'You’re My Heroes’: Uncle Si Honors Veterans

Summary

---

Duck Call Room – “You’re My Heroes”: Uncle Si Honors Veterans

Hosts: Si Robertson, Justin Martin, Willie Robertson, Phil Robertson, John David Owen, John Godwin, Jay Stone, Phillip McMillan, Jacob Mayo
Guests: Blake Cook, Nicole
Date: November 11, 2025

---

Episode Overview

This special Veterans Day episode of “Duck Call Room” celebrates and honors America’s veterans. With multiple veterans—including Uncle Si, Blake Cook, and his wife Nicole—in the room, the conversation centers on the sacrifices of service members and their families, the unique struggles veterans face upon returning home, especially regarding mental health, and the vital importance of community and faith in the healing process. The episode is heartfelt, candid, and laced with the trademark warmth and humor of the Duck Commander crew, balancing heavy truths with camaraderie and practical advice.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Opening Banter & Holiday Talk (00:00-20:45)

• Ren Faire & Custom Netflix (00:15-05:00)

  • Hunter Nicknerd shares stories of attending a Ren Faire in pirate costume.

  • Martin discusses Hunter’s custom-built movie streaming server—a “new age Blockbuster.”

  • Laughter about storing old DVDs and Christmas light vibes in Hunter’s apartment.

    “Hunter’s like a little new age Blockbuster just hanging out over there, trying to be a little walking around Red Box, baby.”
    — Martin, (03:30)

• Seasonal Change & Duck Hunting (03:54-06:10)

  • The crew chats about the cold front, the arrival of ducks, and getting ready for hunting season.
  • Reference to the ease of buying duck stamps online.

• Holiday Foods & Cooking Mishaps (06:10-16:45)

  • Lively conversation about Thanksgiving preparations, favorite foods (turkey, dressing, fun-size Snickers, Bucky’s chocolate pecans), and friendly debates on chili thickness and ingredients.

  • Martin recounts a failed cornbread flip, sparking laughter.

    “I thought I had it perfect and the bottom just said got too hot.”
    — Martin, (11:56)

---

Veterans Day Tribute – Honoring Service & Sacrifice (20:45-55:55)

The Hidden Cost: Families Serve Too (21:03-23:16)

• Phil and Uncle Si stress the sacrifices of military families:

  • The toll on spouses and children when a loved one deploys.
  • The unseen burdens families carry, which civilians often don’t realize.

  “Thank you for your service, because when dad is deployed…you’re in, too. Most people don’t realize that if they don’t know someone in the military.”
  — Phil Robertson, (21:15)

Brotherhood, Trauma, and Coming Home (23:17-35:42)

• Shared Trauma and Brotherhood:

  • The deep, familial bond between service members, especially those who’ve seen combat.
  • Uncle Si shares a story about his grandfather, a WWII vet, and the long-lasting impact of service.

  “They had company commanders that was 21 years old ordering men through their death.”
  — Uncle Si, (27:00)

• Coming Home to No Support:

  • Historical perspective on how WWII, Vietnam, and Korean veterans were (or were not) welcomed home.
  • The lack of therapy and support, especially for Vietnam and Korean vets—sometimes facing open hostility.

  “You get deployed to Vietnam…you come home, and people are spitting on you. The disrespect…the abuse that Vietnam veterans took.”
  — Uncle Si, (29:29)

Living with Trauma: The Veteran Experience (32:13-41:12)

• Life After Combat:

  • Blake and Nicole’s honest testimony about how war changes you, and the ripples it sends through families.
  • Nicole describes the traumatic transformation of a returning spouse.

  “They left one person and came back a totally different person…You just don’t see that person you married again.”—Nicole, (35:00)

• Suicide, Mental Health, and Finding Help:

  • Stories about PTSD, struggling to adapt, and the challenge of seeking help.
  • Emphasis on the necessity for veterans to look out for each other—and the importance of faith and specialized programs.

  “It's hard to ask for help…but there are programs out there. The Mighty Oaks Foundation…their success rate is far beyond any other program.”
  — Uncle Si, (37:41)

  “If you’re struggling mentally…you’ve got to put the bottle down and pick up the Bible. When you’re drinking you’re running from something. When you pick the Bible up, you’re running to something.”
  — Blake Cook, (39:31)

Faith, Healing, and Sharing Stories (41:12-55:55)

• The Power of Faith and Testimony:

  • Phil recounts speaking to troops about hope—referencing Jeremiah 29:11.
  • Multiple reminders: there’s hope, don’t harm yourself.

  “You have no idea the plans I have for you—not to harm you, but to bless you and give you hope and a future.”
  — Phil Robertson quoting Jeremiah 29:11, (40:58)

• Duck Dynasty’s Unexpected Impact:

  • Blake shares how watching Duck Dynasty “kept him alive” during his darkest times, providing comfort and reminding him of hope and faith.

  “Duck Dynasty and you guys…like, we talk about veteran suicide—y’all kept me alive. Y’all don’t even know it…It wasn’t that y’all talked about Jesus. It was Jesus poured out of y’all.”
  — Blake Cook, (44:34)

• Encouragement & Final Pleas to Veterans:

  • All speakers urge veterans to reach out, not give up, find community, and embrace faith.
  • Uncle Si and Phil point listeners to the Mighty Oaks Foundation.
  • Nicole shares a simple, powerful strategy: “If today sucks, just wait one more day.” (55:40)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Military Families:
  “Thank you for serving with him. Because he’s in, you’re in too.”
  — Phil Robertson, (21:15)

• On the legacy of WWII veterans:
  “There’ll never be another generation because they gave…they crossed an ocean for people they had never met.”
  — Uncle Si, (25:46)

• On “changing” after deployment:
  “I was this innocent kid from the country…I came back home and I’ve been different ever since.”
  — Blake Cook, (32:40)

• On Duck Dynasty’s impact:
  “Y’all kept me alive. Y’all don’t even know it…It wasn’t that y’all talked about Jesus. It was Jesus poured out of y’all when you spoke.”
  — Blake Cook, (44:34)

• On hope and purpose for hurting veterans:
  “Please, take my advice. Get help from another veteran or your friends. Please do not harm yourself. God has a plan and a purpose for you.”
  — Phil Robertson, (54:46)

• On waiting out the pain:
  “Today sucks, just wait one more day.”
  — Nicole, (55:40)

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00-04:00 – Opening banter, Ren Faire stories, Hunter’s home movie server
• 04:00-10:00 – Duck season talk, holiday food and getting ready for Thanksgiving
• 10:00-20:45 – Cooking mishaps, food traditions, transitions into Veterans Day discussion
• 21:03-23:16 – Recognizing military families’ sacrifices
• 23:17-29:29 – Stories of service, coming home, and being misunderstood
• 29:30-35:42 – The special trauma of Vietnam vets, shifts in public perception
• 35:43-41:12 – Struggles of returning to family, PTSD, importance of seeking help
• 41:13-55:55 – Messages of faith, testimonies, impact of Duck Dynasty, encouragement to reach out
• 55:55-end – Final advice: faith, hope, waiting, thanks, and sign-off

---

Tone & Takeaways

The mood is an engaging blend of nostalgic, light-hearted banter and deep, emotional vulnerability. The crew skillfully navigates the challenges and triumphs of veterans with characteristic humor, empathy, and grounded Christian faith. Listeners are left with practical encouragements for those struggling—especially veterans—and a genuine gratitude for service past and present.

