Interview with Billy Duckworth Part 1.

Since we don't have a conventional studio Billy calls in from home cause its best match for everyone's schedules, while still being able to do the interview.

If you would like to talk to us, good we would appreciate hearing from listeners as we grow and change. Contact us at bullandjroc@gmail.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:21

Welcome back, everybody. Well, when it comes down to it, you know, I I did promise interviews, so staying consistent with that. Um, I did say I was gonna have a Marine interview Marine. However, with scheduling conflicts, that wasn't possible. But it's fine. You still get me. And when it comes down, and his name is Billy, and I'd like to introduce him to you with a Hey boy.

SPEAKER_02 0:55

How's it going this morning?

SPEAKER_03 0:57

Uh I'm doing all right. I mean, it's been a little bit of an early day. How about you?

SPEAKER_02 1:03

You know, just chilling like a villain.

SPEAKER_03 1:07

I I say the same thing. Oh, that's funny. So when it comes down to it, why did you decide that doing this podcast interview was the right thing for you?

SPEAKER_02 1:25

Yeah, well, you know, I feel like it uh helped me uh kind of open up for sharing my life and uh sharing things.

SPEAKER_03 1:36

And would you say you have a lot of things in your life that people don't know about you?

SPEAKER_02 1:42

Oh, yeah. Oh, okay. There's a lot of things.

SPEAKER_03 1:46

Okay. So when it comes to overall, what would you say are the decisions you're most proud of in your life?

SPEAKER_02 2:00

Well, one of the most is uh when I went to the Marine Corps. Okay, you know, leaving that uh and when was that? Uh July 79, 29, 79.

SPEAKER_03 2:18

I think that was two years out or yeah, I think that was two years after J-Rock was actually born.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

What oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:31

Because I was wearing a shirt one time and he made a comment that the year on my shirt was his birth year.

SPEAKER_02 2:38

Yeah, yeah, that is uh long time, man.

SPEAKER_03 2:43

Well, I mean, it's not that that long. So that's when that was one of them. Did you have uh what are uh did you have other things that you were that stand out that you're really really proud of?

SPEAKER_02 2:55

Uh well living this long, you know, from where I come from. And where is that? Um uh well, you know, I was born in Seattle, but uh I I moved from Seattle when I was little, so I didn't have no control over that. But uh moved to uh my mom moved us to Jallaette, Illinois.

SPEAKER_03 3:22

And which of those did you prefer? Seattle or I I'm not gonna even try and then say the name, but or Seattle or Illinois.

SPEAKER_02 3:32

Uh well I didn't I didn't know Seattle. You know, my mom left Seattle when I was like four. Oh four or five years old. Okay. So I grew up in Joliet, Illinois.

SPEAKER_03 3:45

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02 3:46

Joe Joliet. Yes, Joliet, Illinois. And uh it was uh marvelous. I had a beautiful childhood, you know.

SPEAKER_03 4:00

And what what were some of your childhood pastimes or hobbies that you did?

SPEAKER_02 4:07

Man, it was marvelous. Uh you know, we built go-karts, you know, and uh we even had a like a little bike shop, repair shop where a bunch of us, it was like a little club. We go around finding bike parts, you know, and get them.

SPEAKER_03 4:31

See, before social media, life was just so much better. There were so many so much better things to do, so much more fun.

SPEAKER_02 4:41

Well, you know, before the internet, uh, as a kid, you were excited to get about the house. You know, to get outside. You stay, yeah, to get outside and to be a kid. And uh that was one of the most one of the beautiful things, you know, get out there and explore the neighborhood, explore outside the neighborhood, you know. Now, you know, it's a whole different story.

SPEAKER_03 5:14

And when it comes down to it, were you a little tear as a kid or were you very well behaved?

SPEAKER_02 5:21

I was adventurous.

SPEAKER_03 5:23

Adventurous? Okay. So that's what it comes to being adventurous as a kid, did you ever have any accidents where you got hurt or anything like that?

SPEAKER_02 5:37

Well, I fell out of the tree.

SPEAKER_03 5:40

And how did that I mean, obviously you're still here, so you know the particular thing didn't happen, but you know, so how did falling out of the tree go?

