Since this American Hero just released his long awaited book called "Into the Fire", I thought I'd repost this blog from a few months ago....

Now I'm known as a pretty social guy. I have pals in every line of work imaginable, and am always fascinated in getting to know folks, and their interests/job etc. You'd think that it's the celeb people that get my attention chatting with, but to be honest, it's the individuals that are not in the public eye that always come up with something that I learn from or provide some long lasting memory....

My lovely wife has a long standing good natured joke that she mentions in company that "You know Ian, he never makes new friends". Some of my closest pals, I've met in the strangest of circumstances. For instance, my buddy Henrik (along with his lovely wife Susie) who Deb and I attended the Squeeze/English Beat concert last night, I met on the golf course at Bethpage a few years back. He's now one of my favorite human beings alive.

So after the concert last night I walk wifey to Grand Central for her to get the train home to CT. We have a deal where if it's a later Saturday night in the city, that it's best I just stay the night in the Big Apple, because the turnaround to my radio shift in the morning is not worth the trip, time, and trouble.

Off I go to see my pal Michael Riordan who was just finishing a bartending shift, and is always good company. We're sharing a pint with some pals at the Park Ave Tavern when a guy saunters up to me at the bar to order a drink. Under penalty of death I wouldn't remember what started the conversation, but we began chatting away. I always make it a rule when the expected "What do you do for a living" comes up, that I just say "I work in Media". Let's face it, even though I've worked in the public eye forever, I'm a C List celeb at best. But folks if they recognize my name, or are interested in what I do, start asking questions about music, celeb stuff, or something else that to be honest I'm not so interested in talking about again. It's their line of work or what brings them happiness that has my curiosity....

So this fella named Dakota and I are chatting away a mile a minute. He's from Kentucky, and as I remember we were talking hoops and horses. Well into our conversation, I say "Dakota, what brings you here to our fair city?". He says..."I'm here celebrating". Maybe it's the karma thing, but the strangest cool shit just happens to fall into my lap. "Celebrating what?' was my obvious next question...

"Ummmm...I won the Medal of Honor" Dakota says. This is where you cue the needle flying and scratching off the record player. How I wish there was a photo of my face when he (for lack of a better term) dropped this bomb. I've always had a tremendous respect for anyone that puts their ass on the line to protect my ability to safely go have a pint with pals and not think twice about it, but seriously? I was in absolute awe, especially since Dakota said right afterwards, "want another pint?" like it was me just trying to change the subject of something I spoke about a zillion times before. We had a long chat filled with endless laughs before wandering into the kitchen to take a photo (attached).

So Dakota, and anybody else that serves, God Bless You. For being the type of person that doesn't think twice about risking their life to save someone, or in this case multiple individuals. The type of person that asks the President to call back on his lunch break. Please read the attached link here....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakota_Meyer

Dakota is  the fella to my right in the photo . And I thought that spending time with Eddie Van Halen was my greatest thrill. Not even close....

Say a prayer tonight for people like this. I know I will....

Best,

Ian