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Mike Drop

From Force Recon to the Medal of Honor: Major Capers on Vietnam's Bloodiest Missions | Ep. 295 | Pt. 2

Mike Drop

Mike Ritland

Politics, Society & Culture, News, Personal Journals

4.96.5K Ratings

🗓️ 11 June 2026

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Major James Capers ran 50 missions in Vietnam as a Force Recon Marine — combat swims in shark-infested waters, a POW rescue that earned him his first Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and a four-day battle that left him wounded with his legs broken and his dog dead. He was one of the few African Americans in Force Recon, and fought his way into Combat Swimmer school when the commanding officer tried to send him home before he even started. He spent three months at Khe Sanh facing a Chinese division, and when the helicopter finally came in on his bloodiest mission, he put every man on board and stayed on the ground alone. President Trump called him personally to invite him to the White House to receive the Medal of Honor. In this episode, Major Capers walks through the missions and what it cost him to bring everybody home. Support Major James Capers https://www.instagram.com/major_james_capers_jr/ https://www.capersthedoc.com/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Major-James-Capers-Jr-100040737672030/ https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/holt-oral-history-program/james-capers-jr-major ---------- SPONSORS PARTICLE FOR MENCheck out Particle’s Face Cream here: https://particleformen.co/mikedrop and use my code MIKEDROP for a 20% discount sitewide AMERICAN FINANCING NMLS #182334 nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-891-3262 for details about credit, costs and terms. Visit https://AmericanFinancing.net/MikeDrop. Average savings based on borrowers who save over $199.99 BETTER HELP Sign up and get 10% off at https://www.betterhelp.com/mikedrop/ BEAM Here’s the deal: Beam is giving my listeners the ultimate patriot discount of UP TO 40% off. Try their best‑selling Dream Powder and get UP TO 40% off for a limited time. Go to https://shopbeam.com/products/dream-powder-4?variant=41387075567671&selling_plan=1794441271&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sponsorship&utm_campaign=mikedrop&code=applied15&discount=MIKEDROP and use code MIKEDROP at checkout. NAVY SEALS FITNESS APP | HYBRID STRENGTH & CONDITIONING TRAINING Train like a SEAL with Mike Ritland's App. Build real-world strength, endurance and resilience. https://www.coachos-app.com/navy-seals TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS Be Your Dog’s Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog’s health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise. https://www.teamdog.shop TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike’s bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. https://www.teamdog.pet SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog https://shop.mikeritland.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The internet is coaching our kids.

0:05.0

When boys hear that on repeat, it shapes how they see themselves.

0:08.0

We can't leave it to those voices.

0:10.0

We have to be louder.

0:12.0

Together with EEE, we need to coach them, guide them, back them.

0:15.0

Building our boys up every chance we get.

0:18.0

Be yourself. Back your mates.

0:20.0

Confidence comes from a vin.

0:21.2

Yes.

0:21.7

As proud partner of the England team's EEE has support and guidance to help build all our

0:26.4

boys up on and off the pitch.

0:28.3

Search E.E. Yes, boys.

0:30.5

Can you talk about the journey into recon from being in the Marines to actually starting recon and con,

0:40.7

how you went through that?

0:42.2

Oh, yeah, I was an infantryman at first, during 1956,

0:47.0

and then my first three years, I was a grunt.

0:53.5

Then after my first three years was all up, I went to see Dottie Capras, and I told her,

1:02.1

I said, you know, my time is up.

1:05.9

I was a Marine, and I could come home or maybe I couldn't read this.

1:13.5

She's just, well, what will you do?

1:14.5

Why will you go?

1:16.0

I said, wait, I'd never been to California.

...

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