SPEAKER_02 5:51

That that wrong branch that that's not gonna hold you, got down it and went down. You know, these are things as a as a little kid, you know, uh in grade school, junior high, you know, because when I was in grade school, fifth grade, hey, I was I was like uh fifth grade small, but I can fight.

SPEAKER_03 6:22

Fifth grade small, but I could fight.

SPEAKER_02 6:25

Yeah, I've I fought just about all the big kids in school just to show dominance, you know.

SPEAKER_03 6:37

So, what were your elementary school years like?

SPEAKER_02 6:41

I met my best friends when I was in grade school, and uh I was in the bathroom, and they tried to rob me.

SPEAKER_03 6:52

Your best friends.

SPEAKER_02 6:54

Yeah, they tried to rob me and we fought. We tore the bathroom up, and after that, they didn't get my money, and they became my good friends, you know, my best friends.

SPEAKER_03 7:08

Okay, yeah. And when it when it comes down to it, was what were your um academics like through school?

SPEAKER_02 7:19

Uh my ever academics.

SPEAKER_03 7:22

Yeah, like did you do well in in your classes and stuff like that, or were you the one of the slackers?

SPEAKER_02 7:30

Oh no, I did I did pretty good.

SPEAKER_03 7:33

Yeah?

SPEAKER_02 7:34

My thing was I just fought a lot.

SPEAKER_03 7:39

So then how did that how did things go then when you moved into high school?

SPEAKER_00 7:45

Excuse me.

SPEAKER_03 7:46

I said so. I said, so how did things go then when you moved into high school?

SPEAKER_02 7:56

All throughout uh grade school from K1 to fifth grade, you know, elementary, then junior high. We were bust on the west side. That was deep into the west side, the white territory, you know, and uh we had to catch a bus, you know, and it was quite a ways. Sometimes we ride our bikes, we get up early in the morning, a group of us get up early in the morning and ride all the way to school on our bikes, you know, exciting, like saying adventures.

SPEAKER_03 8:40

See, you guys got up and rode your bikes every day. I saw a thing the other day that said like 40% of kids these days don't know how to ride a bike. That's just that's crazy. That was like transportation, so that's what got everyone everywhere. But anyway. So then what?

SPEAKER_02 9:01

That's well, you know, with the key is the date, you know, they got these uh these scooters with the motors on it, like the mopeds and stuff. So they really don't need bikes, you know, so that's another form you're not getting no exercise, really.

SPEAKER_03 9:18

True, very true.

SPEAKER_02 9:20

So it's it's like, wow, terrible, man.

SPEAKER_03 9:25

So other than you know, being tough in school and everything, getting in a lot of fights, how would you characterize your uh scholastic years?

SPEAKER_02 9:42

Uh scholastic years, oh, they were cool. So you enjoyed school? Oh, yeah, I loved it. I loved it, you know. Like uh when I got suspended, the times I did get suspended, I hated it because all my friends and everybody was in school, and I was at home, you know, looking crazy. You know, so I was happy to get back in school. So then the dean, the dean, uh Miss Range, uh the truth used to tell me, said if you get any more fights, you're out of here for the rest of the year. So I knew I didn't want to, I did not want to get suspended for the rest of the year. So, you know, I maintained, you know, and there I was.

SPEAKER_03 10:43

And because you were a fighter, so to speak, is that what drew you to um joining the military?

SPEAKER_02 10:53

No, not at first. You know, uh I used to fight so much, I ran into uh my brother, my oldest brother, LC, and uh he said, Man, you doing all this fighting, why don't you start boxing? Yeah. I started boxing about the age of fourteen when I got into the gym. Yeah. And I d I started boxing.

SPEAKER_03 11:26

And how did your boxing career go?

SPEAKER_02 11:30

It was beautiful.

SPEAKER_03 11:31

Yeah? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:34

What was your record?

SPEAKER_02 11:35

As an amateur as an amateur at 112 fights and I lost ten.

SPEAKER_03 11:41

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 11:42

As an amateur.

SPEAKER_03 11:45

Wow. Yeah, that's pretty good. So then I've been a lot of go ahead. So then when it comes down to it, um why did what ended up going um what took you to the military as opposed to being a professional um boxer?

