Ret. Green Beret Zach Garner - Part 1 | Mike Ritland Podcast Episode 138

Resilience is a word that gets thrown around a lot when it comes to describing the warriors and veterans that fight for our freedom, but few embody the term moreso than Zach Garner. On the surface, he's a retired Green Beret from 7th Special Forces Group that completed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. But a peek under the hood tells a different story - surgeries, seizures, multiple-month hospital stays, and even a brutal fight with an absolutely devastating flesh-eating bacteria have all played a part in his life. But to hear Zach tell it, that's why he's here - to share his experience and the lessons he learned throughout his recovery, in the hopes of providing solutions to the obstacles we all face. If Zach can do it, anybody can.
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
02:47 - Dad Was a Styx Fan
09:14 - Morning Routine
13:42 - Born in Illinois
20:16 - Ground Rules
26:55 - Becoming a Forward Observer
36:05 - Multiple Launch Rocket System
41:35 - Overnight House Clears
53:20 - Then I Got Stabbed at a Kenny Chesney Concert
01:01:09 - A Single Dude in Germany
01:14:51 - Special Forces
01:20:48 - Firefight in the Valley
01:28:32 - Everybody Loves an A-10
01:38:41 - The First Seizure
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Support Zach Garner:
Instagram - / zack_next_door
KZbin - / @zacharygarner
LinkedIn - / zachary-garner-253605170
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Sponsors:
Strikeman
Right now, get 25% OFF by using the code RITLAND when you go to www.trainwithstrikeman.com.
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1st Phorm
www.1stphorm.com/mikedrop - Free shipping on all orders over $75 when you use the link.
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BioPro+
www.bioproteintech.com - Use code: mikedrop to save $30 on your first order
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[@morelanc]

Props on the mustache - needed to be said!

[@Tanner1990]

Mike I listen to a lot of podcasts (4 a day), your the first person I’ve seen who tells it like it is about the ads. Not that it might not mean much to you, but much respect from a true red white and blue American 🇺🇸. The sincerity in your message is well received down Chattanoogy way.

[@xprettylightsx]

Where is Chattanooga way?

[@brock45569]

I agree

[@Tanner1990]

@@xprettylightsx I said Chattanoogy

[@brock45569]

Zach has kicked adversity in the teeth several TIMES! Much respect sir. I got sick with a bone disease and nearly died my senior year. I wanted to follow grandpa and join the air force. I ended up talking to an AF recruiter at my highschool. Approached him as a paper thin 5'10" 145lbs guy with a PIC line in my left arm. He was so gracious to me, and told me I couldn't join while doing my treatments. I will never forget that!

[@Thebluesky0311]

Great guest and podcast, we are blessed to have Americans like him and yourself. God Bless!

[@markmcdonald7212]

Just ordered my Strikeman set so I wanted to drop by and say thanks for the huge discount!

[@Mjg-kc6xd]

Ritlands podcast is top-notch! Keep em coming!!!

[@rostamr4096]

Agreed %100

[@C-24-Brandan]

Another exciting, interesting, educational and bad ass human being with an incredible story! Keep Killin' It Mike, have really enjoyed the podcast show since episode numero uno!

[@elizabethr.1127]

The ads don't bother me at all - totally get it. Just grateful to have content like this to watch and listen to.

[@brandonblackfyre5783]

Anothher amazing Episode, Mike!! I've probably watched every single one of your podast interviews and love them. Some I even watched *twice* ... and you should *NEVER* feel the need to apologize for the advertisements that you corporate into these podcast episodes... we the viewers are watching an amazing show for *100% FREE* of charge. The least we can do is listen to a *1:30* advertisement from your sponsors. I also always try to watch the *ENTIRE* advertisement that KZbin puts in your video, I try not to ever press the "skip" button. Like you always say *The Mike Drop Podcast* wouldn't exist if the show did not have *sponsors* that help you pay the bills and get these amazing guest on the show. Thank you for such amazing content & *MOST* importantly your service to this great country. I salute you sir O7 (the o7 is meant to be a salute😂) keep up the great work, stay safe & stay dangerous my brother.

