Tales from the Corps

Send us Fan MailThree months ago, Santos Matos — better known around Tales from the Corps as “Funnel Cake” — sat down with us as a poolee preparing to leave for Marine Corps Recruit Training at Parris Island.Now he’s back as Private Santos Matos, United States Marine.So… how much of what he expected was actually true?In this follow-up conversation, Santos takes us inside his experience at Marine Corps boot camp: what he wasn't prepared for, what breaks recruits, whether you can actually quit, the moments he wanted to quit himself, and how letters from home helped him keep going.We talk about what a normal day at Parris Island was really like, what surprised him most, what he wishes he'd known before shipping out, and what he'd tell someone leaving for boot camp tomorrow.Then we get personal.What did his mom think when he came home? How did his dad react? What did Santos tell the poolees waiting to follow in his footsteps?And after everything that happened over those three months, we ask the question this entire journey has been building toward:Who are you now?Marine Corps boot camp is behind him. Infantry School is next.And Santos's story isn't over.💬 QUESTIONS, STORIES & FAN MAILAre you heading to Marine Corps boot camp? Have a son or daughter preparing to ship? Already earned the title and have a story of your own?Send us fan mail through Buzzsprout, hit us up on social media, join us in the Virtual Barracks, or email [email protected] read what you send — and your question might make it into a future episode when Santos returns after Infantry School.DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences discussed in this episode are the personal views and experiences of Santos Matos throughout his journey from poolee to recruit to United States Marine. They are his own and do not represent the official views, policies, or positions of the United States Marine Corps, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government. Tales from the Corps is not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Marine Corps or Department of Defense.TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailDid the United States have to drop the atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II?Renowned WWII historian Jon Parshall, co-host of The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast and author of the upcoming 1942: The Crux of War, joins Tales From The Corps for an in-depth conversation about one of the most debated questions of the Pacific War.Jon examines the decision to use the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan's willingness and ability to continue fighting, alternatives to dropping the bombs, the role of Emperor Hirohito, and what an invasion or prolonged blockade of Japan could have meant.But the human cost wasn't limited to Americans and Japanese. The war was still killing enormous numbers of people throughout China, Vietnam, Java, and the rest of Asia. Jon explains why every additional month of war mattered—and why understanding the decision requires looking far beyond the two atomic bombings themselves.We also discuss Japan's leadership, surrender, the fate of the Emperor, Soviet entry into the war, the morality of wartime decision-making, and the consequences American servicemen could have faced had the Pacific War continued.This isn't about reducing history to “the bombs were right” or “the bombs were wrong.” It's about understanding the choices available in 1945, their consequences, and the people who would have paid the price.🎙️ Featuring Jon Parshall — The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar 📖 1942: The Crux of War — Order at 1942book.comTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine veteran Justin Cramer joins Tales From The Corps to talk about coordinating airstrikes in Iraq and Afghanistan, serving as a JTAC evaluator, and the experiences that eventually led him to create the Former Action Guys Podcast.Justin takes us inside the world of Marine fire support and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, sharing lessons from his deployments, the responsibility of coordinating close air support in combat, and what he learned serving alongside Marines at war.We also explore the transition home, entrepreneurship, podcasting, and Justin's work preserving the stories and experiences of veterans through Former Action Guys.Contact Justin Kramer:YouTube: @formeractionguysWebsite: https://www.jcramergraphics.comIG: formeractionguysTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailActor Scott Gibson, who appeared in HBO's The Pacific, joins Tales From The Corps to honor and preserve the stories of World War II veterans Don Graves and Allan Chatwin.Gibson joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver following a special gathering in Fredericksburg, Texas, where Graves and Chatwin shared firsthand memories of their service during World War II.In this conversation, we reflect on their experiences, the responsibility of preserving veterans' stories before they're lost, and the unique connection between the veterans who lived this history and the actors and storytellers who have helped bring the WWII generation's experiences to the screen.We also explore the intersection of Hollywood and military history, what it means to spend time with the men whose generation inspired productions like The Pacific, and why recording these firsthand accounts matters for future generations.Featuring: 🎬 Scott Gibson — Actor, HBO's The PacificSupport WWII veteran trips and documentary preservation through Beyond the Call:  www.WWIIBeyondTheCall.comTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailRetired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Mitch “Taco” Bell joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver for an unfiltered session of Marine Corps stories spanning boot camp, Iraq, Afghanistan, barracks life, and the transition back home.Originally recorded as a crossover with Tall Tales with Taco, this conversation brings three Marines together to swap the kind of stories that rarely make it into official histories—from ridiculous boot camp nicknames and barracks pranks to memories of deployments and the challenges veterans face after leaving the military.Mike, Neal, and Taco trade stories about Marine Corps culture, combat deployments, camaraderie, the VA, and the dark humor that follows Marines long after the uniform comes off.Some stories preserve history. Others survive because they're too damn funny to forget.Featuring: 🎙️ LtCol Mitch “Taco” Bell, USMC (Ret.) — Tall Tales with Taco🎥YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@talltaleswithtacobellTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Scout Sniper veteran Matt Harper joins Tales From The Corps to talk about growing up in a family of Marines, his time in the Corps, sobriety, entrepreneurship, and building a new life after military service.Matt shares stories from his Marine Corps experience, the camaraderie and humor that came with it, and the challenges of transitioning from the structure and brotherhood of the military into civilian life.The conversation also explores sobriety, early business failures, financial literacy, and Matt's eventual success in the finance industry. Matt discusses the lessons he learned from setbacks, how those experiences changed his relationship with business and money, and why he now works to help others improve their financial futures.From the mindset of a Marine