---

Recommended Resources Mentioned

• Mighty Oaks Foundation – Veteran-focused PTSD recovery organization
• Celebrate Recovery – Faith-based recovery program

---

Final Thoughts

This episode resonates as both a tribute and a call to action. It honors not only those who serve but the families who serve alongside, and it issues a compassionate challenge: veterans, you are not alone, you are loved, and your story isn’t finished. Seek help, find brotherhood, and know there is always hope.

---

“You can’t have a testimony without being put through a test.”
— Blake Cook, (46:43)

---

Transcript

[Martin]

Foreign. Because I got a lot of stories this weekend.

[Phil Robertson]

Nothing. He got stories. Boys.

[Willie Robertson]

Hey, if you want to go with.

[Martin]

Hunter offered me his personal Netflix, which is not like giving me his password. He's built one.

[Willie Robertson]

Wait, you did what?

[Martin]

Yeah. Let's go.

[Willie Robertson]

All right. Welcome back to the duck call room.

[Martin]

It's a wild thing.

[Willie Robertson]

We're going to talk about real life pirates. No. Why you dressed up like a pirate for the Ren Fair.

[Martin]

We're bringing Hunter in because you're.

[Willie Robertson]

Because your people love. Scott was a virtual pirate, not a real one.

[Phil Robertson]

Was you Blackbeard?

[Willie Robertson]

No.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

No, sir, I was not black.

[Phil Robertson]

He won Blackbeard.

[Willie Robertson]

I didn't jump into the picture.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

I went. I went to a Ren Faire in Houma over the weekend with my sister and my aunt and uncle and cousins.

[Willie Robertson]

A ran fair. Yeah.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

And it was Pirate Day.

[Willie Robertson]

Palma, Louisiana.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

Homo. No, I stayed in Houma. It was in Hammond. My mistake.

[Nicole]

Hammond.

[Martin]

His uncle lives at home.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, Hammond is a little closer to the city.

[Martin]

I keep wanting to type in Scott when I go to your Instagram.

[Willie Robertson]

No, it's Hunter. Nick Nerd at Hunter Nicknerd.

[Martin]

Go follow him.

[Willie Robertson]

You should just be at Nick Nerd. I don't really know.

[Martin]

Oh, he didn't post it.

[Phil Robertson]

What?

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, it was in a story. No, he. Go ahead, send it to you.

[Martin]

I'll send it home.

[Willie Robertson]

Hunter dressed as a pirate. But Hunter's got his own Netflix.

[Lisa]

Okay.

[Martin]

So, you know, we've been going through some things as though. And family and Hunter, in an effort to cheer me up, which is a great offer because he told me about some movie and I went to watch it, and I couldn't find it anywhere. And I. You know, I don't have a spare $4, so I didn't want to rent it.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, you didn't want to go. He didn't.

[Martin]

That guy. So Hunter text. He's like, hey, man, you want to watch that movie? I have a database of movies I've been building. And I was like. And it didn't make any sense to me. I was like, you download? He goes, not bottom all. I'm just host them here. And he sends me a picture of this giant, like, server. And I said, what is this? And Hunter's like, basically, I made my own Netflix.

[Willie Robertson]

Really?

[Martin]

He. And he's laughing.

[Willie Robertson]

What kind of interface? How do you get.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

So this will probably be too nerdy for the audiences. So I'll sum it up real, real, real fast. There. You can buy a player, rip the movies that you own, and. And then you can Host it on this app called Plex, which basically acts as a personal Netflix.

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, okay.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

So I have built a server to house all these movies that I have burned from my own collection and a couple friends. Movies from their collection, nothing illegal. And I wanted to share some of.

[Martin]

Them with John David, and it was super awesome. I haven't had a chance to watch a movie yet because life's.

[Willie Robertson]

Hey, I'm all in. As long as all y' all purchased.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

And there's a share function where you can like, share it with your friends.

[Martin]

Look, hold on. Check this out. Martin. My man's just got a whole computer in his house that hosts his own Netflix. How many movies do you own, Hunter?

[Hunter Nicknerd]

About 500.

[Willie Robertson]

Better yet.

[Martin]

That's a much better system though, because I have two big blue tubs in my. In my. What's it called? Garage. Just full of old DVDs I bought in college.

[Willie Robertson]

What are the. Are the Christmas lights just a vibe? Yeah.

[Martin]

I've got to go to Hunter's apartment.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

One day because there's a vibe going.

[Martin]

On because I feel like it's full of costumes and Christmas light vibes.

[Nicole]

Hunter the pirate.

[Willie Robertson]

Look at Hunter. And that's your twin sister. Yeah.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

She doesn't look very Ren fairy, but, you know, neither do I.

[Martin]

You look like you're having a good time.

[Hunter Nicknerd]

I had a great time.

[Martin]

You are so interesting. Ah, anyways, that's what I've been thinking about. Hunter's like a little new age blockbuster just hanging out over there, trying to be a little.

[Willie Robertson]

Little walking around red box, baby.

[Martin]

Oh, Scott.

[Willie Robertson]

What you got? So did you watch the movie?

[Martin]

No, I haven't had a chance. Life's been wild.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Martin]

It'S almost that time of year where it's dark at 4:30. So what else are you gonna do?

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, this is the. This is a tough time of year.

[Martin]

Why is it this cold this morning?

[Phil Robertson]

Why is it this cold?

[Martin]

It was 80 degrees two days ago.

[Phil Robertson]

Because cold front come through.

[Martin]

But why. Why does that have to.

[Phil Robertson]

That's what's supposed to happen.

[Nicole]

That bring all the ducks to us.

[Phil Robertson]

Bring the ducks down.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Martin]

Are there ducks?

[Willie Robertson]

There's a few.

[Phil Robertson]

Yep. They're down.

[Willie Robertson]

He's.

[Martin]

He's got a wily grin on his face.

[Nicole]

That's a hopeful.

[Willie Robertson]

We got a few Ballards. We got a few. We got a few foul.

[Phil Robertson]

That's good.

[Willie Robertson]

Wait and see that video at another time.

[Martin]

Well, you know what's even better than being able to host all your own movies?

[Phil Robertson]

What?

[Martin]

Being able to get your duck stamp [e-mail] now, that's true.

[Phil Robertson]

That's.

[Martin]

It's just it actually probably easier than whatever Hunter's doing.

[Willie Robertson]

Now that's very true. Yes. No duck stamp dot com. The digital duck stamp. Your life is so easy. Don't lose it. Don't have to worry about signing it. Don't. None of that. It's all good.

[Martin]

All I know is I'm ready for Thanksgiving.

[Willie Robertson]

Nothing. Nothing. Warm me up like a Christmas tree cake.

[Martin]

I've put on my. I've actually. I stepped on a scale this morning. I said I'm putting on my hibernating weight.

[Willie Robertson]

Well, you need to.

[Martin]

I don't want to.

[Willie Robertson]

Well, but what I'm saying is, is January 1st, then it becomes a lot easier. It's true. It's easier to drop the holiday pounds.

[Martin]

I mean, the problem is I put them on and the holidays aren't here and. But I'm very excited for them.

[Willie Robertson]

I mean, Halloween did just end. And I think I've come to a realization that I'm a much bigger fan of fun sized candy than I am the regular size. Like, I don't want a whole Snickers. But you know what? I love a fun size Snicker, baby.

[Martin]

You know, it's a couple of little bites and you know it's better.

[Willie Robertson]

You're done with it.

[Martin]

You know it's better than a fun size Snicker.

[Phil Robertson]

What? Like.

