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Combat Story

Combat Story

By: AJ Pasciuti
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Combat Story is a podcast built on honest conversations with the men and women who lived it. These are not scripted interviews or highlight reels. They are real accounts from veterans across generations, including infantry, special operations, pilots, JTACs, and more, sharing what it was like to operate in high-stakes environments where decisions carried real consequences. Each conversation explores the path in, the moments that shaped them in combat, and how they carried those experiences forward into life after service. The goal isn't just to create content but to provide context, so the stories, decisions, and the people behind them are understood, preserved, and passed on. Thank you for walking beside us!Copyright Ryan Fugit Science Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Reconnaissance Man EP. 2 - Caribbean Confrontations

    Reconnaissance Man EP. 2 - Caribbean Confrontations
    Jun 29 2026
    In Episode 2 of Reconnaissance Man, presented in partnership with Combat Story, we follow U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant James "Jim" Steele through two defining Cold War flashpoints: the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Dominican Civil War. After returning from Vietnam and serving at Parris Island, Steele finds himself watching the Cuban Missile Crisis unfold from stateside. Unsatisfied with secondhand reporting and eager to understand what American forces were actually doing at Guantanamo Bay, he carries out an unauthorized mission of his own making, sneaking onto a military transport bound for Cuba during one of the most dangerous moments in modern history. What he finds at Gitmo surprises him. Despite the world standing on the edge of nuclear war, Steele sees defensive preparations that fall far short of what he expected. The experience reinforces one of his lifelong lessons: reconnaissance means seeing for yourself. The episode then follows Steele to the Dominican Republic during Operation Power Pack, where U.S. forces intervened during the Dominican Civil War. There, Steele serves as an aerial observer, helps locate a hidden enemy tank, calls in fires, and reflects on the poverty, instability, and human suffering beneath the larger Cold War struggle. This chapter of Reconnaissance Man is about initiative, risk, Cold War tension, and the instincts of a Marine reconnaissance officer who was never content to stay on the sidelines. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Cuban Missile Crisis Begins 01:44 Introducing James "Jim" Steele 03:01 A Hard-Charging Marine Instructor 07:29 Sneaking into Guantanamo Bay 11:20 Life Inside Gitmo During the Missile Crisis 13:53 What Steele Found Defending Guantanamo 16:52 Cold War Technology and Burst Communications 17:56 The Cuban Missile Crisis Comes to an End 19:43 The Court-Martial That Never Happened 21:40 Operation Power Pack Begins 24:23 Deploying to the Dominican Republic 27:58 Hunting an Enemy Tank from the Air 31:53 The Reality Behind the Headlines 34:17 Fighting Poverty, Not Just Rebels 36:02 How the Dominican Civil War Ended 36:54 Episode 3 Preview: Back to Vietnam Created by investigative journalist Ashly McGlone in collaboration with the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation (MRF), and visually brought to life by Combat Story, Reconnaissance Man is a nine-part limited series following Steele's extraordinary 30-year military career through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond. 🎙️ Guest — James Lyle Steele James Lyle Steele is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel whose 30-year career carried him through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond. A member of the original generation of Marine reconnaissance men, Steele's story offers a rare firsthand look at war, survival, and service across decades of American military history. Ashly McGlone is an investigative journalist and the creator of Reconnaissance Man. As Steele's granddaughter, she pairs reporting, narration, and historical context with family connection to bring his extraordinary story to life with depth and care. 🔗 Find Reconnaissance Man and Ashly McGlone Online: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reconnaissanceman/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashlyreports/ ✖️ X (Reconnaissance Man): https://x.com/ReconManPod ✖️ X (Ashly McGlone): https://x.com/AshlyReports 🎙️ Host — AJ Pasciuti AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat. 🔗 Find AJ Online: 📕 Darkhorse: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/Darkhorse 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/ 🔔 Watch. Listen. Follow. If you value real stories and honest perspectives from those who lived it, follow Combat Story wherever you get your podcasts.
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    38 mins
  • James Stejskal: The Secret Green Berets of Cold War Berlin