SPEAKER_02 12:08

Well, I remember a professional at the time. I went into the military. It was like uh all my friends was getting in trouble, you know, and it was like, it was like, no, I'm not gonna get caught up like that. So uh after school, when I walked home, I detoured and I stopped at the uh recruiter's office, and I looked at all the recruit, you know, the windows and looking at the services, the navy, the army, air force, and I chose I chose the Marine Corps. You know. I go down there, look at the uniforms, you know, talk to the recruiters, you know, and uh I went to the uh you know, I didn't go in. But uh I didn't never I didn't tell nobody what I was doing. No one. No one knew I was going to the Marine Corps.

SPEAKER_03 13:19

Is there well, I mean, are you proud of your service?

SPEAKER_02 13:26

Oh yeah, I love the Marine Corps. You know, and I loved it.

SPEAKER_03 13:33

And what are things that you really, really loved about being in the Marine Corps?

SPEAKER_02 13:41

Well, it it taught me independence because you know, I never I never been nowhere, you know, I was young, 18, didn't know nothing, never been nowhere, and uh I got into the Marine Corps, you know, taught me how taught me how to survive, you know, and it matured me.

SPEAKER_03 14:11

And what and what did you do in the military? Or in the Marine Corps, I mean.

SPEAKER_02 14:24

And I was the best at it. You know. Oh yes. Uh my my pros and cons was high. You know, the highest they can get, well, the highest they can get was a 5.0. You know, and uh I got like the highest you can get, you know, besides a 5.0. You know, I was so good at my job, they needed me over at headquarters to bring their files and directories up to date because they had uh inspection coming up.

SPEAKER_03 15:04

They wanted you to fix it.

SPEAKER_02 15:06

Yeah, yeah. They know they transfer me over to headquarters to uh the job done.

SPEAKER_03 15:15

And so that being your job, did you what were because we all every vet has them, even I have my own. You know, what were some of your um I mean, obviously we won't get the raunchiest ones, but um, what are some of your um good, enjoyable memories from when you were in the military, like things with it you did when you had fun. It was just one of those experiences where you it's it's not so much that you couldn't have had the experience elsewhere, but more than likely you would have only had that experience while in the military.

SPEAKER_02 15:59

Well, one thing about the military is I I I got to know people, you know, for one thing, and that brought joy being able to meet other people from different parts of the country. You know, and uh uh that right there.

SPEAKER_03 16:28

You know, and uh yeah, because when you're in, I mean one row and you got like eight different states, you know, I mean, people are from all over the place. Very rarely do you get people, you know, in a in a group that have come from the same place.

SPEAKER_02 16:50

Yeah. And uh you know, when I was when I was in in in the Marine Corps, you know, that was my primary job, but I did other jobs. I boxed throughout the Marine Corps. Oh, okay. And I was trans TAD to other parts of the base where I had I was a duty NCO, you know, and I worked in office along with officers, so we became we became friends, you know, whereas it's it's like a relationship I would have with, you know, like when you meet someone and when you're in the service and y'all become real cool and you just do you just develop a real a relationship.

SPEAKER_03 17:51

Yeah, you just feel develop attachments, not necessarily because you necessarily like the same things, you guys just get along.

SPEAKER_02 17:58

Well, you you find out you do like the same thing.

SPEAKER_03 18:02

Over time, you have common interests, but it's not originally over necessarily interest. A lot of times it's because we're we spend so much time around each other, right?

SPEAKER_02 18:13

And then we learn that we have the same interests.

SPEAKER_03 18:24

I mean, in in a bad way of saying, we're all stuck together. Yeah, well, I mean, because you're around people whether you like them or not, and when it comes down to it, I mean, everyone's always had you know, a group or something like that where there was somebody that you know screwed up and it made it more difficult for other people, or they were a jerk, or whatever, you know. So there's all there's always that one uh person or whatever that sticks out.

SPEAKER_02 18:57

But yeah, I mean that's what uh that's what anything, anyone, you know, either either you're gonna develop a relationship or or you're not, you know, that just like you're gonna be cool or you're not. So if you're not cool, then if you're gonna be around that person, you're doing real minimum of association with that individual.

