The Kagan Dunlap Show

Major James Capers Jr. Legendary Force Recon Marine, Vietnam Hero & the Long Fight for the Medal of Honor.In this powerful episode, we sit down with Retired U.S. Marine Corps Major James Capers Jr., a true American hero and trailblazer. One of the first African American officers in The Marine Force Reconnaissance Teams, Major Capers led over 60 covert long-range reconnaissance patrols in Vietnam. He survived devastating wounds, including multiple gunshots, over 17 pieces of shrapnel, and a broken leg, while refusing to quit command during a brutal 1967 ambush near Phu Loc. His actions saved every member of his team, Team Broadminded, and embodied the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps.For nearly six decades, Major Capers’ extraordinary valor went unrecognized at the nation’s highest level. After the battle, the Commanding General intended to recommend him for the Medal of Honor, but that paperwork was lost forever when the General was killed in a helicopter crash. Instead of the Medal of Honor, he received a Bronze Star. Now, thanks to years of advocacy, Congressman Ralph Norman’s bill H.R. 3377 written to authorize President Trump to award Major James Capers Jr. the Medal of Honor, has passed both the House and Senate and was signed into Law By The President of The United States on March 26th 2026, finally bringing long-overdue justice to this American legend.Major Capers opens up about breaking racial barriers in the Marines, leadership under fire, the brutal realities of combat, and his unbreakable bond with his men. He also shares inspiring lessons on resilience, faith, and legacy.Major Capers story is one that embodies courage, sacrifice, and the stories of those who served.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/Major Capers Links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/major_james_capers_jr/

Charles Johnson is currently an aeronautical design engineer. During his eight-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps (2009–2017), he served as a mortarman, completingfive deployments throughout Afghanistan and Southeast Asia. He now applies the same focus and analytical rigor required for ballistics and field operations to the technical challenges of modern aeronautical design, supported by his degree in mechanicalengineering.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/Charles Johnson Links:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/charlesj0341/

Charles Johnson is currently an aeronautical design engineer. During his eight-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps (2009–2017), he served as a mortarman, completingfive deployments throughout Afghanistan and Southeast Asia. He now applies the same focus and analytical rigor required for ballistics and field operations to the technical challenges of modern aeronautical design, supported by his degree in mechanicalengineering.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/Charles Johnson Links:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/charlesj0341/

From raw combat footage that showed Americans the realities of war to reshaping modern firearms training, Travis Haley has left a lasting mark on the tactical community.A former U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Marine, Haley served on multiple combat deployments across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. After active duty, he continued serving in the Marine Reserves while also working as a private military contractor supporting U.S. government operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In total, his career spans 29 years of operational and defense-industry experience in over 45 countries.Haley later founded Simply Dynamics, which evolved into Magpul Dynamics, helping bring modern Special Operations training concepts and firearms instruction to a wider audience. Today, he is the founder of Haley Strategic Partners, where he continues to influence tactical training, product development, and responsible firearms education.Beyond the defense industry, Haley has also served in law enforcement as a tactics instructor and critical response specialist, while mentoring others on resilience, mindset, and post-traumatic growth.A 7th-generation gunfighter of the Haley family, husband, father of seven, entrepreneur, and adventurer, Travis Haley continues to shape the modern tactical world both on and off the range.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/Travis Haley Links:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dragonflyhaley/?hl=enFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/travis.haley.18/Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdqO3qjABeMfqdhErk-A7zgWebsite - https://haleystrategic.com/founderX - https://x.com/haleystrategic

From raw combat footage that showed Americans the realities of war to reshaping modern firearms training, Travis Haley has left a lasting mark on the tactical community.A former U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Marine, Haley served on multiple combat deployments across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. After active duty, he continued serving in the Marine Reserves while also working as a private military contractor supporting U.S. government operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In total, his career spans 29 years of operational and defense-industry experience in over 45 countries.Haley later founded Simply Dynamics, which evolved into Magpul Dynamics, helping bring modern Special Operations training concepts and firearms instruction to a wider audience. Today, he is the founder of Haley Strategic Partners, where he continues to influence tactical training, product development, and responsible firearms education.Beyond the defense industry, Haley has also served in law enforcement as a tactics instructor and critical response specialist, while mentoring others on resilience, mindset, and post-traumatic growth.A 7th-generation gunfighter of the Haley family, husband, father of seven, entrepreneur, and adventurer, Travis Haley continues to shape the modern tactical world both on and off the range.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/Travis Haley Links:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dragonflyhaley/?hl=enFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/travis.haley.18/Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdqO3qjABeMfqdhErk-A7zgWebsite - https://haleystrategic.com/founderX - https://x.com/haleystrategic

