Don’t Try to Predict the Future. Instead, Prepare for It.
Former Army Ranger Brandon Young has an excellent thoughtpiece on how war taught him to prepare for the unexpected in life. “In war, things rarely go as planned. We can do all the right things, . . . and bad things will still happen, because “the enemy gets a vote.” Preparation allows us to have the final vote. Prediction, on the other hand, invites fragility. And an unforeseen event can shake us to our core.” This is the kind of wisdom everyone can use.
|
|
|
|
Tonight, June 7, on the VBC Happy Hour at 7pm ET: Jim Roberts’ book release party! Join Vietnam MAT team veterans talk about their war embedded in South Vietnamese villages.
|
|
John Barber’s “Happy” Memories from Vietnam Are a Dose of Perspective
Our latest TikTok is John Barber sharing his happy memories of Vietnam, 1966-1967. #1 on John’s list: putting on dry socks. It reminds me of this famous Mauldin cartoon. Happiness, as veterans have taught me, is relative.
|
|
|
|
Wednesday morning, June 9, on the Veterans Breakfast Club at 9:00am ET: USAF veteran Jack McMahon from the Fisher House and Mariko Fukuyama and David Wassel on returning Japanese war memorabilia.
|
|
From Pete Mecca’s Archive: The Story of Command Sergeant Major Simon Ramos, Special Forces Pioneer
“I dropped out of the 9th grade to support the family. I worked construction. In 1952, I decided to join the Army. My brother said, ‘Simon, you will be getting up at 4:00am and humping a backpack.’ Shoot, I told Joe that I was getting up at 4:00am anyway and lugging around a 65 pound jackhammer. What the heck was the difference?” Thus began the 35-year Army career of Command Sergeant Major Simon Ramos, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Special Forces veteran. Read Pete Mecca’s great profile of Simon here.
|
|
|
|
An easy way to support the VBC is to shop on Amazon and designate the Veterans Breakfast Club as your Amazon Smile charity. Amazon will donate a portion of your purchases to the VBC at no cost to you. Choose the Veterans Breakfast Club as your charity of choice with this link. Then, make sure you turn on Amazon Smile when you browse and shop.
|
|
The Veterans Breakfast Club Featured on Podcast for Entrepreneurs
Todd recently visited with author, speaker, and serial entrepreneur Regina Bergman, whose Bridgeport Strategy helps small businesses succeed. (Regina’s husband Rendel is a Vietnam Marine veteran) Todd shared with Regina some lessons he’s learned leading the VBC on her “Pursuing Profit with Principles” podcast. Although the VBC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, it thrives by adhering small business best practices. We only wish Regina had been guiding us from the beginning!
|
|
|
|
Thursday night, June 10, on VBC’s A Veteran’s Story with Pete Mecca at 7pm ET: Pete welcomes Tommy Clack, who, on his second tour in Vietnam in 1969, lost three limbs and suffered other injuries to an RPG round. He now serves as a tireless veterans’ advocate.
|
|
DONATE TO THE VBC
Help ensure we can continue to bring you veterans storytelling programs and content like this by donating today!
|
|
|
VBC Happy Hour
ADD TO CALENDAR
Every Monday night at 7pm ET on Zoom; simulcasted to Facebook and YouTube. BYOB(everage). Veterans stories, conversations, special topics, and guests. With Vietnam MAT Team Veteran Jim Roberts on his book, MAT 111 Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1971: Stories from 33 Quebec’s Tour of Duty.
Join on Zoom →
|
|
|
Veterans Breakfast Club
ADD TO CALENDAR
Every Wednesday at 9am ET on Zoom; simulcasted to Facebook and YouTube. Just like our usual veterans storytelling breakfasts, but made virtual! BYOB(reakfast)! USAF veteran Jack McMahon from the Fisher House and Mariko Fukuyama and David Wassel on returning Japanese war memorabilia.
Join on Zoom →
|
|
|
➢ THURS. JUNE 10 @ 7PM ET
|
|
We're always looking for guests, program ideas, and sponsors. Please let us know if you have any ideas to share!
Email Todd at todd@veteransbreakfastclub.org
|
|
|
|
|
