Would Rather Die Than Quit: A 56 green beret ‘s Code for Success | MAJ Dan Kronz, 7th Group.

What keeps a green beret driving forward when his body and mind are broken? MAJ Daniel “Dan” Kronz, U.S. Army special forces (7th Special Forces Group), shares his veteran stories from 9/11 inspiration to combat and back — and the code that refused to let him quit.

Inspired at 13 by September 11th, Dan earned his Green Beret through the Q-Course and Ranger School — including getting hit by 30-40 hornets and refusing to quit. He deployed with the 10th Mountain Division and army special forces to South America on counter-narco missions and to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, one of the war’s highest-casualty zones.

Dan breaks down resilience under fire, the reality of TBI, 60 ptsd veteran struggles, and tbi recovery — and how that lived experience fuels his mission now with Sharp Performance: coaching veterans and first responders on wellness, self-regulation, and first responder mental health.

Real Stories. Real Heroes. Real Science. This is Vets and Badges.

Learn more: Sharp Performance: https://www.sharpperformance.com/

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 Cold Open: Rather Die Than Quit

01:37 Inspired by 9/11 at 13

02:58 Q-Course: Hardest Challenge to Become green beret

03:22 Ranger School: Hornets Couldn’t Make Him Quit

08:21 First Deployment: 10th Mountain Division

08:47 Earning His Place in 7th Group

10:21 South America Counter-Narco Ops

14:03 Helmand Province: Leading in Combat

18:45 Afghanistan Withdrawal: Purpose Tested

20:40 TBI, Injury and the Road to Recovery

23:32 Sharp Performance: Coaching Veterans & First Responders

25:58 Suicide Prevention and Lived Experience

🎙️ Podcast Description

Vets and Badges Podcast is an initiative of HEALING - a non-profit created to support veterans, first responder and community stakeholders.

For more visit:

https://www.kbcf.org/programs/healing-corp/

www.VetsAndBadges.com

VAB - 2026

US Army LTC. Mike Hogan (Ret) describes what it was like inside the Pentagon on 9/11 after American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building.

WATCH THE REST OF THE CONVERSATION:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAVdyrW7Q7o

Vets and Badges Podcast is an initiative of HEALING - a non-profit created to support veterans, first responder and community stakeholders.

For more visit:

https://www.kbcf.org/programs/healing-corp/

www.VetsAndBadges.com

VAB - 2026

Experience the raw reality of the Battle of Ramadi through the eyes of US Army MAJ Miguel N. Sanata (Ret) depicted in his newly released bool titled “Unheard Voices The Battle For Ramadi – A Soldier’s Memoir From Combat Outpost Falcon.

For those studying Iraq war history, this conversation provides a firsthand look at the high-stakes decisions made on the ground alongside company leadership.

Hearing these combat veteran stories offers crucial perspective on the pressure of active duty engagements. We focus on the tactical environment and the human element of service, providing a clear picture of what transpired during this critical deployment.

Subscribe for veteran experience breakdowns and comment below on which historical engagements you want us to cover next.

Chapters:

00:00 – The Firefight in Missoula Talafa

03:28 – Leadership and Camaraderie in Combat

07:40 – The Importance of Writing a Memoir

09:47 – The Role of the Infantry in Combat

17:41 – Mechanized Infantry and Tactical Advantages

22:51 – The Symbiotic Relationship in Combat

24:44 – Inside the Infantry Experience

28:34 – The Burden of Leadership

29:57 – Individual Experiences in Combat

32:21 – The Importance of Soldier Welfare

36:01 – Technology’s Role in Modern Warfare

40:03 – Filling the Gaps in Military History 4

1:05 -A Soldier’s Memoir: Unheard Voices

For more about “Unheard Voices The Battle For Ramadi – A Soldier’s Memoir From Combat Outpost Falcon” VISIT:

https://www.MiguelNSantana.com

Vets and Badges Podcast is an initiative of HEALING – a non-profit created to support veterans, first responder and community stakeholders.

For more visit:

https://www.kbcf.org/programs/healing-corp/

www.VetsAndBadges.com

VAB – 2026