[Martin]

Like three fun sized Snickers. Oh, yeah, because you can fit the whole thing in your mouth.

[Willie Robertson]

Well, now you're just back to.

[Nicole]

And you know what's better than that? Going to Bucky's and getting the pecans that are dipped in milk chocolate.

[Willie Robertson]

Them chocolate covered pecans? Sure.

[Nicole]

Oh, my goodness.

[Willie Robertson]

I couldn't find them. Goblin spotted them after we left.

[Nicole]

Yeah, but.

[Willie Robertson]

And then told us. But we said it bought him after you leave. Well, he told us because I walked all over the whole deal and I couldn't find them.

[Nicole]

And I was looking for them too.

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, I was eating some chocolate covered almond. God was like, is that the pecans? I was like, no, I couldn't find them. He said, well, they were right there.

[Nicole]

Yeah, they were out there.

[Willie Robertson]

I mean, that was his answer. But they were right there. I was like, right where? I looked on the whole wall of nuts and I could not find them.

[Martin]

If I live close to a Bucky's, I would try and do an entire Thanksgiving meal off of Bucky's. You could do dessert. You got the turkey.

[Willie Robertson]

But Phil ran back in because we spent an hour at Bucky's and got us a bag of potatoes.

[Martin]

What's wise? What's another 30 minutes? I mean, you worked on your duck and dressing yet?

[Willie Robertson]

Nope. Is it.

[Phil Robertson]

We're there. I hadn't killed any ducks yet.

[Willie Robertson]

Hashtag sage.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah.

[Martin]

Do you have all the sage from all the grocery stores?

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, no, I got sage.

[Willie Robertson]

That's good. I may film Sigh.

[Martin]

I'm sad doing what cook is dressing.

[Willie Robertson]

Hey, you should let him cook for me. All right.

[Uncle Si]

Here.

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, we could have a dressing battle. Now, I ain't taking you on because I really like yours.

[Martin]

He said bring it.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, his is good.

[Martin]

Unfazed.

[Willie Robertson]

His is good.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, I need to get well did it for the missed it boys some meal. And he.

[Nicole]

Was it that bad?

[Phil Robertson]

It wasn't that bad, but he didn't. He didn't, you know.

[Martin]

See, that's tough, I'm afraid, because I'm doing the turkey this year, because my uncle Joe always did the turkey. And if somebody looks at me and goes, you missed it, I will probably cry.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Martin]

I've done it with him before. But I mean, I. I'm an amateur.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, it's just one of them things that if somebody does something for years and is really good at it.

[Willie Robertson]

Really the only way you don't try.

[Phil Robertson]

To pick it up and in one setting.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah. And all the way you can screw up a fried turkey is if you burn it. Really?

[Nicole]

But yeah, don't burn it.

[Willie Robertson]

But burning it, I mean, it's this extra crispy, which means more skin, which I'm not mad at. Like, you don't want medium rare turkey. I'll say. And make sure we get the middle to 165 and that life is good.

[Martin]

It is cool, though, because I used to fight with my granddaddy over the turkey skin. And now I fight with Carter over the turkey skin.

[Willie Robertson]

Zoo, baby.

[Phil Robertson]

We're just turkey skin down.

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, man.

[Nicole]

The dressing is what I'm looking forward to. I mean, the turkey too, but the dressing.

[Martin]

I'm just a turkey man. Yeah, I don't need that. Weird.

[Willie Robertson]

No, I like the dressing.

[Martin]

I like cranberry gelatinous.

[Nicole]

No, give me the cranberry and the can. Just plop it out.

[Willie Robertson]

That's what. Are you the kind that likes to still see the ripples on the. Oh, yeah.

[Nicole]

Oh, yeah. That's good.

[Phil Robertson]

I make. When I make dressing, I make four, about 12 by 14 casserole dishes, four of them full.

[Uncle Si]

Hmm.

[Phil Robertson]

And I. Me and my wife eat all. Oh, yeah, I ate probably 3/4 now.

[Willie Robertson]

Do You.

[Nicole]

What about the cranberry sauce? You like to eat that?

[Phil Robertson]

I like that on site.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, I was.

[Phil Robertson]

I like the berries.

[Nicole]

Yeah, I like the berries.

[Willie Robertson]

You know what? I like ham.

[Nicole]

Now. The ham is delicious.

[Willie Robertson]

I'd like to go fishing. Well, go fishing. I think I will. You know what you can do from the comfort of your own boat? What's that? Buy a duck stamp. Ain't that something right there? It is that simple.

[Martin]

You're sitting out on your boat, you're fishing, waiting on duck season. You see a mallard fly by, you think it's duck season.

[Willie Robertson]

I need to get that duck stamp.

[Martin]

That's your phone, duck stamp.com. and you.

[Willie Robertson]

I'm so glad they did that. Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Look, in November is when it really starts getting good cold fronts, big flocks, full blinds, a big moon outside so you know that the ducks are migrating. So you better get your duck stamp now. Opening day was just the warm up. The real hunters show up now and they've all got their stamp. You're already putting in the time and money. Don't skip the part that makes it all possible. It is that simple. Look, whether you have service or not, it was download right into the wallet of your phone. You open your wallet, you get your duck stamp. It's that simple. They'll send you one after the first of the year. So don't worry about having a paper stamp. You don't have to worry about losing it, it getting wet all the thing. It's the best $25 you can spend when it comes to duck hunting. And even if you aren't a duck hunter, It's a good $25 to spend too. Because you love the land, right? You love nature, you love birds, butterflies, bumblebees, they all use the same places. Look, you know the drill. Duck stamp dot com, slash, it takes two minutes. That's duck stamp dot com slash. Let's get it done.

[Martin]

I did save a recipe I saw on Instagram the other night on some caramel apple glazed ham.

[Willie Robertson]

And interesting.

[Martin]

They did. They literally, you know that little caramel apple dip, they put half of that in the glaze.

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, really?

[Martin]

And I was like, you know, I don't have a smoker right now, but I might have to go get one just to try this.

[Phil Robertson]

You can use the one. I've got the glaze, I think on it. And then this all, all sliced up.

[Willie Robertson]

What's that? The ham?

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, the whole thing.

[Martin]

Spiral ham.

[Phil Robertson]

Start cutting you on this.

[Willie Robertson]

I don't even take a knife. I just take my fingers and start pulling.

[Martin]

I did fail with a pig this weekend, though.

[Phil Robertson]

Then after you get most of the meat off of it, then you throw the whole bo in a pot of beans. It's all beans.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah. Let the horn sucker. Let the horns play for Christmas.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, my goodness.

[Martin]

I made some chili and I had to do Ms. K's and get.

[Phil Robertson]

Then get Lisa to make some Mexican.

[Martin]

So I. I've. I've prided myself style being able to make this Mexican cornbread. And I do it a little different because the Robertsons do it all thin and I just make it like a cake and it's thick. And I had it perfect. I put it on Instagram and I was going to flip it over and people were going to be impressed with me.

[Phil Robertson]

And then I fell apart.

[Martin]

I flipped it over s. And it fell apart. Some of the bacon stuck right there at the top.

[Nicole]

Nope.

[Willie Robertson]

You know what?

[Phil Robertson]

That's why you.

[Willie Robertson]

The first thing I'm going after is what is stuck on that screen.

[Phil Robertson]

No, no. I was fix say because that's why you take a spatula metal.

[Willie Robertson]

There you go.

[Phil Robertson]

Right. Slide it around the whole thing. And it won't do that.