SPEAKER_03 19:31

Well, I mean, it's just like how today, you know, they emphasize, you know, being friends with your coworkers. Well, even when I was in the service and I've heard other people say this, you weren't necessarily friends with your co-workers. Some of the times you didn't talk to those people all that much, but the thing that's different is you knew no matter what happened, you could count on them.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:56

You know, it's it's like it's like the ultimate reliability.

SPEAKER_01 20:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:04

But then too, you always have the you know, the almost like weeds in a sense, the ones that stick out where it's kind of like you question whether or not, you know, it's like, would you necessarily help me? If I needed you, would you necessarily be there? You know, but I mean, it's just how it is. Some people some people weren't weren't meant for the military life. Yeah, it just doesn't fit them very well. Other people love it and you know, have they have no problems with it. So when it comes to um like that was the your job in the military or whatever, have you had like what are the other jobs that you've had throughout your life?

SPEAKER_02 20:58

In the military or out of the military?

SPEAKER_03 21:00

No, no, no. That was your you because you said that was your job in the military being in in it administration, but what were your jobs otherwise throughout your life?

SPEAKER_02 21:14

Oh man, I worked at an oil refinery, you know, cleaning big old pipes.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

And how old were you when you did that?

SPEAKER_02 21:27

Oh my twenty-five.

SPEAKER_03 21:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 21:35

Got tired of that, I then started driving a bus. You know. Wow. You know, I worked in a warehouse. I did that for a minute, and then I start. I I found something I really like to do, drive drive forklift. You know, I started driving forklift and then I really enjoyed that. So I became a forklift operator. Yeah. Okay. You know, and at the same time, you know, I used to work at a at a dry cleaner's. You know, I became a seamstress. You know.

SPEAKER_03 22:28

Oh, okay. Boxer, seamstress, military. This is this is a very interesting career list.

SPEAKER_02 22:36

Oh man, you wouldn't believe it.

SPEAKER_03 22:39

It sounds like you've done a little bit of everything.

SPEAKER_02 22:43

I used to work at this this one place called uh Barko. You know, it's dealing with uh steel. A band uh coat, the steel that they put in concrete. You know, I did that for a minute, you know. I was young.

SPEAKER_03 23:02

Well, I mean, I think the only thing you haven't made reference to is working in the food industry.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

Well, see, there we go.

SPEAKER_03 23:13

There we go. See, like I said, you've done everything.

SPEAKER_02 23:17

I worked at uh Sam's Club. Well, it was I worked inside Sam's Club at one of those little food stands. Yeah. You know, when you go into Sam Club and the eat part of it, the eating part of it. Yeah, yeah, you know, out there. So I did that. I cooked food because I I'd love to cook. Uh so I've done that as well. Worked in the food industry, you know. Just looking for looking looking for something that I really want to do.

SPEAKER_03 23:56

And out of all the jobs that you've had, seeing as how you've done every job there is, but out of all the jobs you've had, um, what was the job that you enjoyed the most?

SPEAKER_02 24:11

Driving the forklift.

SPEAKER_03 24:12

Driving the forklift. And so forklift operator. When it comes down to it, that's the job that you would have wanted to retire from.

SPEAKER_02 24:21

Yeah. Okay. I enjoy I enjoy waking up, going waking up, going to work, driving the forklift, counting my business, because the way I work, you know, I take pride in what I do, you know, and uh, you know, anyone tell you that uh I rise real quick because of my performance. You know, uh I like to consolidate, you know, and uh I ain't the best at it, but you know, I do I do my best of what I do.

SPEAKER_03 24:59

So from the experience that or the experiences that you had in the military, what would you then want from military life? Like what do you wish military life was in civilian life? If you could pick something. Well, I mean, uh in terms of the structure, do you want it to where you people were more punctual? Do you, you know, just what would be one of those things that you would take from day-to-day military life where you're like, you know, I wish the everyday person was kind of more like this?

SPEAKER_01 25:46

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 25:47

Uh 'cause people, you know, a lot of times people think that, you know, veterans are um angry or testy or grumpy or whatever, when in reality we were just groomed into a different lifestyle. And so dealing with a regular civilian, a lot of times, you know, those certain things of well, I wish blank, you know, was you know going on because then this wouldn't happen.

SPEAKER_02 26:22

Yeah, I would have to say more punchable.

