In this episode, we sit down with Saul Herrera — a West Point graduate, former Army aviation commander, and current global director with the nonprofit Exodus Road. What unfolds is a decades-spanning narrative of discipline, danger, and duty — from flying Blackhawks in Bosnia and near-misses over the Afghan horizon to leading covert counter-human trafficking operations across Latin America.

Herrera's story is one of contrasts — the son of Mexican immigrants navigating dual cultural identities in 1980s California; the twin who followed a chance encounter with a colonel into a career at one of the world’s most elite military academies; the veteran whose final missions weren’t in combat zones, but in brothels, posing as a buyer to rescue trafficked minors.

In a time where global instability often steals headlines, this conversation reminds us that true leadership may begin with listening — to teachers, to instincts, and to the call of something greater than oneself.

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Over 50 million people are trapped in modern slavery right now. But they’re not statistics – they’re human beings with names, dreams, and stories that matter.

Learn more about The Exodus Road and its mission: https://theexodusroad.com/

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Listen & Subscribe to Veteran Story Hour: Voices of Valor, Presented by SALUTE of Virginia, everywhere podcasts can be heard

Every veteran has a story worth preserving—stories of courage, sacrifice, humor, and humanity. Veteran Story Hour captures these remarkable personal histories directly from the voices of the men and women who’ve served our nation.

Recorded live each week at SALUTE of Virginia in Waynesboro, this podcast creates a living history, ensuring these powerful memories are preserved and shared for generations to come.

Hosted by John Fairbanks of the Shenandoah Valley Story Network, join us as we honor those who served by listening, reflecting, and remembering.

Because every veteran’s story deserves to be told—and every voice deserves to be heard.