Episode 21: From 9/11 to 1-5 Marines, Mike Boscia’s Story

From 9/11 to 1/5 Marines — Mike Boscia’s Story In this episode, I sit down with former Marine Mike Boscia, who served from 2002–2006 as an NBC (Chemical, Biological, Radiological) specialist with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. Mike’s journey into the Marine Corps started on September 11th. As a volunteer firefighter from Westchester County, New York, he responded in the immediate aftermath of the attacks — witnessing the collapse of the towers, digging through debris at Ground Zero, and experiencing firsthand the chaos, grief, and dark humor that only those who were there truly understand . That moment changed everything. Within a year, Mike joined the Marine Corps — determined to serve, determined to go to war, and determined to be part of something bigger than himself. In this conversation, we cover: • Responding to 9/11 as a firefighter • The reality of Ground Zero in the days after the attacks • Dark humor in tragedy and why it matters • Choosing the NBC field in the Marine Corps • Training in live nerve-agent environments • The culture of Marine Corps instructor/trainer life • Pride, identity, and what makes Marines… Marines • Life after service and transitioning into the corporate world There’s humor in this episode. There’s pride. There’s brotherhood. And there’s a raw reminder of why so many of us raised our right hands in the early 2000s. If you served in the GWOT era — or if 9/11 shaped your life in any way — this one will hit home. Want to be a guest? Sign up here: https://womackc3.com/stiw Full episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-there-i-was/id1642849594?i=1000668193218 The post Episode 21: From 9/11 to 1-5 Marines, Mike Boscia’s Story first appeared on Womack C3.