“Vistas and Valleys” is more than a song—it’s a true story of pain, purpose, and quiet strength. Inspired by a life-defining moment in David Burnell’s personal journey, this track recounts his 2008 climb of the Middle Teton—a grueling ascent made just weeks after suffering a gunshot wound that left his foot permanently numb. Each step carried the weight of both physical pain and emotional scars.

As stronger hikers surged ahead, David found himself among those who were left behind—young men who were slower, overlooked, or struggling with more than just the trail. What unfolded wasn’t just a hike, but a gathering of the rejected and the wounded. Together, they moved one foot in front of the other, not just climbing a mountain, but discovering the summit within themselves.

With acoustic grit and cinematic soul, Vistas and Valleys honors those who lead from behind, who know the value of waiting for the broken, and who understand that the summit isn’t the point—it’s the people you lift along the way. The song’s soaring chorus and grounded verses paint a vivid landscape of switchbacks, silence, and second chances—a reflection on what it means to endure, to guide, and to grow when the world tells you to quit.

For anyone who’s ever been dismissed or doubted—yet chose to rise—this song is your anthem. For those who bear burdens quietly, who serve without recognition, who find strength in every slow, intentional step—this is your soundtrack.


Vistas and Valleys (The Summit Beyond the Mountain)

The Wander... emerged in a season of personal darkness—during the weight of separation, before healing began, and before I sought help for PTSD. It is not just a song but a moment captured in spiritual and emotional freefall, where despair gave way to the first flickers of hope.

Written by David Burnell, this piece chronicles a time of soul-searching and raw vulnerability, when the weight of broken promises and war-born scars made every breath feel like a battle. It voices the ache of a warrior longing for love that is eternal and divine—true companionship born not from convenience, but from covenant and connection.

Yet within the ache is a turning point—a first foot planted on the path forward. This song marks the beginning of healing and renewal, where sorrow and faith wrestle, and a warrior’s soul chooses to rise, again and again, seeking love, wholeness, and purpose. It is a reflection of struggle and an anthem of perseverance.

The Wander (A Warrior's Cry for Love and Light)

“Bring Them Hither” is a soul-stirring anthem of compassion, drawn directly from the personal journal of David Burnell, written during his time serving as the Chief of Security for the Utah Hospital Task Force in post-earthquake Haiti. Amid the collapsed buildings, chaotic streets, and anguished cries of a shattered nation, David documented the faces, stories, and moments that defined one of the most profound missions of his life—not just in danger, but in dignity.

This song is more than a reflection—it is a musical rendering of lived experience. Inspired by the now-famous starfish story, it brings to life a simple but powerful truth: you can’t save everyone, but for the one you do save, you change everything. In a world where the scale of suffering can feel paralyzing, Bring Them Hither calls us back to the sacred power of individual action.

With orchestral folk instrumentation, poetic storytelling, and sweeping emotional depth, the song captures the contrast between overwhelming need and the quiet, relentless hope carried by humanitarian responders. Doctors, medics, and protectors—the healers and sheepdogs—move through the verses not as heroes seeking glory, but as servants answering the call to shield the fragile, lift the fallen, and show up where others flee.

David Burnell's journal entries—filled with raw emotion, moral tension, and unwavering resolve—formed the backbone of the lyrics. From pulling security in unstable zones to watching aid delivered to children who had nothing but hunger and hope, his words echoed the heartbreak and holiness of standing between order and chaos, one life at a time.

“Bring Them Hither” is a tribute to those who run toward disaster, not to be seen, but because they were near. It’s for the ones who carry stretchers, hold trembling hands, kneel in prayer beside the broken, and never ask if it’s worth it—because to the one they saved, it always was.

Bring Them Hither (One Life, One Soul, One Difference)

Haiti's Silent Cry is a ballad that draws deeply from the heart-wrenching experiences chronicled in the journal of David Burnell, who served as the Chief of Security for the Utah Hospital Task Force during the critical relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010. The ballad captures the raw emotions, struggles, and triumphs of those involved in the rescue and recovery missions, portraying vivid images of destruction, sorrow, and unyielding hope.

