The Warrior Next Door Podcast

This series features clips from an interview we conducted with author Donald L. Miller. His book, Masters of the Air, has been made into a mini-series produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks and is being aired on Apple TV.

This interview was conducted on Jan 17th, 2024, just a week before the series premiered! It covers a host of topics including his use of oral histories in his books, why he became interested in writing about WWII, what prompted him to write Masters of the Air and how it got selected by Spielberg to be the lastest epic produced on the story of WWII and much more!

This series features clips from an interview we conducted with author Donald L. Miller. His book, Masters of the Air, has been made into a mini-series produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks and is being aired on Apple TV.

This interview was conducted on Jan 17th, 2024, just a week before the series premiered! It covers a host of topics including his use of oral histories in his books, why he became interested in writing about WWII, what prompted him to write Masters of the Air and how it got selected by Spielberg to be the lastest epic produced on the story of WWII and much more!

This series features clips from an interview we conducted with author Donald L. Miller. His book, Masters of the Air, has been made into a mini-series produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks and is being aired on Apple TV.

This interview was conducted on Jan 17th, 2024, just a week before the series premiered! It covers a host of topics including his use of oral histories in his books, why he became interested in writing about WWII, what prompted him to write Masters of the Air and how it got selected by Spielberg to be the lastest epic produced on the story of WWII and much more!

This series features clips from an interview we conducted with author Donald L. Miller. His book, Masters of the Air, has been made into a mini-series produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks and is being aired on Apple TV.

This interview was conducted on Jan 17th, 2024, just a week before the series premiered! It covers a host of topics including his use of oral histories in his books, why he became interested in writing about WWII, what prompted him to write Masters of the Air and how it got selected by Spielberg to be the lastest epic produced on the story of WWII and much more!

Subscriber-only episode

This series features clips from an interview we conducted with author Donald L. Miller. His book, Masters of the Air, has been made into a mini-series produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks and is being aired on Apple TV.

This interview was conducted on Jan 17th, 2024, just a week before the series premiered! It covers a host of topics including his use of oral histories in his books, why he became interested in writing about WWII, what prompted him to write Masters of the Air and how it got selected by Spielberg to be the lastest epic produced on the story of WWII and much more!

In this fourth and final installment, Azeez reflects on the chaos he and the Iraqi people faced when the US Forces pulled out of Iraq and whether is was worth it. He also details the two years of purgatory (and danger!) he endured in Iraq as he waited to get his green card, to becoming a US citizen. 

Azeez served as an Iraqi interpreter during Operation Iraqi Freedom during the "Surge" as sectarian strife erupted during the US occupation of Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the Baath party.

In Episode 3, you'll hear what it was like for Azeez to be imbedded as an interpreter with a MiTT (e.g., Military Transition Team) whose role was to help transition Iraq from an occupied country to one led by a newly minted Iraqi government...and it did not go smoothly.

Azeez served as an Iraqi interpreter during Operation Iraqi Freedom during the "Surge" as sectarian strife erupted during the US occupation of Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the Baath party.

In this episode, you'll hear Azeez talk about the tragedy his family endured due to sectarian violence and this path to becoming an interpreter for the US Armed forces. 

Subscriber-only episode

Azeez volunteered to assist the US Armed forces in Iraq as an interpreter during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the "Surge", when sectarian strife left Iraq in chaos.  In this series, Azeez shares his account of having his father murdered by members of a local militia which led to Azeez becoming an interpreter where he was seen as a traitor...all while being exposed to the dangers affiliated with working on the front lines with the US Armed forces in what amounted to a civil war.
This is a timely conversation as recently released movies (i.e. "The Covenant" and "Interpreters Wanted") illustrate the bond interpreters had with their US-led teams and the fate of many of them after the US Armed forces left.

Azeez served as an Iraqi interpreter during Operation Iraqi Freedom during the "Surge" as sectarian strife erupted during the US occupation of Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the Baath party.

In this episode, Azeez shares what it was like growing up in southern Iraq as the war with Iran ended and a new war with the US -led coalition began, and the impact it had on him and his family.

Here is bonus coverage from an interview we did with Ray Harris Jr. of The History of WWII Podcast, the most listened to WWII history podcast IN THE WORLD.

Ray has had the co-hosts (Tony and Ryan) on his show for the past three years and we felt it was worth sharing with our audience. 

We also want to thank Ray for supporting our mission of collecting and sharing first hand person accounts from historical events that is The Warrior Next Door Podcast...

Enjoy!

Welcome to the final episode of the Frank McClelland series cohosted by Peter Lion, David Brookins and Priscilla Forney. In Episode 2 we heard Frank describe the advance thru Paris, the fighting in the Hurtgen forest as well as his capture in the battle of the bulge. In this episode Frank discusses his time as a POW and describes his poor treatment as a returning POW after the war.

