Veteran-Owned Small Business
Veteran-Owned Small Business
We started Tracer Burnout with a simple idea: a platform for military veterans to share their stories of service. By inviting veterans to speak about their experiences, we hope to help them feel heard, to know their service matters, to preserve their memories for future generations, and to provide civilians with a better understanding of life in the service.

Your financial support helps us bring the stories of veterans to everyone and preserve the memories of their service for future generations. Consider a monthly contribution.

After a childhood full of beauty pageants and modeling, Ms. Mindy Dougherty wanted to get her hands dirty, so she joined the Army as a medic with the hopes of becoming a Physician Assistant one day. While she was stationed in Germany, she deployed to Bosnia as part of the peacekeeping mission there. A parasite infection ended her deployment early and began a ridiculous series of medical procedures that would affect her for years and years into the future.
After multiple pancreatic procedures, Mindy left the service still wanting to help people. She returned to modeling and went to nursing school, all while battling persistent physical health issues and trauma that went all the way back to her childhood. Many years after the Army, Mindy wrote Resilient Warrior, chronicling her battles with abuse, trauma, and physical health to inspire others to overcome their own struggles. Plus, the luxury of hot showers, Vikings, Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS), a “rock or something”, and so much more!
In the Free Fire Area, we discuss our favorite comedic films, some great comedy duos, and one of the greatest veterans in Hollywood history (it’s Mel Brooks)!
Army veteran Mr. Dale Knollinger didn't have many options that appealed to him after graduating high school in a small Ohio town. A persistent recruiter convinced him to try the Army, and life has never been the same. Assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, he deployed to Afghanistan before he was even given a barracks room.
Upon returning stateside, a new chain of command with a new approach shook things up in the unit in order to prepare for a deployment to Iraq. However, a change of mission sent Dale and men of 2 Charlie back to Afghanistan and, before long, to the Taliban stronghold of the Arghandab River valley. The ferocious combat, daily struggles, and mounting casualties would leave Dale and his brothers in arms changed forever.
By the end of the last patrol, Dale knew that it was the end of his time in service. Years later, Dale found himself instrumental in the writing of three different books about the daily struggle for survival in the Arghandab River Valley and preserving the legacy of the men who fought there. Plus exploding plumbing, bonding through loathing, Canadian chefs, and much more!
In the Free Fire Area, Dan and Roger wonder if they could survive a year of total isolation from the rest of the world.

Air Force veteran, host of the Welcome Home podcast, and Director of Culinary Services for Willing Warriors, Mr. Larry Zilliox, joins us in our virtual studio to tell us all about the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run.
Larry has been with the organization pretty much from the start and knew right away that he wanted to contribute to this organization that is dedicated to helping, not just the service member, but their family and extended family as well.
But what could he contribute? How about a list of fantastic chefs that gladly volunteer their time and talent to prepare amazing meals for the entire family! For free!
The new Executive Director of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation, Mrs. Margaret Britten, joins us to tell us a little bit about herself and some exciting projects that she and the Foundation are working on. Long overdue renovations, upcoming family events, fundraising for projects, and a special bourbon inspired by Iron Mike!