Scout Sniper to entrepreneurship and rebuilding after failure, Matt's story is about carrying the lessons of the Corps forward while figuring out what comes next.Featuring: 🎙️ Matt Harper — Marine Scout Sniper Veteran, Entrepreneur & Finance ProfessionalTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailEmmy-winning filmmaker and Beyond the Call founder Tracie Hunter joins Tales From The Corps to discuss her mission to document, preserve, and share the firsthand stories of World War II veterans before they're lost to history.Growing up in an Army family, Tracie developed a connection to military service that eventually led her behind the camera. Through Beyond the Call, she has traveled to capture veterans' experiences, preserve their memories, and ensure their voices remain available to future generations.Tracie shares what she's learned from sitting down with members of the WWII generation, the relationships she's formed with veterans along the way, and the responsibility that comes with documenting someone's wartime experiences in their own words.We also discuss the human stories behind military history, the importance of preserving firsthand testimony, and why these accounts become even more valuable as the number of surviving World War II veterans continues to decline.Featuring: 🎥 Tracie Hunter — Emmy-Winning Filmmaker & Founder, Beyond the CallSupport WWII veteran trips and documentary preservation through Beyond the Call: WWIIBeyondTheCall.comContact Tracie Hunter:Email: [email protected] FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine veterans Robert Eunice and Bart Lewis join Tales From The Corps for an hour of Marine Corps pranks, barracks stories, bad decisions, and the kind of chaos that somehow becomes funnier the longer you've been out.Robert returns to the show alongside Bart to trade stories from their time in the Marines—from practical jokes and prank calls to pizza deliveries gone horribly wrong and canteen cups containing things that definitely weren't water.This episode is less about battles and military history and more about the other side of serving: the friendships, boredom, ridiculous ideas, dark humor, and unforgettable characters that make up everyday Marine Corps life.Some memories come from combat. Others come from looking at your buddy and asking, “Who the hell thought this was a good idea?”Featuring: 🎙️ Robert Eunice — Marine Corps Combat Veteran 🎙️ Bart Lewis — Marine Corps Combat VeteranTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailTraveler and filmmaker Anthony Perez joins Tales From The Corps to explore Peleliu—one of the Pacific War's most brutal and often overlooked battlefields—and what remains there today.Anthony's Peleliu: Then and Now project caught our attention through its exploration of the island's World War II history. He shares what it was like to visit Peleliu, walk the ground where Marines and soldiers fought in 1944, and document a battlefield where the scars of war remain part of the landscape.The conversation explores the Battle of Peleliu, battlefield preservation, Pacific Island history, and the power of seeing historic locations as they exist today. Anthony also discusses his travels throughout the Pacific and his approach to documenting the people, cultures, and history he encounters along the way.Beyond Peleliu, we discuss Anthony's experiences across the Pacific—including his time in American Samoa and travels to places such as Niihau—and how travel can create a deeper connection to history than photographs and maps alone can provide.Featuring: 🎥 Anthony Perez — Traveler, Filmmaker & Creator of A Perez VoyagesExplore Anthony's work:📸IG: @aperezvoyages🎥YouTube: A Perez Voyages ▶️Peleliu: Then and NowTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailActor James Badge Dale joins Tales From The Corps to discuss portraying Marine and author Robert Leckie in HBO's The Pacific and the responsibility of bringing the experiences of World War II Marines to the screen.James takes us behind the role of Robert Leckie, whose wartime memoir Helmet for My Pillow became one of the primary sources behind The Pacific. He reflects on the preparation, physical transformation, and emotional weight involved in portraying a real Marine whose experiences in the Pacific War were anything but fictional.The conversation explores the relationship between Hollywood and military history, the importance of authenticity when portraying veterans, and the connection actors can develop with the real people and stories behind their characters.James also shares memories from the production, the humor and unexpected moments that happened along the way, and what the experience taught him about the Marines whose stories The Pacific sought to preserve.At its core, this conversation is about something central to Tales From The Corps: when you're entrusted with someone's story, getting it right matters.Featuring: 🎬 James Badge Dale — Actor, Robert Leckie in HBO's The PacificTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailNavy Corpsman Zac “Doc” Frantz joins Tales From The Corps to talk about serving alongside Marines, the bond between Corpsmen and the infantry, and what it means to earn the trust of the Marines who simply know you as “Doc.”Zac takes us inside the path of becoming a Navy Corpsman and the different assignments that can shape a Corpsman's career, including the distinction between serving “green side” with the Marine Corps and “blue side” with the Navy.The conversation explores the unique relationship between Navy Corpsmen and Marines, adapting to life with an infantry unit, and the responsibility that comes with being the person Marines depend on when someone is injured or a medical emergency unfolds.We also trade stories about Lima Company 3/6, reunions, barracks life, and the difference between the chaos everyone remembers from active duty and getting the same group back together years later. Zac shares the serious moments alongside the humor, camaraderie, and memories that made his time with the Marines unforgettable.This episode was recorded around the Navy Hospital Corps birthday, honoring the Corpsmen who have served alongside Marines across generations.Featuring: ⚕️ Zac “Doc” Frantz — U.S. Navy Corpsman VeteranSupport service members, veterans, and military families through Semper Fi & America's Fund: Semper Fi & America's FundTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailFor Memorial Day, Marines from Lima Company 3/6 come together on Tales From The Corps to remember the friends and fellow Marines who never made it home—and to share the stories that keep their memories alive.Mike Francis and Jon Stough are joined by Jake “The Snake” Lybrook for a conversation about their years in the Marine Corps, from boot camp and the ridiculous moments of young Marines finding their way to the experiences overseas that would stay with them long after they came home.The stories move between humor and remembrance because, for Marines who served together, the two are often inseparable. They talk about brotherhood, loss, deployment memories, the transition to civilian life, and the Marines whose absence is still felt years later.This isn't only a conversation about how Marines died. It's about who they were, the friendships they left behind, and why telling their stories matters.The episode also looks beyond their own generation of Marines to the importance of preserving the stories of World War II veterans, including an effort to honor some of the