The September 14, 2013 episode of
American Heroes Radio features a conversation with former United States Marine
Corps Major Dan Sheehan, the author of After Action: The True Story of a Cobra
Pilot’s Journey.
Program Date: September 14, 2013
Program Time: 1500
hours, PACIFIC
Topic: Cobra Pilot
About the Guest
Major Dan Sheehan, USMC, “served
as a Marine Officer from 1996 to 2007.
He is an AH-1W pilot by trade and deployed aboard the 13th MEU (SOC) in
2000 and the 11th MEU (SOC) in 2002. During those deployments he participated
in operations in East Timor, Yemen, and in various countries in the Middle
East. In 2003, he flew close air support
missions during the invasion of Iraq and in 2004 served in Baghdad as a Forward
Air Controller with Marine Corps Special Operations Command, Detachment
One. When he left active duty as a Major
in 2007, he had accrued more than 2000 flight hours and over 30 free-fall and
static line parachute jumps.” Major Dan
Sheehan is the author of After Action: The True Story of a Cobra
Pilot's Journey.
According to the book description
of After
Action: The True Story of a Cobra Pilot's Journey, “Dan Sheehan is a
third-generation military flyer. He was
eager to test his skills as a Cobra gunship pilot in the theatre of combat –
and then he got his chance, first, in East Timor, then during two tours of duty
in Iraq.
The scenes in this, Dan’s military
memoir, crackle with angst and excitement as we follow his path into battle.
Bullets pierce the unarmoured Cobras as Dan and his buddies struggle to
separate enemy fighters from civilians. Through the smoke of battle and chaos
of firefights at night, Dan puts us in right in the front seat of the Cobra -
where we white-knuckle our way through barrages of enemy fire - and into his
head as he makes split-second decisions that determine life or death.
But there is far more to Sheehan’s
story than this – an important reason why he wants us to feel something of what
every military man and woman experiences on the front lines of war. After the
adrenaline rush of combat readiness, something inside Dan would not turn
off. It wasn’t his emotions per se. He
was a warrior, willing and proud to serve his country. It wasn’t anger or
regret because of a physical wound. He was fortunate to come out of battle
whole, time and again.
And yet, the subtle agitation he
felt at first continued to grow into… restlessness… wariness… the
hyper-vigilant sense that he needed to be always on guard. And so an edginess
grew, trailing him long after the action was over. Eventually, it began to
intrude into his personal life, his intimate relationships, and threatened to
hurt those he loved the most. What Dan Sheehan learned, and what he exposes so
bravely and frankly in his writing, sheds light on the invisible marks left on
the soul of many warriors. As he shows us, facing and admitting they are there
is the next step in a warrior’s journey after action.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang
for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and
life. Sometimes funny; sometimes
serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a
sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of
Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from
the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a
Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State
University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E.
Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton
and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty
advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division
courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has
published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such
as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine,
and Police One. He has appeared on the
History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject
matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen
from the Archive:
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD
(ret.), MPA
909.599.7530
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