Happy New Year and welcome to season two. We start off with a phenomenal guest but I warn you that it can be an emotional roller coaster ride that isn’t for the faint of heart. Join with us to hear Rocky Sickmann’s story and how he has harnessed adversity to become a great example of servant leadership. Rocky resonates his theme of “love of family, love of faith, and love of country” throughout the episode. He teaches us how he uses his tragic experience as a hostage in Iran and the example of all those around him, especially those who lost their life as motivation to be a help to others each day of his life, looking for ways to encounter people in their moments of crisis and help them move forward by using all that life has taught him in such a profound servant leader mindset. He teaches us how to have a great mindset to harness the adversity in our lives but also how to honor the people in our lives that have made sacrifices for us.
Rodney “Rocky” Sickmann: United States Marine Corps Sergeant and P.O.W., Iranian Hostage Crisis Author, Iranian Hostage: A Personal Diary of 444 Days in Captivity Retired U.S. Director, Military and Industry Affairs, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Senior Vice President of Budweiser Accounts, Folds of Honor
Rocky Sickmann graduated from Washington High School in 1976 and immediately entered the U.S. Marine Corps. in 1979, just 28 days into his tour of duty at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran, He became a player in one of the most terrifying events in U.S. history where he was held hostage for 444 days.
After the military Rocky went on to be the National Director for Military and Industry Affairs at Anheuser-Busch InBev, where he oversaw all military special events, military and industry trade media publications, and national industry trade shows. In August 2016, Rocky’s military and professional experience coupled with his passion for our armed forces, led him to pursue an opportunity with his favorite non-profit organization: Folds of Honor. In his new role, he helps advance the Folds mission: To stand in the financial gap of the more than one million dependents adversely affected by war, providing educational scholarships to the children and spouses of those killed or disabled while serving our nation.
Resources and links:
Folds of Honor:
Rocky Sickmann – Iranian Hostage: A Personal Diary of 444 Days in Captivity:
Mark Bowden – Guests of the Ayatollah:
Elder Clark G. Gilbert – Parable of the Slope:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/16gilbert?lang=eng
