Episode 36: God Made Me a Sheepdog

At 13 years old, he used cocaine with his drug-addicted dad. In high school, he kicked ass on the football field.

Then he joined the United States Marine Corps and later served in Desert Storm (Kuwait), where he witnessed the horrors of war.

When he came home and struggled with operational stress injuries, he found God.

Meet Greg Munck, a USMC combat-promoted veteran, diagnosed with PTSD, who founded The Guide Soldier Foundation to help fight the suicide epidemic of his brothers and sisters, became a pastor, and authored The Guide: Surviving, War-fighting, Peacemaking.

***WARNING: this podcast contains graphic content that may be disturbing or triggering to some listeners. Discretion is advised.***

Transcript

Larry Peyton:
And we are back from the break. Thanks for sticking around for the Papa Tango Sierra Delta podcast. On today's episode, we have a hugely special guest. I'm pretty excited about this one. We have Greg Monk that he has written a book called The Guide, Surviving, Warfighting and Peacemaking. And I'm going to say if you read the book, but I'm going to, I'm we're just going to X that right now. It's going to be when you read the book, you're going to completely understand why. His journey goes

Greg Munck:
from the

Larry Peyton:
from

Greg Munck:
bank.

Larry Peyton:
literally surviving to war fighting to peacemaking. It is an amazing journey. Greg, welcome to the show.

Greg Munck:
Oh, it's so good to be here. Thank you, Larry, for having me. Really, it's an

Larry Peyton:
Thanks.

Greg Munck:
honor.

Larry Peyton:
Thanks brother. I'm excited about this. I love the book. It's phenomenal. It's a fantastic read. It is a true journey from start to the present day, which I loved. It's not like you just jump into your, your military career. It takes us from, you know, some of the traumatic events you had as a child and it just takes us through. So as I always on this podcast, Greg, please introduce yourself and tell us about your journey.

Greg Munck:
Yeah, well, again, you know, my name is Greg Monk and I'm just humbled to be able to talk to you and to anyone that's listening. It's just, and any chance you get to share my story, it's a blessing for me because it's truly just an incredible story. And it started, you know, that the survival piece of it started when I was young. You know, my dad, growing up, it was evident that my dad struggled with Substance abuse and it started with alcohol then it moved to marijuana It was cocaine then it was free-basing and Then it was heroin and then so he I saw a progression, you know from there really was bad when I was eight years old From there talks about 18 is when that that's the cycle Unfolded itself and just it was it was really hard. It was really hard to see that and it was hard to take to hate your father and As his disease progressed, he was more and more away from home and more and more issues started to take place and the more hatred I had for my dad. And so the first time, my dad had 12 accounts of drunk driving, or 14. I talked to my dad now and it's like,

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
what was it exactly? But it's just crazy. Who has that

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
amount of drunk driving? And then the first time I hit my father, first time I ever really got a physical altercation, 13 years old and it was my dad, it was to stop him from driving drunk. Most of the time he was pretty affable and a fun guy, but when he drank too much he'd get angry. And I'm like, dad, you would have his keys and I would go to stop him and he'd be like, stick his chest out and oh, you think you're tough. And I go, no dad, just give me your keys, you're not driving, not another drunk driving, we don't need that right now, dad. And so, oh, you think you're tough and he pushed me. And then I pushed him back and then he hit me and then. just cold cocked him, knock him out,

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
take him to his bed. And when you have an altercation like that with someone that's close to you, it plays on you. Then there's the times when I would just play around with the drunk, right? He'd be drunk and trying to get out the door, the front door, and I would hear it. And so I'd run around the back door, come to the front, and then be standing there when he opens the door. And that's when he's really sloshed and just hammered. And then I'd go, and I'd be standing there, he's like, oh, darn it, you know? And I go, give me the keys, Dad. And I take him back to bed. Then I'd be sitting there, and then I hear him making such a loud noise trying to get out the back door, the backyard, to walk, so I'll walk out front, go to the side gate, and he's trying to get the gate open for like five minutes, because he's so hammered. And then he opens the gate finally, and he sees me there, and then he turns around defeated, like, wherever I go, he's always there. It's sad and crazy how much joy I found in those chaotic moments. And then things progressed. Like the first time I ever had a shotgun put to my head, which every time I tell the story, I can't believe I say those words. Like, whoever has that for the one time in their life. But I was 11 years old, and my dad had stolen a Porsche from his drug-dealing friend. And so he brought it home and he parked it there. So he was afraid that there was gonna be retaliation. So he had a guy sleeping on the couch, but I didn't know this. I didn't know any of this. I knew there was a car in the driveway, but I didn't know any of this at the time. He had a.357 Magnum on his nightstand and there was a guy on the couch with a shotgun. So I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and I startled this guy on the couch. He makes his way running off the couch, shotgun, puts it to the side of the head, lights come on, you know, and I just pissed my pants.

Larry Peyton:
I guess

Greg Munck:
And I'm just

Larry Peyton:
so, yeah.

Greg Munck:
terrified, you know, and he's like, oh, sorry, kid, you know, go back to bed. And I just kind of make my way back to my room and I shut my door and I pull my, I pull my toy box in front of the door and I pull my toys in front of the door and I lay in bed and I just sit there, covers over me till the. sun comes through, the morning sun comes in, I finally fall asleep. I remember getting out of bed that morning and walking out into the kitchen and my dad and this guy are there and nothing's really said, just kind of the nod, the nod at the table like that a boy, like I achieved something. But I can't even tell you how much trauma that places on someone, the fear that just instilled not at that point, but every time I got up to go to the bathroom for so many years, I was afraid of the dark. gosh, until I was probably 20 years old. It just, it was very traumatizing, you know, that event. Obviously it's traumatizing

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely.

Greg Munck:
for anybody.

Larry Peyton:
Hell

Greg Munck:
Yeah,

Larry Peyton:
yeah.

Greg Munck:
and so,

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
yeah, it's crazy. And then I was like, when that time I hit about 13, it was really hit the fan with my dad, you know, that just was some hardcore stuff. And I remember we'd go to this place in Fontaineville, California. It's like this racket club, you know, so, and it was a nice racket club. So I would go there, he would go, hey, you wanna go with me? And his... but his drug-dealing buddy had a condo there. And so I would go on the high dive and go play in the gym and go in the pool. And I just had a, I had fun as a little kid. And I would come back. I remember I took the condo one time. He's like, hey, I need you to come with me. So I get in the car and we go to Costa Mesa. It's in South Orange County here. It's in Orange County here. And I'm sitting in the car, it's this dark area. And I'm 13 and I'm. We were waiting there for like 10, 15 minutes and then a car pulls up and my dad gets out and gets in their car and it's like really covertly and weird and he gets back in our car and puts something underneath his seat and I'm like, I know exactly what it is. This is a total drug deal and my dad's sitting here with my dad doing it and then he, so I was in seventh grade at the time, you know, I just, and then I go, hey dad, what's that? And he goes, oh, just some plans, you know, some business plans, like just plain and stupid, like smartest guy in the room but don't say

Larry Peyton:
Right.

Greg Munck:
anything, like, okay,

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
dad, like. Yeah, okay. So we go back to the condo and I play for a little bit, come back and I go on the patio, shut the door, just sitting there and then my dad's there with this other guy and then there's a bunch of girls there and they're doing lines and coke and all of a sudden there's a knock on the window and I come on in, you know, and so I come in, I come in there, 13 year old, seventh grade Greg, and they're like, hey, my dad's like, hey, I'd love, why don't you do coke with me? You know, I'd rather you do it in line with me than your friends. And the girls are cheering me on and like, you know,

Larry Peyton:
Wow,

Greg Munck:
like, go,

Larry Peyton:
yeah.

Greg Munck:
go. And so I, I do a couple of lines, uh, with my, with my dad and these people. And I remember just that feeling of like, I can't believe I just did. Cause you know, eighties was no to drugs and here I am doing drugs with my dad. And just tweet me out because I knew. I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to do drugs. And so they put me in the limo, all the girls and the guys, and they dropped me off at my house, and you know, don't tell your mom, you know, that I'll be home later. And so it just was one event after another, and I could, geez, I could talk all day about

Larry Peyton:
I mean, Greg,

Greg Munck:
that

Larry Peyton:
let's

Greg Munck:
survival

Larry Peyton:
be honest.

Greg Munck:
piece. It was pretty shitty. It was

Larry Peyton:
If

Greg Munck:
horrible.

Larry Peyton:
this,

Greg Munck:
And

Larry Peyton:
if

Greg Munck:
it...

Larry Peyton:
this was the end of the story right now, if this was it, this would be, well, no wonder. I mean, you've struggled

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
with post-traumatic stress. Obviously you had a shotgun to your head at 11 and

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
you were encouraged, you know, to do a couple of lines of cocaine at 13.

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
And it's for everyone who's listening or watching, this is just the beginning. It's an unbelievable story. Please continue, Greg.