[Martin]

The bottom just. I thought I had it perfect and the bottom just said got too hot.

[Willie Robertson]

Boy, what I would give to just take a fork and peel that off.

[Martin]

There's still some in my house in the fridge.

[Phil Robertson]

Hey, how many?

[Willie Robertson]

No, I just want what's in that skillet.

[Phil Robertson]

I'll take the.

[Martin]

Hand me that.

[Phil Robertson]

How many of that? Let me get it. Yeah, let all.

[Uncle Si]

I love.

[Willie Robertson]

I love that part of food. That's. That's a strange looking hot dog, but.

[Nicole]

I'm eyeing it too.

[Martin]

I didn't. I didn't work very hard on the hot dog. Those were for the kids. I made Willie's chili and Lisa's Mexican cornbread.

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, okay. So chili dogs. Okay. I was like, why did we have a hot dog? I forget. Kids don't really appreciate a bowl of chili.

[Martin]

They don't appreciate jalapenos in the Mexican.

[Phil Robertson]

I got a question.

[Martin]

I got to deal with it.

[Phil Robertson]

Why do everybody make their chili so thick?

[Willie Robertson]

Well, you want it thin. Yeah, that's the way my grandma made it was. And that's the way I make it. It's pretty thin.

[Phil Robertson]

Bunch of crackers.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah. Saltine crackers.

[Nicole]

Yeah, I'm the same way s. Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

That'S the way I don't put beans in mine either.

[Phil Robertson]

I brought my chili down there to fill one.

[Martin]

I stand my beans and chili.

[Phil Robertson]

Phil, the pot started. He said, what in the crap is this? And I said, chili.

[Willie Robertson]

Well, there's different.

[Phil Robertson]

That's water. And I don't.

[Willie Robertson]

There's different types of chili. Right? Like, to me, there's, like, what you just made. Awesome. On some Fritos like that. That's good strength. Frito pie chili.

[Phil Robertson]

Right? Just fix a whole pot of that.

[Nicole]

Did he taste it?

[Phil Robertson]

Huh? No, he just. He just done like that with a spoon. He said, nope, too thin. Too thin. I said, hey, I like to put crackers on mine, son.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

I said, I don't want it like it's a. A salsa.

[Martin]

Mine's thick.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Martin]

I even tried to thin mine up a little this time, and it still came out real thick, but, you know, still good.

[Willie Robertson]

Did you make Lucky Charms chili? Was there, like, steak off in the middle of that, too? Yeah.

[Martin]

But I'm gonna be honest, y'.

[Phil Robertson]

All.

[Martin]

I ain't got Willie Robertson money and that. That. The Lucky Charms chili has. Mine had to change up a little bit.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Martin]

I started looking at the price of steak, and I was like, I don't think I can do that.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, I know I fixed. I see. That's one of the. That's one of the things that's worth it, though, if you can afford it. You're like, buy five or six filet mignons and then just cut them up little chunks.

[Willie Robertson]

Lucky Charm shield.

[Martin]

I've done it many times.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, no.

[Martin]

But then I saw this.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh.

[Martin]

I saw the price tag on filet mignons, and I saw the price tag on beef tips, and I said, I'll try this.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. Yeah. Try the beef tip.

[Willie Robertson]

Let me hold that sirloin.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

How's he doing?

[Martin]

Good. It was still good?

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah. Oh, it's all good. I mean, you smother it down in water, chili powder, onions, bell pepper. All the. All the.

[Phil Robertson]

Most people don't put enough. All of that in there.

[Willie Robertson]

What's that? The onions and bell peppers.

[Phil Robertson]

All that? Yeah. I like. I double that on my recipes.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah. I slide off a whole fresh jalapeno in there, too.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, no, let it cook down. Yeah.

[Nicole]

It's a little hot, and it is chilly weather.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, I love them. Them jalapeno.

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, today is gumbo. I wish I had the time to make that poppish.

[Phil Robertson]

What's it called?

[Nicole]

Oh, poppers.

[Willie Robertson]

In your poppers. Yeah. Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, I could eat you thinking a whole bunch of them, but you can't.

[Willie Robertson]

Wrong answer, buddy boy.

[Phil Robertson]

I ate four, and I was stuffed.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Martin]

Four Is a whole bunch of them. Yeah, Most people.

[Phil Robertson]

But I said. I tried the fourth one. I said, I can't eat them all.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

I said, there's some left. And I can't even go.

[Martin]

I hurt myself Saturday night, though.

[Nicole]

What did you eat?

[Martin]

That cornbread.

[Phil Robertson]

That chili.

[Martin]

And that's. And I went back for seconds and I ate probably five pieces of cornbread. I haven't.

[Phil Robertson]

I'm.

[Martin]

I'm struggling.

[Willie Robertson]

You'll be all right. That's right. Yeah.

[Lisa]

You.

[Willie Robertson]

You own a rock.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, You.

[Willie Robertson]

You messed up and stepped on. You did. You stepped on them scales just to see what kind of work you had done. That wasn't. That wasn't a check. Progress. Let me see.

[Martin]

Then I went to the bathroom, weighed myself again, Was two pounds lighter.

[Willie Robertson]

So that's what I'm talking about. And if you need to get the rest of it out, holler at your boy Johnny tonight and get you a greasy pizza. And you'll. You won't hold on to none of it. You'll just.

[Martin]

I ain't doing no pizza.

[Willie Robertson]

And you good.

[Martin]

You just might have a salad or something. I got to. I got to reset the innards.

[Willie Robertson]

Hey, you want to reset your innards? I hollered mom. She got you fresh. Big batch of turnip greens, buddy. You will.

[Martin]

You will. I'm not a. I'm not.

[Willie Robertson]

You will get rid of some mischievous bowel if you got any left, son.

[Nicole]

I'm out on collard greens.

[Willie Robertson]

Oh, turn them. Turn them green. Turn.

[Martin]

Very different. You just don't like green mustard greens. He's that.

[Willie Robertson]

I'm a mustard one. Tastes like mustard.

[Martin]

You don't like mustard.

[Willie Robertson]

It's just a weird combination to eat something green that tastes like mustard.

[Nicole]

I thought you loved mustard.

[Willie Robertson]

I know. I use mustard as an egg wash. I don't eat it. That's why I got it.

[Martin]

That's why I had 472 packets.

[Willie Robertson]

And I love a corn dog.

[Nicole]

Sue me with mustard on it.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, no.

[Willie Robertson]

If A and E would have left the package turned over, you'd have seen a Sonic logo on the front of it. Because I love a corn dog. So deal with it. But you know, they got to pay for that advertising.

[Martin]

But I like Sonic the now. There is a time in a man's life where he's young and his refrigerator only has condiments in it.

[Willie Robertson]

Especially for a guy that don't eat the condiments. But they give it to you. He's too cheap to throw them away. Insert me.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah.

[Martin]

Yours just got aired on national tv.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, that's fine. No problem.

[Martin]

Me and Drew needed a roommate in college one time, and we thought about putting an ad out, and it was going to start with, do you like condiments?

[Willie Robertson]

You like.

[Martin]

Because it's all that's in our fridge.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah. Yeah. At that age. Yeah, there's condiments and a thing of bacon soda to keep the stank out. Keep the stank out.

[Martin]

We weren't even smart enough to do that.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, we do have a fun one coming for y'.

[Phil Robertson]

All.