[@werfonrust3298]

Big up to the Drop from Amsterdam

[@brendanriley1968]

“But she grew up tall and she grew up right with them Indiana boys on an Indiana night.” Love from Indiana ❤

[@kellercan3057]

Another great interview! Thank you!!

[@brandonblackfyre5783]

The *AUDACITY* to complain about haveing to watch *Mike's* advertisements that sponsor the show that you get for *FREE* ... the least we can do as a viewer to support the channel is watching and clicking on *Mike's* advertisements. It makes it better for *Mike* when you actually click on the links for the advertisements, even if you do not buy anything. Showing engagement helps other sponsors wanting to work with *Mike* ...

[@spojce9]

Zach, if you liked The Martian, you'll also really like Project Hail Mary by the same author, Andy Weir. best book I've read over the past few years

[@chrisbryant1657]

Great show! 👍

[@garretdozier9596]

Great podcast Mike, keep up the great work! Powerful testimony!🙏

[@rustymurdock1748]

Awesome interview. Thank you both for your service. Also thanks for having good ad's going to give the phorm 1.

[@skeeter4320]

Thank you Mike! Hope your Memorial Day , was OK and thank you again for your service, your book and your podcast! I miss Uninfluenced!

[@tnt655]

My Dad was a Marine who did two tours in Vietnam He was blown off an Amtrac hit by a mortar! He very rarely talked about Vietnam! I was born 70s and me and my little buddy Sonny Estrada were obsessived with Vietnam and all the 80s Nam movies. I talked my dad into watching Platoon! It was one of the only times I’d ever seen him cry! It fucked me up! That movie is bad ass! I still love it!

[@MrGvan27]

Great show, man. I was an 81mm motar maggot for hhc 2-14 infantry ft.drum. 1997 - 2000.

[@onedayindia]

another AMAZING podcast! 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@brandonblackfyre5783]

I swear i see more people showing love for the advertisements then hate for them. Love the dog stuff as I am a huge dog lover. My Min Pincher is getting older now so I've been always looking out for things that can help her with old age

[@hiramhaji7813]

Outstanding podcast

[@gregscott2563]

Waiting for Part 2 great episode

[@Bwh-rm3py]

Good show as always.

[@jayglanville8585]

Great guest and interview!

[@internet_internet]

I hate ads. But I appreciate the hell out of Mike, and those who find him. That being said, we unfortunately had to stop buying Team Dog food because of price. Our dogs absolutely loved it though, both the salmon and the chicken essential blend varieties. It’s very high quality kibble-type food. We never got to try the duck/lamb combo. I don’t think that was released yet at the time. Our muscle meatball would probably love that blend.

[@GranpaTruck]

Very interesting character.

[@tomfraser8425]

Good work guys. Another interesting guest.

[@stephanromeo684]

Mike Ritland is the man !

[@goodwinsooners3520]

His daughter was “Volun-told” to go to survival camp, lol! I’m gonna steal that one. Love it!

[@70stunes71]

💯👍👌 Excellent brothers 👏

[@davidnunley9150]

Thanks!

[@MrAmwiener]

When did Dr. Phil join the Army? Lol Awesome podcast 🇺🇸

[@ensporium8857]

10th Mountain was 2007-2008 I was there 💯💯💯

[@zacharygarner]

I was with 4-31 inf. What unit were you in?

[@samuelhumphrey5908]

Every show Brother. Every show. Anyone's complaints about your sponsorship is almost funny considering the intro. Keep on keeping on

[@JL-tg5tb]

Exilent as allways

[@davidyoung30]

Has Mike ever talked about his cars or past cars and what he had done to them? Can tell he’s a car guy and I hear him give the hints in some podcasts but we’ve never heard about his cars.

[@garyfinden3137]

He had a podcast with another dude. It was called un influenced. That was pretty much all car and motorcycle talk.

[@saboabbas123]

like the war stories! Ads don't bother me. Rock on.

[@amandacantrell1146]

Mike sweetheart we know you have to have ads to survive and for myself I don't mind. You have the right to do whatever it is you please after what you've done for our country in my eyes. Plus you let us watch this for free, no charge on KZbin, baby you're fine with them ads. Besides you make them more interesting and funny, but you do that to the whole podcast out acting you're on. Thank you both for your service and sacrifices. My dad is a Vietnam combat veteran, my brother is a combat veteran, and my son is currently serving it country right now as we speak. Dear LORD, please help and watch over my son, the CIC/POTUS we have is out there on a different planet somehow and we haven't even got interplanetary travel if that tells you his mindset. Goofy and crazy old man. Sorry but it's the truth.

