Straight Outta Combat Radio-Honoring Combat Wisdom
Society & Culture:Personal Journals
Simon Kirby was born in East London, England. He was the son of restaurateurs. At the age of 15, Simon left school and at 16, joined the the British Army as a light-infantryman in the Royal Green Jackets Regiment. His first combat tour came in 1979 in Tyrone County, Northern Ireland. His unit was tasked with intercepting IRA patrols crossing the border, conducted with long-range and chopper-borne patrols. After that initial tour, and over the course of the next two years, Simon was stationed in Germany and also completed the US Army's Air Assault School at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. At the age of 19, he attended the British Army's NCO Cadre School where he was awarded the regimental batten, given to the top student. At that time, Simon was the youngest person in regimental history to earn such an award.
Simon's second combat tour came at the age of 20. In 1981, he deployed to West Belfast during the height of the troubles there. That deployment proved costly for Simon's unit. He lost three of his close friends in an enemy ambush. It was not long after that he would return to the civilian world, leaving the army after serving his Country for five years.
Simon eventually made it to the United States (a dream that he had during a break from his Ft. Campbell training while visiting Florida). Currently, Simon owns a very successful holistic-natural-food restaurant, Simon's Coffeehouse, in Sarasota, Florida. He is the father of two children, enjoys cooking, meditation, yoga and sailing the Caribbean (when time permits).
SOCR036- Carl Higbie- "An American Patriot on Freedom, Liberty & Responsibility"
SOCR035- Bob Dvorchak- "Bedouin Bob On America & Combat"
SOCR034- David W. Peters- "With God...To Hell and Back"
SOCR033- Scott "Jacko" Jackman- "FREEDOM & Whiskey's Wish"
SOCR032- Major Lisa Belcastro Bass- "Task Force SASA-In Her Boots Program"
SOCR031- Pete Turner- "Building Trust in Hostility"
SOC030- Kat Kaelin- "Sisters-in-Arms"
SOC029- Adam C. Martin- "Southern Rockin' in The Free World"
SOC028- Michael T. Flynn (Lt. Gen. US ARMY, Retired)- "Family & Service"
SOC027- Dan Dwyer- "Humble Leaders"
SOC026- Aaron Barnes- US Army- "Phoenix Rises"
SOC025- Chris Schafer- "Sights & Smells"
SOC24- Ryan Persaud- "Darkness & Light of Transition"
SOC23- Otis McGregor- "Faithful Command & Friends"
SOC22- Jason Johns- "Humor & Horror"
SOC21- Erik Casarez- "Duty & Marriage"
SOC20- Simon Harmer- "Kindred Brother-in-Arms"
SOC19-David Reid Brown- "Spirit Soundings"
SOC18- Stephen Lee- "Freedom & Harley"
SOC17- John Wilcher- "Recovery & Redemption"
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