[Willie Robertson]

In honor of Veterans Day, which is today. Thank you, veterans, for your service. We have our friends. We have three vet for three veterans. His wife a veteran. She was, too. She served as well. Okay. Yeah. I couldn't remember. So we got our friend Blake Cook and his wife Nicole, who both served. And we obviously have uncle Si and J. Stone coming to talk to you a little bit. In honoring our veterans in this Veterans Day, we want to take this time, before we jump over to that, to say thank you to all the veterans who give us the opportunity to sit right here and opine about nothing. Thank you to the families of the veterans who also are sacrificing right alongside our veterans while they are out there on the front lines. You are back home defending all those. So thank you. And look, there's been a lot of stuff in news, too, about mental health going on. We saw the young man for the Dallas Cowboys who, man, you think. You think you reach the pinnacle of what you do, right? You're a defensive guy, and you score a touchdown on Monday Night Football, and it still wasn't enough for that young man. So check on your people this holiday season, man, because holidays, while they can definitely be joyous and they should be joyous, they come with a lot of different hurts and. And scars and. And all those things. So, guys, like, we know a lot of men listen to this. Don't be too proud, man. Ask for help.

[Phil Robertson]

Ask for help.

[Willie Robertson]

Ask for help from your buddies. But most importantly, man, ask for help from Jesus, from God, from the holy Spirit, the author of help, the perfecter of help. We're going to turn it over to Blake, Nicole, Uncle Si and Jay Stone. So thank you all so much. Hope y' all have a happy Veterans Day and we'll see y' all next time right here in the duck call room.

[Lisa]

We're out.

[Martin]

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

[Willie Robertson]

The holidays are here, right? Like, this is when you. This is when you get to play all the weird holiday games, but it's also a Time that you can be brutally honest with somebody.

[Martin]

Send them a hint.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, you just give them a little hint like, yo, bro, you stink. So I got you some Mando.

[Martin]

Yeah, you can do it nicer. Like, hey, this is the best.

[Willie Robertson]

But that's what you're saying. Then they open it, they're like, oh, what's this? And well, it's whole body control for 72 hours. I use it and I love it. I think you'd love it too. You don't have to tell them that, man. Bro, you stink.

[Martin]

It's a gift for everyone.

[Willie Robertson]

It is a gift for everyone. And Mando is the real MVP of gifts because it controls both sweat and odor for 72 hours. The solid stick option is a familiar favorite. The spray is your go to for fast and easy application and the cream rubs in like a lotion for any hard to reach areas. Mando is available in four cologne quality scents. Bourbon Leather, Mount Fuji Pro Sport and Clover Woods. I love Mount Fuji, man. I've never been there, but I would if that's what it smells like. Mando starter pack is perfect for new customers or to secure some last minute stocking stuffers. It comes with a solid stick deodorant cream tube deodorant. Two free products are your choice like mini body wash and deodorant wipes and free shipping as a special offer for our listeners. New customers. Get 20 off sitewide with our exclusive code use code at shopmando.com for 20 off site wide plus free shipping. S-H-O-P-M-A-N-D O.com. please support our show and tell them we sent you. Mando's got you covered with deodorant plus sweat control. Say goodbye to sweat stains and hello to long lasting freshness. Don't let the meat sweats get you this holiday season. Your family and friends will thank you.

[Uncle Si]

Well, si, it's Veterans Day and we have a room full of veterans.

[Phil Robertson]

I'll tell you. Okay. I've already told him. We never get to tell. Y' all got any kids.

[Blake Cook]

We do.

[Phil Robertson]

Okay. We never get to tell mom and the kids. Okay. Thank you for your service because when dad is deployed. Okay. That affects you and the kid.

[Lisa]

It does.

[Phil Robertson]

So, you know, thank you for serving with that with him. Okay. Because he's in, you're in too. Okay. Most people don't realize that if they don't know someone that's involved in the military, they don't know what the spouse and the young ones go through.

[Blake Cook]

Oh, yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Okay.

[Blake Cook]

We were talking about this yesterday with somebody, I think with Zach. You know, when we deploy, we have a team. We have people that we deploy with. We have friends and brothers and all that. You know, if you think about it, we leave with our. With our brothers, our sisters.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. And it's a lot easier for you to leave with your comrades.

[Blake Cook]

Who do they really have?

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah. No, no.

[Lisa]

You know, it's the women at the house, taking care of the kids, going to the grocery store, raising the children, making sure everybody's at school on time, making sure everybody's bathed and most system.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

With me, my son actually went to visit his. His sister in Texas. And, you know, he hadn't talked to me or his mom. Well, he joined the army, and I had always told him, I said, no, you need to go to college to get you a degree. Okay. But he joined, and when he was in Iraq. Okay. My prayer to God every night was, please do not let anybody in uniform knock on my door.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Because there are so many people that have had that experience and been told that their son, their father, you know, your husband has been killed in action.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah. That's kind of cool.

[Phil Robertson]

That was a daily prayer I said every night.

[Blake Cook]

But it's probably something that you thought about every day.

[Phil Robertson]

I know. Yeah. You know, because, you know, most people, like I said, if they're not affiliated with someone that's in the military, they don't understand it. No, no, no. The man that serves or the woman that serves, because there's a lot of women that are married, they serve and leave the husband with the kids at home. So it's a big deal. Okay. And it's a rough life. Okay. Being without the one you chose to.

[Uncle Si]

Live your life with. There's just as much worry, stress, anxiety for the family that's left behind, probably more so than the soldier that's. Actually.

[Phil Robertson]

We've got each other in the unit.

[Uncle Si]

Oh. And I remember when I. When I signed up, when I found out I was going to Afghanistan, my grandfather was a World War II vet. He was on the second wave in Normandy, so he was in it. And I remember him telling me, he said, I served enough for all of you.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah, that.

[Uncle Si]

But I'm proud of you. Come back. So he never shaved his beard while I was deployed. And when I got back, he had that old beard down to here, and the next day, he had it shaved off.

[Phil Robertson]

Me and my fellow soldiers used to talk about this all the time. And then Phil knew I was in the army, and he never said anything well, when he went overseas preaching the gospel, and he went all the places that Paul went, well, he also went to Normandy. And he looked at both ways. He was up on the cliff where the Germans was, and then he went on the beach where the Americans landed. But when he come back, he said, I owe you apology, brother. And I said, what are you talking about? He said, I never told you that I appreciate you serving our nation. He said, since I've been over there and seen what they did on the beaches of Normandy, he said, it opened my eyes of what you guys actually do. And we used to. All me and my soldiers that I've served with, we used to talk about it. I always said, hey, I don't measure up to the guys that hit the Normandy pieces.

[Uncle Si]

There'll never be another generation because they gave.

[Phil Robertson]

And these were farmers, sons, okay, that joined up. Okay. My dad was in World War II. You know, they joined up and crossed an ocean for people they had never met. Yeah. Okay. That Hitler was abusing, yo. Yeah.

[Blake Cook]

I mean, that takes a lot to be that young and understand that.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, no, no. I was actually lucky enough that I was involved in a movie called Faith of Our Fathers, and it was about two kids that had lost their dad in Vietnam. And they actually brought me in the movie, really, just for comic relief. But they kept interviewing me, and they asked me questions. And I said, well, I said, how do I say this? And I said, let me make a statement before I do, because I don't want anybody to misunderstand. I said, when they sent me to Vietnam, and I said, and this was most of the people that went to Vietnam. We were kids.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

We was 18 to 21 years old.

[Blake Cook]

With no support when you got home.

