Operation Insight

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Colonel Paul G. Dixon of the U.S. Army & Army Reserve!
 
In this episode, our guest traces his journey from a restless youth who had skipping school down to a science to his formative time in Basic Training at Fort Knox. Then, it was on to being assigned as an Armor Officer, and an unexpected turn towards Psychological Operations and multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Listeners will hear personal family history, memorable moments that shaped Dixon’s leadership, and the practical lessons he learned as a company and battalion commander. He explains PSYOPs, the ethics of truth versus disinformation, and how his teams supported units like the 101st Airborne during major operations.
Paul shares firsthand stories from combat — narrow escapes, working with local populations, and how faith and divine intervention from God spurred crucial decisions that ultimately saved lives. He also speaks candidly about traumatic brain injury symptoms, the difficulties of navigating medical care within the military, and the emotional toll of burying wartime experiences.
This episode also explores life after the service: Dixon’s civilian career in risk management, his unexpected retreat into beekeeping, volunteer work as a court‑appointed special advocate (CASA) for children in the foster care system, and how he channels his veteran identity into mentoring, listening, and spiritual leadership for coworkers and community members.
Expect a candid, reflective interview that mixes tactical details with broader themes — leadership under pressure, the responsibility of veterans when sharing stories, faith, healing, and practical advice for anyone seeking to understand modern deployments and veteran reintegration.
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(27:51) Joining the Army: From "Stripes" to "Sir"
(44:36) Tanking & Training
(49:22) Creating a Strong Foundation
(58:10) West Point
(1:01:17) PSYOPs: Truth vs. Disinformation
(1:09:39) Deployment Planning & Prep
(1:15:27) The Deployment
(1:26:48) Homefront: Family, Communication & Reintegration
(1:31:32) "Turn Around...Now": Keeping the Faith in Combat
(1:41:21) Lessons in Leadership
(1:49:04) Injuries, Hospitalization & Isolation
(2:01:36) A Veteran's Societal Responsibility & Safeguarding Mental Health
(2:15:24) Court Appointed Special Advocate
(2:22:39) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Specialist Shanna Hughes-Collins of the Illinois Army National Guard!
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(50:40) Desert Shield/Desert Storm
(1:05:21) The Miraculous Story of the Dog & the Boy
(1:15:42) Part II
(2:08:38) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Commander Bob May of the U.S. Navy!
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(39:46) Nuclear “Delivery”
(47:24) Part II
(1:16:24) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Lieutenant Colonel Fred Wellman of the U.S. Army and Army Reserve!
 
The Primary Election in the Great State of Missouri is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4th. While this program remains committed to neutrality and will never officially endorse a candidate, we do wish to present our audience with a special individual who just so happens to be running for Missouri's 2nd Congressional District. Lieutenant Colonel Fred Wellman (Ret.) is an affable and vibrant individual who cares deeply about the people of his home state and the issues they are facing. Through unimaginable personal loss and struggles, Fred has kept his chipper and can-do attitude. His motto is "I'm not done yet," and that is a mantra he has lived by through the tragic death of his first wife to the decision to jump head-first back into active duty service after the 9/11 terror attacks. Fred is a man of action with the gift for gab. The conversation with Fred was fun, lively, and maybe just a little bit off-color, but that's why we love him! Fred spoke frankly about his time in the Army and his fight with PTSD, all while maintaining his good-natured demeanor. While the thrust of his interview was focused on his many years of military service and his leadership as a service member, space is given for a discussion of his candidacy. We are honored to present his story to you.
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(40:45) Desert Shield/Desert Storm
(51:46) Part II
(1:20:52) Fred the Candidate
(1:38:09) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Colonel Sam Digirolamo of the U.S. Air Force & Missouri Air National Guard!
 
In April of 2023, back when the museum was still named "The St. Charles County Veterans Museum", a special Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day was hosted. The keynote speaker for that event was none other than Colonel Sam Digirolamo, USAF (Ret.). Sam was plain and frank about his time as an F-100 Super Sabre pilot in Vietnam back then and he is even more so now. Sam dutifully represents those who cannot or will not share their own stories and he represents them well!
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(29:54) Part II
(51:37) Vietnam
(1:28:41) Solo Flight Home
(1:37:35) Thailand
(1:46:14) Part III
(2:16:29) Going Back to 'Nam
(2:26:16) Reflections
(2:30:31) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we celebrate Independence Day with World War II veteran Tom Lacey of the U.S. Army!
 
When our founding fathers signed and ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, they made a bold stance against tyranny and oppression. They asserted, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." As we celebrate our Independence Day on Saturday, July 4th, 2026, we must recognize the sacrifices made by previous generations that have allowed us to keep those "unalienable Rights." One such generation is aptly named "The Greatest Generation," and Corporal Tom Lacey stands amongst its ranks. Tom answered the call when the world was at war a second time and did so as a "Happy Warrior". He was willing to risk his life and join the global effort against the Axis Powers because it was the right thing to do. According to the National WWII Museum, over sixteen million Americans served during World War II, but only one percent of that population remains with us today. It is truly an honor to share the story of Tom Lacey and add his voice to the annals of history!
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(43:28) Arriving to the Front Line & the Battle of the Bulge
(58:57) Part II
(1:27:05) Life After the War
(1:51:57) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we celebrate our nation's semiquincentennial (250th Birthday) by hosting Missouri State Representative and Navy veteran Terri Violet!
 