Greg Munck:
Yeah, yeah. And so I just can't, you know, and then there'll be times when, you know, my I would, I did a coke with my dad one other time when he said, Hey, why don't you stay home from school and do some coke with me? And I did some coke and I went up going to school and I, you know, at that time, then my mom, my mom started to work full time to support, you know, my dad and all, all my money, like my, my my in-laws were in Ohio, which would come from the Cleveland area. And so they would send money for my birthdays and for all that. I never saw a dime. You know, we were evicted four times, you know, in the Fountain Valley area. We were renting a house. And my mom would tell me, and again, my dad was progressively, first he'd be gone for, you know, four days, then a week, then two weeks, then a month. And then he'd come back and then he was gone two months, he'd come back. And so, you know, it was just, it was crazy. So my mom really had to support the family. You know, it was in a middle, you know, Fontaine Valley or Orange County, it's a middle class area. And we were a big, I guess, addicted four times. I remember one time my mom was like, hey, tomorrow, boys, you have to move the house. And we're like, what? So stay home from school, you know? I'll rent a U-Haul and take care of it. And so, you know, just stuff like that, it was just so dysfunctional and so wrong in so many levels. And my mom did the best she could. You know, I grew up, you know, I thought, I thought Hormel. I thought horn-melt chili and top ramen and macaroni cheese was the best, you know, because that's what I grew up on. And then when

Larry Peyton:
Hell

Greg Munck:
my mom

Larry Peyton:
yeah.

Greg Munck:
was home, she would cook and do the best she could for us. So, really just crazy, crazy childhood. And as I said earlier, as it progressed, the hatred for my dad started just to go on. And I remember one time I came home from a night and there was a bunch of people. that couldn't speak English in our living room shooting up heroin. And man, it was crazy. And I'm just, and I freak out. I'm like, what the hell are you doing in my house? You know, get out of my house. And it looked like a crack scene, a crack house scene, like food everywhere. It was just crazy that this is happening in my house and, you know, guys shooting up. And I'm like, get out of my house. They're like, no, I'll be like English. I'm like, no, I'll be like English. My ass, get out of my house. And then My dad comes up behind me, he's like, hey man, chill out, it's cool. And I sit my dad in the chair, I'm like, stay there, I'll talk to you later, and I kick all these people out of the house, and then I come back, and it's just so many instances where I was the parent, and he was the child, right? I'm like, dad, what are you doing? And then one of many conversations in tears, and I'm so sorry, I will never happen again, I'll never do it, and it just won't, it won't, I promise, it won't happen. And then sure enough, you know. all the promises he would go back to drugs. And the best analogy I can give it, it's like when you, as a kid, you always forgive your parents, no matter what, how tragic and horrible it is. And so they ask for forgiveness and then I would stick my hands out and I would hug them and embrace them metaphorically. And every time he would cut my arms off. Well, you do that enough times, you start doing that enough times where that hatred in your heart starts to grow. And I can't even describe how much I hated my father. And I wanted to kill him. I remember

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
my mom would say, hey Rob, it's the Hop, it's this local establishment. They're calling, you need to go pick up dad, he's drunk. So all of a sudden I'd be in my room, my brothers would come in and they'd be embarrassed because they didn't want to go inside. So they'd be like, hey Greg, come with us to the Hop. Come with us to go get dad. I'd be like, no man, he's like, well I'll get you an ice cream. I'm like, okay. Yes, like total bribery and

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely.

Greg Munck:
I go in there and then here's this like 12 year old kid walking into the hop They go here for Bob Monco. There he is. And hey son walking out with my dad And as long as I got my ice cream, I didn't care every time there was a warrant served at our house. Yes, that's it That's a story

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
Every time a warrant was served everybody was embarrassed to go to the door so I had two older brothers and my mom obviously but nobody wanted to go to the door and one time was just me and my dad at home and I knock on the door and my dad comes frantically in. He's like, hey, it's the sheriffs. I'm not here. Whatever you do, I'm not here. I'm young. Gosh, I want to say 10 years old, nine. And then so I open the door and it's the sheriffs. And they're like, son, is your dad here? And I'm like, I'm just looking at him. I didn't know what to say. And like, we kind of said something like, hey, you don't want to obey the criminal or something like that. And I'm just shaking my head. Like, is your dad here? It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. Just, you know, shake your head if he's here. And then I'm like, yeah, I've shake my head. And I step aside and let them in. And my dad is making a beeline for the back, our backyard, because a part of our backyard was the back of a food center. Like it's like a little 7-Eleven grocery store area. It's an alleyway. So he hopped over the wall, but there was a cop waiting for him there. So he comes back over the wall. The two guys cuff them, you know, and they're. They're taking him back through the house. And I remember I'm sitting there looking at him and then he just looks right at me and he goes, you piece of shit, I told you not to let him in. And

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
I just was like, and then I remember the cops going and like almost like hitting my dad. Like, what's the matter with you? This is

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
all because of you, Mr. Monk. This has nothing to do with your son. You know, and I just like sit, lean back on that wall and just sit down and defeat, you know, like. You know, you take, I did something wrong. Like I caused this and

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely.

Greg Munck:
I'm causing my dad to go to jail. And so

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
anyway, it just, I could go on Larry, but it just

Larry Peyton:
No,

Greg Munck:
got bad. And then when it got to

Larry Peyton:
yeah.

Greg Munck:
high school,

Larry Peyton:
I was

Greg Munck:
it

Larry Peyton:
going

Greg Munck:
got

Larry Peyton:
to say

Greg Munck:
to high

Larry Peyton:
Greg,

Greg Munck:
school

Larry Peyton:
and that's the

Greg Munck:
and

Larry Peyton:
amazing

Greg Munck:
it, yeah.

Larry Peyton:
thing. The amazing thing, Greg, is that you would think then, like, you know, again, you hit this part of the story, nobody knows anything else about you. And you're like, well, yeah, obviously, you know, I mean, this, this problem, you know, just follows Greg. I mean, he must have become involved in drugs himself, must have become involved in this and that. And then all of a sudden

Greg Munck:
Yeah,

Larry Peyton:
high school, which

Greg Munck:
yeah, high school. And so, and Larry, it's funny, I just was thinking about this right now, because I had such difficulty labeling that part of my book as survivor. This is so funny, just talking right now, I've never said this before, I'm just having this, I had almost trouble putting those words, because it's such a word that's thrown around today, and I really, I don't live in that space, like I'm some victim. But that's the word. I talk about these stories and oh my God, it's crazy. I just wanna go back a little bit. Of all the things that impacted me, all the things I just told you, the biggest struggle I have when I think about it, the things that bring me the most anguish is he missed my 11th, 12th, and 13th birthdays. I can't express to you how devastating that is for a child where your dad misses your birthday and he would miss it and he would come in. at night drunk, getting bed with me. And then the next day take me to, like the family fun center, play miniature golf and arcade and take me out to lunch and buy my love. And I take it, I took the offering. But one time we're gonna go to Disneyland. I think it was I was 13 again. 13 was a bad year. And I remember I was so excited because we're gonna go to Disneyland. And so. And then I remember that day and my, oh, your dad's gonna be home at nine o'clock. You guys are gonna take you boys. And I remember riding my bike up and down the block, waiting for my dad to come home. And, and I get 11 o'clock. Oh, your dad will be home in a little bit. Two o'clock. Oh, he's coming. Don't worry. He'll be here. Four o'clock. Oh, he's, he's going to be coming. Don't worry. Here I am riding my bike all day. Just waiting for my dad to pull up so he could take us to Disneyland. And he never showed up, man. And that one. That one hurt. It just. You can only take so much defeat as a kid like that when you can't rely on the person that is supposed to be there for you the most. And so it's funny, like all those things, this is the one that crushes me. And I don't know why, but it's just the realization I think, because when those happened, it was like, oh, this is not someone that I can count on in my life. And so, and so I... I pressed on and then so I'm in high school and I'm going to high school and at this time things were bad so I was writing my own. I would register myself for school. I started to work part time to help pay for the football fees and all that. So I started playing football and man, I love football. I was a big kid, I'm like 6'3". And I was getting taller and I was thin and worked out but I loved to hit. It's like controlled aggression. And American football, it's like just awesome. In between that whistle, I could go as hard as I can and hit somebody as hard as I can, and I don't get in trouble. And so I loved it, and I excelled, excelled at it. And I was super aggressive, and I loved to play defense, and I played defensive line, and I did really well. And there was this one instance where I went public for the first time with somebody else about what was going on at home. Because up until that time, my mom was like East Coast mentality, hey, everyone's got problems. You know, we just we don't talk about them. Don't you don't we don't share our problems with other people

Larry Peyton:
Right.

Greg Munck:
And and so I never really talked about it So I'm my friends kind of knew something was going on and I shared some things But just not that much and where I was lifting weights with the team and my buddy raised that played this Joke about where we get a curl bar if you do like workout on a bench press There's a bench and you kind of spread your legs and there's a little part of the bench still And so what you do is you drop the curl bar in it, but it would hit the bench. And then, and while you're dropping it, the guy's lifting, you're like, hey, look, it freaks you out a little bit, but it hits the bar, it hits the bench. And you're like, ha ha, you finished your rep. Well, my idiot friend didn't measure it properly and he drops it and it hits me right in the nuts. So I dropped the weight

Larry Peyton:
Oh

Greg Munck:
and just in total pain. And then something snaps in me.

Larry Peyton:
Yeah!

Greg Munck:
This, what you'll read throughout the book is this thing that... deep inside of me just goes off and I just, I snapped and just was like push fighting everybody, fighting Razor, fighting my friends. No one can console me. And obviously everyone knew something was more than just after that, not being in pain, something more was going on. It was obviously I was leaking something more and the coaches came over and pulled me aside. One of the coaches and. pulled me into the equipment room and started talking to me. And he's like, great, great. Calm down, what's going on? I go, dickhead, raise that, drop the bar on my balls. And he's like, hope that's okay. I don't mean to get

Larry Peyton:
This

Greg Munck:
too vulgar.