[Phil Robertson]

And I said, and I'm not being disrespectful, especially to those that served. I said, because I've told y' all before, y' all are my heroes if you've served our nation. Okay? And that's mom and dad and kids, because, hey, it affects all of us. I said, we were kids. And they had company commanders that was 21 years old that were ordering men through their death. And people don't understand that because, like I said before, if you are not involved with a family member or somebody close and really know the ins and outs about Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Okay? All four of them, okay? They're a big family. Okay?

[Lisa]

The brotherhood.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, it's definitely a brotherhood. Okay. And those that have been in combat, okay. They're actually closer than blood kin, because here's what they've been doing, They've been covering each other's back, keeping each other alive out loud. So that creates a bond that will never be broken.

[Lisa]

And to be honest, back then, World War II, Vietnam, North Korean War, you guys, they would come home and there was no support system. There was no therapy available.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, it was better in World War II. But then, like, the cold wars, like Vietnam and Korea, okay? Because when the veterans from World War II and World War came home, they were given an honorary parade thanking them for what they've done, okay? Then the people have lost their minds, okay? And won. The other soldiers that come back from wars wasn't treated right, okay? And a lot of them, like I said, they were lucky, okay? Because it was in the news somewhere that somebody pulled a gun and started shooting and he messed up and shot at a veteran. Well, the veteran pulled his gun and killed him. And that's why I said, hey, when you're fooling with the vet, you don't know what you're fooling with.

[Uncle Si]

Well, you know. Sigh. It blows my mind that you get deployed to Vietnam, put your life on the line, go through all kinds of physical and mental. Just horrific things. You come home and then they had people spitting on them. Just the disrespect and the abuse that the Vietnam veterans in particular took. Those same people, those same people that were doing all that, they're the ones that spawned all this evil and depraved.

[Phil Robertson]

Junk that's going on right now.

[Uncle Si]

Going on right now. And it just keeps growing. Of course, you know, I think we might have hit a crossroads. We've seemed to be making some progress here lately. More patriotism. You know, young people these days are. Or seem to. Well, they're the light, so to speak.

[Phil Robertson]

All the services have met their goals ahead of time.

[Martin]

It's that time of year.

[Willie Robertson]

What time of year?

[Martin]

You're hunting, you're fishing.

[Phil Robertson]

You're just so busy.

[Martin]

I just wish there was an easier way to meal prep.

[Willie Robertson]

There is. It's called factor.

[Martin]

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

[Willie Robertson]

And you know that because we've been using it for years. Their meals are prepped by chefs and approved by dietitians so that you can stay on track no matter how hectic life is. But more, more importantly, they're delicious. And my favorite thing is it's two minutes or less, right? And you've got a great tasting, and it's chef inspired meal.

[Martin]

You know what they don't tell you? It's two minutes or less. To basically go through the app and order it for next week.

[Willie Robertson]

Too quick.

[Martin]

It's easy. That sun dried tomato chicken never gets old. If I see that one, boom. It's, it's, it's on its way.

[Willie Robertson]

The jalapeno lime chicken bowl and anything.

[Martin]

With a pork chop.

[Willie Robertson]

Anything with a pork chop. Plus now you can choose from a wider selection of weekly meal options including premium seafood choices like salmon and shrimp at no extra cost. And whatever your health goals are, there are factor meals to fit them. They have plenty of GLP1 friendly meals. And now the new Mediterranean diet options packed with protein and good for you fats. And for the first time you can try Asian inspired meals with bold Thai and Chinese influenced flavors. 97% of customers say that factor helped them live a healthier life. Take it from us. Look, you'll feel the difference no matter what your nutritional goals are and no matter how your routine is. Plus it's cheaper than you can go to a drive thru. Eat smart@Factor Meals.com Duck 50 off and use code Duck50OFF to get 50 off your first box. Plus you get free breakfast for one year. That's code [e-mail] for 50 off your first box plus free breakfast for one year. Get delicious ready to eat meals delivered with factor offer only valid for new factor customers with code and qualifying auto renewal subscription purchase.

[Blake Cook]

The last thing we need is to send more people off to war to come back. And now we gotta figure out how to fix these guys. Like, we haven't even fixed the ones that from Vietnam and, and from Afghanistan and Iraq. We haven't even fixed this problem yet. Like, and it's, it's hard, especially on the spouses. Like, yeah, like, like for me, I was 22 years old when I got sent off, right? I was this. He'll tell you. Like, I was this innocent kid.

[Lisa]

Oh my gosh.

[Blake Cook]

I'm from the country that was. I came back home and I was. I've been different ever since. And, and it's that brotherhood. And she was the one that had to pick me up.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Blake Cook]

And the world beat me down. And she's still carrying me, still picking.

[Lisa]

Me up every day almost 15 years later. It's almost in a way traumatic for both people in the marriage because, you know, the man or the woman that gets deployed or they experience what they do in another country and then it's traumatic for the spouse that they come home to because they left one person and came back a totally different person. They have almost like dead Eyes. You know, not very many responses to things that spouse say or do. Whether it's funny or it's sad or anything, a lot of things change. And so that spouse taking that in because they love that.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, no, no.

[Lisa]

You know, they learn to adapt emotionally and physically, and they have to learn how to read the room constantly.

[Phil Robertson]

That's why Billy Graham and his son, they've got a place up in Alaska that I really never thought about it. Okay. But those soldiers that got wounded in Vietnam didn't get a welcome home coming because they went from the battlefield to a hospital, and then they may have spent their eight months, two months, a year. So they never got it. So I actually got involved with that and actually got to welcome a bunch of vets home.

[Blake Cook]

That's awesome.

[Lisa]

That's awesome. Sigh.

[Phil Robertson]

And I'm bawling like a baby and I'm starting to tear up right now, okay. Because these guys get off. Okay. And women that served. Okay. And we are hugging each other and all of us are crying, okay? But she said it, okay? He left. My husband left me. Okay. But when he come back, I've gotta. I've gotta deal with a totally new person.

[Lisa]

And to be honest, I will never see that person that I married ever again.

[Phil Robertson]

No, you.

[Lisa]

You just don't.

[Phil Robertson]

No, no, no. Because here's the thing that you know this. After the day's coming up, I'm still beautiful.

[Lisa]

Yeah, you are. You're actually more than you are.

[Uncle Si]

Yeah, he got some. He got some pretty legs.

[Lisa]

I mean, he's just pretty.

[Phil Robertson]

From his sort of thing. But this is for Veter. And again, guys, I've told you this a million times. You are my heroes if you wore our nation's uniform and served. Okay? But most people don't understand what you go through. So look with them on kindness, because they're doing it out of ignorance.

[Lisa]

Yeah. And all they need is love.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Uncle Si]

Right?

[Lisa]

Like, you don't have to understand everything they have done or they did all the details of their job. True.

[Phil Robertson]

Because they're never going to tell you.

[Blake Cook]

No.

[Lisa]

No, they're not.

[Phil Robertson]

Okay. Because, hey, number one. Okay? The human being should not have to do what our veterans have had to do in wartime.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

And I'll give you an example to show you how harsh it is, okay? You've got people that are a military unit that is deployed in a war zone. They're brothers. It's the brotherhood, okay? They're serve. Okay. And they protect each other. Well, you're in war. And here comes a kid, okay? That's got a suicide vest on, and he's walking toward your brothers in arms. Well, you got two choices. You can let him walk up to your brothers and push the button on that suicide vest and kill some of your brothers, or you kill him. Well, hey, those that you've got kids, like I said, this is something that no one should have to do. But a choice has to be made here. Do you kill one person or let him kill 15?