last surviving members of that generation through a commemorative trip.Featuring: 🪖 Jake “The Snake” Lybrook — Lima Company 3/6 Marine Combat Veteran 🪖 Jon Stough — Lima Company 3/6 Marine Combat VeteranTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailNathan Pinto, founder and curator of the 1944 War Museum, joins Tales From The Corps to talk about preserving World War II history and creating opportunities for veterans to connect with the cast and crew of Band of Brothers and The Pacific.Nathan takes Mike Francis and Neal Fauver inside his work preserving the stories and artifacts of the WWII generation, including veteran gatherings, historical exhibits, and the relationships that have formed through a shared commitment to keeping this history alive.The conversation explores World War II remembrance, Sterling Ward's WWII memorabilia collection, and the story of a historic quilt, along with the people and personal connections behind the artifacts. Nathan discusses why preservation goes beyond simply collecting objects—the stories attached to them are what give those pieces their meaning.Nathan also shares another side of his life as a law enforcement officer, discussing the realities of police work, the transition between high-stress situations and everyday life, and the emotional toll that service-oriented professions can carry.Mike, Neal, and Nathan discuss mental health, vulnerability, camaraderie, and the relationships that form between people whose lives have been shaped by service, whether in the military, law enforcement, or the work of preserving the stories of those who came before them.Featuring: 🎙️ Nathan Pinto — Founder & Curator, 1944 War Museum | Law Enforcement OfficerTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veterans Freddie Joe Farnsworth and Robert Garcia join Tales From The Corps to talk about making the jump from the military to Hollywood—and how real Marine Corps experience translates onto a film set.Freddie and Robert share their paths from serving in the Marines to working in the entertainment industry, where the discipline, experiences, and relationships forged in the Corps followed them into an entirely different world.The conversation explores acting, stunt work, military technical advising, and the challenge of portraying military service authentically on screen. They discuss how veterans can help filmmakers get the details right, from the way Marines move and communicate to the culture and small details that can separate an authentic portrayal from something that immediately feels wrong to anyone who has served.Mike Francis and Neal Fauver also dig into the camaraderie that develops on a film set, the similarities between working with a production crew and operating as part of a military team, and some of the ridiculous moments that happen when Marines find themselves working in Hollywood.It's Semper Hollywood—two Marines, a completely different battlefield, and plenty of stories about what happens when the Corps meets the silver screen.Featuring: 🎬 Freddie Joe Farnsworth — Marine Corps Veteran, Actor & Hollywood Professional 🎬 Robert Garcia — Marine Corps Veteran, Actor & Hollywood ProfessionalTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMike Francis and Neal Fauver sit down for a personal conversation about Marine Corps brotherhood, PTSD, navigating the VA, and the relationships that continue to matter long after the uniform comes off.After building Tales From The Corps together from a distance, Mike and Neal finally meet in person and discover that familiar Marine Corps phenomenon—the ability to meet another Marine and feel like you've known each other for years.They reflect on meeting fellow veterans Jay and Nik, the friendships that formed during the trip, and the role veteran camaraderie continues to play years after leaving active duty. Mike also shares his time with Nik Sampson and HKA USA, including conversations and experiences that reinforced how quickly genuine connections can develop within the veteran community.The conversation takes a more serious turn as Mike discusses his experience navigating PTSD benefits through the VA and the lasting effects of war after coming home. Mike and Neal talk about the challenges veterans don't always discuss openly, the importance of having people who understand where you've been, and why asking for or accepting support can matter.They also reflect on Daniel Morrissey, whose encouragement helped spark the idea that eventually became Tales From The Corps, and how taking that first step ultimately led to the conversations, friendships, and community surrounding the show.At its heart, this episode is about something Marines understand well: you may leave the Corps, but you don't have to leave the brotherhood behind.Featuring: 🎙️ Mike Francis — Marine Corps Combat Veteran & Co-Host 🎙️ Neal Fauver — Marine Corps Veteran & Co-HostTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailRoyal Air Force veteran Leighton Hughes joins the Marines of Lima Company 3/6 for a conversation about British and American military life, military history, and the shared culture that crosses national and service boundaries.Leighton shares stories from his time in the Royal Air Force and compares his experiences with Mike Francis and Neal Fauver's years in the U.S. Marine Corps. The conversation gets into some of the everyday differences between serving in the British and American militaries—including food, deployments, and the RAF's “pay as you dine” system compared with the American military chow hall.The conversation also turns to their shared passion for military history and the books, films, and television series that helped shape that interest, including With the Old Breed, Band of Brothers, and The Pacific.Leighton, Mike, and Neal discuss preserving military memorabilia, the importance of keeping veterans' stories and artifacts from disappearing, and efforts involving the Library of Congress to help preserve military history for future generations.Despite serving under different flags, the stories reveal plenty of familiar ground: military humor, shared experiences, history, camaraderie, and the strange little pieces of service life that veterans never forget.Featuring: 🎙️Leighton Hughes — Royal Air Force VeteranTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps combat veteran Andrew “A Train” Alexander joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver to reunite, trade stories, and reflect on their experiences serving together with Lima Company 3/6 during their 2007 deployment to Iraq.The three Marines look back on the friendships, humor, chaos, and shared experiences that built their bond during deployment—and what it feels like to reconnect years after everyone went their separate ways.The conversation also gets into coming home from combat and adjusting to civilian life, including the parts of military culture and deployment that can be difficult to explain to people who weren't there. Andrew, Mike, and Neal discuss reintegration, mental health, and the ways experiences from war can continue affecting veterans long after a deployment ends.But this isn't only a conversation about the difficult parts. They also trade the ridiculous stories and memories that survive alongside everything else—the kind of moments that can immediately transport a group of Marines back to being young men serving together on the other side of the world.At its core, this episode is about combat, coming home, and the friendships that