Medal of Honor: Telling Sammy Lee Davis’s Story in Cudgel with Nathan and Todd Tetreault | Ep 386

Dec 28

Stories that matter don’t always arrive with spectacle. Sometimes they begin with a harmonica solo, a handshake, and a simple conviction: don’t leave your brother behind. In this conversation, we explore the Teacher Brothers’ mission to bring the life of Medal of Honor recipient Sammy Lee Davis to the screen through their developing feature, Cudgel. The episode follows how two veterans turned filmmakers met Sammy, why his Vietnam War story refuses clichés, and how film can carry healing into places where pain has been locked away for decades. Along the way, we unpack how truth-based cinema rebuilds trust with audiences hungry for meaning, and how honoring veterans can also restore conversation around a war many still avoid.

The brothers describe the spark: a Veterans Day event where Sammy played Shenandoah on harmonica for his fallen brothers. That moment led to a friendship, a visit to his Indiana home, and a shared purpose. Their short documentary, For My Brothers, opened doors, including filming at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where reflection is built into the wall itself. They argue that while Hollywood often prefers fantasy, real heroism resonates longer: the ordinary person answering an extraordinary call. Cudgel centers the night Sammy swam a canal under fire to rescue wounded comrades, then returned to his post until he collapsed. It’s not just a war story; it’s a coming-of-age journey about love, duty, and a motto that guided him—“You don’t lose until you quit trying.”

What sets this project apart is its commitment to redemption and nuance. The brothers walk through stark details—blast waves, shrapnel, the fog of battle—then reveal the quiet miracles: a wounded man later holding the grandchild of the comrade he saved; a Black infantryman donating blood to save Sammy in a 1967 ward, a bridge of humanity in a divided era. They emphasize how veterans are too often portrayed through narrow tropes, and how authentic stories can invite other veterans to share their own, letting in light and easing the weight of memory. The episode also affirms the power of music, faith, and place—Shenandoah at the wall, grief met with grace, and the simple dignity of telling the truth well.

Beyond the film, we zoom out to the role of storytellers in culture. The hosts and guests discuss industry pushback, the need for credible military portrayals, and the value of building alternatives when mainstream lanes are closed. They see story as ministry: not sermonizing, but showing the fruit of faith under pressure. They cite how narrative reaches skeptics better than argument, and how art—film, books, games—can become a bridge across differences. Their call is practical: support the film, share the links, and champion projects that honor service, confront darkness with hope, and make space for courage that doesn’t wear a cape. In an age crowded with noise, Cudgel aims to speak in a clear human voice—one that sounds like a harmonica on a quiet night, remembering brothers and choosing love anyway.

Help bring Cudgel to life: visit cudgelmovie.com, donate if you can, and share the link with five friends. If this moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what real-life story you want the world to see next.

Chapter Markers

0:00 Setting The Stage And Big Mission

2:10 Meet The Teacher Brothers And Their Film

5:05 The Moment They Met Sammy Lee Davis

9:40 Why True Stories Of Veterans Matter

14:30 Vision: Light, Redemption, And Real Heroes

20:30 Film As Healing: Faith, Grit, And Purpose

26:40 Vietnam, Stigma, And Telling It Right

33:00 Sammy’s Night Of Courage In Detail

41:20 Brotherhood, Race, And A Life-Saving Transfusion

46:10 Music, Memorials, And Welcome Home

51:30 Industry Pushback And Building Alternatives

57:10 Story As Ministry: Reaching The Unreached

1:03:20 Faith, Culture, And Subtle Storytelling

1:10:20 Mobilizing Support: Website, GoFundMe, Social

1:16:30 Perseverance, Family Loss, And Calling

1:22:00 Closing Gratitude And Holiday Sendoff

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Medal of Honor: Telling Sammy Lee Davis’s Story in Cudgel with Nathan and Todd Tetreault | Ep 386

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