May 14, 2022
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Today we hear the Combat Story of long-time Special Forces
veteran, Ranger, and sniper Darrell Utt, who spent 26 years in the
service, most of that in special operations across 10
deployments.
Call to Action: For former military, government and law
enforcement, if you're looking for a high paying and meaningful
job, check out our Trust & Safety Institute at www.trustsafetyinstitute.com.
Darrell tracked down PIFWICs (Persons Indicted for War Crimes) in
Kosovo, was part of one of the craziest infils into Iraq you’ll
ever hear, used a honeypot to lure out an HVT, developed a
devastatingly effective HUMINT network, and led countless
kill/capture operations, taking down dozens of HVTs and detaining
hundreds of extremists and their leaders.
What’s great about Darrell is that he always put himself in harm's
way ahead of troops, which is not always the case. His ODA unit
earned the coveted Larry Thorne award which goes to the best
Special Forces unit for the work they did during one deployment to
Iraq. Darrell himself earned the MG Robert T. Frederick “Top
Operator” Award, which goes to the top Special Forces NCO.
Since leaving the service, Darrell has taken on a role helping to
build the future of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation,
which is on a mission to deliver “education, leadership, and
inspiring spaces for learning and reflection, to preserve, share,
and harness the stories, lives, and impact of Medal of Honor
recipients.”
I couldn’t imagine anyone better to represent the stories and lives
of our Medal of Honor brethren than Darrell. I hope you enjoy this
interview chalked full of creative and gut-wrenching combat stories
as much as I did.
Find Darrell Online:
- National Medal of Honor Museum https://mohmuseum.org/
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- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Show Notes:
0:00 - Intro
0:47 - Guest Introduction (Darrell Utt)
2:28 – Introducing The Trust & Safety Institute
3:17 - Interview begins
7:04 – Growing up in West Virginia from humble beginnings
13:16 – The significance of Camp Dawson training center in West
Virginia
17:02 – Wanting to join the Marines and what led him to the
Army
24:23 – Joining in 1990 as Light Infantry and feeling like he was
missing out on Gulf War
27:36 – Tracking down PIFWICs (Persons Indicted for War Crimes) in
Kosovo
39:04 - The transition into Special Forces ODA
42:52 - Combat Story #1 - Operation Ugly Baby in Iraq
59:58 - Combat Story #2 - Operation Thor's Hammer
1:16:04 - Combat Story #3 - Darrell’s “Happy to Be Alive” day
story
1:49:30 - Combat Story #4 - Toughest day in Adhamiya ,Iraq in
2006
1:56:09 - Combat Story #5 - Carnage and violence in Adhamiya in
2007
1:59:49 - His work today with The Medal of Honor Foundation
2:07:08 - What did you carry into combat?
2:08:37 - Would you do it again?
2:11:28 - Help connect those who served with meaningful and great
paying jobs after service
2:14:08 - Listener comments and shout outs