There’s something so different about how Mook tells stories and talks about the past. His way of cross referencing the present with the past, and the vigor and spark with which he tells his story makes you feel like the story happened just last month rather than 60 years ago. What a unique soul. Not gonna give a Hooah, but I can give you an OORAH sir!
These were great words for me to hear from General James Mukoyama at just the right time. I do believe the Lord puts people in our lives when we need it. I might even have to get his book, and maybe another bookcase...thanks to Jocko haha. Respect and best wishes to you all!
02:08 🙏 General Mukoyama recounts a moment in Vietnam where he stopped amidst battle to pray for the enemy soldiers, reflecting on treating them as fellow human beings despite the chaos of war. 02:35 📚 "Faith, Family, and Flag: Memoirs of an Unlikely American Samurai Crusader" is General Mukoyama's book, reflecting on his life from humble beginnings in Chicago to his military service in Vietnam and Korea. 03:03 🎖 General Mukoyama's remarkable military career spans over 30 years, including service in Korea and Vietnam, where he commanded a company and was influenced by Colonel David Hackworth, earning awards like the Silver Star and Purple Heart. 04:37 🤝 General Mukoyama expresses gratitude for Jocko writing the foreword to his book, emphasizing the importance of leadership and validation from esteemed figures like Colonel Hackworth. 05:47 🏠 Mukoyama's upbringing in Chicago's diverse immigrant neighborhood shaped his worldview, instilling values of community, hard work, and respect for various ethnic backgrounds. 20:28 💡 Despite modest means, General Mukoyama's family emphasized the value of hard work and instilled essential cultural values, notably the Japanese concept of "on" or debt for acts of kindness. 26:47 🌍 General Mukoyama appreciates both his Japanese heritage and the opportunities provided by America, urging pride in one's ethnic roots while dedicating efforts to the betterment of the United States. 27:41 🌟 James Mukoyama discusses the influence of significant people in his life, including mentors in the Army and his wife, highlighting what he calls "God things." 28:21 🤝 Mukoyama reflects on the improbable nature of his relationship with his Korean wife, citing it as an example of divine intervention or "God things." 30:17 📚 His plans to become a chaplain merged his love for the military with his faith, but a denomination merger led to a conflict of beliefs, altering his intended career path. 36:23 🎖 Mukoyama faced hurdles to achieve a regular army commission, needing waivers for height and medical reasons, illustrating his determination to join the military. 38:27 🌱 He espouses a philosophy of embracing life's challenges as opportunities for growth, paralleling this approach with his faith in handling life's adversities. 39:18 ⚔ Mukoyama discusses the spiritual aspect of his faith, highlighting the concept of spiritual warfare and the importance of clinging to values and faith in challenging times. 41:52 🌏 Reflecting on his military leadership, Mukoyama emphasizes cautious decision-making and prioritizing soldier safety during operations. 46:03 ⚡ Jocko Willink shares his approach of not designating missions as "last operations" to avoid a jinx and maintain focus on the task at hand. 47:37 🤝 The discussion delves into the challenges of reintegrating soldiers after individual replacements rather than unit rotations post-war. 51:38 💫 Mukoyama's assignment to Korea instead of Vietnam, which he anticipated, reflects his belief in divine guidance, leading to unexpected opportunities in his military career. 52:29 🏥 Witnessing the efforts of young medics during sapper attacks in Vietnam was a profound experience, highlighting their incredible bravery and life-saving skills. 