“Over the Wire” — 1SG Mike Byer, U.S. Army (Ret.) | Operation Song

**Over the Wire — 1SG Mike Byer, U.S. Army (Ret.) | Operation Song** Before history was written, it was sung. This is the premiere episode of War Songs, where host Ward Davis sits down with retired First Sergeant Mike Byer to explore the powerful intersection of military service, personal struggle, and the healing power of music. Mike's journey began in Indiana, raised by a single mother who instilled in him a fierce work ethic. After initially joining the Air Force and feeling misled by his recruiter, he found his true calling in the Army at age 27, eventually serving 21 years with the legendary 101st Airborne Division. His deployments spanned from Kuwait and Egypt in the early '90s to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2008, where he commanded a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) company flying dangerous reconnaissance missions. But Mike's toughest battle came after his service ended. Medically retired and diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's, he found himself on 30 pills a day, walking with a cane, and spiraling into darkness. The military had defined him for two decades, and without that identity, he struggled to find purpose. It was his granddaughter Emma, barely walking and knocking on his door asking for her "pop pop," that became his turning point. Mike's path to recovery involved stripping away medications, creating daily checklists starting with simple tasks like making his bed, and discovering the guitar. Teaching himself to play at 2 a.m., he found that music offered something prescription drugs never could. This led him to start his own nonprofit, Sounds of Acoustic Recovery (SOAR), teaching veterans to play guitar. Then came his meeting with Bob Regan and Operation Song. Initially skeptical, Mike attended a retreat in 2013 where he sat down with songwriter Travis Meadows. In just 30 minutes, they created "Over the Wire," a powerful song about passing the torch to his son who had just graduated from basic training. That moment changed everything. Mike realized the mission wasn't just about the song, it was about the story, about giving veterans a voice that would live on in perpetuity. Now serving as Executive Director of Operation Song, Mike has dedicated himself to expanding the program across the country, from Florida to Wisconsin to California. The organization has become his purpose, helping veterans tell their stories through music, whether they're struggling with trauma or simply want to share their experiences. This conversation covers the realities of deployment, the challenge of losing military identity, the power of family, and how four chords and the truth can save a life. Mike's story reminds us that being a soldier is what you did, not who you are, and that finding yourself after service is the most important mission of all. **Special thanks to Newton Nissan Studios in Gallatin, Tennessee, and Prince Street Pizza and Pub.** Learn more about Operation Song at operationsong.org