    James Stejskal: The Secret Green Berets of Cold War Berlin
    Jun 22 2026
    Before Delta Force, before the Global War on Terror, and before the Berlin Wall fell, a small group of Green Berets operated inside one of the most dangerous cities on earth. In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, former Green Beret, former U.S. Foreign Service Political Officer, military historian, and author James Stejskal to explore the little-known story of Special Forces Detachment A Berlin, a classified Cold War unit tasked with operating behind Soviet lines in the event World War III broke out. James shares his journey from Nebraska to the 82nd Airborne, Special Forces selection, and 10th Special Forces Group before pulling back the curtain on life inside divided Berlin. He explains how Green Berets prepared for sabotage missions, resistance operations, intelligence gathering, clandestine identities, and counterterrorism missions while surrounded by Soviet and East German forces. Along the way, we discuss Cold War espionage, unconventional warfare, the evolution of Special Forces after Vietnam, early counterterrorism operations before Delta Force, and the lessons modern operators can learn from a generation that spent decades preparing for a conflict that never came. This is a fascinating look at one of the most secretive units in Special Forces history and the men who stood ready to fight World War III from behind enemy lines. In This Episode: Growing up in Nebraska and joining the Army82nd Airborne and Special Forces selection Robin Sage and earning the Green Beret 10th Special Forces Group Special Forces Detachment A BerlinCold War espionage and clandestine operations Sabotage plans against Warsaw Pact targets Counterterrorism before Delta Force Life behind the Berlin Wall Military history, writing, and preserving hidden stories Guest: James Stejskal James Stejskal is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, former Green Beret, former U.S. Foreign Service Political Officer, military historian, conflict archaeologist, and author of 12 books. He served 23 years in U.S. Army Special Forces and special mission units before continuing his government service overseas. He is the author of Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, Masters of Mayhem, and The Snake Eater Chronicles Cold War espionage series. Website: https://www.jamesstejskalauthor.com Host: AJ Pasciuti Retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Marine Gunner, author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of Combat Story. Darkhorse: https://ajpasciuti.com/book Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Meet James Stejskal 05:35 Growing Up in Nebraska 13:42 Becoming a Green Beret 24:10 Life in 10th Special Forces Group 34:22 The Road to Berlin 44:05 Special Forces Detachment A 56:48 Inside Cold War Berlin 1:08:14 Preparing for World War III 1:18:37 Sabotage and Unconventional Warfare 1:28:21 Espionage and Tradecraft 1:39:52 Resistance Networks Behind Enemy Lines 1:49:46 Counterterrorism Before Delta Force 2:00:33 The Soviet Threat 2:10:18 Lessons from the Cold War 2:18:55 From Green Beret to Historian 2:26:48 Preserving Hidden History 2:34:10 Leadership and Service 2:41:30 Final Thoughts
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    2 hrs and 9 mins
  • From Army Ranger to The Apprentice Winner | Kelly Perdew

    From Army Ranger to The Apprentice Winner | Kelly Perdew
    Jun 8 2026

    How does a West Point graduate and Army Ranger go from military service to winning The Apprentice and building one of the most successful veteran-focused venture capital firms in America?

    In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Kelly Perdew to discuss leadership, service, entrepreneurship, and the lessons that carried him from the U.S. Army to the national spotlight and beyond.

    Kelly shares his journey through West Point, Army Intelligence, and Ranger School before discussing the experience of competing on—and ultimately winning—Season 2 of The Apprentice. He reflects on the leadership lessons he learned in uniform, how military experience shaped his approach to business, and why veterans often possess unique advantages as entrepreneurs and leaders.

    The conversation also explores startup failures, venture capital, the founding of Moonshots Capital, and the importance of backing mission-driven founders who can thrive in uncertain environments.

    Throughout the discussion, Kelly offers practical insights on leadership, resilience, accountability, and what it takes to build successful teams both inside and outside the military.

    In this episode, we discuss:

    • West Point and Army leadership development
    • Ranger School and lessons in perseverance
    • Winning The Apprentice Season 2
    • Transitioning from military service to business
    • Entrepreneurship, startups, and failure
    • Building Moonshots Capital
    • Investing in veteran-led companies
    • Leadership under pressure
    • The value veterans bring to the private sector
    • Creating impact after military service

    Whether you're a veteran navigating transition, an entrepreneur building a company, or simply interested in leadership and personal growth, Kelly's story offers valuable lessons from both the military and business worlds.

    Chapters

    00:00 Leadership Wins Everywhere
    01:12 Meet Kelly Perdew: West Point, Ranger & Apprentice Winner
    06:22 Why Military Leadership Translates to Business
    12:54 Choosing West Point and the Path to Service
    23:23 Ranger School and Learning to Embrace Hardship
    29:56 UCLA, Entrepreneurship & Building His First Startup
    48:10 Inside The Apprentice: How Kelly Won Season 2
    58:39 From Reality TV to Venture Capital
    1:05:42 The ID.me Story and Betting on Veteran Founders
    1:18:23 Building Moonshots Capital
    1:30:29 Why Veterans Make Exceptional Entrepreneurs
    1:35:46 Transitioning Out of the Military Successfully
    1:41:14 Leadership, Service & Leaving a Legacy
    1:45:56 Final Advice for Veterans and Founders

    🎙️ Guest — Kelly Perdew

    West Point graduate, Army Ranger, entrepreneur, author, winner of *The Apprentice* Season 2, and co-founder of Moonshots Capital. Kelly has spent his career leading teams in the military, building and scaling companies, investing in founders, and helping veterans successfully transition into business and entrepreneurship.

    📸 Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/kellyperdew


    💼 LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyperdew

    𝕏:
    https://x.com/kperdew

    🚀 Moonshots Capital:
    https://moonshotscapital.com

    📘 Book — Take Command: Leadership Principles from the Military to Business:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596980001

    🎙️ Host — AJ Pasciuti

    Retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Marine Gunner, author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of Combat Story.

    📕 Darkhorse: https://ajpasciuti.com/Darkhorse

    📸 AJ Pasciuti Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti

    🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com
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    1 hr and 45 mins
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