survive both.Featuring: 🪖 Andrew “A Train” Alexander — Marine Corps Combat Veteran, Lima Company 3/6TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine infantry veteran Michael Sylvester returns to Tales From The Corps to talk about the path that led him into the Marine Corps, the realities of Marine training, and what happens when the structure and brotherhood of military life suddenly disappear.Michael shares how his family history and experiences before the military influenced his decision to join the Marines and ultimately pursue the infantry. He reflects on the unexpected circumstances that can shape someone's path into military service and the people who influence those decisions along the way.The conversation gets into Marine Corps boot camp, infantry training, leadership, and the mental preparation required for combat. Michael discusses the pressure placed on young Marines, the lessons that stayed with him, and how those experiences shaped the person he became.Mike Francis, Neal Fauver, and Michael also talk about the other side of military service: leaving it. Michael describes the complicated experience of walking away from the camaraderie, structure, and sense of purpose that had defined everyday life and having to figure out where those pieces fit in the civilian world.Along the way, there are plenty of Marine Corps stories—including everything from swim qualification to Grass Week—and the kind of humor that inevitably surfaces whenever Marines start comparing experiences.Featuring: 🪖 Michael Sylvester — Marine Corps Combat VeteranTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veteran Juan Ramirez joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver for an honest conversation about sobriety, life after alcohol, and the role Marine brotherhood can play when veterans decide to make a change.At the time of this conversation, all three Marines were at different points in sobriety. Neal had reached a year, Mike was approaching six months, and Juan was building his own time sober. Rather than presenting sobriety as a finish line, they talk about what everyday life looks like without alcohol and the decisions, relationships, and challenges that come with it.The conversation moves through Marine Corps stories, deployment memories, mental health, camaraderie, and the strange experiences that stay funny years after leaving the service. Juan, Mike, and Neal reflect on how those shared experiences created relationships that continue to matter long after everyone came home.They also discuss social media, self-worth, entrepreneurship, and reaching out when you need help, whether that's in business, sobriety, or everyday life.This isn't a story about having everything figured out. It's three Marines at different points on the same road, talking about alcohol, accountability, brotherhood, and taking sobriety one day at a time.Featuring: 🪖 Juan Ramirez — Marine Corps Combat VeteranTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailActor Josh Bitton joins Tales From The Corps to talk about portraying Sgt. J.P. Morgan in HBO's The Pacific, preparing to play a Marine, and what happens when Hollywood attempts to recreate the culture, humor, and experiences of the Marine Corps.Josh joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver for a conversation that moves between Marine Corps boot camp stories and life on a major film and television production. They compare the real experiences of Marines with the training actors undergo when preparing to portray them on screen—including the discipline, personalities, and dark humor that can be difficult to understand from outside the Corps.Josh shares behind-the-scenes experiences from working on The Pacific and other productions, including World War Z, and discusses the relationships that develop among actors and crews while working through demanding shoots.Mike and Neal bring their own Marine Corps experiences into the conversation, trading stories about drill instructors, boot camp, barracks humor, combat, and the transition home. The discussion also touches on PTSD and why veterans can sometimes recognize pieces of their own experiences when military stories are portrayed authentically.At the center of the conversation is the intersection between Marines and the actors entrusted with portraying them—and why the small details, personalities, humor, and human stories matter when bringing military history to the screen.Featuring: 🎬 Josh Bitton — Actor, Sgt. J.P. Morgan in HBO's The PacificTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail“The Hurricane,” Mike and Neal's former platoon sergeant from Lima Company 3/6 Weapons Platoon, returns for Part II of their reunion—continuing the stories of Marine Corps leadership, deployments, brotherhood, and life after the Corps.The conversation goes further back into The Hurricane's Marine Corps career, including his time with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and the path that eventually brought him to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, where he would become the platoon sergeant responsible for Marines including Mike Francis.The three Marines trade stories about assignments, nicknames, leadership, and the unpredictable paths Marine Corps careers can take. The Hurricane reflects on the responsibility of leading Marines, the lessons accumulated over a career in the Corps, and what those relationships look like years after everyone has moved on.They also discuss VA claims, navigating the veterans' benefits system, and adjusting to life after military service. The conversation reflects on how the discipline and mentality developed in the Marine Corps can remain useful after retirement—while some parts of leaving the military require learning an entirely different way of operating.Part II also returns to the history and traditions of the Corps, including 2/7, 3/6, and the generations of Marines whose experiences become part of the units that follow them.Featuring: 🪖 “The Hurricane” — Retired Marine Master Sergeant & Former Platoon Sergeant, Lima Company 3/6 Weapons PlatoonTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMike Francis and Neal Fauver reunite with their former platoon sergeant from Lima Company 3/6 Weapons Platoon—known to the Marines simply as “The Hurricane”—for a conversation about leadership, brotherhood, combat, and the bonds that remain long after leaving the Marine Corps.The three Marines look back on serving together and the relationship between a platoon sergeant and the young Marines entrusted to his leadership. They share stories about training, pushing Marines to become better, the personalities inside a weapons platoon, and the experiences that transformed a group of Marines into a family.The conversation also explores leadership in the Marine Corps, deployment memories, and the transition from military service to civilian life. Years after serving together, they reflect on how their perspectives have changed—and which lessons from those years never left them.The discussion turns toward PTSD, mental health, and seeking help after combat, including how difficult it can be for veterans accustomed to carrying problems themselves to admit when they need support. They talk openly about the importance of veterans being able to speak honestly with the people who understand where they've been.More than anything, this episode captures what happens when Marines from the same platoon sit down years later and realize that rank may disappear, uniforms get