Larry Peyton:
is, listen man, everything goes on this podcast. We talk

Greg Munck:
Okay.

Larry Peyton:
just like we're supposed to talk. Everything goes.

Greg Munck:
Yeah, well, that's how the book is. It's super raw and real. So I, and I'm, he's like, he's like, he goes, I know he did that, Greg, but like, you know, what's going on? Now there's something going on. He pressed in a little bit. And for the first time I shared with him, like, you know, it's like, things are crazy. Just when I shared with him about my dad's alcoholic where he's in and out of jail, you know, my mom works full time. I, you know, I don't even know. I have to pay for my own food and I work here and just explain to him. And then I have, all this stuff going on at home and I, you know, my girlfriend is pregnant and I just, I don't know if I'm gonna live anymore. And so, and he just looks at me and he's like, Greg, I had no idea, cause I was, that's how I was a starter and, or I don't know if I was a starter then, but I was excelling. And he's like, I would never guess that you were dealing with any of that by the way you work. And cause that football was my life. I mean, I lived for that game. And so it was the first time though that I, I opened up to somebody else and kind of let them in and it felt so good to like release that and share that. It was just the first step and then I realized that moment in my life is it was so important. That's why I coached football for many, many years. For 20 years I've coached football. I just stopped a couple years ago. I traced it back to that time because coaches had such a big impact on my life. and I

Larry Peyton:
Well,

Greg Munck:
wanted

Larry Peyton:
absolutely.

Greg Munck:
to influence kids like that as well. And

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
so,

Larry Peyton:
I mean, Greg,

Greg Munck:
yeah,

Larry Peyton:
I

Greg Munck:
so

Larry Peyton:
mean this

Greg Munck:
that

Larry Peyton:
is

Greg Munck:
was.

Larry Peyton:
the thing you talk about. I mean, this is, this is an important part. I mean, I don't, I don't want to interrupt you, but this is an important thing because, you know, speaking about trauma is a huge, I mean, that's a huge wall to climb. People, a lot of

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
people go years and years being afraid to climb that and that's well into their adult ears. So, you know, I just, I want to say that the fact that you did that in high school, is amazing. It's a lot more difficult than a lot of people realize. But what's also amazing is that coach, because you got the feedback that you needed, which let's be honest, that was a different time. I mean, we're in the 80s now.

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
This is not exactly when mental health is super

Greg Munck:
Right.

Larry Peyton:
out there and supported, right? So

Greg Munck:
Right,

Larry Peyton:
that's

Greg Munck:
yeah.

Larry Peyton:
phenomenal that guy backed you up.

Greg Munck:
Yeah,

Larry Peyton:
Yeah, keep going, brother, keep going.

Greg Munck:
yeah, he did so. Yeah, I remember he gave me all the money from the Coke machines around the locker room, went to that program. So I left there with this big bag of quarters, so he's like, because he asked me, what do I eat? And I'm like, hey, three peanut butter sandwiches a day, top ramen and mac and cheese. And he's like, okay, I'm gonna give you some money to go buy some good meals. So on the way home, I remember I went to Puppet Taco, it's like Taco Bell, on the way home. Good choice, right? But that was awesome. And so just small things, you know, food

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
was a driver for me. Definitely. But so I did what I had that just a great time in football and I excelled and there's more detail on that on that journey. But then what happened was I got to my senior year and as my dad was gone more and more, my buddy had joined the Marine Corps. And so we just saw a full metal jacket and it kind of I kind of shares my mindset at that time. I really didn't fight a lot, but my friends had big mouths. And so I got in a lot of fights because of my friends. And I ended a lot of fights and I was regressive and all that stuff. And so here's senior year, we go to the recruiting office and he's signing up for the Marine Corps. And then I start talking to the recruiter and I'm like fresh meat for this recruiter, right? And I remember saying, hey, is there any conflicts going on in the US right now or in the world? He's like, no, there's nothing going on. You know what I'm like? So I went up signing up for the Marine Corps because they're gonna put us in the buddy program together. We get to go to boot camp together. So that was the promise. And so I signed up for the Marine Corps. I came home, a couple of days later I told my mom, she's like, you did what? I'm like, yeah, mom, I'm gonna go in the Marine Corps. And I gotta tell you, it's like watching Full Metal Jacket, anyone that would watch that movie and then sign up for the Marine Corps, you could tell they got some screw loosers.

Larry Peyton:
Seriously,

Greg Munck:
I did,

Larry Peyton:
right?

Greg Munck:
definitely. And so I... I joined the Marine Corps and it was quite an experience, you know, I have to say, going to boot camp. What happened was that my friend Adam, we were going to go in March of 89 and we were going to go during that time together, but he couldn't wait. And so I played a fall, in the fall I played football and he just couldn't wait so he went in October. So I wound up going in by myself in March of 89. You know, so I go in the Marine Corps. But just really quick on like by just going back just a little bit, I, you know, at one time, my dad, my dad, you know, took us to church. He had gotten clean and he made a commitment to God and he started taking us to church and then we were there for like 30 days. And then 30 days later, he was back doing drugs. So for me, it was a really polarizing, I was like, oh, Christianity is just for weak people. You know, instead of shooting up heroin or shooting up God. And You know, and I made fun of Christians, man. I was so like just, I just would mock Bible thumpers and all that. It's just so funny how life takes you the journey of life. And so I go to boot camp and because I'm tall, they made me a squad leader. And then shortly thereafter, they made me the platoon leader. And the platoon leader in Marine Corps boot camp is called the guide. And so hence that's the name of the book. That's one of the reasons for the name of the book. is that I was the guide in Marine Corps boot camp. And you carry a guide on, which is a platoon flag. And so the drone instructors always going, guide, guard, come here, guide, come here, guide. So you carry the guide on, the platoon flag, so you're the guide. And it was, the drone instructors would tell me things to tell the platoon. And so I didn't realize I was a leader until I really got in the Marine Corps that really started to emerge those leadership qualities. But Went to boot camp, but I loved it. I loved boot camp. It's like being in Hell Week in football. Love being challenged, love being pushed. It's like, it's just like full metal jacket and guys are getting yelled at and there's people crying, you know, and be like, oh my gosh, why are you crying for? This is awesome. You know, but you know, going through boot camp and then like the books got tons of my boot camp stories. They're just, yeah. One of

Larry Peyton:
But

Greg Munck:
them,

Larry Peyton:
one of

Greg Munck:
they're,

Larry Peyton:
them I want to make sure you hit Greg, because this is one that

Greg Munck:
yeah.

Larry Peyton:
I think speaks volumes about you as an individual,

Greg Munck:
Right.

Larry Peyton:
is when your guidon flag is disrespected

Greg Munck:
Yes,

Larry Peyton:
and

Greg Munck:
yeah,

Larry Peyton:
thrown.

Greg Munck:
absolutely. Yeah,

Larry Peyton:
Tell

Greg Munck:
sure.

Larry Peyton:
us about

Greg Munck:
Sure.

Larry Peyton:
that

Greg Munck:
So

Larry Peyton:
please.

Greg Munck:
yeah, that's a great story. It's that everyone loves that story. And so And it's that it and it really is that it really defines the book and sets it on On the basically the first metaphor of the book for sure And that is I was we're in Marine Corps boot camp. So this is the third phase of boot camp So we've been we've been you know through this is 13 weeks of boot camp and we're at the very end getting ready to graduate We're marching And everything we do, we can't do right. Everything we do, we can't do right. They're yelling at us, you know, typical. And then, so they say, hey, we're gonna go to the pit. And we're like, oh crap. And the pit was this 50 yard by 50 yard field of sand, you know, refined, the finest sand you've ever, over a hundred, like, wherever Olden Marine Corps is. And they've been at M-SERD San Diego. And that's where I went to boot camp. And the finest sand, over a hundred. hundreds of years of Marines just working out, you know, in the sand pit there. It was crazy. So we start running to the sand pit and I take my guide on and I stick it in the sand and we start doing all these calisthenics and the drill instructors, you know, they have you move to a calisthenic, you know, every 10 seconds, but they can't count. So it's like 10, five, three pushups, you know, five, four, two, you know, leg lifts, three, five, two jumping jacks. You know, you're just moving around in the sand. So we're literally doing this for about 40 minutes and then we finally stop and dust is everywhere. Like sand is in every orifice of your body and you're just, you're sucking in air. You're sucking in air and then the drill instructor said, picks up the guidon flag and he goes, you are the worst platoon that I've ever had. Marines are ruling over in their graves. It just goes on and on and on. And then he takes the guidon and he snaps the guidon. So. For everything I've just told you, Larry, that guidon represented, this was my new life. This was a new start for me. You know, I just, like, it's so crazy to say, but you kind of understand, and now your audience says, something broke in me. When he broke that guidon flag, something broke on me because this was a new chapter for me. And so, it was emotional. And then so, I lunged for the flag. As you were, guide. So I stopped and he goes, you know, since you love the guide so guide on so much, why don't you lay down by it? So I laid down by the guide on, he's like, Hey, turn over face up. And he goes, I want the whole platoon. There's like 90 guys in the platoon. I want the whole platoon to line up and I want everybody to spit on the flag. And so guys are lined up there and all the instructors are there and they're yelling at him to spit on the flag. And so a lot of guys, almost everybody spit on the flag except for some of the squad leaders and a cup other guys. It was crazy. So they, 90 guys goes through and as you can imagine, they're spitting on the flag, I'm laying next to it, they're spit all over me, all over the flag. Everyone's in formation. And so the drill instructor says, stand up guys. So I stand up and just drip in with spit and the flag's right in front of me and he's like, spit on the flag guide. And I'm like, no sir. And I'm just like, there's no way. And then he's like, spit on the flag guide. No sir. And then they... in my face now, he's like, I give you a direct order. I will court martial your sorry ass. I will put you back to first phase of boot camp. You spit on that flag, he said, direct order Marine, spit on the flag. I'm like, no sir. And I'm like crying, I'm screaming, you know, no sir, I'm not gonna spit on the flag. And then they pushed me to my knees. Like the drug starters behind me, with their knees behind mine, pushed me to my knees and I'm in front of the flag. You're pushing my head, spit on the flag. I go, no sir, I won't spit on the flag. No, sir, I'm not gonna disrespect my platoon or my country. And then they picked me up in this moment and they're like, that's why you're a guy. That's why you're a guy. And I'm all jacked up like I won the Super Bowl, right?