55:13 🚁 Helicopter pilots in Vietnam were incredibly courageous, flying missions despite the constant threat of danger, and the loss of helicopters was a common occurrence. 57:57 🤝 Establishing the Chang Peri community assistance fund in Korea aimed to support impoverished communities near the DMZ, providing aid to schools, hospitals, and local infrastructure. 59:03 🇰🇷 A commitment to respecting local cultures and communities while abroad shaped Mukoyama's approach to international interactions and social service. 01:07:00 ⚖ Mukoyama observed a disconnect between some Army leaders' focus on personal careers over unit welfare, impacting his trust in the leadership structure. 01:09:26 💔 Personal connections and losses in Vietnam, like the death of his roommate Don, provided insight into the emotional toll and impact of the war on soldiers. 01:10:51 ⏱ Punctuality and discipline were valued traits; Mukoyama's encounter with Colonel Hackworth emphasized the importance of timeliness and mutual respect. 01:14:44 🤝 Problem-solving approaches and caring for troops were hallmarks of Colonel Hackworth's leadership style, emphasizing flexibility and troop welfare in resolving issues. 01:17:01 🛠 Recruit challenges a sergeant's actions in training, sparking a controversy resolved by higher-ups and teaching moments. 01:20:15 🎄 An incident before Christmas involving a recruit's complaint was resolved through Colonel Hackworth's intervention, allowing the recruit to avoid missing Christmas with their family. 01:23:25 🪖 Nicknaming units and individuals within the military, as done by Colonel Hackworth, fostered a unique sense of unity and pride among troops. 01:25:57 🤝 Bonding with close friends during difficult times in the military, like reconnecting with a former roommate in Vietnam, provided crucial support. 01:28:04 ⚔ Differentiating guerrilla warfare in the Mekong Delta from conventional combat, emphasizing the dedication and challenges faced in battling guerrillas during Vietnam. 01:32:37 🔍 Highlighting the respect and caution held for the enemy, sharing a personal story to underscore the importance of not underestimating one's adversary in combat. 01:35:14 🚩 Standing up for the operational fairness of his company, advocating for fair rotation among companies during periods of rest. 01:36:13 📸 Discovering a significant photo from his time in Vietnam years later, depicting a wounded soldier being evacuated and highlighting the intensity of combat. 01:41:35 🤝 Reflecting on the deep camaraderie among soldiers, symbolized by a soldier's gesture of gifting a saved newspaper from 50 years ago. 01:41:48 💜 Colonel Hackworth's selfless act during a firefight, ordering the extraction of wounded soldiers, exemplified leadership by setting a fearless and selfless example. 01:42:59 🏅 Hackworth's impact in transforming a struggling battalion into an efficient fighting force reflected his leadership and turnaround capabilities. 01:45:29 🛩 Mukoyama's decision to continue serving in Vietnam, seeking further engagement under Hackworth's leadership, showcased dedication and commitment. 01:46:38 💔 Witnessing a fatal attack and the moral dilemma faced by Mukoyama highlighted the concept of moral injury, a less-discussed consequence of combat. 01:50:09 🏠 Efforts by Military Outreach USA focused on aiding homeless veterans through housing programs and addressing moral injuries, emphasizing community support and spiritual healing. 01:55:21 📚 The book "They Don't Receive Purple Hearts" by Military Outreach USA sheds light on moral injuries, citing historical and contemporary contexts and focusing on healing through community, forgiveness, and grace.
This is an awesome reference and should be done for every podcast and put in the notes of the video!! Someone let Jocko and Echo know about this. I would love to be able to go back to podcasts and be able to reference certain time points. Genius idea sir.