packed away, and life moves forward—but some bonds don't go anywhere.Featuring: 🪖 “The Hurricane” — Former Platoon Sergeant, Lima Company 3/6 Weapons PlatoonTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine veterans Matt Talbot and Jeffrey Gattis join Mike Francis to trade stories from their years in the Corps, deployments to Kabul, and the experiences that followed them into life after military service—including navigating the VA disability claims process.The conversation goes back to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, where Mike first arrived as a new Marine and began forming friendships that would continue through deployments and long after everyone left active duty.Mike, Matt, and Jeffrey revisit stories from their time together, including memories from Husaybah, Iraq,  Kabul, Afghanistan, the infamous Xbox explosion, the TV incident, and the kind of ridiculous moments that somehow become permanent parts of a deployment story.The conversation then turns to the VA disability claims process. After leaving the Marine Corps, Matt began helping fellow veterans navigate VA claims and better understand a system that can be confusing for veterans attempting to document conditions connected to their military service.They discuss the importance of understanding the claims process, documenting your experiences and conditions, and veterans helping other veterans navigate systems they have already learned themselves.It's a conversation about Marine Corps friendships, Afghanistan, Iraq, VA claims, and what happens when the Marines you served beside continue looking out for each other years after everyone comes home.Featuring: 🪖 Matt Talbot — Marine Corps Combat Veteran 🪖 Jeffrey Gattis — Marine Corps Combat VeteranTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps combat veterans Scott Garavito and Robert Eunice return to Tales From The Corps to join Mike Francis for another round of stories from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines—covering Afghanistan, boot camp, barracks life, and the chaos that follows Marines wherever they go.Scott, Robert, and Mike look back on the people and experiences that shaped their years in the Corps, from memorable drill instructors and the characters they encountered as young Marines to the friendships that carried through deployments and life after active duty.The conversation returns to Afghanistan and their shared experiences as 3/6 Marines, mixing deployment memories with the ridiculous stories that happen in between the serious moments. They trade stories about pranks, field life, questionable decisions, and the kind of improvised solutions Marines somehow convince themselves are good ideas.They also revisit Marine Corps training, boot camp, leadership, and camaraderie, reflecting on how differently some of those experiences look years later—and why the funniest stories are often the ones nobody thought were funny while they were actually happening.This is Scott and Robert's second appearance on Tales From The Corps, continuing a conversation built around the people, places, humor, and shared experiences that made their time in the Marines unforgettable.Featuring: 🪖 Scott Garavito — Marine Corps Combat Veteran, 3/6 🪖 Robert Eunice — Marine Corps Combat Veteran, 3/6TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veterans Robert Eunice and Vito join Tales From The Corps for a conversation about 3/6, barracks life, Marine Corps humor, alcohol, and the traditions and stories that somehow survive from one generation of Marines to the next.This marks Robert Eunice's first appearance on Tales From The Corps, while Vito returns for his third. Alongside Mike Francis and Neal Fauver, they trade stories about the personalities, pranks, questionable decisions, and unforgettable moments that became part of everyday Marine Corps life.Among them is the now-legendary SgtMaj Diaz “teabag speech”—a story involving leadership, Marines behaving like Marines, and a situation that probably wasn't covered in any official professional military education curriculum.The conversation also gets more serious as the group discusses the Marine Corps' complicated relationship with alcohol. They reflect on how drinking becomes intertwined with military culture and camaraderie, while also acknowledging the problems that can follow when that relationship becomes unhealthy.The Marines also look across generations of the Corps, discussing how stories and traditions survive from the World War II and Pacific War generation to Marines serving today. From battlefield history to something as simple as a tiny bottle of Tabasco packed inside an MRE, seemingly insignificant details can become part of the culture Marines pass down.It's an episode about Marine Corps humor, history, alcohol, camaraderie, and the strange traditions that make perfect sense to Marines—and almost nobody else.Featuring: 🪖 Robert Eunice — Marine Corps Combat Veteran, 3/6 Lima 🪖 Scott Garavito — Marine Corps Veteran Combat Veteran, 3/6 LimaTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailActor Scott Gibson returns for Part II of our conversation about portraying Marine Captain Andrew “Ack Ack” Haldane in HBO's The Pacific, taking us behind the scenes of filming the Pacific War and the responsibility of honoring the real Marines whose stories inspired the series.Scott describes what it was like stepping onto a major combat production for the first time, including filming around explosions, stunts, weapons, and carefully coordinated battle sequences. He explains how the production created the intensity seen on screen while maintaining the precision and safety required behind the camera.The conversation turns to the recreation of Peleliu, one of the defining battles depicted in The Pacific. Scott discusses the challenges of portraying combat for television and the strange contrast between recreating some of the darkest moments of the Pacific War while still dealing with the unpredictable realities of working on a film set.Scott, Mike Francis, and Neal Fauver also explore the responsibility involved in portraying Capt. Andrew Haldane, a real Marine whose life and death carry meaning far beyond a television character. They discuss the scrutiny actors can face when portraying historical figures and why respecting the veterans and families connected to these stories matters.Scott also shares stories about the friendships and pranks among the cast of The Pacific and how the relationships built during production continued after filming ended.The conversation closes with Haldane's legacy and efforts to preserve his story, including his wartime correspondence and the possibility of those letters reaching new generations through biography and audio narration.Featuring: 🎬 Scott Gibson — Actor, Capt. Andrew “Ack Ack” Haldane in HBO's The PacificPart II of our two-part conversation with Scott Gibson.TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailActor Scott Gibson joins Tales From The Corps for the first of a two-part conversation about portraying Marine Captain Andrew “Ack Ack” Haldane in HBO's The Pacific, the responsibility of portraying a real person, and the path that brought Scott to one of the most acclaimed military productions ever made.In the first conversation we ever recorded with Scott, he takes Mike Francis and Neal Fauver through his path from athletics to acting, studying his craft in London, working in Toronto, and the audition that eventually landed him the role of Capt. Andrew Haldane