[Uncle Si]

Yeah, you take him out. An impossible choice.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, you take him out.

[Uncle Si]

You know, a lot of.

[Phil Robertson]

Okay. And then you've got to live with that in your mind. You can see it every time you think about it. You can see it. Yeah, well, that affects you.

[Uncle Si]

Well, sure it does. I mean, and most men and women that serve, they're proud, and when they come back, they have issues. They don't want to admit it, and.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, it's hard to ask for help.

[Uncle Si]

That's right. It's hard to ask for help. But there are programs out there. One in particular I think is the best one for veterans with PTSD is the Mighty Oaks Foundation. Their success rate is far beyond any other program.

[Phil Robertson]

A lot of people don't believe that exists.

[Blake Cook]

Nominal. Phenomenal program.

[Phil Robertson]

I've actually. My son lived beside me after he got back from Iraq for a couple of years. He was a recruiter. I actually had to help his wife. He had an episode. I actually had to. We had to lift him out of the car because he mentally shut down. Because he met a guy that was homeless right here in West Monroe, and he talked to my buddy. Philip MacMillan was talking to him. How do I help him? Well, when he done that, it took him back to when he was shuffling prisoners back from the battlefield to where they was going to incarcerate them.

[Blake Cook]

And.

[Phil Robertson]

His mind shut down. Okay, so it's real. Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah. And look, a doctor out of college, he don't know what to do with a veteran that's gone through this kind of stuff.

[Lisa]

But just give him medication.

[Phil Robertson]

He has no. He has no clue what he went through.

[Blake Cook]

It's same with therapists, is I've been to a couple, and you're talking, and they're just writing things down, and they don't. They don't know what you've been through, so you automatically just start shutting down. And honestly, I think that's. You know, if any veteran is listening to this, struggling with the thought of suicide, like, understand that's not the answer, and understand that if you're drinking because of that.

[Uncle Si]

Right.

[Blake Cook]

You know, Some people can drink and it's fine, but if you're struggling mentally, you know, you got to put the bottle down and pick up the Bible. Because when you're drinking, you're running from something, and when you pick the Bible up, you're running to something. And you need Jesus.

[Phil Robertson]

We got the church that has got Celebrate Recovery. A guy that I know started that. Okay, Jesus is celebrating recovery. Okay. And I actually. The chaplain at Fort Polk called me and says, Mr. Robson, would you please come down and speak to our vets? We're losing too many due to suicide. I said, yeah, I'd be glad to. So I'm worried about speaking there. You know, what, am I going to tell them all this? So I went to church Wednesday night, Thursday morning, I got to speak to the troops, and we had an elder that told his story, his conversion story. Well, after he got through, I went up to him and I said, hey, do you mind if I tell you your story? Because I got to go to speak to your soldiers. He said, no, I don't mind. Well, look, that's where I told him. And I told him. After I spoke about 45 minutes, I said, hey, I'm about done. I'm going to wrap it up with a verse and the bible. Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11. This is the almighty God talking. You have no idea the plans I have for you. Not to harm you, but to bless you and give you hope and a future.

[Lisa]

Yeah, yeah. You just have to believe this is.

[Phil Robertson]

For Veterans Day for all those that served, especially our combat vets. Okay. Please don't harm yourself.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah. There's hope.

[Phil Robertson]

So, like, seek help. Yeah. I mean, go surround yourself. Find the veterans that live in your area. Okay. And go to them, and then they may help you. Go to someone that can help you. And like I said before, Jesus is Celebrate recovery. Yeah. Because if you go to the Lord, he'll help you through whatever you're going through.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

And you'll come out a winner on top.

[Martin]

Martin, you know what's cool?

[Willie Robertson]

What?

[Martin]

When you work with a company that also works with micro.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Martin]

I love his Pure Talk commercials because he's like, hey, they spend billions on ads. And Pure Talk just hired me with my cell phone, and guess what? They hired us, too, to tell y' all that they don't just talk to talk, they walk the walk, especially when it comes to supporting our veterans. This month, Pure Talk is supporting Canines for Warriors, which is an incredible organization that rescues and trains dogs, and then it pairs them with veterans struggling ptsd.

[Willie Robertson]

And who doesn't like rescuing dogs and.

[Martin]

Who doesn't like supporting veterans. These are the men and women who serve with honor. But when they come home, that brotherhood and that support network they had in the military too often disappears. Canines for warriors steps in to fill that gap, giving these heroes purpose, companionship, and healing. That's exactly why Pure Talk, a veteran led company, supports them. Choosing a wireless company has never been easier. And with talk, text and plenty of 5G data for just 25amonth, you could be supporting a worthy cause and saving yourself a lot of money. Pure Talk is just a win win for everybody. Pure Talk so good. Cy Robertson supports a cell phone company.

[Phil Robertson]

There you go.

[Martin]

We love them for their heart for veterans, America and freedom. And you should love them for saving you money. It's that easy. Go to PureTalk.com duck to make the switch today again, go to PureTalk.com and switch to America's wireless company, Pure Talk.

[Blake Cook]

When I came back from, from my deployment and I was in my therapy and started watching Duck Dynasty and, you know, and I was having some PTSD stuff, and that show kept me grounded. When I became a cop and I was in the gang unit, I was struggling with ptsd. And then being a cop, I got even more PTSD on top of what I already have, which I never fix. And then, you know, I was drinking. And then, you know, we would watch Doug Dynasty and it would evoke my curiosity back to Jesus, and it would ground me. And to think that, you know, years down the road, like, a lot of people who are close to me and I don't. I don't want to sound like. Because I'm here. Right. But Doug Dynasty and you guys and your family, like, we talk about veteran suicide, like, like, you know, y' all kept me alive. Like, she knows it and y' all don't. Y', all, y' all don't know it, but, you know, and it's crazy how Jesus works because, like, truly, honestly, like, I'm not just like a fan. Like, I'm like, I love y' all and I don't even know you, but, you know, y' all have had such an impact on my life from 22 years old.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Blake Cook]

As a. As a wounded vet to 36 years old, you know, when I. This is how great Jesus is, man. I know when I fully surrendered to him, I found myself months later.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Blake Cook]

Like, when I fully surrendered, not as a believer, when I fully. Because what happened with me is I was sitting in a vehicle and I put My head on the steering wheel, and I was going to kill myself. And I. And I put my head on the steering wheel, and I said, God, please don't send me to hell. Please don't send me to hell. I'm just in pain. And I went to grab my gun, and my phone rang, and I picked the phone up instead of the gun, and I fully surrendered to him at that moment. This is how crazy Jesus works. I'm sitting here at the Daggone freaking Duck Commander warehouse. The thing that, like, kept me alive, the hope, the Jesus, the. You know, it wasn't that y' all talked about Jesus. It was Jesus poured out of y' all when you spoke by your actions, your grace and prayers, and the knowledge that Phil Robinson just put out there. Like, man, like, I owe y' all so much that, you know, I can't even. It's not a fan thing. It's a thank you. Like, thank you, because y' all helped a veteran out that didn't even know it. And I was in such trouble. And when I fully surrendered to Jesus, I've met everybody. I just had a dag on conversation with Willie. Like, that's Jesus. That's Jesus.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, no, no, because you're saying just what? Okay. That is Jesus. Okay? That's why I actually give the challenge. Okay? Look, you guys are out there, and girls are my heroes. Please don't harm yourself.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Okay.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Jesus created you, and he's got a purpose. Okay. And a plan for you.

[Blake Cook]

I say it all the time.

[Uncle Si]

Yeah.