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Frank McClelland series. In Episode 1, we were introduced to Frank by our guest cohosts Peter Lion, David Brookins and Priscilla Forney. In a self recorded interview, Frank describes entering the Army as a military policeman before Pearl Harbor and he covers his training, travel to England and move to France in the 28th Infantry Division were he see’s combat. Now Frank describes the advance thru Paris, and fighting in the Hurtgen forest as well as his capture in the battle of the bulge.

Welcome to Episode 1 of the three part Frank McClelland series. In this episode, we are introduced to Frank by our guest cohosts Peter Lion, David Brookins and Priscilla Forney. In a self recorded interview, Frank describes entering the Army as a military policeman before Pearl Harbor and he covers his training, travel to England and move to France in the 28th Infantry Division were he see’s combat. 

Subscriber-only episode

Please join us for the Frank McClelland series, who was featured in the book The American Saint Nick. This however is his story in his own words, dissected through an audio recording that he made in the early 1990's. To help lend some personal anecdotes about Frank, we are honored to have co-hosts Peter Lion (author of "The American Saint Nick" and "Merge"), son of Richard Brookins (the original American Saint Nick) David Brookins and Frank's grand daughter Mrs. Priscilla Forney. Frank covers his training stateside, in England and his duties in France as the 28th Infantry fought across thru Paris, the Hurtgen Forest and ultimately Wiltz, Luxembourg where he fought in the outset of the battle of the bulge and became a POW. He then details his struggles after the war as a former POW and PTSD that stayed with him the rest of his life.

Welcome to the final episode of the 4 part “The American St Nick” series: a reading of the true WWII story brought to us by Emmy award winning producer and writer Peter Lion.

In this episode Chapters 13 and 14 will be read by Marie Anne Schweig, the daughter of the man who initiated the search for Richard Brookins: Jeanly Schweig;  Chapter 15 and "Of Note" will be read by author Peter Lion and the addendum “The Colmar Incident” will be read by Ryan Fairfield.

Welcome to Episode 3 of the 4 part “The American St Nick” series: a reading of the true WWII story brought to us by Emmy award winning producer and writer Peter Lion.

In this episode Chapters 9 and 10 will be read by Don Brookins (son of Richard Brookins), Chapter 11 is read by granddaughter of Frank McClelland, Priscilla Forney and Chapter 12 will be read by Warrior Next Door co-host Ryan Fairfield.

Welcome to Episode 2 of the exclusive 4 part reading of Peter Lion's "The American St Nick". In this episode Chapters 5 and 6 will be read by the daughter of Richard Brookins: Carol Brookins-Northrup and Chapters 7and 8 will be read by Richard Brookins eldest son, David Brookins.

Subscriber-only episode

PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER: Welcome to an exclusive Warrior Next Door Podcast presentation. A full UNCUT reading of the extraordinary true WWII story “The American St Nick”.  It is the remarkable story of a few GI’s of the 28th Infantry Division who brought Christmas to the children of the small war torn town of Wiltz, Luxembourg on the eve of the Battle of the Bulge. 

The following are the narrators for each chapter:
Chapters 1 and 2 author Peter Lion
Chapter 3 is read by granddaughter of Frank McClelland, Priscilla Forney
Chapter 4 is read by Warrior Next Door  co-host Tony Lupo
Chapters 5 and 6 is read by the daughter of Richard Brookins, Carol Brookins-Northrup
Chapters 7 and 8 is read by Richard Brookins eldest son, David Brookins
Chapters 9 and 10 is read by Don Brookins (son of Richard Brookins)
Chapter 11 is read by granddaughter of Frank McClelland, Priscilla Forney
Chapter 12 is read by Warrior Next Door co-host Ryan Fairfield
Chapters 13 and 14 will be read by Marie Anne Schweig, the daughter of the man who initiated the search for Richard Brookins: Jeanly Schweig
Chapter 15 and "Of Note" will be read by author Peter Lion
Addendum “The Colmar Incident” will be read by Ryan Fairfield

Welcome to Episode 1 of an exclusive Warrior Next Door Podcast presentation. A full reading of the true WWII story “The American St Nick”. It is the remarkable story of a few GI’s of the 28th Infantry Division who brought Christmas to the children of the small war torn town of Wiltz, Luxembourg on the eve of the Battle of the Bulge. In this episode, Chapters 1 and 2 are read by the author Peter Lion; chapter 3 is read by grand daughter of Frank McClelland, Priscilla Forney and chapter 4 is read by Warrior Next Door  co-host Tony Lupo.