in The Pacific.Scott discusses the preparation required to portray a real Marine officer whose story and legacy still matter deeply to veterans and military historians. That process went beyond learning lines—he studied Haldane's personal letters and history in an effort to understand the man behind the uniform and portray him with the respect the role demanded.The conversation explores historical accuracy, acting, military culture, and the responsibility that comes with bringing real veterans' experiences to the screen. Scott reflects on the physical and emotional preparation involved in The Pacific and the relationships that formed among the cast while recreating events experienced by Marines during World War II.Mike and Neal also discuss what it's like for veterans to watch actors portray Marines and why seemingly small details can determine whether a performance feels authentic to someone who has actually worn the uniform.Featuring: 🎬 Scott Gibson — Actor, Capt. Andrew “Ack Ack” Haldane in HBO's The PacificPart I of our two-part conversation with Scott Gibson.TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veteran Neal Fauver joins Tales From The Corps for a wide-ranging conversation about military service, his 2007 deployment to Iraq, PTSD, addiction, and finding purpose after leaving the military.Neal shares stories from his 2007 deployment to Iraq, along with his family's connection to military service, including his father's experiences in Navy cryptology. The conversation moves between deployment memories, military culture, and the experiences that continue to shape veterans long after they come home.The discussion turns toward some of the more difficult parts of life after military service, including PTSD, isolation, alcohol, addiction, and the transition to civilian life. We talk openly about the challenges veterans can face after leaving the structure and camaraderie of the military and the struggle to find a new sense of purpose.There is plenty of room for the less serious side of the conversation as well, including sports rivalries, Neal's loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys, military humor, and the completely unrelated stories that inevitably surface whenever Marines get together.From Iraq and life after the Corps to mental health, addiction, sports, and one memorable story involving an overheating car, this episode captures the mix of serious conversation and Marine Corps humor at the heart of Tales From The Corps.Featuring: 🎙️ Neal Fauver — Marine Corps Veteran 🎉 This episode also marks a milestone for Tales From The Corps as we celebrate more than 2,000 podcast downloads. Thank you to everyone who listened, shared the show, and helped us reach this point—and a special thank you to our producer, Janine Stella, for her work behind the scenes helping bring Tales From The Corps to life. TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veteran Kris Peoples joins Tales From The Corps to reconnect, trade stories from their years in the Marines, and talk about the unexpected path from military service into finance and business.Kris shares stories from his Marine Corps years, including rifle range experiences, close calls, weapons mishaps, and the kind of stories Marines can still laugh about years after everyone has gone their separate ways. The conversation also takes a detour into experiences surrounding the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and some of the unexpected situations that came with it.The discussion then turns toward transitioning from the military into the financial industry, including lessons learned about business, changing markets, and building a career after leaving the structure of the Marine Corps.Kris also discusses his experience building a successful AMC venture, while the conversation explores customer relationships, service, competition, and the lessons from military life that can carry into entrepreneurship and finance.Through the war stories, business conversations, and inevitable Marine Corps humor, this episode is ultimately about reconnecting with someone you served alongside and discovering where life took both of you after the Corps.Featuring: 🪖 Kris Peoples — Marine Corps Veteran & Finance ProfessionalTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Sergeant and former Drill Instructor Michael Sylvester joins Tales From The Corps to talk about training Marines, serving in the post-9/11 Marine Corps, and the responsibility of transforming recruits into Marines.A fellow 3/6 Marine, Michael shares his path through the Corps and the experiences that eventually took him to drill instructor duty. He takes us inside Marine Corps recruit training, explaining the intensity, discipline, and expectations placed on both recruits and the Drill Instructors responsible for training them.Michael discusses life on the drill field, the relationship between Drill Instructors and recruits, and the balance between demanding performance and developing Marines capable of succeeding once they leave recruit training and enter the Fleet Marine Force.The conversation also explores how the Marine Corps changed during the years following September 11, 2001, when Marines were being trained for a country actively fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Michael reflects on the responsibility of preparing young Marines during that era and how his own experiences shaped the way he approached leadership and training.We also talk about the transition from Drill Instructor duty back to the fleet, Marine Corps leadership, pride in earning the title Marine, and the stories and humor Michael accumulated along the way.Featuring: 🪖 Sgt. Michael Sylvester — Marine Corps Veteran, Former Drill Instructor & 3/6 MarineTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veterans Justin Harris and Pete Schuster join Tales From The Corps to reconnect, trade stories from their years serving together, and reflect on the friendships that remain long after Marines leave active duty.Justin and Pete look back on their 2003–2004 deployment to Afghanistan, along with time spent in Italy and Egypt, sharing memories of the people, places, and experiences that shaped their years in the Marine Corps.The conversation moves between the serious and ridiculous sides of military service—from difficult conditions and long stretches without basic comforts to pranks, deployment stories, and the humor Marines rely on when circumstances suck.Justin and Pete also discuss returning home, transitioning into civilian life, and what it's like reconnecting with Marines you haven't seen in years only to discover that the relationship picks up almost exactly where it left off.Recorded around the 248th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps, the conversation also reflects on the generations of Marines who came before them, the traditions passed down through the Corps, and why those connections continue to matter long after service.Featuring: 🪖 Justin Harris — Marine Corps Veteran 🪖 Pete Schuster — Marine Corps VeteranTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailTales From The Corps marks the 248th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps and Veterans Day with a conversation about Marine Corps traditions, veteran brotherhood, and the challenges that can follow military service.The conversation explores the different experiences veterans face after leaving the military, including the support systems available to them and the role of Veterans