Mission Inspire

Episode 10: Back to School with Medal of Honor Recipient Gary Beikirch

Host Mo Barrett is joined by Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch for a conversation about his life of service. Awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallant actions in Vietnam, Mr. Beikirch has spent his time since leaving the military providing counseling and support to young people. Serving as a middle school counselor for two decades, Mr. Beikirch provides his perspective of overcoming challenges and reintegrating to public life as kids around the country head back into the classroom.

Episode Nine: Creating a National Medal of Honor Monument with U.S. Rep. Blake Moore and Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Col. William Swenson

Host Mo Barrett is joined by U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) – the lead co-sponsor of legislation authorizing a national monument in Washington, DC, to recognize the Medal of Honor – and Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Col. William Swenson. Together, they discuss the importance of having a monument in the nation’s capital to our country’s highest military award for valor in combat and all that the Medal of Honor represents.  

Episode Eight: Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams

Host Mo Barret is joined by Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams, who earned our nation’s highest honor for valor in combat during the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. They discuss Mr. Williams' life of service on and off the battlefield – with a particular focus on honoring those servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as their families.

Episode Seven: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Host Mo Barrett of the Mission Inspire Podcast talks with Gavin McIlvenna, President of the Society of the Honor Guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a former Tomb Guard himself, about this year’s centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Tomb’s connections to the Medal of Honor.

Episode Six: Bringing America’s Missing Military Heroes Home

Host Mo Barrett talks to Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency forensic archeologist Ally Campo about the work her organization does to recover the remains of missing U.S. military personnel. Then, Scott Carter from the Diocese of Wichita joins Mo to discuss the life of Medal of Honor recipient Father Emil Kapaun and the impact of the DPAA’s identification of his remains in Hawaii last month.

Episode Five: Medal of Honor Recipients Sgt. Maj. Matthew Williams & Sgt. Maj. Thomas “Patrick” Payne

To mark National Medal of Honor Day, host Mo Barrett talked to two of America’s most recent Medal of Honor recipients, both of whom represent the newest generation of military heroes: Sgt. Maj. Matthew Williams and Sgt. Maj. Thomas “Patrick” Payne. They discuss how their lives have changed since receiving the Medal, what it felt like to get “the call,” and the significance of National Medal of Honor Day.

Episode Four: Celebrating Black Medal of Honor Recipients with Dr. Edward Lengel, Dr. Jeff Sammons and Dr. Ri’Cha ri Sancho

In celebration of Black History Month, Dr. Jeff Sammons and Dr. Ri’Cha ri Sancho join National Medal of Honor Museum Chief Historian Edward Lengel, Ph.D., to highlight the valor and contributions of America’s Black Medal of Honor recipients. They also discuss ongoing efforts to ensure other Black military heroes deserving of the Medal receive the tribute they are due after years of delay due to discrimination and racial bias.

Episode Three: Congressional Medal of Honor Citizens Honor Recipient Molly Hudgens

Educator and Congressional Medal of Honor Citizens Honor recipient Molly Hudgens joins host Mo Barrett to talk about her heroic actions when she talked a student with a loaded handgun out of harming his fellow students and teachers at Sycamore Middle School and how citizens can best exemplify the values of the Medal of Honor.

Episode Two: Senator Joni Ernst and Dr. Theresa Kaminski join Mo Barrett

Senator Joni Ernst and Dr. Theresa Kaminski join host Mo Barrett to discuss the life and legacy of our nation’s only female Medal of Honor recipient, Dr. Mary Walker. Ernst and Barrett talk about their own experience as female combat veterans and the importance of Dr. Walker’s story to future generations of military women. 

Episode One: Medal of Honor recipient Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady (Ret.)

Medal of Honor recipient Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady (Ret.) talks about why it’s critical to inspire patriotism in young people, the bravery of his fellow recipients on and off the battlefield, and the important role the National Medal of Honor Museum will play in ensuring the stories of our nation’s greatest military heroes are preserved for future generations.