William “Billy” Gallegos Is A United States Marine and during his tour of Active Duty, he was a Security Guard who was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran when it was overrun during the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979.On November 4, 1979, in the midst of the Iranian Revolution, militant students stormed the embassy in Tehran, capturing American diplomats and Marines and igniting a 444-day international standoff that would reshape U.S. relations with Iran. Billy was among the 52 Americans held for the entirety of the crisis.He recounts the moment the compound was breached, the chaos and uncertainty of those first hours, and the harsh reality of captivity that followed. Blindfolded, interrogated, and isolated, he and his fellow hostages relied on discipline, faith, and the unbreakable bond forged through Marine Corps training to survive mentally and physically.This conversation goes beyond headlines and history books. It is a firsthand account of resilience under pressure, the psychological toll of prolonged captivity, and the strength required to endure when the world feels impossibly far away. After 444 days in captivity, Billy finally returned home, but the experience would shape the rest of his life.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/#fyp #podcast #military #usa #foryoupage #youtuber #deltaforce #motivation #motivational

William “Billy” Gallegos Is A United States Marine and during his tour of Active Duty, he was a Security Guard who was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran when it was overrun during the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979.On November 4, 1979, in the midst of the Iranian Revolution, militant students stormed the embassy in Tehran, capturing American diplomats and Marines and igniting a 444-day international standoff that would reshape U.S. relations with Iran. Billy was among the 52 Americans held for the entirety of the crisis.He recounts the moment the compound was breached, the chaos and uncertainty of those first hours, and the harsh reality of captivity that followed. Blindfolded, interrogated, and isolated, he and his fellow hostages relied on discipline, faith, and the unbreakable bond forged through Marine Corps training to survive mentally and physically.This conversation goes beyond headlines and history books. It is a firsthand account of resilience under pressure, the psychological toll of prolonged captivity, and the strength required to endure when the world feels impossibly far away. After 444 days in captivity, Billy finally returned home, but the experience would shape the rest of his life.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/

Colonel Ken Hopper (Retired) began his Marine Corps career in May 1979 and served 30 years before retiring in June 2009 as a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. He earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1982 and primarily flew the KC-130 aircraft. He served in various roles up to the Joint Staff. He had multiple combat deployments, and a tour with the United States Naval Flight Demonstration Team, the “Blue Angels”, piloting the team’s C-130 aircraft “Fat Albert.” Ken is a graduate of The Citadel and holds a Master’s Degree from Troy State University in Management; and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He has accumulated over 10,000 flight hours, qualifying to fly in six different aircraft. He is currently the President/CEO of the Marine Corps Reserve Association and the CEO of the National Marine Corps Coordinating Council.The Tun Legacy Foundation is a veteran-focused nonprofit built around restoring purpose after military service. Rather than traditional charity, it operates on a participation model, veterans engage in hands-on projects, mentorship, and shared responsibility inside a tight-knit community connected to The Tun Project.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/

Colonel Ken Hopper (Retired) began his Marine Corps career in May 1979 and served 30 years before retiring in June 2009 as a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. He earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1982 and primarily flew the KC-130 aircraft. He served in various roles up to the Joint Staff. He had multiple combat deployments, and a tour with the United States Naval Flight Demonstration Team, the “Blue Angels”, piloting the team’s C-130 aircraft “Fat Albert.” Ken is a graduate of The Citadel and holds a Master’s Degree from Troy State University in Management; and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He has accumulated over 10,000 flight hours, qualifying to fly in six different aircraft. He is currently the President/CEO of the Marine Corps Reserve Association and the CEO of the National Marine Corps Coordinating Council.The Tun Legacy Foundation is a veteran-focused nonprofit built around restoring purpose after military service. Rather than traditional charity, it operates on a participation model, veterans engage in hands-on projects, mentorship, and shared responsibility inside a tight-knit community connected to The Tun Project.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/

Cody Cohen is a United States Marine Corps veteran, former law enforcement officer, and defense-industry professional currently working with Genesis Arms, a manufacturer known for its 12-gauge AR-platform firearms. Following his military service, Cohen continued his career in public service in law enforcement, where daily responsibility, accountability, and decision-making under pressure reinforced the same mission-focused mindset developed in the Marines.He later transitioned into the firearms industry, bringing with him real-world operational experience from both military and policing environments. In his role, he works directly with customers, dealers, and industry partners, helping explain equipment purpose, proper application, and practical performance expectations. His perspective is shaped by having relied on gear professionally, giving him a grounded approach to reliability, ergonomics, and usability rather than purely theoretical specifications.Cohen also serves as a bridge between manufacturers and end users — translating feedback from professionals and civilians into clearer communication and meaningful product understanding. His background across service, enforcement, and industry places strong emphasis on safety, responsibility, and equipment that performs when it truly matters.Driven by a service-oriented mindset, he focuses on practical function over hype, ensuring the tools he represents are understood in the context they were designed for.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/Cody Cohen Links:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cody_cohen_actual/?hl=enLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-cohen-562849342/