Treatment Courts in helping eligible veterans whose military service and related challenges intersect with the criminal justice system.We also talk about the differences between military branches, Marine Corps culture, and the traditions that connect generations of Marines long after their time in uniform ends.The episode moves between serious subjects and the stories that make up everyday Marine Corps life—from boot camp memories and finding new purpose after service to one Marine discovering a passion for hockey.We also reflect on Afghanistan and the complicated emotions surrounding the end of America's war there, including memories of serving in the country and the people left behind after the U.S. withdrawal.Recorded around Veterans Day and the Marine Corps' 248th Birthday, this episode is a conversation about service, tradition, humor, remembrance, and what comes after the uniform.TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailTales From The Corps looks back on the people, experiences, and friendships that shaped our years in the Marine Corps—from the chaos of boot camp to the relationships built while serving and deploying together.We trade stories about Marine Corps boot camp, the Drill Instructors and unforgettable characters we encountered along the way, and the experiences that seemed miserable in the moment but somehow became stories worth telling years later.The conversation also turns to deployments and the friendships formed through military service. We talk about what it's like sharing some of the most intense periods of your life with the same group of Marines and why those relationships can feel completely different from friendships formed outside the military.We also discuss what happens after everyone comes home and eventually leaves the Corps—staying connected, reconnecting after years apart, and maintaining friendships when military life is no longer keeping everyone in the same place.Between the serious memories are plenty of ridiculous Marine Corps stories, because some of the strongest friendships from military service were built while everyone was simply trying to make it through the same suck together.TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veteran Justin Harris joins Tales From The Corps to share his experiences with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines and what it was like watching the Marine Corps change almost overnight after the attacks of September 11, 2001.Justin looks back on joining and serving in a peacetime Marine Corps before 9/11 transformed the mission and sent a generation of Marines toward war. He remembers the atmosphere in the barracks that morning, the uncertainty about what would happen next, and how quickly training and expectations began to take on a different meaning.The conversation follows Justin through Afghanistan, including deployment stories, training operations, and the experiences that defined his time overseas. He also discusses VBSS missions—Visit, Board, Search and Seizure—and training alongside Egyptian forces, offering a look at some of the less commonly discussed missions Marines encountered during that era.Along the way, Justin shares the stories and personalities that made his time in the Corps unforgettable, from rifle-field containers and training mishaps to a fellow Marine known as “Ski.”The conversation also moves into life after service, Justin's transition from Mississippi to Nebraska, and a discussion about veteran mental health and the experiences Marines continue carrying years after coming home.Featuring: 🪖 Justin Harris — Marine Corps Veteran, 3rd Battalion, 6th MarinesTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veteran Scott Garavito joins Tales From The Corps to trade stories about deployments, field life, Iraq, and the ridiculous situations that become some of the most memorable parts of military service.Vito joins the conversation for stories ranging from Hunter's wedding and life in the field to carrying heavy packs, surviving without showers, and figuring out how to stay relatively clean when bathing facilities aren't exactly part of the accommodations.The conversation gets into the language and culture of military life, including MREs, BAH, CAX, and the kind of terminology that becomes completely normal while serving and completely incomprehensible to everyone else.Vito also shares stories from Iraq, including an encounter with locals hauling crates of Pepsi, while the conversation turns to experiences in Gannon, operating around tanks, and some of the unexpected situations that unfolded during deployments and training.As usual, plenty of the conversation has nothing to do with combat—from questionable bathroom solutions and wedding stories to Frank's memorable interactions with babies and an experience at American Airlines in Houston.It's a collection of the strange, funny, uncomfortable, and occasionally serious moments that rarely make it into official Marine Corps history—but somehow become the stories Marines are still telling each other years later.Featuring: 🪖 Scott Garavito — Marine Corps Combat VeteranTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veteran Scott Vito Garavito joins Tales From The Corps to trade stories from his time with 3/6 and talk openly about the experiences veterans can carry long after leaving the military.Vito looks back on the chaos of Marine Corps life, including the personalities, parties, questionable decisions, and moments when leadership attempted—with varying degrees of success—to keep a group of young Marines under control.The conversation moves through 3/6 stories, Marine Corps camaraderie, music, NCIS, and the experiences that built relationships between Marines who learned to depend on each other when things went wrong. Vito reflects on the people who stepped in when he needed them and the bonds that remained after everyone left the Corps.The discussion then turns toward post-service trauma and mental health. Vito shares some of the struggles that followed him home, the process of confronting those experiences, and the realization that asking for help doesn't have to mean facing them alone.The serious conversation sits alongside the ridiculous Marine Corps stories because both are part of the same experience—the memories that still make you laugh and the ones that can be much harder to carry.Featuring: 🪖 Scott Garavito — Marine Corps Combat Veteran, 3/6 MarinesTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailUFC legend Mark “The Hammer” Coleman joins Tales From The Corps for an open conversation about alcoholism, sobriety, recovery, and rebuilding his life after addiction.At the time of this conversation, Mark was more than two years sober and joined us on National Sober Day to talk about the years alcohol controlled his life, the damage it caused, and what ultimately pushed him toward making a change.Mark discusses the role friends, support, discipline, patience, and faith played in his recovery and why accepting help became an important part of getting sober. He reflects on the difference between fighting inside a cage and confronting a problem that couldn't be beaten through toughness alone.The conversation also explores the stigma surrounding addiction and recovery, why people struggling with alcohol can resist asking for help, and how speaking openly about sobriety can make it easier for someone else to admit they're struggling.Co-host Adam Gray also shares his own perspective during the conversation as Mark and the