Major James Capers Jr. is a distinguished Marine Corps veteran renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to U.S. military special operations. As one of the first African American members of the elite Marine Force Reconnaissance unit, he led numerous covert missions during the Vietnam War. His valor and leadership earned him multiple commendations, including the Silver Star, Bronze Stars with "V" devices, three Purple Hearts, a Navy Commendation Medal, and a Navy Achievement Medal. Beyond his military service, Capers chronicled his experiences in the book Faith Through the Storm: Memoirs of Major James Capers, Jr., offering a firsthand account of his combat missions, personal sacrifices, and the challenges he overcame. His pioneering efforts have left an indelible mark on military tactics and continue to inspire future generations of service members. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkoujZQZatbqy4KGcgjpVxQ/join Shawn Ryan Show Links SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ShawnRyanShow Sign up: https://shawnryanshow.com/pages/newsletter Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/VigilanceElite Download Free Content: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lF-8_5jwRc5eAhzDkqqCOp-6yvd05vAw?usp=sharing Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shawn-ryan-show/id1492492083 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eodRZd3qR9VT1ip1wI7xQ?si=59f9d106e56a4509 Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnryanshow Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on X: https://twitter.com/ShawnRyanShow SRS Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4pqo9Uoh0WuUKxw0BmaK1yrg9Kd7E4lk #vigilanceelite #shawnryanshow #military #history #vietnam Major James Capers Jr. Links: Documentary - https://www.capersthedoc.com Book - https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Through-Storm-Memoirs-Capers/dp/1642986399 Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://patreon.com/vigilanceelite https://shawnryanshow.com/newsletter 00:00 Introduction and Honoring Major James Capers 02:52 Early Life and Childhood Struggles 06:15 Transition to Baltimore and Schooling 13:49 Joining the Military and Early Service 17:43 First Combat Experience in Lebanon 22:17 Love and Marriage with Dottie Capers 32:36 Joining Force Recon and Facing Racism 39:38 Volunteering for Vietnam 57:16 From Staff Sergeant to Second Lieutenant 58:46 First Mission in Vietnam 58:58 Diving Missions and Shark Encounters 01:02:12 Ground Missions and War Dogs 01:08:10 POW Rescue Mission 01:15:48 Knife Skills and Close Combat 01:27:59 B-57 Crash Recovery 01:38:30 Battlefield Commission and Racism 01:48:31 Final Mission at Phu Loc 01:56:22 The Loss of War Dog King 01:57:31 Firefights and Sacrifices 01:58:52 A Personal Visit to a Fallen Comrade's Family 02:00:56 The Hong Kong Incident 02:03:26 The Python Snake Story 02:17:06 The Hand of God 02:25:52 Reflections on Loss and Faith 02:51:40 The Gary and Dottie Capers Foundation 02:57:43 Closing Remarks and Gratitude