Radio Show Talking with Heroes interviews Nuristan PRT Servicemembers

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Talking with Heroes, a radio show based out of Colorado Springs, Colo., interviewed three servicemembers from the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, live, Jan. 8.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, operations specialist and native of Smithfield, R.I.; U.S. Army Sgt. David Starkey, security force team leader and native of Reno, Nev.; and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mason Sullivan, a combat medic and native of Boston, Mass., were chosen to do the radio interview with host Bob Calvert.

The three were chosen to do the interview with Calvert because of their continuous hard work and professionalism. Also, they served as a representation of the joint mission of the PRT to help promote development and governance throughout Nuristan province.

“It is refreshing to see a media portal that cares about the positive stories in Afghanistan and Iraq and the troops that are here.  Very seldom do you see the good news stories broadcast over the airs or on television without it having a negative impact,” said Leach.

The servicemembers spoke on what their responsibilities add to the PRT mission by providing information on various topics like female engagement team, promoting female literacy and equality, security efforts in order to operate in a hostile environment, and the effort to educate local nationals on proper medical care.

Calvert started his radio talk show when his daughter and her husband both enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Calvert was looking for a way to support his daughter and other warriors, especially after his son-in-law returned from multiple deployments with injuries, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and other challenges many servicemembers and families face after deployments. 

Eight years later, 100 aired audio programs, 100 video clips from trips to Iraq, and over 5,000 monthly readers on his online news site featuring stories from Iraq and Afghanistan, he found a way to support not only his daughter and son-in-law, but every servicemember fighting on behalf of the United States.

Nuristan PRT would like to thank Calvert for his constant support and sleepless nights ensuring that the every Solider, Sailor, Marine, and Airman’s story is told.   

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team operations specialist from Smithfield, R.I., is interviewed by Dave Carlson from the Talking with Heroes radio talk show out of Colorado Springs, Colo., via phone, as U.S. Army Sgt. David Starkey, native of Reno, Nev., with the Nuristan PRT security force, waits for his interview on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Jan. 8. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs) 

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mason Sullivan, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team medic from Boston, Mass., is interviewed by Dave Carlson from the Talking with Heroes radio talk show out of Colorado Springs, Colo., via phone, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Jan. 8. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)