Combat Story (Ep 53): David Parke | Ranger | Paramilitary Contractor | ODNI National Intel Medal for Valor

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Today we hear the Combat Story of David Parke, a former Army Ranger and Sniper Team Leader, Navy diver, and Paramilitary Contractor, who spent almost 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan post-9/11.  
[Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Loansteady LLC. A small-by-design lender, Loansteady believes in bringing a much-needed dose of humanity to the mortgage process. They are waiving all lender fees for Veterans in 2021. Visit http://www.loansteady.com/combatstory to request a rate quote or start an application. Loansteady LLC, All rights reserved, NMLS# 1701910, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), Equal Housing Lender. For more licensing information, please visit https://www.loansteady.com/licenses-and-legal.]
During his time down range as a contractor, he earned the ODNI's National Intelligence Medal for Valor, which the ODNI describes as being given "in connection with an Intel Community mission to national security" and awarded on a "highly selective and rare basis."  
David now co-hosts The Team House, which livestreams interviews with special operators, intel professionals, and more. I'm a big fan of the Team House and you can check out our Combat Story interview with David's co-host Jack Murphy (Episode 13 https://youtu.be/ScqnGbPSfhY).  
David has written two books and appeared in several TV shows as an actor. I hope you enjoy this Combat Story with another battle-tested fighter as much as I did.  
Find David Online:

Instagram @d.parke https://www.instagram.com/d.parke/
LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveparke11b/
The Team House Podcast

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Show Notes:

0:00 - Intro
0:41 - A word from our Sponsor (LoanSteady)
2:09 - Guest introduction (David Parke)
3:02 - Interview begins
3:27 - Getting attacked on a NYC subway in 2020
13:30 - David as a kid, his natural curiosity, and life before the military
18:08 - Why the Marines?
21:04 - From Marines to Navy Diver
26:59 - Going through Army boot camp at 27 years old
34:46 - His transition into linguist role
43:06 - Being in DLI training when 9/11 happened
46:49 - Fear of Missing the War
51:18 - What interrogations  at Guantanamo were actually like
59:32 - Early mission sets in Afghanistan
1:11:23- Combat Story #1 - An unexpected (and funny) outcome in Iraq
1:15:43 - Combat Story #2 - the mission where David earned the ODNI National Intelligence Medal for Valor
1:27:54 - Combat Story #3 – The lighter side and things you can't help but laugh at
1:28:58 – Team House origin story
1:44:54 - What did you carry into combat?
1:46:02 - Would you do it all again?
1:47:27 - Listener comments and shout outs