SPEAKER_03 26:26

So people being on time and stuff. Yeah. Yeah, we were always we we got in trouble if we weren't on time.

SPEAKER_02 26:35

Right. I mean I mean, I'm like, if you ain't if you ain't there like 15 minutes, then you're late. 15 minutes early, you're late.

SPEAKER_03 26:47

You know, that's that's being on time. If you're early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late.

SPEAKER_02 26:53

Yeah. I mean, don't don't try to walk in the door right there at the exact time, then trying to see what's going on, trying to get everything together. Right. You go in there ahead of time, you know. So if there's anything you need to fill out, anything that you need to do, uh, you know, that's if if you if you're already at work or going to a job interview, you know, you have the extra time. Yeah, don't you think so, Bo?

SPEAKER_03 27:31

Well, I mean, honestly, I mean, yeah, punctuality for stuff drives me up the freaking wall too. But um, I mean, sometimes, I don't know. Sometimes I kind of wish that it was more of an uh uh accountability issue because it kind of seems like in the regular average everyday world, and I don't care whether you're working at the gas station or freaking Kohl's or Stam, you know, Stam's Club, wherever, wherever you'd be working, it seems like accountability is a situation that never fully gets dealt with because people can have an issue, and either that issue is addressed in the sense of, okay, you're doing something wrong, don't do that, you know, or they just turn around and say, Oh, you did something wrong, and they just look at it like that. Nobody goes into the the actual the extra step of saying, okay, you did this wrong, let's prevent you from doing it again, so let's you know reteach you or whatever so it doesn't happen again. But they don't do that, so all these problems const constantly occur, come up frequently, or whatever. Because like I said, for us, when we're in the military, you can't do something and do it wrong, it has to be right. Right, you know, and there is no, oh well, I forgot that but as soon as you go up, you're screwed. So right there, it's like, yeah, you screwed up, you know, so it just ha you just have to do it, it has to be done, it has to be done the right way. And so yeah, in between, you know, like that accountability and like you were saying the punctuality, yeah, those are the two things because it just like sometimes, you know, like getting um a Lyft driver, and they're just a complete ass. And it's like, dude, okay, I understand this is your car, so you know, that's your own personal space, gotcha. You're running a business, though, in a sense, so this is supposed to be more professional, you know? And so, like I said, I wish those, yeah, those are the two things that really get me. Because I mean, we wouldn't survive five minutes with the without accountability because that just that every everything was structured that way, you know, just like complaints. Complaints went up, not down. You know, the higher-ups didn't complain to the lower people that they hated their job. It didn't work that way. Um, so between your careers, which you've had multiple, and being in the military and things like that, what would you say are three major junctions or next points in your life where you had to come to making a decision, and your choice was, you know, okay, I'm either gonna do this or I'm gonna do that. And it was a situation where making that decision really changed the rest of your life. What are three of major events of those?

SPEAKER_02 30:58

What three major events?

SPEAKER_03 31:00

Yeah, just your the three biggest ones you can think of that was a decision that drastically altered your whole life, good or bad. They don't have to be good decisions, they can be good decisions or bad decisions. We all make both. The bad decisions that you've made, would you say in your life you've made more good decisions or more bad decisions?

SPEAKER_02 31:21

Oh yeah. Yeah, I've I've made more good decisions, more good decisions than bad decisions.

SPEAKER_03 31:27

Yeah, and oh yeah, what would you say was the number one, like if you could look at your entire life, you know, like if you were to almost look at it like a book or something like that, your whole life, and there was one decision that you could pick and go, you know what, that decision changed everything for me because after that, everything changed. What would that be?

SPEAKER_02 31:52

When I went to the Marine Corps.

SPEAKER_03 31:56

You know, I I find it so interesting that so many of us have that same response to that.

SPEAKER_01 32:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:05

The military just changes your life on so many levels.

SPEAKER_02 32:10

You know, when I went when I went to the military, and uh when I came home from boot camp, you know, I ran into my friends, you know, that I grew up with from that, you know, and it's it's like I was on a whole different level. You know. I mean, you know, we were still. It was it was like more than you grew.

SPEAKER_03 32:41

It was more than maturing, more than growing up. You're just you just changed.