As Burnell recounts his journey from the moment he boarded the flight to Haiti, through the chaotic streets filled with displaced families, to the heartbreaking encounters with orphaned children, the lyrics weave a narrative of compassion, courage, and community support. Each verse reflects the realities faced on the ground—delivering medical aid, confronting the challenges of human trafficking, and the spiritual lift provided by shared experiences and testimonies.

Amidst the darkness, there is a resonating message of resilience and the ability of people to come together in times of crisis, making a difference in the lives of the suffering. This ballad serves not only as a tribute to the strength of the Haitian people but also to the dedicated individuals like Burnell, who stand unwavering in their commitment to help others, ensuring that *Haiti's Silent Cry* is heard and transformed into a hopeful anthem for a brighter future.

Haiti's Silent Cry (A Bodyguard's Ballad)

In this haunting spoken ballad, David Burnell recounts the 1996 Sheridan Lake ice rescue—one of the most harrowing dive calls of his career. Through vivid storytelling and minimal ambient music, “Beneath the Ice” draws the listener beneath the frozen surface where adrenaline, protocol, and faith collide.

When a dune buggy plunges through ice with two teenage boys inside, rescue divers face a grim race against time. One boy is saved by chance. The other vanishes into the cold depths. With two divers already down—one injured, one overwhelmed—Burnell steps up for a final attempt under conditions that defy logic and survival.

This spoken narrative explores the razor-thin line between courage and consequence, and the moment when even the most trained must make a life-preserving choice to abort. It's a tribute to every diver, medic, and rescuer who shoulders the risk—that others may live.

Beneath the Ice - Sheridan Lake, 1996 Podcast

“The Ice Doesn’t Care” is a powerful ballad inspired by the harrowing true story of an under-ice rescue mission gone tragically wrong. Narrated by David Burnell, Public Safety Scuba Instructor and Assistant Team Leader during the 1996 Sheridan Lake call, the song merges haunting acoustic chords with visceral spoken word.

From the first crackle of the radio to the final pull onto the ice, this track immerses listeners in the tension, fear, faith, and self-doubt that come with a dive into black water. When divers are pushed past the limit of safety, and decisions walk the edge between life and loss, the ice becomes more than a surface—it becomes a judgment.

Burnell’s decision to abort the dive—and the lone recovery by Diver Four—frame the emotional heart of the song: the SAR creed, “That Others May Live.”

The Ice Doesn’t Care Who You Are (A Diver’s Prayer in Black Water)

“The Wave and the Whisper” is a spoken ballad inspired by David Burnell’s firsthand experience in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Alone and unaffiliated, David flew into Japan while others were leaving, seeking not glory but to serve. This piece walks the listener through haunting scenes of wreckage, nuclear radiation, loss, and the quiet acts of kindness that transcended language and culture. Embedded with Mexico’s famed Los Topos recovery team, David’s mission became more about the living than the dead—offering hugs, comfort, and presence where silence and grief reigned.

This isn't a story of heroism for recognition. It's a testimony to ordinary courage, to acting in faith, and to choosing love in a world leveled by disaster. With ambient cinematic soundscapes and minimalist orchestral undertones, this ballad honors the quiet power of compassion amid catastrophe.

The Wave and the Whisper - Heart of Japan’s Tsunami Zone Podcast

“Sons of Liberty” is a powerful, cinematic folk-rock ballad by David Burnell, honoring the courage of those who fought for America’s independence while recognizing the deep friendship with our British allies today. With vivid storytelling and sweeping instrumentation, it calls listeners to remember the cost of freedom and the blessing of liberty, paying tribute to those who carry the torch of courage into each generation. Released for Independence Day, it stands as a reminder of gratitude for freedom, the unity of our allies, and the hope we build together for tomorrow.

Sons of Liberty (A Ballad for Freedom, Then and Now)

When others ran from the flames, David Burnell ran toward them. From frozen-lake dive recoveries to gang-torn city streets, from the rubble of Haiti and the radiation zones of Japan to the jungle conflict of Burma, Built by Fire is a first-person account of life on the edge—where duty, faith, and sacrifice collide.