As we celebrate 250 years of our nation's independence, we honor a connection to the very beginning of the American story and the leaders shaping its future today. Rep. Violet’s life is a masterclass in servant leadership, and her ties to the American fabric run deeper than most! She is a direct descendant of George Soule, one of the original passengers aboard the Mayflower and a signer of the Mayflower Compact in 1620! In this episode, we explore an unbroken legacy of service spanning over four centuries. Tune in as we discuss:
A Lineage of Liberty: Terri traces her family history back to the literal foundational dock of America, and explains how that legacy inspires her work today.
From the Crew to the Capitol: How Terri's time serving in the U.S. Navy instilled a mission-first, people-focused approach to representing Missouri’s 104th District.
Servant Leadership in 2026: What America's 250th anniversary means to a veteran and legislator who has dedicated her life to defending and upholding our nation's ideals.
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(42:35) Part II
(53:52) Ralph & The St. Charles County Veterans Museum
(1:08:02) Terri's Top Priorities
(1:20:58) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Sergeant First Class Cheryl Rowland of the U.S. Army and Army Reserve!
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(55:54) Building a Family & the Toll of PTSD
(1:09:13) Part II
(1:50:12) The NCOA
(1:56:25) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Master Sergeant Kathy Nix of the U.S. Air Force & Air National Guard!
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(38:54) Part II
(56:21) Don't Ask, Don't Tell
(1:16:03) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Petty Officer First Class Ken Carey of the U.S. Navy!
 
From a horse farm in Leonard, Michigan to the thunder of carrier flight decks, Ken’s story is precise, human, and unforgettable.
We begin with family: great-uncles on the WWI battlefields, brothers and cousins in WWII and Korea, and a father who returned with a piece of shrapnel and a story that would become the moral compass for a son. Ken remembers the night his father recounted how a fellow soldier leapt on a grenade—the image of that sacrifice became the lesson that would follow Ken into boot camp, into leadership, and back home for a lifetime of service.
Ken walks us through the moment that changed everything: a young man from Kansas and Michigan walking into a Navy recruiting office, dreaming of college and wrestling fields, only to be chosen by the Navy for aviation ordnance. What sounds mechanical—loading, testing, and safeguarding weapons—becomes a study in responsibility. Ken’s vivid accounts take you under the flight deck: safety wiring by headlamp, the hush of nighttime launches, and the trust between ordnancemen and pilots. He explains how a single shim on an F-14 pylon and a hunch saved a squadron from being grounded—and won him credibility.
The episode moves like a patrol: tales from Miramar’s classrooms, Point Mugu’s experimental squadrons, the roller-coaster seas aboard the USS Eisenhower, and the unexpected leadership tests that turned a young man into a mentor and instructor. Along the way, Ken shares the funny and human moments—a butcher knife mishap that got him banned from the kitchen, the rivalry between branches of service on a missile range, and the strange economy of base housing and VW bugs that stitch a military family together.
But this is not only a technical memoir. Ken also tells the intimate story of faith discovered amid deployments: how conversations, a stubborn curiosity about scripture, and the warmth of community led him and his wife to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He reflects on leadership the way he taught ordnance crews—don’t ask of others what you won’t do yourself—and on the most elemental truth of all: service is about sacrifice, and every veteran carries a story worth hearing.
Across decades Ken’s legacy ripples—sons who served in the Navy and Army, a family forged by shared duty, and a veteran who now volunteers to keep those stories alive. This episode threads technical detail and human tenderness into a single narrative: the cost of service, the strength of community, and the reward of passing the torch.
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(17:14) Ken’s Father & a Powerful Lesson on Respect
(23:24) Family & a Legacy of Service
(29:21) The Aviation Ordnanceman
(45:50) Ken’s Long Road to Joining the Navy
(1:03:00) Father & Son
(1:07:56) Part II
(1:22:17) Point Mugu & the USS Eisenhower
(1:46:28) Keeping Up with the Cary’s
(1:53:28) Learning Leadership
(1:58:58) Career Delights & Disappointments
(2:15:19) Ken’s Faith Journey
(2:26:04) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Airman First Class Cynthia McCrea of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and founder of Veteran Women of Influence!
 
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(41:21) Part II
(1:13:40) Closing

Join us on Operation Insight as we host Sergeant Teegan LeClair of the U.S. Army!
(00:00) Disclaimer
(01:01) Opening Theme
(01:30) Introduction
(52:07) Part II
(1:27:26) SALUTE
(1:31:40) Closing