His mother left him and his twin in China at age 4. Came back years later — not to love them, but to relocate them.

Abandoned at four, Kevin's fight for survival began long before he joined the Marines. In this raw, emotional episode of Beyond the Dispatch, Kevin shares his harrowing experiences as a grunt with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines in Afghanistan's deadly Helmand Province during the brutal combat of 2010.

He also opens up about his transition from military service to his challenging career in law enforcement, serving as a dedicated SWAT officer, grappling with trauma, identity, and the ongoing battle to find peace.

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.

He’s not just fighting fires. He’s fighting for kids who may not live to see another birthday.

Kurt DeGroot is a firefighter and the founder of Project Fire Buddies, a nationwide nonprofit connecting firefighters with children battling serious illnesses—especially terminal ones. These aren’t just meet-and-greets. They’re life-changing moments. Some of these kids have days left to live. Others just need a reason to smile through the pain.

This episode dives deep into how one small act of kindness turned into a national mission of hope. Kurt opens up about the emotional weight, the kids who changed his life, and why the fire service is uniquely positioned to serve families in crisis.

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.

Nine firefighters died in a furniture store fire. David Griffin was pumping water at the panel when it happened.

This episode goes deep with Assistant Chief David Griffin of the Charleston Fire Department — a man who lived through one of the deadliest days in American fire service history. From rookie years to command, from trauma to transformation, Griffin walks us through the 2007 Super Sofa Fire, the cultural reckoning that followed, and the lifelong burden of survivor’s guilt.

He didn’t just survive. He rebuilt. And he’s still here.

👉 Follow Beyond the Dispatch for raw stories that bring our heroes out of the shadows — and give them the mic.