Larry Peyton:
Guess

Greg Munck:
And

Larry Peyton:
so.

Greg Munck:
yeah, and so, and I grabbed the flag. I remember it's on the broken in pieces and I remember picking it up, you know, and I'm like, this is our family. This is our Marine Corps. And then all of you can just see the heads of the guy, the guys in the platoon go down, you know? And... It just was a moment where I realized that, you know, you can't always just follow orders blindly. You have to stand up for what is right. And I was never gonna spit on that flag, no matter what they did. And they knew that. And it was all just this exercise, a final phase of, okay, who really is worthy to be a Marine? Obviously all those guys were worthy of it. But just that, just that. just to kind of attest. And so really that really defined, that's really what they wanna do in Brut Cap, is they wanna break you down. Doesn't matter what religion you are, where you come from. You know, it was black, white, you know, it was Hispanic. It was every color under the sun, and we all love each other. We all had a common purpose and a mission, and it was all become Marines. And it's just amazing. It's such a light in our society that... when we're all on the same, we all have the same purpose and mission, it changes. It changes you. And anyway, so bootcamp was really good. I wound up graduating the guide in the platoon and that was awesome and really exciting.

Larry Peyton:
Amazing.

Greg Munck:
And I got to, yeah.

Larry Peyton:
Yeah. And Greg, I mean, the thing is for anyone who's listening and doesn't realize this or doesn't know a whole lot of military history, what's interesting when you talk about a Marine and the flag, the infamous picture, black and white picture, you'll see six individuals hoisting the American flag. That photo is of six Marines. That is on the first hill of Iwo Jima, which is in the Pacific of World War II. That is what that flag... means to a Marine. And the other interesting thing about that of the six individuals, three of them never left Iwo Jima. They lost their lives there, but they're not looking at the camera. They're not posing. There are six men in unison putting a flag in the ground because of the ground they just won. And that to me, sir, that to me was an exact moment when you picked up that guide on that. You respected that. at a different level that most people can't. And

Greg Munck:
Right.

Larry Peyton:
I just wanted to make sure you told that story, Greg, because to me,

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
that defines you. To go back,

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
and I mean, we're going to continue on, but to go back to what you said, that you found it difficult at the beginning to say that you were a survivor, but you were. Absolutely. You were a survivor, but you, sir, were not ever a victim because everything that happened, well, you took it. And you became... a warrior and I say a warrior not even in the sense of a Marine, but I say a warrior as a person who, you know, life has thrown a lot at everybody, but Greg, it's thrown a ton of shit at you and

Greg Munck:
Right.

Larry Peyton:
you have always come through and I have a great deal of respect for that brother. I have a great deal of respect for you. So I just wanted to make sure you shared that one, man. Just

Greg Munck:
Yeah,

Larry Peyton:
keep going with the journey,

Greg Munck:
absolutely.

Larry Peyton:
brother.

Greg Munck:
No, no, man, I could talk all day. This is, I just, it's emotional for me, but that's been, it's been so cathartic writing the book and I'm so glad I did. And my kids really encouraged me to do it. And that's what I wrote it for initially with my children so they could hear these stories, so they wouldn't forget these stories. And so, I go to bootcamp and I graduate and it's awesome. And then I meet this beautiful girl named Kimberi. And so she's gorgeous. and we're dating and we're hot and heavy and things are awesome. And then all of a sudden she goes here in California, there's a movie that came out recently called Jesus Revolution. And it really depicts this. There's it's Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie. It's Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa. Well, Fountain Valley is right next to Costa Mesa. So, Kimberly went to a Monday night Bible study with Greg Laurie and she had grown up in the church and she recommitted her life at this Monday night Bible study. And she comes back to me, you know, she's like, hey, we can't have sex anymore. I'm like, what are you talking about? What do you mean? We can't have sex anymore.

Larry Peyton:
Deal breaker!

Greg Munck:
That's not part

Larry Peyton:
What?

Greg Munck:
of the

Larry Peyton:
Ha ha

Greg Munck:
plan. That's not on my

Larry Peyton:
ha.

Greg Munck:
schedule. But she had this refound, she recommitted her faith. So we were still together, but I moved out of her house. Her parents let me stay in a room. I kept Pendleton, which is not, it's about 40 minutes away from where I was staying. And anyway, well, that was July of 90. in August of 90, Iraq invaded Kuwait. So that was the Kuwaiti conflict where Iraq went in to take Kuwaiti's oil. And so we sent a bunch of troops over there and that was in August. And my unit was slotted to go. And so for the first time in my life, I was starting to really look at my life, like, oh my gosh, I might die. And what happens when you die? And so as I was asking those questions, my brother went to a funeral. and had a faith experience at a funeral. And then, so he's like, hey, there's this event called the Harvest Crusade at the Pacific Amphitheater. Now they're at Angel Stadium around, you know, it's a massive events, but at that time it was at Pacific Amphitheater. And this guy, Greg Laurie is doing it, and Kimmy's like, oh, that's the guy on Monday nights, you know, you'll love him, Greg. So anyway, I go to this Harvest Crusade, the first one, 1990, and I go every night. It's like a five night event. And the first night, There's worship and a message from the Bible. And then all these people come forward to receive Christ, you know, to receive God. And so I'm like, I'm watching this and I'm just like, ah, no way. Like every night I had a different excuse. So fast forwarding, every night I would go back though, something was drawing me. And so every night I would go and then every night I had a different excuse for why not to surrender. And man, it was either my pride or, you know, It was prior to my sin. Like I felt like, oh, I'm not worthy of this. Like God, God doesn't want me, man. I'm a, and then oars my intellect. Every night it was a different excuse. Well that last night, Thursday night, I was there. And every night I'd seen music and worship and then Greg Laurie give a message and these people come forward. And there I was like, he did the same thing that night. And, but this time everything was coming full circle. I remember him saying, it's not about religion. It's about a relationship. And God wants to have one with you. And that really ignited with me because I'm not a religious, I don't like religion. And I really could relate to that comment. And so, and then I remember him giving that invitation. I went down, I remember for the first time just surrendering and saying to God, like, God, if you can help me do the things I know are wrong, I wanna be your man. And the biggest thing was every night, all those excuses, every excuse I had, it wasn't. That excuse I had wasn't the excuse. The issue in every single one of those excuses was, can I trust God? Is God gonna let me down like everyone else in my life? And that was the struggle. And I just, that fifth night, I just came to terms and I'm like, Lord, I surrender. I tap out. I can't carry this anger for my dad anymore. I can't carry this burden. I need to release it, I need to give it away. So I just surrendered my life to the Lord. I became a Christian that night and I really didn't know what that meant at all. But I did, I gave my life to Christ that night. And so I remember a friend came over the next day and he's like, hey, I heard you're born again. And I didn't even know what that meant. And I'm like, no, I just decided to stop living for myself and start living for God.

Larry Peyton:
It's deep.

Greg Munck:
And that's how I look at my life. That was the moment I stopped living for myself and I started living for God. And... It was, I said goodbye to Kimber a bunch of times. We didn't leave till December 1st. I left on ship over to the Gulf War, stopped in Hawaii, stopped in the Philippines, and we stopped in Oman. We did a beach landing, the biggest beach landing since Korean War in Oman. And it was televised to all give the indication to the Iraqis that we were gonna do a beach landing in Kuwait. That's the famous Swarovskof left hook that he was starting to initiate. So I was a part of that. And I was tasked to RLT-5, 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines headquarters. And I was a biological chemical warfare trained guy who based on the chemical agent that they use or nuclear agent or whatever they use and the wind and temperature, I can tell you how long it's going to be in an area and different things like that. So I was attached to a combat unit. And man, there's a, I know we don't have tons of time, but there's a whole story there that day we did that beach landing in Oman that we get back on the ships and then two days later the ground war starts. We get off in Saudi Arabia, we unload everything the night before and then the day of the ground war we go ashore and we were a part of clearing. We went inland about 10 miles and cleared the Al Wafar forest. It's this area where we did clearing operations because the communications weren't what they were and in two days or three days Iraq wanted to do a ceasefire, but not everyone heard that. So we did operations where we cleared. So there'd be some resistance. And there was one instance where we got some mortar fire from a stray Iraqi unit. And then there was some argument about our position. And I was the map guy and I clarified where we were. And two Cobras came in and leveled this area and where these guys were. And... we walked the thing and the only thing that was left was body parts. And so that was a crazy moment. And then because of my MOS, I was also doing graves and registration. And so we only had a couple casualties on our side, but the massive casualties on the Iraqi side. And so we would take the prisoners of war and we would escort them to pick up their bodies and match the body pieces and the body parts and help them. It's just terrific. You know, it's horrific.

