Veterans Day Special 🇺🇸
Today, Coach Rob sits down with Rand Timmerman, a Vietnam veteran, retired Marine JAG officer, attorney, and author of A Spiritual Passage. This is one of the most powerful and honest conversations to ever hit the Battle Harder Podcast.
Rand opens up about combat in Vietnam, the trauma of coming home, and the long battle with alcoholism and PTSD that followed. He also shares his comeback story — finding faith, helping others through AA, and hiking 1,863 miles of the Appalachian Trail in his seventies.
This episode is about more than war. It’s about resilience, brotherhood, and finding purpose after the uniform.
In this conversation:
Combat stories and surviving the unimaginable
How Vietnam vets were treated when they came home
Nightmares, rage, and the turning point toward sobriety
The power of faith and service to others
Why fitness and purpose keep you alive
Hiking the Appalachian Trail at 72 years old
Living a life of service and helping other men find hope
🎧 Available on: battleharder.com | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
📘 A Spiritual Passage by Rand Timmerman — available on Amazon
#veteransday #BattleHarderPodcast #TurningPainIntoProgress #WarriorMindset #VeteranStrong
⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Battle Harder Intro
01:10 – Introducing Vietnam Veteran Rand Timmerman
03:20 – Enlisting in 1966 and heading to Vietnam
05:00 – Becoming a Mustang Officer and Marine JAG
07:15 – The chaos of combat and surviving under fire
10:45 – Coming home: stigma, rage, and a first-class surprise
13:30 – The mental aftermath and early signs of trauma
16:20 – Nightmares, flashbacks, and alcohol as escape
21:10 – Why veterans chase adrenaline after war
24:30 – Breaking point: the night that changed everything
27:00 – Finding sobriety and faith
31:00 – Hiking 1,863 miles of the Appalachian Trail at 72
34:15 – Lessons from the trail and brotherhood
37:30 – How service to others keeps you grounded
40:00 – Why veterans lose their identity after service
43:45 – Rebuilding discipline and health
48:00 – The role of gratitude and purpose in healing
52:10 – Writing A Spiritual Passage and helping others heal
56:20 – Why connection matters as we age
59:00 – Advice for men struggling with addiction or trauma
1:03:30 – Definition of “Turning Pain Into Progress”
1:05:15 – Final thoughts and gratitude
