011 | From Friends to Brothers: Service with the 82nd Airborne Division

Camp Iron Mountain

Guests - Kenneth Williams, Joe Paez, and Dale Comstock

Kenneth Williams served 24 years in the U.S. Army. First, as an infantryman for a little over four years with the 82nd Airborne division before changing over to the Air Defense Artillery career branch. Before retiring as a senior instructor for the Air Defense Center (Patriot) Missile and Master Gunner Course, Kenneth served as First Sergeant for Echo Battery, 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery in Ansbach, Germany. In addition to his deployment to Operation Urgent Fury, Kenneth deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia five times, and also supported the invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Post Army retirement, Kenneth became a licensed Realtor in California and currently holds state licenses for running Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, Adult Residential Facilities, and Group Homes for children. He’s the co-owner of New Vision Services Incorporated, a business that provides care for seniors, disabled adults, and children across 15 facilities in the state of California.

Joe Paez served in the U.S. Army for 4 years as an infantryman. His active duty military career ended due to an almost fatal parachute jump accident suffered while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division. After his recovery and discharge, Joe returned to California and served five years in the California National Guard. He earned his Bachelor's degree from California State University, Sacramento and eventually got hired as a civil servant with the State of California, serving for 30 years in the Information Technology sector before retiring in 2020. Post retirement, Joe keeps busy by volunteering with his local VFW Post, where he’s currently the Post Commander, running his own art studio business, Romero Design Studios, and is a Job Developer for the Volunteers of America non-profit organization, where he works with previously homeless veterans to help them find jobs.

Dale Comstock is a legendary special operations soldier and warrior. He’s given over 37 years of service to the United States, combating U.S. enemies abroad as a U.S. Army paratrooper, Green Beret, Delta Force Operator, OGA Paramilitary Operative, and as a Mercenary. During his military career, Dale was a renowned weapons expert and fighting instructor. He was also decorated twice for valor in combat. Since 2001, Dale has been a successful businessman, starting and operating three security companies, selling two of ‘em. He continues to operate the third company, Strategic Outcomes Asia, out of Bali, Indonesia where he resides for half the year. You can read more about his life and combat experiences on his website, DaleComstock.com, and in his autobiographical book, American Badass: The True Story of a Modern Day Spartan.

Instagram:

Joe Paez - @JoePaez

Dale Comstock - @OfficialAmericanBadass

Website:

Dale Comstock - www.DaleComstock.com and www.Tier1PerformanceCoaching.com

What You’ll Get From Today’s Show

You’ll hear about our guests' stories of...

-How they met and became friends as kids in Sacramento, California.

-How they joined the Army together out of high school in the early 1980s and went through basic training, airborne school, and eventually in the same unit at the 82nd Airborne Division.

-They talk about their experiences in the early 1980s Army.

-How they became a part of the then newly established 82nd Airborne Division Long Range Reconnaissance Platoon.

-They talk about particular leaders that stood out to them their first few years in the 82nd Airborne Division.

-The guys talk about their participation in the Gallant Eagle 82’ exercise at the National Training Center.

Resources Related to the Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode

American Badass: The True Story of a Modern Day Spartan. Dale Comstock’s autobiography that tells of his “journey from boyhood to manhood into a world of extreme violence where he learns the values of hard work, sacrifice, and love of family.” Dale explored his successes and failures as a Delta Force Operator, Green Beret, husband and father. https://www.amazon.com/American-Badass-story-modern-Spartan/dp/0989483509

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