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely, it's horrific.

Greg Munck:
Yeah. And, uh, um, and so that was my, you know, my experience, uh, there's, there's a little more there, but in the general sense, that was my, my time in, in the golf war. And so we leave,

Larry Peyton:
And

Greg Munck:
we, we. Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
Greg, and one of the things I just want to bring up for other people, that's something that'll resonate with a lot of people. And I sort of want to hear your side of it is a lot of times the sites are, the sites certainly stay with you. But one thing that I really find that hits me that I can't get over are sounds, but most importantly, smells

Greg Munck:
Yeah,

Larry Peyton:
like

Greg Munck:
oh gosh

Larry Peyton:
smells.

Greg Munck:
well

Larry Peyton:
I mean, is this, is this the same with you? Does anything bring

Greg Munck:
Oh

Larry Peyton:
back

Greg Munck:
my gosh,

Larry Peyton:
those

Greg Munck:
Larratt.

Larry Peyton:
days?

Greg Munck:
Yeah, like, you know, I, it's so funny in the book, in that, that chapter, I, I kind of speak in more general terms if you notice that, because it's hard for me to get into the details. But one thing was, is we called it living the suck because 750 oil wells, yeah, and I guess I should paint that picture for the audience. Imagine 750 oil wells over a, like a hundred mile radius busted, oil squirting out of it and all on fire. And obviously after days of that, it was 12 o'clock day and it looked like night because there was just oil mist in the air and it was all over your clothes and you'd suck that in. So we called it living the suck. That's the one smell. And then the smell of oil and then blood and just was overwhelming. And then the sounds and then just that when those mortar rounds went off, I can't describe to you how loud it is. And if it was a good mortar team, I wouldn't be talking to you. If it

Larry Peyton:
Right.

Greg Munck:
was the US

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
motor team, no way I'd be here. But

Larry Peyton:
There you go.

Greg Munck:
they were trying to find where we were and they weren't close, but it was loud. And the bullet sounds. And then just even in concussions in a distance, as you're trying to go to sleep, sleeping under the Hummer at night. And then,

Larry Peyton:
Right.

Greg Munck:
I mean, it's like this crazy chaos and beauty. And here's how I best describe it. I describe it as being in combat is like. The feeling you get when you see a really tragic accident, when you drive by and cars are mangled, or you see blood, or just, it looks like, oh my God, that person's dead. That feeling you get inside, mixed with playing in the biggest sporting event you've ever been in. Those two adrenalins smashed together the same time, 24 hours a day. That's

Larry Peyton:
That's

Greg Munck:
what

Larry Peyton:
a great

Greg Munck:
it's like

Larry Peyton:
metaphor.

Greg Munck:
being in combat.

Larry Peyton:
That's

Greg Munck:
That's...

Larry Peyton:
a great way

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
to explain it. Yeah. That's a fantastic way to explain it. It's that really just screwed with my mind. I'm like, Whoa, what? Yeah, that's amazing.

Greg Munck:
Yeah. And so, yeah, thank you for mentioning that because I don't want to, I want to bring, I don't, I don't mind talking about that stuff because that is the, there is a visual picture. There is a emotional picture with the sights and sounds and I would say smells and, and the hearing of things really triggers me the most of anything. And that,

Larry Peyton:
Same here. I'm with

Greg Munck:
and

Larry Peyton:
you.

Greg Munck:
that,

Larry Peyton:
It's the exact same,

Greg Munck:
and then

Larry Peyton:
brother.

Greg Munck:
I, yeah, and then the visual stuff, I just have to, like, I can go to a movie, that's a war movie, but I just have to. myself because it's hard it's really hard so anyway I we get back on the ship I get awarded I got combat promoted in front of everybody on my ship and so that was awesome because of my actions in the Gulf War which were nothing compared to others but I've been learning not to minimize my

Larry Peyton:
Don't

Greg Munck:
actions

Larry Peyton:
do that.

Greg Munck:
so

Larry Peyton:
Yeah, don't

Greg Munck:
yeah

Larry Peyton:
do that. No, no.

Greg Munck:
so still it's hard right and then that's why even writing this book like it when I way worse stories than mine, right? But I

Larry Peyton:
listen,

Greg Munck:
can't

Larry Peyton:
Greg,

Greg Munck:
minimize

Larry Peyton:
before

Greg Munck:
it. Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
we started recording, we had a conversation and we had a little bit

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
of a talk. You wanted to know a little bit about me and that's,

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
I mean, I can't help being the exact same way, brother is like, you're

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
like, so what happened to you? And I'm like, well, man, all I could think was not even close to what you've been through, but

Greg Munck:
Oh

Larry Peyton:
still,

Greg Munck:
yeah, but it's

Larry Peyton:
but it's not a comparison

Greg Munck:
yeah.

Larry Peyton:
thing, right? It's,

Greg Munck:
No,

Larry Peyton:
it's,

Greg Munck:
it's not. It's that that's

Larry Peyton:
it's a reality

Greg Munck:
what I thought.

Larry Peyton:
of what you've been through. Yeah.

Greg Munck:
Yeah, and I went to I'll talk about that in a second. The PTSD clinic I went to this past February this that I'm part of now. But anyway, so I go to the Gulf War and then I get combat promoted. And then on the way home, we Bangladesh had a super cyclone hit and hit in 150,000 people died and a million cattle just Just a man and so it happened in this on the way there We were told we might go help them on the way home. So we got to Bangladesh in India. It's the Gulf of India Two weeks after it happened and there were still the bodies there all those bodies I just mentioned in so cattle children chickens pigs washing up on the shore bloated and disgusting and I mean almost worse than the war are just

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
as and And we gave aid to the Bangladesh people. We gave medical aid for two weeks. We were there and they called us angels from the sea. So the operation is called

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
Operation Sea Angel. And I got a humanitarian service medal for being a part of that. All of us did that were there. And so that is just like the Marines. We can be your greatest friends or your worst nightmare. And I experienced both in that just, I mean, literally a month after the Gulf War, we're helping people in Bangladesh. bringing up food and medical supplies. So, you know, I get home, I mean, we're on the way home, we stop in Philippines and Hawaii again, and we get, we're getting ready to go home. We're there docked at Camp Pendleton, off the coast of Camp Pendleton, and that next morning I go ashore in landing craft, and then they put us in cattle cars, take us to the air station where our family and friends are, I haven't seen in six months and 29 days. I used to know the hours and the minutes, you know?

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
uh

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
and we all line up 5 000 of us and they asked me to carry the marine corps flag for the unit and just so humble like this flag keeps coming up like that your point larry that you made about iwo jima i haven't even thought about the just that just that from a metaphor perspective just what that because it means so much to me that they

Larry Peyton:
It's a Marine.

Greg Munck:
asked me to carry the flag and so i remember

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely.

Greg Munck:
carrying the marine corps flag for our unit we're marching down the the runway, we can hear the crowd roaring, and we're singing the Marine Corps Hymn. All of us are bawling. We're so grateful to be home. So grateful to be home. We're just bawling, and we make that right flank into the crowd. And I'm standing there, and I'm gonna get to see Kimbrey, and there's a, we're all standing there as the commanding officer speaking, and telling us, you know, just talk, I couldn't even hear what he was saying. It was like a peanuts, you know, Charlie Brown. You know, when the adults speak. And I just waited. I remember sitting there just thanking God that I was home because what I didn't talk about is the day I left for the Gulf War, I was on a ship and Kimberi was on the dock. And I remember being on that dock looking at her and it was painful weeks saying goodbye to her before that. And I remember looking down on her for the first time in my life. I felt, I thought I was gonna be a wreck, you know, balling on the side of the ship. but I was on that side of the ship and for the first time I felt the assurance that peace that passes all understanding, the thing you can't explain or discuss, there was this comfort of, Greg, you're gonna be okay, I got you. And I had peace standing there as I was pulling away from the dock and the love of my life is there. And at that time, you know, Kimber was my family. Like, because of the way I grew up, friends were my life. And of course, now Kimber was my life. And so I was saying goodbye to her and here I am flash forward, boom, standing there in front of my family and, you know, 10,000 other people cheering for their family members and for their Marine. That's home. And then they say dismissed. And then Kim re comes running up and I got pictures of it. We still, thank God I had pictures of that. When she gets in my arms and I just grab her and twirl around like in a movie. And it was just such a beautiful time. And, and, uh, it's such a beautiful time. And, um, I just, an observation came to my head at that time that when I, I'll just a little insight when I wrote the book, I was trying to think about who was there when I got there. And obviously my dad wasn't there because he was in jail. He all of his drunk driving is caught up with them and drug offenses and he got put in jail for six years was the sentence that he got put in for. So he wasn't there. But then I was writing the book and I remember I was asking my wife, he came, who was that thing? When I came home, he was there was like my brother Rob. My brother Derek and their wives and your sister and your parents and Rob's and my mom didn't come. You know, and

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
I went and visited my mom in Ohio afterwards. She flew me out there, but she wasn't there. And now, so I didn't think about it till I was writing the book. Cause now I have five kids, you know, I'll get to that in a second, but I have five children. And I was just, I thought about it just as a parent now of kids. How in God's name did your son come home from war and you weren't there

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely.

