#89 Unbowed - Billy Hedderman

12/02/22 • 94 min

Billy Hedderman is a recovered quadriplegic. The ex-Irish Special Forces officer broke his neck on a beach in Australia in 2014 and was instantly paralysed. Lucky not to drown, he spent months in a spinal injuries’ unit forcing himself to stand, walk and move his fingers again. Within 8 months he returned to military duties with the ADF and made his return to skydiving activities soon after. Billy has recently transitioned as an officer in the Australian Army to specialise in resilience. He has authored Unbowed; A soldiers’ journey back from Paralysis published by Big Sky Publishing.

Twitter @BillyHedderman

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#88 Relentless Courage - Michael Sugrue

WARNING: Discussion of suicidal thoughts.

Michael Sugrue began his law enforcement career in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Officer in 1998. As a Security Forces Officer, Michael specialized in Law Enforcement, Global Force Protection, Anti-Terrorism, Nuclear Security, Foreign Air Field Assessments and Air Base Ground Defense. Serving in a variety of assignments including: Flight Leader, Flight Commander, Senior Watch Officer, Chief of Command Post and Chief of Security Forces.

Michael served all over the United States, Europe, the Middle East and South America. He was also a Security Forces Phoenix Raven with the unique identifier of #1173. Michael honorably separated from the Air Force as a Captain in 2004.

Immediately after the Air Force, Michael was hired by the Walnut Creek Police Department where he served in a variety of assignments including: Patrol Officer, Driver Training Instructor (EVOC) Field Training Officer (FTO), SIU Detective, Undercover CA DOJ Narcotic Task Force Agent (Contra Costa County), Public Information Officer (PIO) and Patrol Sergeant.

In 2014 he was awarded the Walnut Creek PD Distinguished Service Medal for his heroic and life saving actions during a Fatal Officer Involved Shooting in 2012. However the family sued and what followed was a 4 1⁄2 year civil court battle and an internal war against PTSI or PTSD to some. Ultimately medically retiring in 2018, he is now a Peer Volunteer at the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat (WCPR) and an Ambassador for Save A Warrior (SAW).

Michael is a dedicated advocate for awareness, prevention, education, training on Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) and First Responder Suicide Prevention, continuing to speak at law enforcement agencies all over the United States.

In his BEST-SELLING book, RELENTLESS COURAGE: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma, along with Dr. Shauna Springer, PhD, they tackle the complexity of trauma within the law enforcement community, uncovering the unspoken barriers, and outline a path to healing.

RELENTLESS COURAGE released in Spring 2022 and has been described by Lt. Col. David Grossman, best-selling author of On Killing and On Combat as “one of the most important books of our time” and “the natural successor to On Combat.”

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgtmichaelsugrue

Book: RELENTLESS COURAGE: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma https://a.co/d/j7jCoao

Facebook: Sgt. Michael Sugrue

Instagram: sergeant_michael_sugrue_

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#90 The Casey Curse – Dave Morgan

TRIGGER WARNING

Dave Morgan left his family in Brisbane in 1969 for Vietnam as part of the 104 Signal Squadron. During his term, he served at several fire support bases and dealt with attacks by the Viet Cong. During one of those attacks, his pit hole collapsed on him, and after he returned to an unsympathetic Australia, he started reliving that experience night after night. Dave tried to live a normal life after he returned from Vietnam. Within months he had his first nightmare along with anxiety and depression. There was nowhere to turn for help as Vietnam veterans were despised by most people, or they were just not interested in them. Most Vietnam vets disappeared into their own world. After military discharge, came heavy drinking and depression. During a 6 month trip to USA/Canada, he had suicidal thoughts until he met up with an American mate that he met in Vietnam and for the first time Dave felt comfortable with life as his American friends helped him with his anger and depression. He returned to Australia with a new outlook on life, got married, was selected on a Bureau Meteorology Technical Officer ( Weather Observer) course, and over the next thirty-three years had 12 postings including Antarctica and raised two children. He hid his PTSD well from all but his family. They moved around Queensland for Dave’s job as a Technical Officer but his desire for isolation led him to postings at Giles WA, Macquarie Island and Davis Station. A few hours after he arrived at Casey Station for his next expedition, he slipped on blue ice and sustained a severe head and neck injury forcing a medevac back to the mainland. Now retired, Dave is seeking treatment for his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which Antarctica finally made him acknowledge.

Dave’s third book – ‘The Invisible Trauma’ was published by Big Sky Publishing this year 2022. His two previous books were– ‘Ice Journey’ (2010) and ‘My Vietnam War-Scarred Forever’ (2014).

A portion of sale proceeds from this book will be donated to Australia Legacy an organisation which supports veterans’ families.

https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/dave-morgan/

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