This isn’t a tally of medals. It’s the story of a veteran, rescuer, and humanitarian who learned that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s obedience to a higher purpose when fear is loudest. Burnell carries weapons and water, bandages and burdens; he stands guard on rooftops, kneels in shattered homes, and wades into black water where seconds separate life from loss. The work leaves marks: trauma, doubt, nights that don’t end. But the same fire that scars can also refine.

At the heart of this book is a personal redemption—a hard road of repentance, forgiveness, and healing that restores what war and disaster sought to take away. Burnell confronts his failures and grief, chooses faith over fury, and discovers that grace is not the end of the mission but the strength to begin again.

With cinematic realism and quiet reverence, Built by Fire honors warriors, medics, and the silent heroes who step into danger for those they may never meet again. It invites you to consider your own calling: to stand where it’s hardest to stand, protect the vulnerable, and believe that purpose and grace can outlast the storm—and remake a life from the ashes.

Built by Fire: The Life and Legacy of David Burnell (Audiobook)

Before It Happens is not just a book — it’s a life-saving mindset. David Burnell, a veteran of military, rescue, and protection missions worldwide, gives you a powerful guide to real-world personal safety.

This book doesn’t teach you how to fight — it teaches you how to see danger before it starts, avoid becoming a victim, and respond with clarity and confidence when it matters most.

Learn to read people, places, and situations through tested awareness models.

Discover how predators choose targets — and how to avoid being one.

Gain clarity about your intuition.

Learn response timing and decision-making under stress.

Also Available: Amazon Kindle & Paperback

Why You Should Listen Now

You don’t rise to the occasion — you fall to your level of preparation. Before It Happens helps you raise that level with tools you can use daily to protect yourself and those you love.

Download it now and take control of your awareness, safety, and story — before it happens.




Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts (Audiobook)

In this deeply personal episode, David Burnell takes listeners into the abyss — that crushing, lightless place found both beneath the ocean and in the depths of life’s hardest seasons. Drawing from dive rescue experiences, military breathing techniques, and spiritual insights, David shares how to navigate overwhelming pressure without losing hope.

Through the principles of deliberate breathing, seeking light, and embracing gratitude, he reveals how love for God and others can pierce the darkest waters. Overcoming the Abyss Through the Light of Love is both a reflection and a call to action — to lift others, find peace amidst chaos, and let light prevail over darkness.

Overcoming the Abyss through the Light of Love Podcast

Freedom isn’t confined to one flag or nation—it belongs to everyone everywhere. In this Velvet Hammer Podcast episode, David Burnell reflects on the universal human drive for liberty, the sacrifices to defend it, and the dangers of losing it through law, tyranny, or complacency. From Ukraine’s fight against invasion to the resilience of people in Haiti, Burma, Africa, and beyond, this is a call to honor and protect the inalienable rights granted to us by God and nature. Freedom is not just an American thing—it’s an everybody thing.

Freedom is Not Just an American Thing Podcast

In That Others May Live, David Burnell takes you deep into the perilous world of combat search and rescue, cave diving, and humanitarian recovery missions. From the motto of the U.S. Air Force Pararescue to the harrowing 2018 Thai cave rescue, these stories reveal the grit, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve of those who put themselves in harm’s way so that others might survive. Drawing on firsthand experience from missions across the globe—Japan, Haiti, Burma, and beyond—Burnell offers raw insight into the courage it takes to step into darkness when the stakes are life or death.

That Others May Live - Courage, Sacrifice, and the Spirit of Rescue Podcast

When war whispers through the jungle, some answer with fire. Others, with healing hands.

David Burnell didn’t go to Burma to wage war. He went unarmed, on a promise—to protect a friend and help train twelve medics deep within territory controlled by the Karen resistance, amid a brutal conflict few in the world even knew was still raging.

Beyond the Border is a gripping true story of jungle survival, spiritual conviction, and the unseen cost of service. Through sweltering heat, silent threats, and the constant presence of death, David’s journey became far more than a mission—it became a calling.