Greg Munck:
to greet your son? And I just was like, it just went over this to kind of rehash this thing in me. And my mom recently passed away actually this year in March, you know, won't go

Larry Peyton:
Sorry

Greg Munck:
into

Larry Peyton:
brother,

Greg Munck:
that, but

Larry Peyton:
my

Greg Munck:
yeah,

Larry Peyton:
condolences

Greg Munck:
it's, you

Larry Peyton:
brother, I'm

Greg Munck:
know,

Larry Peyton:
sorry.

Greg Munck:
that was a, that's another show talking about processing

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
your, you know, I had a different

Larry Peyton:
Grief,

Greg Munck:
relationship

Larry Peyton:
yeah.

Greg Munck:
with my parents, you know, because of all that I went through. And so

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely,

Greg Munck:
anyway, I loved

Larry Peyton:
brother.

Greg Munck:
my parents, but it was just different. because I didn't, I think I couldn't count on them. So friends were everything to me. And

Larry Peyton:
Right.

Greg Munck:
anyway, so fast forward, I'm home. We go, we were driving home to a surprise party that had happened for me. And I remember on all the telephone poles going home, it was like, happy birthday, Greg. And Merry Christmas, Greg. Happy Easter. Like all the things that I had missed when I was gone, they were on the flag, on the telephone poles when I was driving in our, you know, down our street towards our neighborhood. And anyway, we got home and man, I don't know how much time we have, but

Larry Peyton:
Take your time, brother. You take

Greg Munck:
yeah,

Larry Peyton:
your time.

Greg Munck:
we start meeting with, we start meeting with our, we're going to get married. I proposed to Kimby before I left for the Gulf War. So we're going to get married. I'm meeting with the marriage counselor and he goes, hey, Greg, hey, why don't you come up and be a counselor at that camp? I'm a camp director. And I'm like, dude, there's no way. Like I'll cuss at the kids. And you know, I don't know enough about the Bible. And he's like, no, man. Hey, it's only through the blood of Jesus any of us are worthy. So why don't you come be a counselor at that camp? And I'm like, okay, dude. And so, Kimree and I go and I'm a counselor and they stick me to all these inner city kids, from Maywood and Compton and Long Beach here. And man, I was still in the Marine Corps and man, I loved it. I... I treated that, you know, these kids were full attitude, man. And it was awesome. And I remember they're like, you're not my dad. You're not my mom. I'm like, hey, this week I'm your mama and your dad. You know,

Larry Peyton:
Hahaha,

Greg Munck:
if you don't do what I say, I'm gonna

Larry Peyton:
yeah.

Greg Munck:
make you pay. And there's some funny situations in the book that talk about there. So I won't go into that, but it, I really would love what I loved about that situation there, like being coming back from the golf war and then going to a summer camp. You know, that was, I got back in, in June. It was like, I went to summer camp like a couple of months later. And I remember being there and then I was with these kids and our story was the same. My story was their story. They all had fathers that had left and died. It didn't matter the color of our skin. We were all victims of a fatherless cabin, you know? And man, we bonded. We bonded like incredibly that week. And I remember Dan asked me to share my story that week. And I'm like, dude, I'm hanging. I don't know if I'm ready for this. No, just tell them, tell them your testimony. Share what happened with you in your life and you know, in Harvest Crusade and like how I was telling you guys now. And so I did, I shared that and it just was incredible to see all these kids coming up and asking for prayer after I give my story. And I remember telling them there that, guys, I need prayer because I hate my dad and I don't know how I'm gonna forgive my father. I hate him so much. And I know it's only through. God's forgiveness and the forgiveness that he has shown me that I'm going to be able to show my dad forgiveness. Well, we go through that camp and it was awesome and I felt a call to youth ministry so I start volunteering and helping out in youth ministry. And then that year my mom calls me from Ohio. My dad got out, he didn't have, it was a nonviolent crime. So he was like time and a half plus good behavior. He was like, you know, he's like the prison cook and you know, my dad's got a personality. And so.

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
And so he got out in two years and my mom calls me up and goes, hey, your dad's getting out. Can you pick up your dad? And I'm like, call somebody else, mom. Even in my new faith. And I don't trust my dad as far as you can throw him, right? And he's like, hey, nobody will pick him up. Can you pick him up? And so I go down to El Cajon Jail in San Diego where he was. He served time in Orange County Jail and El Cajon Jail. And I go down, I pick him up, and we're driving back. You know? And. And I was telling him about the Gulf War and my experience, you know, faith. And he's like, hey, I committed my life to Christ in jail. You know, I'm like, oh, yeah, you remember that time I tell you about how he took us to church? That was like, there's no way I'm

Larry Peyton:
Thanks.

Greg Munck:
like, OK, dad, whatever you say, you know, like, yeah, you know, acts all about action. Talk doesn't mean anything.

Larry Peyton:
Yes,

Greg Munck:
You know,

Larry Peyton:
sir.

Greg Munck:
I hate sounding so pessimistic, but like, just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I don't trust them and like just forgive them carte blanche. I hated the guy, you know. And so we, and so sure enough, just long story short in that, over a period of two years, I started to have lunch with him and I could sit at a table and across from him and I would go, dad, why would you let me do cocaine with you when I was 13, you know, why? And just the tears in his eyes, he'd be like, oh my God, I'm so sorry, Greg, would you forgive me? And then I just went through every issue I ever had with him. We'd just go through it and we would talk about it and he would just, he would beg for forgiveness. And I'm so great grateful for those opportunities because I started to love my dad again I start to forgive my dad and my dad's faith and in my faith Reconciliation started to happen this kind of miracle took place over a period of two years that I can't even explain it Larry I just I can't explain it. I just it's a miracle that

Larry Peyton:
There's some things

Greg Munck:
happened

Larry Peyton:
you can't put into words, brother. There's some things

Greg Munck:
Yeah

Larry Peyton:
you just can't put into words, yeah.

Greg Munck:
I just I can't believe it happened. I just tell you that story like his I you probably feel my anger When I

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely.

Greg Munck:
tell when I talk about my dad and the hurt and the hurt

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
it's still

Larry Peyton:
The pain,

Greg Munck:
there

Larry Peyton:
it's pain.

Greg Munck:
Yeah, and

Larry Peyton:
It's pure pain and disappointment.

Greg Munck:
And just to talk about

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
how My dad is you know, my dad was sick for eight months and then my mom passed away and then he's doing better now and you know and um And you know, he comes to my church, you know now and so guys fast forward here. I I start going to Bible college at night. I get out of the Marine Corps. I take a job in a semi-conductor company. I have a couple other jobs before that, but I won't bore you with that. And I take a job at a semi-conductor company and I start doing Asian Pacific sales. I do really well. I make just incredible money. I'm volunteering my youth ministry. I become the director of that camp. I was so afraid to be a counselor at, just like four years, five years later. And then I become a youth pastor at two churches. And we started having kids and I have five amazing kids, four boys, one girl, and just incredible journey that is. And then in 2001, I was at a church and a guy I know, JP, asked me to come on staff at church full time and lead this incredible job at Have IQ Logic. And through a long series of, it's in the book, check the book out, you can get the whole heart behind it. My wife and I just came into decision where I was gonna leave my job at Q logic You know, I was making like 300 grand a year 150 and sales 150 and salary. I'm not trying

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
to brag I'm just

Larry Peyton:
No, but

Greg Munck:
and

Larry Peyton:
that's

Greg Munck:
I left

Larry Peyton:
give you

Greg Munck:
that to

Larry Peyton:
its

Greg Munck:
take

Larry Peyton:
perspective.

Greg Munck:
a job

Larry Peyton:
It's perspective.

Greg Munck:
Yeah perspective.

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
It's a I took a church job. It's a good is a big church. It paid like 65,000 in California That's a great church salary, but that's what I was making, you know, but just to make that decision such a radical this I'm pretty good at making decisions like Trust me, but it's afterwards I have buyer's remorse. You know, like, is that the right thing?

Larry Peyton:
I

Greg Munck:
Should

Larry Peyton:
guess.

Greg Munck:
I do? Well,

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
so I went into full-time ministry at a church here in El Civiejo called Coast Hills. And then I did that, but at that, it took me about two years to leave QLogic. So I left and I started, like full-time ministry became, before it was like QLogic was my main thing and I would take time off to go do that. That time church became my main thing. And then QLogic was second. but I didn't leave it completely until July of 03. And I've been in full-time ministry ever since. And then in 05, my buddy JP and I started Crossline Community Church. It's the church I'm at now. We've been here 18 years. We have a church of about, I would say 3000, call it home. We get about 13, 1400 on a Sunday. And

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
God just totally blessed it. I'm the lead pastor here. He's the senior pastor. And I'm just totally blessed. I can't believe that. There's so much there that we didn't talk about, but I can't believe I'm a pastor. I'm the guy from high school, they're like, wait, Greg, I hear you're a pastor now? And I'm like, I know, I know, I can't believe it

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
either. So, um, thanks.

Larry Peyton:
Well, there's a reality that hits me when I'm reading the book, Greg. I'm like, hold on a second. Now we started where he had a shotgun to his head and he was doing cocaine by the time he was 13.