[@elizabethr.1127]

Similar experiences living in Germany- and dad hauled us to eagles nest, dachau, and who can forget fun family weekend at the Fulda gap - to name only a few

[@matthewbrandon931]

I never noticed the adds.

[@Walk_Off_0311]

I love u mike

[@clatonbigsby662]

Great episode as always Good Sir get Chuck Ritter or Tim Kennedy on here next

[@legacydentco]

Mike, you’re a good dude. Happy supporter of the show and love Team Dog food for my husky. Don’t feel any way when it comes to having to pay the bills with ads and sponsors. It’s a part of the game at this point and if anyone is giving you crap about it, in your kindest voice, tell ‘em to choke themselves. 🤜🤛😎🇺🇸🫡

[@Gogetter1984]

Elysium is the one that Matt Damon has the exoskeleton...needless info... awesome show!

[@matthewstone1811]

Same thing the coast guard recruiter did to me lol.

[@roytrujillo4944]

Love watching and listening to Mike talk especially about dogs had an uncle that ran a dog kennel and trained German sheperds for law enforcement and Mike looks and sounds exactly like him . Thanks for your Service and for bringing back memories of a great uncle of mine

[@idk.1903]

1:32:48 that’s righttttttttt ! Mike “smooth operator” Ritland ! No pun intended

[@Juhani139]

I was like "i'm gonna skip this one" then he was like "I read The Martian". Well, then, clearly this man has taste. Let's see what he has to say!

[@PeterGarcia410]

@mikeritland someone may have already mentioned this but the US Army and USMC does have FA counter fire radars that pick up incoming and calculates where the indirect fire is coming from in order for our FA batteries can immediately counter fire and destroy that enemy position. Later in the war US Navy C-RAM was incorporated with the radars in order to destroy the incoming while it is enroute.

[@American1clickout]

I love how we talked about churches and how the beg for money. Every single church I ever stepped foot in. It’s all about money churches will literally say when passing a basket around give as much as you can that’s what god would do. That’s why I don’t anymore it’s a business that just happens to be a church

[@ninthfloor33020]

OMG! 😂. Mr. Ritland is definitely my kind of interviewer! Zach “We entered a room and a couple was having sex!” Mike. “What position were they in?!”🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 “Was she completely naked?” I almost choked while eating … listening to this awesomeness!!🤪 I was waiting for more questions. Like.. “Did she have a finger up his Goat Smelling Ass?” “Did any of you guys join in?” “Did it smell fishy or was it more Lamb like?”😮😂😂😂 Oh Lordy…. Waiting on part 2🙌🏼

[@adamberndt4190]

The mustache was created for two reasons, Tom Selleck and this dude!

[@KevinDiazx11]

Zack Hughes would be a great guess also!

[@peterpetticolas3584]

Summer Corn!

[@JW-28]

He has a poisonous ethiopian caterpillar on his upper lip! That thing is gnarly af.

[@josephvega3763]

Mothafuckin Pastor Mike at it again!! Good shit as always

[@ensporium8857]

Hawija, Kirkut...Fob Warrior or Fob McHenry

[@internet_internet]

Proper mustache.

[@tryptaman4315]

160 on Ft Polk/Peason roads? SKETCHY 😂

[@smitda7]

Im just gonna ask...what position were they in

[@dandiesa5323]

The church has been a business from day 1. It's one of the richest organizations in the world! Don't feel bad guy!

[@cl4998]

MLRS systems are far from outdated, they have proven to be invaluable in Ukraine.

[@Bourbon101LRSD]

Is it me or does this guy look like Eddie Gallagher?

[@clatonbigsby662]

It's the lines on the cheeks in the mustache lol

[@RyanTaylor1223]

I hate the "i don't have a sport bike cause I'd kill myself" excuse. Get the f'n bike and learn how to control it. I did. The faster you go the easier it is to keep it upright. All you have to do is lean into turns

[@diggybean2705]

Elysium