From the moment he stepped off the plane in Thailand to the day he embraced a barefoot child beside a bamboo hut, this book captures the reality of humanitarian warfare—where life-saving decisions are made under the shadow of violence, and where the measure of a man isn’t in the weight of his weapon, but in the strength of his resolve.

Raw. Redemptive. Unforgettable.

Beyond the Border is not just a memoir—it’s a witness to the miracles that still happen when courage walks in with no banner, and love refuses to retreat.

Beyond the Border: A Mission of Mercy in Burma (Audiobook)

In this powerful episode of Echo Valor, David Burnell sits down with longtime friend and seasoned law enforcement officer, federal agent, military veteran, and mental health professional Jeffrey Denning. Together, they unpack the realities of crisis response, the cumulative toll of trauma, and the tools needed to stay grounded in the face of overwhelming events.

From frontline experiences in Iraq to critical incident stress debriefings after officer-involved shootings, Jeffrey shares practical strategies for pre-incident preparation, managing acute stress, and long-term self-care. The discussion covers primary, secondary, and tertiary trauma, how first responders and families are impacted by tragedy, and why sleep, exercise, connection, and gratitude are essential for healing.

Whether you are in law enforcement, EMS, the military, or simply navigating today’s chaotic world, this episode offers wisdom, actionable insights, and hope. Learn why “healing hurts, but helping heals”—and how to prevent isolation, find community, and keep your mental armor strong.

Jeffrey Denning and David Burnell Crisis Response Managing Acute Stress

For ten years, David Burnell lived in the invisible war—serving as a U.S. Air Force Communications Operations Specialist during the most volatile decade of the late Cold War.
His battlefield wasn’t marked by trenches or gunfire, but by encrypted transmissions, coded messages, and the heavy silence of classified operations.

From the blackout classrooms of Sheppard Air Force Base to the fog-covered runways of RAF Sculthorpe, and from the jungles of Central America to the frozen plains of South Dakota, Burnell’s decade in uniform unfolded behind security fences, within cleared rooms, and beneath the constant hum of secrecy.

In The Quiet War, Burnell opens a window into the unseen world of intelligence operations—where loyalty is tested by polygraphs, trust is earned in whispers, and the smallest mistake can echo across nations.

He recounts the call that changed everything: volunteering for Task Force Bravo in Cabañas ’87, where a last-minute reassignment spared his life when a friendly-fire incident took down the helicopter he was meant to board.
He describes the OSI polygraph interrogations after the capture of Navy spy John Walker, and the eerie feeling of serving “in the glass bowl” where every heartbeat was measured for loyalty.
He walks through the fall of the Berlin Wall, the rising threat of global terrorism, and the quiet moments on the flight line when coffins draped in flags arrived home without ceremony.

Amid the secrecy and tension, Burnell’s story is deeply human. It is about faith, family, endurance, and the cost of commitment.
It’s about the dream that first drew him in—the desire to become a Pararescue operator (“That Others May Live”)—and how that same drive would later carry him into real-world search and rescue, humanitarian missions, and crisis response long after the uniform came off.

The Quiet War is more than a military memoir—it is a testament to those who serve in silence, whose battles are unseen but whose sacrifices are just as real.

For readers of The Right Stuff, American Sniper, and The Operator, this is the untold story of a warrior who lived at the intersection of technology, intelligence, and faith during one of the most complex eras in modern history.

The Quiet War: Ten Years Inside the Shadows of the Cold War (Audiobook)

“The Ones Who Still Stand” is a heartfelt Veterans Day tribute by David Burnell — a cinematic, acoustic ballad honoring every man and woman who has ever worn the uniform, from the great wars to the quiet front lines of the Cold War and beyond. It speaks to the unseen battles fought long after the guns fall silent — the courage, the scars, and the brotherhood that endures. This song reminds us that freedom lives not only in the victories, but in the hearts of those who return home changed, yet still stand strong.

(Genre: Patriotic Acoustic Rock / Cinematic Folk — for Veterans Day 2025)

The Ones Who Still Stand: Honoring the courage to serve, and the strength to keep standing

Cinematic spoken-word reflections on war, service, and the human cost of duty—told with raw honesty and reverence.

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