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
And then he's a pastor.

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
What, like there's this, what happened? And it's an amazing story, brother. It's an absolutely amazing story. I mean,

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
tell us, tell us about your family as well. Tell us about your kids, which I know you said you wanted to hit on.

Greg Munck:
Sure. Yeah. My it's so funny. I have just amazing kids. It's so funny. I just wanted them to play football. How was a football player? You know, it meant so much to me, right? I, you know, and so I wanted them to play. I wanted to experience that. But they all became artists and singers. And a couple of my boys played football for a little bit. But then my son, my son Noah, he really fell in love with acting. And He got, long story short there, he got cast in a little show, kids show on Nickelodeon called iCarly.

Larry Peyton:
It's not

Greg Munck:
And

Larry Peyton:
that

Greg Munck:
he

Larry Peyton:
small

Greg Munck:
became,

Larry Peyton:
of a show, buddy. Yeah.

Greg Munck:
no, but he became Gibby on iCarly. He, my son is, yes, I'm the father of Gibby. Gibby

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
Gibson on iCarly for seven years. He did, he shot that, that show. And, and he, uh, it was, that was a incredible experience, man. And my other kids are just as talented and they're doing music and. worship music and acting and they make their own music on Spotify. It's just crazy what all that they do. And I'm just really blessed. And after the iCarly, he was on the Goldbergs on ABC for 10 years. And yeah, he's a full-time actor and he's not a big Hollywood guy, but he just loves the craft of acting. And so anyway, that's my kids, my daughter sings and she's doing really well. She lives up in LA. And then I have three boys at home still, but one just graduated college, and the other two go to Vanguard University and they're in theater. So all my kids are in the arts. It's crazy, this big jock, you know, Maureen

Larry Peyton:
Right?

Greg Munck:
has

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
all these artistic kids. So it's all because of my beautiful wife. She's the artistic one. And so, yeah,

Larry Peyton:
And so

Greg Munck:
then,

Larry Peyton:
let's, I mean,

Greg Munck:
yeah.

Larry Peyton:
please, please share something about some, a little bit about her, which you do certainly in the book, but this is an amazing lady who ends up becoming,

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
I mean, I want to say, I mean, I shouldn't put words in your mouth, but to me, like my wife, she's your rock. She is, she becomes your

Greg Munck:
Oh.

Larry Peyton:
foundation, your base. She becomes what you finally, for the first time really in your life have someone that you can depend on and

Greg Munck:
Yes.

Larry Peyton:
remain someone you can depend on, which is, it just became amazing.

Greg Munck:
You're going to get me emotional, man. Those words you just said, they've resonated these past few years. Like people who grew up in situations like myself, we don't trust anybody. And we can't rely on anybody. So the fact that God has been true to His word, He has been so faithful. And my wife. And so my journey into PTSD and all that of being a veteran is I say this. I say. I was the guy who, when I got out of the Marine Corps, I never looked back. I never talked to anybody I was in combat with. I was a detacher. Not in things in my actual life, I'm a go-getter, but when it came to like me dealing with veteran Greg, Marine Greg, I never even talked about it. I don't have a tattoo. I did have a sticker on my car. I didn't go to veterans meetings. I didn't talk about my Marine Corps experience at all. And so. except my family and I say that because really the only thing I had in my life was Jesus and Kimber. Kimber was that rock and thank God I had that because I don't know if I didn't have, I had Jesus so I know where I was going, but if I didn't have Kimber there going through the PTSD stuff when it was starting to leak out of me and deal with me and be honest with me and be a partner, I don't think I'd be here. I think I'd be a casualty. like

Larry Peyton:
No,

Greg Munck:
so many

Larry Peyton:
I agree

Greg Munck:
of other

Larry Peyton:
with you.

Greg Munck:
veteran brothers

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
and sisters, you know, 22

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely. And

Greg Munck:
a day

Larry Peyton:
I mean,

Greg Munck:
veterans. And that's what that's

Larry Peyton:
Oh,

Greg Munck:
what I'm talking about, the cops and the police

Larry Peyton:
No.

Greg Munck:
officers and

Larry Peyton:
Yeah,

Greg Munck:
the

Larry Peyton:
yeah.

Greg Munck:
public servants that they kill themselves because of because of trauma, processing trauma. So I really didn't step into that. I it took me 16 years to go to the VA and I that's I won't tell the story here, but that's a great story in the book about how I came to realize it, realization of my own PTSD. And, you know, Started talking about it and being okay with it and starting to put a sticker on my card being proud to be a maroon I was always proud but you know I never went to Memorial Day celebration the first time I went to almost two years ago Because I didn't want to I don't want to lean into that. I don't want to think about

Larry Peyton:
Right.

Greg Munck:
that I don't

Larry Peyton:
Yep.

Greg Munck:
think about those things and so and then and writing the book and I did this series for a buddy of mine Kenny on his on his it's called every man ministry It's a series on the guide. I did it's on my website if anybody's interested. It's a five-week series on things from my book, All the Military Experiences, and he wanted to do something to help Bets. So I started doing that, and then I just, I started to tell my story, and Bets started to reach out to me. And I thought, oh my gosh, all this preparation and ministry, all these years, and now God has prepared me for a time really to step in to help veterans. And then I met this guy, Damon Freeman, with SOF Missions. He runs a free clinic out of Tampa. Every month, it's five days. It touches on physical, psychological, social, and spiritual. It's a Christian run facility, but that's not all that they focus on. It's three phases of PTSD. It's deal with the physical trauma. You might have TBI, traumatic brain injury, things going on. Deal with the psychological and deal with the spiritual. This three facet phase. He has a clinic I went to. It took me two years to go. He was pushing me to sign up, and I finally went in February. Now I'm the West Coast ambassador. That's just this year. So

Larry Peyton:
Wow.

Greg Munck:
Larry, I'm new to this, and I started the Guy Soldier Foundation. Now I speak down at Camp Pendleton once a month to active duty Marines. And now I help guys like my buddy Tyson who was struggling with three tours in Afghanistan with a kill himself. He watched my guide series and then read my book and then. I convinced him to go to this SOF clinic. He did, it changed his life. It's a completely free clinic. They fly you out there, they provide all the care, and it's five days, they feed you, and they just, it's incredible. So if anybody's interested in that, just my website, gregmonk.net. But now, besides what I'm doing at Crossline as a lead pastor, God has opened this whole new chapter, maybe it's another book one day, Larry, about helping veterans, helping active duty, and helping the suicide crisis. God's calling me to that. to that.

Larry Peyton:
I would love to read that book because

Greg Munck:
Hehehehe

Larry Peyton:
I am very interested in following you, sir, for quite

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
a while. And I do hope our paths continue to cross.

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
Greg, I mean, what's, you know, this is, it's huge. I mean, I say

Greg Munck:
Yes.

Larry Peyton:
a while ago that there's certain things you can't put into words. Well, sir, your life is tough to put into words. I mean, when you,

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
let's go back to the title of the book, Survivor, War Maker, Peacekeeper. And for people who at the beginning of the podcast were wondering why it's called that, well, it's right there.

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
There you go. I mean, that's

Greg Munck:
Yep.

Larry Peyton:
the three stages

Greg Munck:
Yes.

Larry Peyton:
of your life. Now your life is not done yet. There's another

Greg Munck:
Right.

Larry Peyton:
stage happening and this is, this

Greg Munck:
Yep.

Larry Peyton:
will be an interesting thing. Greg, when we talk about the post-traumatic stress and certainly there's, it's abundantly clear why, why you, you have been diagnosed. What, what do you, you know, you've come a long way. I mean, you, look at you and just during this recording, you've been, I mean, you've experienced a lot of emotions, which is fantastic. And I love that because you are a true man and you are true to yourself. But what I love is that you can experience some of those painful things and pull yourself back. And I think there's a big thing for people to learn here

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
who are listening to the podcast in terms of not... getting stuck. And let's talk about the metaphorical sand back at bootcamp, not getting stuck in that very, very fine sand of hundreds of years, which is again, metaphorical for your life and your trauma. How is it that, you know, how, what, what advice do you give people, Greg, you know, to try and free their, their feet from that sand.

Greg Munck:
sure. Well, one thing is, you know, another part of, I call it the guide because obviously God has become the guide of my life, you know. So there's the guide from the boot camp because I was the guide, but also I surrendered my life and I let God guide my life. And one piece of that, one answer to that is spiritually, there's, I can't get into all the details now, but there's research done at Duke University about how, religion and having a relationship and seeking religion provides positive Positive steps towards your recovery of PTSD it gives it gives encouragement. It gives mission purpose and So it's scientifically there's studies out there. It's incredible. There's lots of them but what I what I had to say to the veteran that I think is it's okay like God makes, and I think Lieutenant Grossman says it best. That's why I put that quote in the beginning of my book. It's the wolves, sheep, and sheepdog analogy that he gives. And that is that there is wolves. There are psychotic people who wanna do harm. And no matter how nice you are to them or what you give them, they're gonna be, they just, it's like that quote in Batman. Some people, Master Wayne, just wanna see the world burn. There's some people that are just evil and they wanna hurt people. And so then there's the sheep, which is. Majority of the population are sheep. They they run from any type of physical altercation They don't want any part of it. They are the ones that are filming When people are doing altercation and then there's the sheep dog and the sheep dog are the ones that protect the sheep and that's us That's you that's your you're in law enforcement officer. You're a sheep dog. You put yourself in harm's way all the time You know, I'm a Marine. I'm a we're the warrior class is what I like to call the sheep dog class. I I've been a sheepdog my whole life, and I kind of pointed out in my book. I've had

Larry Peyton:
You

Greg Munck:
this

Larry Peyton:
have.