SPEAKER_02 32:47

Yeah, yeah, I I changed, and and it it was like I matured. You know, they were on they were still on that same level, you know, when I left, then I done went, I went somewhere, you know, got on my own, depending on no one but me, and now I'm here.

SPEAKER_03 33:16

And when it comes from the whole cycle of places that you've lived and everything like that, where did you go after um Illinois?

SPEAKER_02 33:30

Well, when I got out the Marine Corps, I went back what went back to Illinois, went there, kicked in a minute, you know, got a couple jobs, different jobs. I really didn't see none that I really liked. And uh for a minute. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 33:51

What were some of those the jobs you didn't like?

SPEAKER_02 33:55

Oh, yeah, that's when I was working at the oil refinery. Uh I got a job doing the uh bus driving. Uh I worked at uh factories, you know, just trying to find my way in life, you know, something I wanted to do, you know, and you know, then I got into that life where uh cats was shooting at me and and it was like chaotic.

SPEAKER_03 34:36

When it come when it comes to uh moving, where were you were you in Illinois then before you were here in Arizona?

SPEAKER_02 34:47

Oh no. I was in when I I left Illinois in 89, October of 89, I left uh Illinois. Me uh she was my girlfriend with my son, my daughter, and her daughter. We drove uh, you know, I got tired of that life back there in Illinois. And I drove to Seattle.

SPEAKER_03 35:18

Okay, so you went back?

SPEAKER_02 35:21

Yeah. Yeah, I went back to Seattle.

SPEAKER_03 35:24

And how long were you there for?

SPEAKER_02 35:26

I went back to October October of uh 89. I moved back to Seattle. And how long did you stay in Seattle? I stayed in Seattle until uh it was uh yeah, it was in October. It was in October when I left. And and I stayed in Seattle until I left Seattle in 2010. I moved to Arizona.

SPEAKER_03 36:02

And what brought you to Arizona?

SPEAKER_02 36:05

I got kind of depressed up there in Seattle. Yeah, I was I was working, but at the same time, you know, I uh paid all my bills, I moved out of my apartment, put all my furniture in storage, you know, and I I moved in with my mom for a minute and I just got depressed, and so uh I was living with a friend of mine, Nina, you know. I had a car and everything, and living with her so uh I ended up leaving Seattle uh in 2010. I gave her my car, all the furniture, and my ex, she was moving, she was leaving Seattle, moving to Arizona. So we made a deal we made a arrangement where I'll pay for the gas, just let me put my motorcycle and my clothes, and I'm leaving Seattle. And here I am.

SPEAKER_03 37:31

And then and you said you've been here since 2010?

SPEAKER_02 37:35

2010.

SPEAKER_03 37:37

Okay, yeah. 16 years. And when it comes down, well, for me, I've you know been in Arizona. I mean, I was born and raised here and then Kentucky, Germany, and you know, my way back, so I spent most of my time in Arizona. So how do you like it?

SPEAKER_02 37:53

Well, you know, what brought that what brought me to Arizona, but I kind of liked it because I was able to ride my bike year round. Ride my motorcycle year round out here.

SPEAKER_03 38:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 38:08

You know.

SPEAKER_03 38:10

Except for the hot summers.

SPEAKER_02 38:13

Oh no, I ride in the hot summers too. I mean, just the wind wind blowing against my face took me to a whole different place.

SPEAKER_03 38:23

Yeah, but you're sitting on that hot engine. Never got hot.

SPEAKER_02 38:30

Oh, well, you know, when you when you ride, when you ride and that wind is blowing, you know, the the the air from the wind is keeping that engine cool. You mean that seemed like that because when you ride that air is pushing up against that engine, which is keeping it cool off you, and when you stop, it's a whole different thing.

SPEAKER_03 39:02

Okay, so when it comes down to it, if you were to look back on um everything that you've done, the places you've been, things like that. What would you say are the things you're and I mean it this isn't always a comfortable thing for people, but what would you say are the things that you're most ashamed of?

SPEAKER_02 39:27

Most ashamed of?

SPEAKER_03 39:28

Yeah. So you're fine with who you are and how how things have gone.

