The Unsung Veteran

by John N. Smith

Season 1

Ep 16: Ron Cooper — 300 Combat Missions and the F-4 in Vietnam

Ron Cooper served 22 years in the Air Force as an F-4 Phantom pilot and commander, flying over 300 combat missions during 18 months in Vietnam. In this conversation, Ron walks John through what it actually looked like to fly fighters out of Udorn Royal Thai Air Base with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron — the missions, the strategy, the frustrations of an undeclared war, and the teamwork that still defines him decades later. Ron opens up about the four men whose words transformed a quiet farm kid who once believed he was "too stupid" to fly into a valedictorian pilot training graduate. He talks through air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, MiG CAP over the Linebacker One and Linebacker Two bombing campaigns, and being part of the May 10, 1972 rescue of Roger Locker — the downed F-4 backseater who survived 23 days on the ground in North Vietnam before 119 aircraft were dedicated to bringing him home. Ron also reflects on coming home to a country that was told not to wear its uniform in the airport, and the quiet power of the phrase "welcome home" among Vietnam veterans. In the back half, Ron shifts to his current work with The Cooper Culture, helping small and mid-sized businesses translate military camaraderie into civilian team performance — critical thinking from the cockpit, trust and respect as leadership fundamentals, and his hard-won advice to transitioning veterans: don't chase the money, interview the company, and find a culture where you can flourish. For reflections between episodes, subscribe at https://theunsungveteran.substack.com/ Know a veteran whose story should be heard? Reach out: theunsungveteran@gmail.com

S1 · E16

Apr 22, 2026

1:06:49

"People First, Mission Second" — Army SFC Rich Lamonica on Leading and Starting Over

Rich Lamonica spent 22 years in the U.S. Army as a Chemical Operations Specialist and Sergeant First Class. He led soldiers through deployments, built teams, and mastered the mission. Then he retired — and spent the next year not recognizing himself. In this episode, Rich breaks down the leadership philosophy that defined his service, the "Stacking Victories" framework he built to regain momentum after transition, and why he launched The MisFitNation Podcast to give veterans a place to belong after the uniform comes off. If you've ever felt lost after leaving the military — or you're still serving and want to lead better — this one's worth your time. 🎙️ Connect with Rich: https://www.themisfitnation.com/ 📖 The Unsung Veteran on Substack: https://substack.com/@theunsungveteran

S1 · E15

Apr 15, 2026

1:05:33

Evan Poling | "Your Idea Is Worthless" – What 2.5 Years Building a Business Taught Him

enzkBwqA1UU2eKPDByOT Army National Guard combat medic Evan Poling spent 6 years in service, then built a business to fix how small businesses get bought and sold in America. Evan served alongside Heath Robinson — the soldier whose death helped pass the PACT Act for burn pit victims. He went on to investigate financial crimes and money laundering before founding BizRetire.com, a marketplace connecting business buyers and sellers. Two and a half years in, no profit yet, still building. This is that conversation. Topics Discussed: - Serving with Heath Robinson and the fight to get burn pit veterans covered under the PACT Act - The "soldier switch" — the mental shift before and after every drill weekend - Investigating terrorist financing and money laundering, and what that taught him about how businesses actually work - Why 80% of profitable businesses that go to market never sell — bad books, bad valuations, and owners who run out of time - Two and a half years building BizRetire with no profit, and choosing to stay in it - How faith, community, and vulnerability changed the direction of his business Why This Matters: A lot of veterans get out and hear they should start a business or buy one — but nobody tells you what it actually looks like when you're in it. Evan's still in it. No tidy ending, no success story wrapped up with a bow. Just a guy who used his service the way he said he would, learned from financial crimes work how businesses actually tick, and is now grinding through the part nobody posts about. If you're thinking about starting something, buying something, or you know what it feels like to keep pushing when the feedback stops — this one's for you. If you've been through your own version of this — drop it in the comments. This channel exists for those conversations. Connect with Evan at bizretire.com or find him on LinkedIn under Evan Poling. Final Advice – Your Idea Is Worthless. Execution Isn't. 1:08:58 Where to Find Evan – BizRetire.com Subscribe and follow The Unsung Veteran for more porch-style, veteran-to-veteran conversations. #VeteranEntrepreneur #UnsungVeteran #ArmyNationalGuard #CombatMedic #VeteranOwnedBusiness #VeteranTransition #SmallBusinessTips #PACTAct #BurnPits #MilitaryToCivilian #VeteranStories #BizRetire

S1 · E14

Apr 8, 2026

1:09:28

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The Unsung Veteran

Ep 16: Ron Cooper — 300 Combat Missions and the F-4 in Vietnam

"People First, Mission Second" — Army SFC Rich Lamonica on Leading and Starting Over

Evan Poling | "Your Idea Is Worthless" – What 2.5 Years Building a Business Taught Him

Tyler Muniz | Marine Officer Transition to Big Tech

Tina Irwin | First Female Navy Submarine School Instructor

Douglas Katz | Mentorship and Veteran Advocacy

Scottie Schneider | From West Point to Indigenous Wisdom

Matt Lange | Leading Marines for 22 Years

Life After 25 Years in the Marines : Omen Quelvog

What Veterans Lose After Service — and How to Rebuild It