by: Jackson Albrecht