BROTHERHOOD BEYOND BROTHERS 2/23/17

Tune in to tonight's show at 8pm Est. Call in and ask questions at 646-716-8075 BROTHERHOOD BEYOND BROTHERS IS HONORED TO PRESENT: KAROLYN SMITH AND DEREK CLOUTIER https://www.facebook.com/WarfighterRadioNetwork/ Derek Cloutier served as a rifleman in the Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006, after returning home and battling with PTSD and navigating the VA systems he was suggested cannabis as an alternative to pills. Now President and Co-Founder of New England Veterans Alliance which is advocating and assisting veterans needing help getting off harmful pharmaceuticals and onto a healthier lifestyle with more natural options through cannabis, outdoor activities, social events, and/or cultivation therapy. Karolyn Smith is a native San Diegian who was once a Pro/Am Velodrome Athlete, having competed in the US Olympic Trails for her sport in 1992. After 9/11, Karolyn would give up her athletic career and at the tender age of 29, enlist in the US Army as a Military Police Officer. Karolyn would find herself deployed to Iraq in one of the most difficult Brigade sectors in the NW area of Baghdad. Karolyn would be considered unique as she took up the position of Crew Serve machine gunner as her unit, the 127th Military Police Company, would find themselves engaged daily with Improvised Explosive devices, Mortar attacks and small arms fire and eventually lose their Leader in their truck to Sniper Fire on September 7, 2004. On April 15, 2005, one last IED would be Karolyn’s parting gift from her deployment, unknown that the largest IED would cause injuries only known once she got back to her base in Germany. Fast forward 10 years and being failed by the horrors of the VA system, and addicted to VA supplied opioids, Karolyn would receive a lifesaving procedure in 2014- with the graciousness of Operation MEND/ UCLA, Karolyn received an L4/L5s1 Biomorphagenic Anterior Lumbar fusion; that means that her lower spine is currently platted and fuse.