'Once a Marine'

" My next guest is a 100% certified bad ass he's not a rock star he doesn't draw wrestle. Andy's got a rock star -- for wrestles know these are real hero who served our country fighting in Baghdad and Fallujah. -- recently put out a book which not only traces his military career but gives the dirt on what it's like to be a marine. It's called once a marine in Iraq War tank commanders inspirational and a lot combat courage and recovery to launch title and it's got more at. Action than Paris Hilton's bed room. Hey -- yet. How good I'm good thanks Birmingham now you of the marine commander who was that famous picture we smoke a cigar. In your tank with a statue of Saddam the background. Betsy Wright yes that that was may have seen it yet that was that that you have to call me sir I -- is that nobody down you. In the long run to -- picture help or hurt you."

" You know I smoke some really great cigars over that picture -- as bad cigar weekly send me a boxing Cubans signed her and then. I was never much of a cigar smoker before but I -- certainly smoking some good ones over -- all over the pictures now what did you listen the Marines. 1986 hours of legal lesson here at a high school -- now we did you -- think you're crazy. They did and he always there when I told my join the Marines there was almost like I told my run off to join the circus -- they aviation a joke about it all the time and at a given a Lotta Lotta Lotta. -- behind it. What at any point during basic training you don't what the hell was I thinking. The first minute and -- first let's go to. Yeah I was so sure that this was a right thing to do in my life in the first minute I was off the -- the -- and yellow footprints left so what that was I think that that does seem like a good idea. But you know you stick it out you get through these things then you know didn't. You eventually get to -- your -- you know you were here adapted to it and that things are taken pride in the fact that it's tough as it is you can perseverance and it's a it's a great experience."

" What if there's if there's somebody out there watching the show is thinking about -- what is the one thing you would tell them. Not to expect that they wouldn't expect."

" That everything that's going to happen to is going to happen for a reason you know because you always see the Hollywood version of marine boot camp and it looks like just this. This insane -- of of they'll chaos and and it will appear that way from the group's perspective but everything that happens is going to happen for a reason I have been a -- instructor. Twelve years later -- from the other side and there everything is so well coordinated. And so while planted just looks chaotic on the other do you offer --"

" You went to drill and -- instructor school which means that there are drill instructors at the drill instructor school teaching drill instructors those guys must be crazy. Actually they are the best of the best yeah yeah I would I would be I would probably wet myself just they got a putting myself now I think. That that is the problem I have all the time without you you really desert shield and desert storm. That was over pretty fast to ever think you get and get back. In Iraq."

" Yeah it's pretty amazing where the last place so we took it in deserts desert storm was Baghdad international are on -- Kuwait international airport. And that's what we landed for operation Iraqi freedom you know before we cross the border so it was almost like just pick it up right where we left off -- Not really -- expect to be back for twelve years later yeah but that's the way that's Lagos. Now what happened twelve you think you're obviously injured tell me a little bit about what happened. Well that was in Fallujah that was there in the first battle for Fallujah. And you know we it was a rare very successful track things are going really aware of will force I was in the lead I was in my tank. And I shoot a lot of the tank and that's you know we count on -- tank's armor so we put it out front. You know every once while they make a good shot nine that's what happened -- his -- by -- rocket propelled grenade. And -- island -- I plan what effect do you like Leo you don't. Amazingly enough it's not as painful as you think you know it was like I may have felt like I got hit in the head by a sledgehammer played. If it was it was this painful -- thank you just -- everything was numb and I could tell it was pretty serious. I was seriously blind it's like could see and I think that only ally not be able see how bad it was. Put once I reached up and felt my head like it it was all web site new -- the biggest -- was bleed to death yeah and I -- incredible crew in they they came through and I'm alive to stay because of them."

" Now you reading this site obviously one night because he wouldn't be wearing what I packs it."

" If you don't yet I get up pretty bats don't what do you have -- what you have behind that I patched and let."

" She and I have a I have a prosthetic guy behind aside -- and what it is it's a marine -- you globe and anchor it's a some -- emblem -- adopt an 1868 -- I -- very proud and I'm very proud of my service that's why awareness."

" Wow that is absolutely awesome dad I want one of those but I don't want to go through woody went through Connecticut yeah. I have no idea -- it what you realize -- better yet well I'll. What goes through your mind as that pat white when you're about to -- to battle what are you thinking about. Is it like playing a sport but you're terrified her I."

" I always wonder. What you know the first time I was I was nervous I was worried you know that you are you you have. Anxiety about whether or not your gonna be up to the test and will you do something that's going to let somebody around you down you know it you're you're very you're very worried about. -- of making a mistake right and then as I stayed in longer had attained the rank and by the economic gunnery -- before the battle. I'm more worried about training do we have all the Gamal all the stuff. All these logistical considerations and action by the end when the fighting starts actually kind of relief because that's the only time. When I don't have to be worried about things she now takes so excited it's got to transition."

" I you know what's amazing I got it one last point I -- I got to ask you after all of this you've been through you want to become a high school teacher are you not absolutely at and you know you're what I tell people about it all out Joe could also have been the combat had to drill instructor side by figure should teach high school at the end and almost every time I say that I'll get a high school team shall come on talk to me sick but you don't know -- That -- was easy compared to where your goal at some looking forward to it will actually make out the book is once a marine everybody go out and buy it it's in stores out enough to check out the website. Once a marine dot com ordered the book thank you nick please come back. Coming up next --"