SPEAKER_02 39:40

Yeah.

unknown 39:41

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 39:49

And it's due to I'm not able to uh to do like it's supposed to do because my injuries.

SPEAKER_03 39:59

Okay. Yeah. And uh we'll get in, you know, to that part in a minute and stuff. Um so a curious question. What what was going on with you in your life when things really went downhill?

SPEAKER_02 40:22

My I was living a good life. You know, um before my accident, you know, I was going to work every day, five days a week, sometimes six, uh uh going to work just enjoying life, you know.

SPEAKER_03 40:47

Yeah. And so when it comes to everything that was going on at the time, what was was it riding your motorcycle that was your favorite, I guess, hobby or what pastime?

SPEAKER_02 41:06

Oh yeah, I love riding my motorcycle. Riding my motorcycle, you know, going just going to different states, riding, chilling, you know, hanging out.

SPEAKER_03 41:23

And what would you say are some of your biggest achievements in your life? When you look back, what are the things where you're just like, wow, I was able to do that. And I did a really good job.

SPEAKER_02 41:47

To be able to well one was when I went into the Marine Corps, I was able to go in there and do that and say, Wow, I did that, I achieved that you know, and uh just being productive in life, man, you know.

SPEAKER_03 42:14

So when it comes to as you had said, you know, your injuries and stuff like that, um between that the military across your you know your whole life and everything, what are the different disabilities that you have?

SPEAKER_02 42:36

Uh different disabilities my spine, my T6 was broken.

SPEAKER_03 42:49

And how did that happen?

SPEAKER_02 42:51

Motorcycle, I got hit. I got hit from behind on the 51 in home. It was like uh two in the morning. I was coming from uh revolution and uh being uh uh from a rider uh solo. We was there we was riding together and we stopped at the gas station on 16th and Gal. He was headed uh west and I was headed north and uh we split up right there. We stopped at the gas station, had a little conversation, and we rode on from man uh holler at you in the morning.

SPEAKER_03 43:51

And when it comes to your other disabilities, what else? Because you said you you were referring to like multiple.

SPEAKER_01 43:59

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 44:05

I mean when it comes down to it, I think all I think all vets they say have PTSD, but um uh uh I don't know if I have PTSD.

SPEAKER_02 44:21

I don't even know what PTSD is, to the truth.

SPEAKER_03 44:26

PTSD is post-traumatic stress disorder, so it's um being having issues after you've uh gone through a traumatic event. So it whatever you know, I mean, women can have it from assaults, men can have it from assaults, you can have it from you know, car accidents, whole bunch of stuff. That's why I said I think they just say all vets have PTSD. But I mean, you know, some when they go for it, it passes for the stuff for qualifications or whatever for meeting the requirements, and others don't. But that's that's what they always say vets have weird.

SPEAKER_02 45:17

Oh, PTSD.

SPEAKER_03 45:19

Well, I mean, it's just like how for veterans when you go when you're in the service, they take care of anything and everything you need, no problems. All you gotta do is ask. But the day you leave, then it's like they want to like drag their feet and don't want to necessarily do stuff, and it's like maybe this or another time or whatever, and it's like you you're it's not even like a oh, I became disposable, it's more of a oh, I'm not really useful anymore. Yeah, you know, and a lot of people, I mean, you know, people turn around and say shit like, oh, the VA is the best healthcare system in the world, and those are all the people that have never spent a day, even five minutes, in a VA hospital. So with all you you were saying that you had an uh you were referring to another disability.

SPEAKER_02 46:20

Oh yeah, I'm sorry. Uh yeah, my legs uh when I had my accident. I lost my uh right leg in the accident and the left leg uh got injured as well. And it was not it was not working. It was not working, I was just to tell you the truth, it was just hanging around. You know? Oh seriously, it wasn't it wasn't doing nothing. You know, I have to pick it up, move it here, move it there. Oh shit, I made a decision when I was there in in in the hospital.

SPEAKER_03 47:14

It was like a year later to do the other one.

SPEAKER_02 47:23

Yeah, totally just uh working, you know. Go ahead and take it off.

SPEAKER_03 47:31

And so far with what we've learned, there's just so much to him, and it's really interesting. And he has very, very intricate parts to his life, but there's much, much more. So please come back next week and join us for his part two of the two.