02:03:56 💬 Mukoyama's life mission centers on serving and helping others, inspired by his faith and exemplified through his work with veterans and moral injury awareness. 02:06:22 🏡 Mukoyama reflects on his reintegration experiences post-combat, recognizing the abnormality of his life's stability and navigating challenges like anger management through martial arts and faith. 02:09:38 🥋 General Mukoyama found martial arts instrumental in mastering self-discipline and controlling his temper. 02:12:35 🇻🇳 Returning from Vietnam, soldiers faced harsh societal rejection, including being spit on and called names, leading to lasting wounds. 02:15:05 🤬 General Mukoyama's perspective on Jane Fonda evolved from hatred to forgiveness, emphasizing the importance of letting go of bitterness for personal healing. 02:18:09 ⛪ General Mukoyama's church supported him during and after Vietnam, treating him as a hero, providing a smoother reintegration than many other veterans experienced. 02:26:28 📜 Mukoyama Family Code: A set of values created for his children, aiming to instill principles of gratitude, honesty, good manners, and personal responsibility. 02:32:34 🎓 General Mukoyama pursued a teaching degree as a backup profession alongside his military career, acknowledging the importance of having a fallback plan. 02:34:35 🌟 General James "Mook" Mukoyama commanded at every level from company to division in the Army Reserves, crediting his success to great non-commissioned officers and mentors who challenged him. 02:35:18 💂♂ Rising through the ranks, Mukoyama became the youngest general in the Army at 42, the youngest major general at 45, and the first Asian-American to command a division in the US Army. 02:36:34 🔥 Mukoyama faced a pivotal moment when a political decision decimated Army Reserve Aviation and Special Forces units, leading him to stand up for his soldiers' readiness, testifying before Congress despite risking his career. 02:39:08 💬 Mukoyama's unwavering testimony highlighted the haphazard political decision-making that jeopardized troops' lives and readiness, echoing Colonel Hackworth's courage in defending what's right. 02:41:02 🤔 Reflecting on career setbacks, Mukoyama found solace and a change in direction by embracing new opportunities post-retirement, including volunteering in hospice care with his wife, KJ. 02:43:19 ⚕ Mukoyama's hospice volunteering experience revealed how faith played a significant role in how people handle the dying process, emphasizing the importance of support for both patients and caregivers. 02:55:07 🇺🇸 Ensuring accurate representation, Mukoyama opposed omitting non-Japanese American officers' names from a memorial, highlighting the importance of honoring all soldiers regardless of ancestry. 03:00:13 🛐 General Mukoyama dedicated 20 years to instructing at the chapel, impacting recruits' lives beyond their naval careers, prioritizing their foundational growth. 03:01:23 🏛 Attendance at the chapel averaged 20 to 50 recruits despite its capacity for 1200, later increasing significantly after a schedule shift to Friday nights. 03:03:29 📽 Military Outreach USA's collaborations with Crosswinds Foundation produced DVDs on PTSD and moral injury, aimed at educating and supporting veterans. 03:07:09 🖥 Crosswinds Foundation offers the DVDs for streaming, advocating for veterans' support and access to resources without charge. 03:08:32 🌟 Mukoyama's optimism stems from choosing not to dwell on disadvantages but to focus on opportunities, emphasizing personal responsibility and gratitude. 03:11:46 🌈 Highlighting individuals like Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Eger showcases the power of choosing a positive outlook despite harrowing circumstances. 03:14:16 💼 Military Outreach USA expanded with a program preventing veteran suicides, employing one-on-one peer support, successfully diverting potentially tragic situations. 03:21:29 🌍 General Mukoyama's perspective on the progress of society emphasizes equal opportunity and positive societal changes he's witnessed, fostering a hopeful attitude. 03:26:01 🤔 Acceptance vs. Action: Balancing "it is what it is" with taking initiative to change things is crucial in life, knowing what you can and can't control. 03:27:08 🔄 Control Awareness: Understanding what's within your control helps focus energy on actionable changes, distinguishing what can be influenced and what can't. 03:28:03 🦐 Food & Supplements: Discussion shifts from acceptance to humor about dietary needs, mentioning products like joof fuel and their availability. 03:29:37 💪 Joof Fuel Marketing: Exploring various outlets for joof fuel products, emphasizing fitness-related spaces as potential retail locations. 03:30:04 🥋 Origin USA Apparel: Highlights American-made clothing, particularly the functionality and variety of hoodies, jeans, and their versatility. 03:32:31 🤸♂ Delta 68 Jeans: Discusses the unique features and flexibility of Delta 68 jeans, illustrating their suitability for various activities, including deep squats. 03:33:24 🏀 Vertical Jump: Delves into vertical jump training, touching upon personal experiences and the impact of training on one's ability to jump higher. 03:38:04 📚 Books & Merchandise: Promotion of multiple products, including Jocko's books, apparel from Joo Store, emphasizing the importance of origin and quality. 03:39:10 🧭 Leadership & Support: Encouragement to engage with leadership resources, live events, and support for military-related charities and organizations. 03:40:47 🌐 Online Presence: Inviting engagement on social media, cautioning about algorithms, and adding humor to the discussion about technology and control.