[Blake Cook]

You can't have a testimony without being put through a test.

[Lisa]

Yeah, well, that's.

[Phil Robertson]

That's what makes you who you are.

[Blake Cook]

Yes.

[Phil Robertson]

Okay. And look, I actually. This is just my thought. You know, I think the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as a special relationship with every veteran.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

I really do. Because, number one, what are you doing? Jesus left heaven to serve us.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Martin]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, hey, all our veterans are. That's what they're doing. They're serving our nation, for crying out loud. So, look, hey, all I got to tell you is, hey, if you're hurting, please go get help.

[Blake Cook]

Put the bottle down.

[Lisa]

Yeah. Drinking.

[Phil Robertson]

Drinking won't solve it, okay? Drugs won't solve it. Okay? You need someone to tell you. Okay, God loves you. Okay? All three of them. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. And then, hey, a lot of the people that know you love you.

[Willie Robertson]

Yeah.

[Blake Cook]

If you put the bottle down, you'll realize that. And quit allowing. Quit getting drunk and letting the devil think you that the reason why you're in this predicament is because. Because of God. No, no, my friend. God is not putting you there. God is actually walking with you in this hard time. You want to know what true love is? That temporary relief that you find in drunkness or being high? That temporary relief. That's temporary. You want to find permanent love, man, you go say, God, I'm yours. Yeah, I'm getting chills. You go say, jesus, I'm yours. That's love. You want to feel loved again? You go give your life to Jesus.

[Phil Robertson]

I just did. Okay. And I had to bracelet. I'm second. I did an interview with them.

[Blake Cook]

Oh, yeah?

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, yeah. Okay. So look, and that's what I told everybody. I said, you're looking at a 77 year old kid, okay? Trapped in a 77 year old body.

[Blake Cook]

Okay, We've seen that.

[Phil Robertson]

And I'm looking, I'm looking, okay? And I said, here's a, here's a news flash for you. Jesus has always been there.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

When I was in Vietnam, I'll use a movie line. Star Wars Dark. Vader says, told his son Luke, come over to the dark side. In my worst time, I was in Vietnam with the dark side. I was Jesus enemy. I was running with the devil.

[Lisa]

Yeah. And the devil never left.

[Phil Robertson]

And here's the thing. There's a painting, it's called Footprints in the Sand.

[Blake Cook]

Oh, I love that one.

[Phil Robertson]

Okay. And it's about a man that. He's ready to kill himself. And he said, lord, where were you when I needed you the most?

[Lisa]

He was carrying.

[Phil Robertson]

And he says, hey there, sir. He said, you're not. Them are not your footprints. He said, them are my footprints. And I've got you in my loving arms. I'm carrying you. Well, that's what I'm telling all our veterans that are hurting and need help. Don't listen to the devil. Drugs won't do it. Alcohol won't do it. You need help, okay? And look, you can confess it to another vet, especially if both of you went through combat, because, hey, he's got some of the same issues you've got.

[Uncle Si]

You know that drinking and drugs. That's just a band aid. That's not a permanent.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, it's a temporary.

[Uncle Si]

But I will say this. Every really bad thing that's happened to me in my life, there's always been something really good that came out of it.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, God can take the worst of the worst, okay? And make it the best of the best. You can take your weaknesses and turn it into and make it. You become strong.

[Lisa]

Actually, the other day, I texted my husband this. I wish you could find it in your cell phone. But the quote about anything that has been taken from you or that you have lost, whether it's a loved one or just anything painful that you've gone through, God will, if you follow him and you love him with your whole heart, he will give it back to you in multiple.

[Phil Robertson]

Job. Job is the perfect example.

[Blake Cook]

That's what she's referring to. Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Everything.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

He lost the riches. He lost all of his family.

[Lisa]

Came down with us.

[Phil Robertson]

After God got through with him, he had four times as much.

[Lisa]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

Okay. You know, you're not going to lose with the Almighty.

[Uncle Si]

No, no. You know what's cool about Blake? Blake's story? His. He went to therapy and all that, and therapy didn't work, but watching Uncle Sai worked.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah, I did, man. I'm telling you.

[Lisa]

Like listening to Phil and having God in his heart.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, no, no, because here's. Here's a. Here's a prime example, okay?

[Blake Cook]

Dynasty, really?

[Phil Robertson]

My brother. My brother just died two and a half months ago, 25th of May. Okay? And look, he was. He had a. A. His quality of life was gone.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

So every night I would pray for Phil and I would pray this father, his quantity of life is gone. He's ready to come home. Well, God answered that, okay? I miss him terribly. Okay? But here's the thing. You know, people asked me one time. I'm a mama's boy, you know? They said, what are you going to do when your mother dies? Well, if you had asked me a long time ago, I wouldn't be able to tell you. I said, but now I can tell you. I'm the last standing Robertson of James H. And Merritt Robertson's kid of the family. I'm the last man standing. Wow. Okay. And you know what I told everybody when they said, man, sorry to hear about Phil? I said, hey, don't be sorry. I know where he's at and I know he's happy, okay? And he's got. He ain't where he used to be with dementia and hurting back trouble, all this other garbage that comes with old age. Hey, he's home with Jesus Christ, the.

[Lisa]

Father and the Holy Spirit duck hunting in heaven.

[Uncle Si]

Well, yeah, I could feel.

[Phil Robertson]

Hello, Somebody. Somebody actually had a picture of that. Talking about Robinson makes it to heaven and 1 million Mallard Drake angry Alan Drake.

[Blake Cook]

I saw that. Yeah, it was a picture of him.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Blake Cook]

It was a hundred ducks that were coming to attack him. Dude, it was so funny.

[Phil Robertson]

No, No, I died.

[Uncle Si]

AI is kind of creepy. You know, every morning when I'm out on that hunting property, making the rounds, working, farming, whatever he's actually there with, I can.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, no, no, no.

[Uncle Si]

I. I moved the blind, and I'm like, something is telling me. Yeah, he was put that blind in the wrong place.

[Phil Robertson]

No, no. Hey. All right, y' all tell me. Well, I knew I should have done it a little different. Yeah. We always said, hey, you ain't doing that right. Yeah.

[Uncle Si]

Yeah.

[Lisa]

Oh, funny.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, my God. Hey, we've been when it's been, and we fix to wrap it up.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

But again, hey, look, we know that you went through stuff you shouldn't go through, but I. Please, take my advice. Get help from another veteran or get help from your friends. Okay? And please, do not harm yourself, because I. Look, God has got a plan and a purpose for you being here. He created you especially for that. You have no idea what he's got for you and what good you may do.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah.

[Uncle Si]

And I'll say it again, if you're struggling, go. Go look up the guys at Mighty Oaks.

[Blake Cook]

Yeah. They're incredible.

[Uncle Si]

They're. Man, they do so much good. And the people that run that organization towers things.

[Blake Cook]

That's phenomenal.

[Phil Robertson]

They do good work with veterans, guys.

[Blake Cook]

You ever find yourself in a dark spot, you're talking to yourself. Quit talking to yourself and talk to.

[Lisa]

Jesus and just wait one more day. I see that. My husband has that written on his. It's like a piece of wood.

[Blake Cook]

Today sucks.

[Lisa]

Just wait one more day.

[Phil Robertson]

Don't get into no hurry.

[Lisa]

Yeah, yeah. Wait.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, look. Hey, look here. Again, love you. Take care of yourself and have a very good Veterans Day.

[Lisa]

Yeah. I love you guys. Thank you for everything, Sam.