He earned two Bronze Stars, called in airstrikes under fire, and lost brothers to suicide. But his hardest fight came after the war.

Combat Controller Eric Lionheart didn’t just see combat — he lived through four-hour firefights, called in F-15s under fire, and carried the weight of survivor’s guilt when he came home alone. He opens up about the loss of his teammates, the battle to stay alive after the battlefield, and the foundation he built — First There — to save others when nothing else worked.

This is not just a story about war. It's about what happens when warriors are left to fight alone.

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.

They left him behind on a snowy mountain in Afghanistan. Then they lied about how he died.

In Part Two of our interview with Lori Chapman Longfritz, we walk through the aftermath of John Chapman’s death—and the betrayal that followed. From the night her family was notified, to the battle over his Medal of Honor, to the disgraceful way he’s been treated in the Medal of Honor Museum, this episode is Lori’s raw and unfiltered account of a truth the SEALs fought to bury.

This story isn’t over. The lies are still happening. And Lori’s not backing down.

John Chapman didn’t just earn the Medal of Honor.
He earned the truth.

John Chapman didn’t become a hero the day he died — he lived like one every day before that.

In Part 1 of our interview with Lori Chapman Longfritz, we trace John’s journey from a soft-spoken, fiercely loyal kid to one of the most lethal and respected warriors in the U.S. military. We talk about his early life, the moment he nearly washed out of CCT training, and how he clawed his way into the 24th STS before being deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11.

His final mission would push the limits of human endurance. After being shot and left for dead, John regained consciousness — and chose to stand and fight. He took out multiple enemies, engaged in hand-to-hand combat, and defended the incoming QRF team until his last breath.

🎧 Part 2 begins with the KIA notification and the family’s fight to bring the truth to light — a battle that still isn’t over.
📲 Listen, follow, and read the blog at beyondthedispatch.com

This is Part 2 of Mike’s story. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there — it’s one of the most powerful interviews we’ve ever released.

Mike’s journey continues as he returns home from war and trades one uniform for another — stepping into the world of law enforcement alongside his twin brother. But the battle didn’t end overseas. In this episode, Mike opens up about FTO trauma, burnout, panic attacks, and the mental toll of life behind the badge.

From SWAT team camaraderie to therapy breakthroughs, this is a brutally honest look at the cost of service — and the road to healing.

🎧 Follow, rate, and share if this story moved you.
📲 Find more at beyondthedispatch.com or on all social platforms.

Episode 15: From Abandonment to Afghanistan – Mike’s Story (Part 1)
Mike’s journey begins in China, where he and his twin brother were abandoned at age 4 when their mother emigrated to the U.S. Reunited years later, they came to America at 11 and would go on to serve together in the Marine Corps during the deadliest year in Afghanistan.

In Part 1 of this powerful two-part episode, Mike shares the raw truth about loss, brotherhood, and war—from the frontlines of Helmand Province to moments of dark humor that helped them survive. After leaving the Marines, both brothers planned to return as officers... but life had other plans.

Next week: Part 2 – Their life on the force, and the war that followed them home.

Follow, share, and leave a review if Mike’s story moves you.

Eric Tung, police commander and host of Blue Grit Radio, joins us to share his powerful journey through the front lines of law enforcement. From K9 units to critical incident response, Eric opens up about leadership, loss, and the mission to reshape wellness culture in policing. This is a must-hear conversation for officers, families, and anyone who believes we can build better protectors by protecting those who serve.
🎙️ Learn more at bluegritwellness.com

Before Paws on the Ground became a mission, it was a lifeline.

In Episode 13, we sit down with Kellen Zanandrie — a veteran Coast Guardsman, Pinellas County K9 Deputy, and loyal brother in arms — to talk about the moments that changed everything. From narrowly missing tragedy with a fellow deputy, to speaking with Dom just minutes before his shooting, to facing down an armed suspect while realizing the cost his family might bear — Kellen opens up about the unseen toll of service.

This isn’t just a story about law enforcement. It's about loyalty, survival, knowing when you’ve given all you can, and finding a new purpose beyond the badge.

Kellen's path led him from the chaos of the streets to building trust between dogs and their handlers through Paws on the Ground — a company born out of hard lessons, deep scars, and a relentless will to keep serving in a different way.

Raw, real, and unforgettable — this is Kellen's story.

“Seawolf flight, be advised — no friendlies in the sector. You’re cleared hot. Happy huntin’. Out.”

John “Elvis” Lynn isn’t just a Navy veteran—he’s a living, breathing chapter of U.S. military history.

In this episode of Beyond the Dispatch, we sit down with John to hear his unbelievable journey from flying door gunner missions in Vietnam to becoming a small-town Police Chief back home. But this isn’t just another war story—it’s the story of a man who kept showing up, in every chapter of life, when others might have walked away.

John volunteered for HA(L)-3, the legendary Seawolves—an experimental helicopter attack unit that would go on to become the most decorated squadron in U.S. Navy history. From 1969 to 1972, John flew treetop-level missions aboard Hueys over the Mekong Delta, providing close air support to Navy SEALs, PBR boats, and riverine forces in some of the most hostile terrain on Earth.

The Seawolves flew hard, fast, and low. They weren’t just support—they were the cavalry. And they were sent where no one else wanted to go. John embraced that chaos. His stories from those days are raw, wild, and sometimes even hilarious—like the time he stepped out onto the helicopter skids mid-flight to snap a photo of the pilot, then tapped him on the shoulder just to say cheese.

After the Seawolves disbanded and handed their operations to the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF), John couldn’t shake the call to serve. He later re-enlisted during the Gulf War, but found peacetime military life too tame after Vietnam.

So he brought his discipline and grit home—joining law enforcement and eventually becoming the Chief of Police in Willow Springs, Illinois. In the jungles of Vietnam, John protected his brothers. On the streets of Illinois, he protected his community. In both, he led from the front.

Episode 012: Happy Huntin’ is more than a war story. It’s a tribute to the kind of man who doesn’t just survive the storm—he flies straight into it.