The modesty with which Mook talks about his achievements (and there are a lot to be proud about), and understanding of the meeting point of cultural, historical, religious and social forces with the wisdom of manoeuvring between them makes this story truly inspiring...and enjoyable to listen to. Thankyou Jacko for inviting us to listen to your conversation.
fantastic guest, as a (brit) vet myself who has struggled and been brushed off several times with PTSD (which I know I don't have) it was really refreshing to here about 'moral injuries'.
Like he said, how can you not be optimistic when you've seen God move throughout your life. " That's another God thing..." and "another God thing..." God Bless this humble man and his family. Thank you guys 🥰
General Mukoyama is one of the finest Americans to have lived in this era. A beacon for Asian Americans to be proud of and look up to. And yet the man himself, so humble.
Book is on the way, wow, such a strong man what to say... too many tears of anguish, happiness. I never cried during a podcast before an inspirational event.
Jocko I have gained a new respect for you because of the message you always have from beginning to end of each episode. Could you please try to get a podcast with Nicholas Irving? This would be legendary.
2:44:43 When Gen. Mukoyana mentions Col. Young Oak Kim, what he doesn't mention is that Col Kim started as a 2LT with the 100th Bn, after initially facing discrimination and racism from his men, became the most decorated officer of that unit. According to the men of the 100th/442nd he served with, including Medal of Honor recipient Sen. Daniel Inouye, became the officer respected above all others. Here's Sen. Inouye MOH on Col. Kim: “... there was one name that always commanded attention and respect: Captain Kim’s. He was a bona fide hero of the 100th Infantry Battalion. When I got to meet him after I entered combat, my respect and admiration of him grew because he was such a fearless leader who, through his deeds, inspired his men.” That guy's got an incredible story and not enough is known about him. First minority officer to command a regular battalion (read: white officers, because they accepted his leadership) in combat. Every Asian-American officer should know it and it bothers me that I as an 11A only found out about him years after I left the service.
2:15:41 1st of all any Jocko x Vietnam podcast is a must watch for me and this one is as good as the others! I remember Mook’s episode when I went back and found/watched allll the Vietnam pods back to back 😅 2nd: on the point of Jane Fonda and treason (which I have heard before), as much as I feel for Mook and the soldiers who fought in Vietnam, technically it wasn’t a fully declared war so is it truly treason? According to ChatGPT: “According to the web search results, America did not officially declare war on Vietnam. Instead, it relied on a congressional resolution that authorized the president to use military force in Southeast Asia. This resolution, known as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, was passed in August 1964, after an alleged attack by North Vietnamese forces on U.S. naval vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin. The resolution gave President Lyndon B. Johnson broad authority to increase U.S. military presence in Vietnam, without a formal declaration of war” Fun fact(?): I believe America hasn’t officially declared war SINCE ww2… and yet still find ways to get into it. ✌️
Two Who Survived is the book Jocko makes reference to. The story about Rose and Max Schindler’s time in the nazi concentration camps. A great story. I’m sure its on Jocko’s reading list.
The only comment I will refute from this man (and Hackworth) is the fabled AK reliability in mud. They're good rifles, but they actually preformed worse in the mud compared to the M16. The M16 had reliability problems, but were worked out within a few months. How long they took to make it into the field is a different matter, but these corrections made it a better weapon reliability wise then the AK in the mud. If you disagree there's an excellent case study on Inrangetv done with multiple different AK's and AR's. AR's pass every time with flying colors, AK's have troubles every time.
@@xprettylightsx imagine being a navy seal Best of the best! Then you literally see war crimes woman and children unarmed! Jocko is very very weak person inside he has no value, he acts like it of Course to make that dollar
