From the battlefield to building a new life

This episode of the National Security Hour features Fred Galvin in conversation with Earl Wakanabo, a retired Marine Corps Reconnaissance Marine and founder of Gunnies, a home repair business. Wakanabo recounts his journey from a junior college baseball player to a Marine Corps infantryman, sniper, and Force Reconnaissance operator, detailing his rigorous training in 29 Palms, California, and deployments to Okinawa, Japan, and Iraq during the height of the insurgency. He shares vivid combat experiences in Western Iraq, including his first kill and high-intensity missions involving air support and direct action. After serving in Afghanistan with Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC), he reflects on the psychological toll of constant deployment and the addictive nature of combat, which left him emotionally and mentally drained. The latter part of the episode focuses on his recovery through Hooks of Hope, a veteran support charity, where he found transformative therapies like red light therapy and holistic mental health care that were absent from traditional VA services. Wakanabo emphasizes the importance of addressing the cumulative burden of military service and the need for innovative, accessible healing pathways for veterans. Key takeaways include: 1) The intense mental and physical discipline required in elite military training prepares service members for extreme combat, but also creates lasting psychological strain; 2) Combat can become psychologically addictive due to the endorphin rush and sense of purpose, making reintegration difficult; 3) Traditional VA care often falls short in addressing the full spectrum of veteran trauma, necessitating alternative, holistic therapies; 4) Peer-led support networks like Hooks of Hope are vital for recovery and prevention of veteran suicide; 5) Skills from military mission planning—such as detailed preparation and adaptability—translate powerfully into civilian entrepreneurship. The episode closes with a strong message of resilience, healing, and the importance of community in overcoming the invisible wounds of war.