"Generations in the Balance" an Evening with Military Ministry, a Division of Campus Crusade for Christ

Major General Bob Dees (US Army Retired), Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, and Lieutenant General Jeff Oster (USMC Retired)

What an incredible evening in Dallas, Texas, Thursday 4/23/2009. I was honored to attend a company of heroes at a banquet of supporters for Military Ministry, an organization on the front lines of helping our veterans at war and at home. Military Ministry is a divison of Campus Crusade for Christ and offers a variety of resources to help veterans in their service to our country. Major General Bob Dees, Executive Director, and his board of business and military professionals were on hand to welcome many of the attendees who had come to Dallas from all over the country.

The night showcased our veterans who serve our country selflessly to include former combat veterans who are dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a Gold Star mom who shared her story and testimony, to prominent community leaders, other military and business benefactors. Norm Miller, CEO and Founder of Interstate Battery, a long time supporter, issued a check for $250,000 and offered to match that amount again within the next 120 days. Mr. Gene Birdwell, business owner and volunteer head of a PTSD organization donated $50,000 on behalf of his organization. Our friends Rick and Julie Fairchild were also in attendance.

LtCol Oliver North with company of U.S. Marines

Combat Marine and Author Donovan Campbell

Donovan Campbell is a Marine's Marine, serving three combat tours in the deadliest parts of Iraq and leading his platoon who suffered over 50% casualties, the highest rate since the Viet Nam war. He and his well-trained fighting force held their sector and he writes about their experience in his book "Joker One."

Former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Gene Overstreet

SgtMaj Overstreet was my Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps when I served in the U.S. Marines. What an honor to meet the man in person. He was the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps during Desert Storm/Desert Shield and has an impressive service to his country and to his Marines. There is only one enlisted rank of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps at a time, reserved for the best of the best among the enlisted ranks.

A Photo op with my hero LtCol Oliver North, USMC Retired

Finally, to culminate the evening, an opportunity to meet my hero and great American who prefers to be on the front lines in a company of heroes. LtCol North is an amazing man and continues to serve his country as a combat correspondent, news commentator, host of "War Stories" (airing on Fox News), and author of many books, most recently - "American Heroes."

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Final Salute and the 4th of July

I will be completing the final chapters of "Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives" today. I received this book from Trish Forant, founder of eMailOurMilitary.com (a website resource that makes it easy to e-mail and serve those on the front lines of battle). She was assisting Freelance Journalist Becky of "Deep Muck Big Rake", via blog promotion raising awareness for the stories written by Pulitzer Prize winner journalist Jim Sheeler of the Rocky Mountain News.

This book serves as a reminder of our American journey. It provides a snapshot of war and freedom's cost, more recently the Iraq and Global War on Terror. The reader goes on a somber mission with those responsible for notifiying next of kin and the families who have lost loved ones in battle, in war. We meet each family, get to know them, and the son, husband, and father who chose to serve our country and died carrying out that duty.

We follow Major Beck of the U.S. Marines from the dreaded knock on the door in the late night, to the final resting place, and the hurt that families endure afterwards. Major Beck has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that each of his families and other's receive the "Final Salute" and ongoing support these families need and deserve. His attention to detail in every family request knows no bounds.

Few in America are close to war and for over 200 years, America continues to sacrifice for the sake our own nation and other's around the world (history proves that other countries and governments benefit from our success). Over 1.5 million service women and men have given their lives for the sake of independence.

For me, this book brought back the honor, respect, and solemnity that we should come to celebrate in appreciation of our hard won freedom. These chapters, these lives will make you cry. In fact, it made me remember Lance Corporal Timothy McMahaon, USMC and the 241 other servicemen who were killed in the Beirut, Lebanon barracks bombing of 1983. Tim was a friend of mine and inspired my life's focus. This book made me remember him and his family and identify with the families I read about.

The 4th of July is a celebration of freedom (it is not a time of sadness), a celebration of the modern day miracle that we call America. Freedom is not guaranteed, we have a chance to renew each day, each year, each decade, and hopefully another 100 years. To all our military serving in harms way, we salute you on 4th of July and rejoice in the American military and the American story. Take time today to look at an American flag blowing in the wind and render a salute and hopefully it will never be final. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

Semper Fi!

Andy Valadez
USMC 88 to 92

p.s. My family and I are heading to the world's largest land-based fireworks display in Houston, Texas this evening to celebrate the 4th of July - Independence Day.

Final Salute: Soldiers and Marines in Iraq

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To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Oohrah! Marines!

Just wanted to take this time to celebrate the Marines, my brothers. Found this cool YouTube video tribute. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

10/16/07 The Booming Economy in Houston

Wow! It has been a busy month in the media. Went on air with Kevin Price (pictured left), Show Host for Houston Business Hour (radio program) and "Movers and Shakers" (TV and Web Segment), along with Ken Marsh (on my right), President of Fearless Networking, and Marck Krasney (far right), of Phonoscope Legal Services. We had a chance to talk about the great economy, being very contrarian to what everyone else sees and hears in the "old media" (the ones who always have bad news to report and are losing viewers and listeners as a result). Get caught up in The VORTEX! See the clip here: Great Economy

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The Warrior Marketer

Politics, war, and marketing share similar comparisons - a battle for the mind. The stakes are high. I am finishing "On Combat," written by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, what an amazing man of our time. He trains our military and law enforcement elite and advises martial artists and others on the preparation for the "Universal Phobia of Interpersonal Aggression." This fear stems back from our time in the wild, where man had to be on alert for an attack by animal or foe. In a civilized society, the fear is always present and globally, interpersonal conflict is rising. He says the "military now looks like the police and the police looks like the military." He cites, we are relatively safe in America despite the displays on the nightly news. Most aggression is repeated by the same group of people, they are the wolves in our society.

The book depicts what happens before, during and after combat in order to create a "bullet proof mind" for society's protector warrior class. According to Lt. Col. Grossman, for the sake of simplicity, there are three types of classes - the sheep, the sheep dog, and the wolf. The sheep dog lives to protect the sheep and will give his life protecting them. The sheep are uneasy with the sheep dog, because he looks like the wolf. Never the less, the sheep need the sheep dog. The sheep dog also lives to confront the wolf.

Psychographics plays a crital role in marketing (i.e., fear, greed, safety, etc.). Marketers recognize that human beings are attracted to brands that solve these deep seeded needs. As an avid reader on military history, politics, and martial arts, I can see the many comparisons in marketing. For example, Marlboro cigarettes were once a low-selling, female brand many decades ago. When marketers began to position this cigarette with the cowboy on the open range ("The Marlboro Man" was born), cigarette sales sky-rocketed and human behavior was changed. Now, I am not anti-tobacco, I love a great cigar. I also believe that as long as the product is not illegal, people should have their right to smoke - the price of having a free society and the right to make wrong choices. However, being a realist, one has to look at the destruction that cigarette smoking has left. Marketing is as powerful as war. I don't know the death toll caused from inhaling the 4,000 dangerous chemicals, but we all know it is high. I do believe that education plays a vital role until the law is changed or people decide they don't want to smoke.

As a marketer and warrior ( I served in the Marines from 88 to 92 and still continue to hone my warrior skills), there are many things I won't market. For the purposes of this blog, it is good enough that the reader know that marketing is a weapon, use it wisely. Get caught up in The Vortex!

Semper Fi!

Andy Valadez

p.s. The photo above was taken on the range with a group of guys from my church. We had a blast (pardon the pun). One of the young men, an Eagle Scout, got to fire-off 40 rounds from my Ruger mini-14. He later joined the Marines and joined an elite force within the Corps.

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