Life, Loss, and Liberty with Congressional Candidate Tim Stroud
Today’s guest is not only from a family with a rich history of service, he’s dedicated himself to various levels of service himself. From nonprofit organizations to a career as a combat medic, Tim Stroud is proud to carry on his family’s legacy.
Tim Stroud was just five years old when he looked down upon the still face of the father he loved. He still remembers every moment of seeing his strong, proud father lying in a casket. He remembers the feel of his mom’s tears as she held him close, and then even closer as he promised his mom he would take care of her now. His father had made it through his time as a combat medic in Vietnam only to be killed just 18 months into his career as a Law enforcement Officer.
Tim Stroud remembers feeling something change in him that day, even though he was so little.
He felt an awareness within that he couldn’t fully comprehend yet, but which he was aware of- a feeling that he had to make sure he did something important with his life. But for the moment, what he cared most about was his mom, who cried even harder when her five year old son melted into her fierce hug and promised he’d take care of her.
Grief has many ripple effects, though, and one of those can be increased vulnerability. Tim’s mom was among the women whose vulnerability was exploited. She was preyed upon by the man she eventually met. Cancer then took another toll on her, and instead of the love and happiness she once had with her husband, she endured abuse and more pain. Tim’s voice thickens when he shares this story, with the love for his mom and the sadness of her life evident. He was 23 years old the night his mom went to sleep and never woke up. A brain aneurysm had taken her as abruptly as another killer had taken his dad.
This time, Tim knew exactly what he was feeling: anger.
Even as he recognized the familiar feeling of being awakened to a greater purpose for his own life, the anger that swept into Tim’s heart outpowered everything else. “I floundered for a couple years,” says Tim. “I was mad at God and everybody.”
Tim was 27 years old when he decided to carry on his family’s legacy of service.
He became the fourth generation of Strouds to serve in the United States military, serving as a combat medic like his dad.
Deployments to places like Kosovo, Kuwait, and Iraq came next. He’s proud of his service even as he seems to feel compelled to note that, “I was not the guy who ran out into the battlefield,” like Desmond Doss. His job was in support, ensure the men in his company were healthy and well. He performed his duties alongside them in the 140 degree heat, with Kevlar strapped on. The calling he’d first felt at five years old was finally heard. He loved his time in the military and misses it today. It’s not the conflict he misses, though. It’s the camaraderie.
That sense of camaraderie is common in groups of people who go through struggle or battle or bad times or even good times together. Any moment of experience that we experience alongside a person binds us together, if even for just that moment. But those moments, however fleeting, can also serve to disrupt messages or actions of malice and divisiveness. It’s difficult to look at someone you feel a sense of solidarity with and despise or denounce them.
Once upon a time, the playing of the national anthem served as an opportunity to reinforce solidarity among Americans. Regardless of our differences, the anthem reminded us all that we share common ground. Tens of thousands of friendly rivals in sporting games were united for the few moments the anthem played. Broken, grieving, wounded, scared, angry Americans stood together as one after 9/11, beside our flag flying from almost every home.
Here are some of the things we discussed with Tim Stroud:
Tim’s own personal struggles
Military service
Conflict and camaraderie
People in power, and their struggle with change
Vaccine mandates
Voter integrity
Critical race theory
Advice for others interested in running for office
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