Greg Munck:
in me, the way I was brought up, it made me this, I had a big justice guy, wrong. And so I would just, what I would, all that to get to is, I would tell the warrior, I would tell the veteran, listen, it's okay that you like to defend our country. It's okay that you like your job of killing evil. It's okay that you like to bring down, call down fire from heaven to defeat the enemy, and that you like your job. And a lot of veterans feel guilty. They can't reconcile. How can God love me when I like doing what I'm doing? Not that they like killing people, but they like killing evil. They like destroying things that want to destroy them or destroy other people. And it's okay. God made you that way. God made you a warrior and that's a path that he has taken me on. I've had to deal with that. And I'm not gonna apologize for being the way God made me. God made me a sheep dog. God made you a sheepdog fellow veteran, fellow warrior, fellow law enforcement officer, and don't be ashamed of that. It's okay, God accepts you as you are, and you need to realize that in all, everything that you've done, everything that you have, every trigger that you pulled, every bomb that you've dropped, every situation where you've had to harm somebody else, God forgives you, God loves you. He knows that's the way you're wired. And that's my message to my fellow veterans is that. Don't be ashamed of how God made you and God's not ashamed. You don't have to change yourself completely. God accepts you as you are and you need to hear that message. God loves you and he wants to have a relationship with you. That's the hope I wanna bring. That's what's helped me.

Larry Peyton:
That's remarkable,

Greg Munck:
So.

Larry Peyton:
brother. That is remarkable, brother. Absolutely. There is so much to take away. Yeah. I just, I mean, Greg, I, I really don't want this to end. This is a great conversation. I have a lot of respect

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
for you, man. I I'm really happy that you made the time to talk. I'm really grateful for your story, but also I'm grateful for you, for, you know, you certainly have. as I say, been through the shit and you have set a fine example to anyone who has likewise been through to know there is such a thing as post-traumatic growth. There is such a thing as recovery. Yeah, those scars are going to stay with you, but you've earned those scars. That's okay. They're not bad. Don't hide them. They're okay. You know,

Greg Munck:
Yep.

Larry Peyton:
that just shows again that you were a sheepdog and that you have protected. the flock that you have been there, that you have done your job.

Greg Munck:
Mm-hmm.

Larry Peyton:
You

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
know, and, uh, yeah, it, it really comes back full circle to finding what it is that will save you. And I, I love the fact that for you, it's been God, it's been Christianity,

Greg Munck:
Right.

Larry Peyton:
you know, and as a believer, I can't imagine likewise, um,

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
you know, that, that being taken away, that's, uh, that's difficult.

Greg Munck:
That's that one pillar we're talking about. There's people

Larry Peyton:
Yeah.

Greg Munck:
that struggle with, it's that physical, the psychological, and that spiritual pillar. It's all three, and that's why I love this SOF mission that I'm part of. They attack all three. Most people just focus on one, the physical, or they focus on the psychological. It's all three, and that's what's important.

Larry Peyton:
Absolutely.

Greg Munck:
We need to deal with all of our physical issues, our mental issues, and our spiritual. We need to come to reconcile that God loves us. He does, God loves you. No matter what you've done.

Larry Peyton:
Thanks brother. Thank God loves

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
you too. Okay. Look for sure. Greg, how do people get their hands on the book, man? I mean, people are

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
going to need to read this book. This is a reality. This is a, is a fantastic story. And for those listening or watching, this is really just a teaser taste to really get the full story you need to read the book. Or you can also listen to the audio book, which we had spoken about before the recording. That's

Greg Munck:
Yeah,

Larry Peyton:
kind of neat. So how do people

Greg Munck:
yeah,

Larry Peyton:
track it down?

Greg Munck:
sure. Yeah, you can go to my website. It's Greg monk.net. And also you can go just to ordertheguide.com. So if you search like for my name, Greg the guide that comes up to you, you can find me. You look up Gibby's dad.

Larry Peyton:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Greg Munck:
You can find me on the internet, you know, Greg monk and then go there. And then if you go and then on my website, it goes to the order the guide link and you there's a paperback. There's a Kindle version and then there's the audio version. And of course I did it, everyone told me I had to do it my own voice. And so I recorded the audible version of my own voice. And that just came out a couple of weeks ago and it's doing really well. So that's my favorite. I'm an audio listener, any way learner. So I prefer that method. So I think people will like it. And you get a lot of emotion too. A lot of emotion that we felt both of us, Larry, today comes out when I, on the audible version. So.

Larry Peyton:
I imagine now you've got me interested in that now. Now I need to listen.

Greg Munck:
Yes.

Larry Peyton:
Greg, I want to end off on this brother and typically I end off on a lot of PTSD things, but I think this is the real important takeaway here. When you look back at especially your upbringing, what do you think it means to your kids to have two parents that they have that love them and they're for them? What difference do you think that makes? That's enough said right

Greg Munck:
Man,

Larry Peyton:
there,

Greg Munck:
Larry,

Larry Peyton:
sir.

Greg Munck:
you're like the vet whisperer here, man.

Larry Peyton:
Ha ha.

Greg Munck:
His question, man, it means I can't express to you how much it's important. I have a blessed, I have amazing kids, and we're really close. As you can imagine, just, you know, Kimbery had a difficult childhood, too, and we're two people who figured it out on the way, and it's so important. I just, both of my son, Mike, and my middle kids got engaged this week, like this past couple weeks. Micah and Elijah and we just had a party, so I was just talking to everybody about them. And it just goes with this question because I'm so blessed and just, you know, it's so great to see the things that are good about you and your kids and that are bad about you and your kids come out of them. But I think it's just so important. I mean, it's been such a tremendous situation to have my wife and I as partners in raising our kids together. And it's just... Not that single parents can't do it well, but I'm so blessed that my kids don't have to go through the same thing I went through.

Larry Peyton:
Yes, sir.

Greg Munck:
But I would like things to have been different when I grew up, but I wouldn't change it because it made me who I am.

Larry Peyton:
Just going

Greg Munck:
And

Larry Peyton:
to

Greg Munck:
the

Larry Peyton:
tell

Greg Munck:
way

Larry Peyton:
you that,

Greg Munck:
it made

Larry Peyton:
yeah.

Greg Munck:
me is help me parent my children. And I have some... And they're not perfect, but hey man, I got some great kids. And so I'm so grateful for that.

Larry Peyton:
They're perfect to you. There's no doubt about it. Minor

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
to me. And it just comes down to what exactly is your, what is your idea of what perfection is? And I don't

Greg Munck:
Yep.

Larry Peyton:
think I,

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
it's not a thing I would want to change about mine. I love them. I have two daughters

Greg Munck:
Right,

Larry Peyton:
and

Greg Munck:
right.

Larry Peyton:
I love them. So brother,

Greg Munck:
That's awesome, man.

Larry Peyton:
listen, man, that is, that is fantastic. Um, we'll just look at how your kids turned out, man. I mean you've got them going through college now, one just finished,

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
one's engaged. You've got, you know, uh, an accomplished professional actor. You've got singer. I mean, Greg, I think they're pretty close to perfect,

Greg Munck:
Oh,

Larry Peyton:
brother.

Greg Munck:
yeah,

Larry Peyton:
I think they're pretty close to perfect.

Greg Munck:
I'm so blessed. I really am. And that's part of it, the story. And then, so my dad, you know, like, you know, we give talks about, you know, we give talks about our life together, you know, now, and we've given testimonies together. It's just, I'm blessed. It's just blessed. I feel so, you know, life's not easy. There's a lot of hard things still. But man, I'm a blessed man. And I live in that. I feel I have contentment. I just, I'm blessed, I'm grateful. And I struggle with, you know, that things come up and trigger me and, you know, but I'm just blessed and I live in, I'm so grateful. I live in gratitude every day, Larry.

Larry Peyton:
I love that too. And I think that's fantastic. Greg, you brought that up because it's not that it's not still there. It's still there. It doesn't go.

Greg Munck:
Yeah.

Larry Peyton:
There's, it doesn't, I mean, you can get better, but you don't go back to the person you were. And

Greg Munck:
Yeah,

Larry Peyton:
that's,

Greg Munck:
right.

Larry Peyton:
that's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. I'd like to just sum it up for the listeners as well. You know, go out, support this story, support this man, support the book, support your brothers and sisters. This is absolutely. amazing. There's a lot to learn and take away from that has not been shared on this episode. However, I do want to say, and I can't help, but think I'm sure there are times that each one of you have felt that you were walking amongst burning oil, that you lived in the suck, that it covered you, that the day was night, that pain was all around you no matter

Greg Munck:
Mm.

Larry Peyton:
what you did. It was there. However, you just need to keep pushing forward, pushing onward. It's not always about miles, feet and inches count too. And someday, so long as you keep pushing forward, you too are gonna be a person who comes home on that boat full of tears, full of smiles, and appreciating what you have around you.

Greg Munck:
Yep.

Larry Peyton:
Take what you have. Don't live in the pain. Use the pain to grow, to make yourself who you want to be, not who you were. My name is Larry Payton. I have your six. Please have mine. There you go, buddy.