Patriot Hustler

by Kevin Marcus
The voice over the phone got my attention at once. It was powerful. Sharp. Clear. I could tell the guy I was talking to meant business, and I made it my business to pay close attention to what he was saying. It was our first conversation over the phone, and without hesitation, Eddie Roche started firing off important information that I was to need, if I were to be a writer on his project. Names, dates, people, places; it all came flying at me with lightning speed. I furiously wrote down everything he said, and as we continued talking, looked at the overload of information I had just taken down. Eddie definitely meant business.
He asked if I was ready to plunge in. I had no fear, and told him to bring it on, that I could handle it. Eddie chuckled and said to come down and meet him in person the following day. After we hung up, I wondered what that chuckle meant. That was mid June of 2009, and I can say that now I know.
Overwhelming is a good word to describe my first impression. Within minutes of meeting him, we plunged right in. Eddie shared his life story with me with frank honesty, sparing no detail. It felt like a movie. Who has this kind of life? Hell, who has just one of the lives that Eddie has had? I’ll be damned if I know, and I’ll be damned if I ever come across anyone else like Eddie Roche no matter where I go in this world. The adventures he’s had, the danger, the crushing lows, and improbable highs all would be nearly impossible to make up. And that thought didn’t cross my mind the second I met Eddie, shook his hand, and looked him in the eye. Right then, I knew that the man was telling the truth.
In the months since then, having built a friendship with Eddie, and knowing his family, his friends, and being constant witness to the brightly burning energy that radiates from him nonstop, I feel like I am only beginning to seize the epic nature of what this is. I’ve been privileged to help write part of his story. But he lived it. And he’s still living it. The story is gripping. It’s message is something people need to hear. This is the start to something tremendous, and it will be a wild ride. I’m looking forward to. Bring it on.

Jacqui Siler here, I’ve been working with Eddie for a little while now but this is my first blog post.

When I first met Eddie Roche, to be honest, I was skeptical of this opportunity but I didn’t care because hey – I needed the paycheck. I mean, his story is pretty unbelievable…especially coming from a family man who runs an A/C business in Whittier.

So I went with it. For all I cared, Eddie could tell me he was Superman as long as he paid me for my work. But here’s the kicker – I began to realize that I wasn’t just working for the paycheck anymore. I was working for Eddie. Because working for Eddie was a great experience. In the film industry, usually no news is great news when you’re working for people. They only take the time to tell you that you screwed up. Boy was I surprised when Eddie genuinely showed appreciation and understanding of the work I did. Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but that is worth much more than a paycheck to me. I’ve worked shit jobs for the money and I couldn’t work them long.

Then, on top of all that, things were piling in to prove the verity of the Patriot Hustler story. So now, I’m being paid, appreciated, and working on an incredible, compelling, and TRUE story for this spirited, kind individual, who’s drive is positively contagious. I’ve caught the Hustle, and I’m pretty sure anybody else who starts working even near Ed Roche will do the same.

Welcome welcome and thanks for visiting the official Patriot Hustler Blog! If this is your first time here, please feel free to leave us a comment (see below) with your initial thoughts, reactions and/or shout-outs.

We’ve got a whole slew of special activity planned for Patriot Hustler so, be sure and stay tuned. Until next time, make like Eddie Roche and keep on keeping on, doing good while spreading the good!