Major Joshua Mast, a U.S. Marine Corps officer, gained attention for his efforts to adopt an Afghan war orphan. Mast initiated adoption proceedings for a baby girl found on an Afghan battlefield in 2019. His actions, motivated by a desire to ensure the child's safety, led to a complex legal battle involving the Department of Justice and the State Department. In October 2024, a military board substantiated misconduct allegations against Mast but declined to separate him from service. The board found that while Mast acted in a way “unbecoming an officer”, his actions did not warrant dismissal from the Marine Corps. Mast, now 41 and living in Hampstead, North Carolina with his wife Stephanie, continues to advocate for the child's well-being. 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 Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: http://helixsleep.com/srs http://amac.us/srs http://meetfabric.com/srs http://preparewithshawn.com 00:00 Introduction of Joshua and Stephanie Mast 04:50 Overview of the Custody Battle 20:01 Home Life and Parenting 38:00 Deployment and Family Challenges 53:11 The Baby in the Box 01:12:07 The Harsh Reality of Afghanistan 01:34:22 The Night of the Raid 01:50:50 The Aftermath 01:54:48 The Child's Medical Journey 02:00:08 Emotional Stories from the Frontline 02:06:46 Navigating Bureaucratic Hurdles 02:11:06 Legal Battles and Guardianship 02:19:00 The Embassy's Role and Controversies 02:25:55 Meeting the Child and the Moral Obligation 02:38:24 Suing the Secretary of Defense 02:48:16 Government Manipulation and Misconduct 02:55:38 Turning Over the Baby and Legal Challenges 03:04:13 Government Deception and Personal Sacrifices 03:08:42 Embassy's Role in the Crisis 03:16:39 Deleted Drone Footage Controversy 03:22:26 Child Custody and Government Actions 03:29:07 Evacuation Efforts and Challenges 03:40:31 Rescue Mission and Aftermath 03:48:51 Chaos at Abbey Gate 03:59:42 Desperate Plea for Help 04:07:01 Emotional Reunion and Challenges 04:19:03 Therapy and Recovery 04:28:28 Legal Battles and Government Involvement 04:43:42 Public Documents and Misclassification 04:47:41 Fighting for Truth and Recognition 04:56:49 Hope and Gratitude