crew discuss maintaining structure, staying active, and continuing to move forward when life gets difficult.This isn't a story about winning every day. It's a conversation about alcoholism, accountability, recovery, and continuing to choose sobriety one day at a time.Featuring: 🥊 Mark “The Hammer” Coleman — UFC Legend & UFC Hall of FamerTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps combat veteran Jon Stough joins Tales From The Corps to revisit stories from Lima Company 3/6, their time in Afghanistan, and the reunion that brought Marines who served together back into the same room years later.Jon discusses helping organize a Lima 3/6 reunion in Houston, Texas, with support from Semper Fi & America's Fund, creating an opportunity for Marines and their families to reconnect with people they hadn't seen in years.The conversation quickly turns into exactly what happens when Marines reunite—old nicknames, questionable decisions, field stories, plenty of beer, and memories that haven't been told in a very long time. From names like “Marlboro Man” and “Quagmire” to stories from training and deployment, the people behind the memories take center stage.Jon also joins us in looking back on Afghanistan, including life at the Hummer, extreme weather, dangerous missions, and the moments that were anything but funny when they happened. Years later, those experiences remain part of the shared history connecting the Marines who were there.The conversation also remembers Darnell and other Marines lost along the way, honoring the people who aren't able to sit around the table at the reunion and tell the stories themselves.This episode is about more than getting the old platoon back together. It's about reconnecting with the Marines you served beside, remembering those who are gone, and keeping the stories of Lima 3/6 alive.Featuring: 🪖 Jon Stough — Marine Corps Combat Veteran, Lima Company 3/6Support service members, veterans, and military families through Semper Fi & America's Fund: Semper Fi & America's FundTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps combat veteran Jon Stough joins Tales From The Corps to trade stories about deployments, barracks life, tattoos, and the strange situations that somehow become normal when you're surrounded by Marines.Jon joins the conversation for stories from their years in the Corps, including combat deployments, barracks rooms full of smashed furniture, rooftop sunbathing overseas, and the kind of decisions that probably seemed completely reasonable at the time.The conversation explores the humor and unpredictability of everyday Marine Corps life alongside the more serious experiences that come with serving and deploying together. Years later, some of the smallest and most ridiculous moments are often the ones everyone remembers.Jon also joins us for a conversation about tattoos and Marine Corps culture, including the stories behind them, the misconceptions surrounding Marines with tattoos, and why ink becomes such a common part of military life.From deployment memories to barracks chaos, this episode captures the side of Marine Corps service that rarely appears in official histories—the bizarre stories, inside jokes, and experiences that Marines continue telling each other long after leaving active duty.Featuring: 🪖 Jon Stough — Marine Corps Combat Veteran, Lima Company 3/6TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps combat veteran and radio operator Joshua Rupe joins Tales From The Corps to talk about Iraq, battlefield communications, Marine Corps training, and adjusting to life after war.Joshua shares his experiences serving as a Marine radio operator, where staying calm and maintaining communications could become critical when situations changed quickly. He reflects on his deployment to Iraq, the responsibility that came with his role, and the Marines and leaders who influenced him along the way.The conversation includes Joshua reconnecting with former commander Colonel Pitchford and reflecting on leadership, mentorship, and the relationships that remain years after Marines stop serving together.Joshua also takes us back to Stone Bay and his experience with Surveillance and Target Acquisition, discussing an assignment that initially intimidated him but ultimately became an important part of his time in the Corps.The conversation moves into life after combat, navigating the VA, and transitioning from the Marine Corps into civilian life. Joshua discusses the differences between military and civilian culture, the strange pieces of Marine Corps language and routine that stick with you, and the role other combat veterans played in helping him adjust after coming home.From Iraq and battlefield communications to Stone Bay, leadership, the VA, and life after service, Joshua's story captures both the responsibilities Marines carry while serving and the relationships that continue after the uniform comes off.Featuring: 🪖 Joshua Rupe — Marine Corps Combat Veteran | Sniper & Radio OperatorTALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailMarine Corps veteran Juan Ramirez joins Tales From The Corps to trade stories from Lima Company 3/6, deployments overseas, and the transition from military service into civilian life.Juan looks back on the people and experiences that shaped his time in the Marine Corps, from unexpected visits by senior leadership and time at 29 Palms to deployment memories from Kandahar, Afghanistan.The conversation also explores experiences involving the Israel Defense Forces in Israel, the relationships formed through military service, and how veterans stayed connected as social media began making it easier to find Marines they hadn't spoken to in years.Juan discusses his own transition after leaving the Corps, including moving from hospitality into security work and an assignment in Mexico. He shares lessons learned about adapting to civilian careers, financial planning and investing, and dealing with unexpected events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.The conversation also turns to VA benefits and the importance of veterans understanding the resources available to them after military service.Between the serious subjects are plenty of Marine Corps memories, inside jokes, and stories about the strange experiences that become part of a unit's history—including the idea of preserving some of those memories through a Lima 3/6 unit yearbook.Featuring: 🪖 Juan Ramirez — Marine Corps Combat Veteran, Lima Company 3/6TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailWelcome to Tales From The Corps—a podcast built around the stories Marines and veterans tell each other long after the uniforms are packed away.In our first episode, we introduce the conversations behind the show and share stories from our years in the Marine Corps, from the serious experiences that shaped us to the completely ridiculous moments that somehow became permanent memories.We talk about Marine Corps life, leaving active duty, infantry and weapons MOSs including 0351 and 0341, barracks life, chow halls, CARs, deployments, and the personalities you never forget. Some stories can be told publicly. Others will probably stay locked away with the Marines who were there.The conversation also explores life after the Corps and the different directions veterans take when military service ends, including entrepreneurship, business ownership, networking, and finding new skills and interests in the civilian world.More than anything, this first episode establishes what Tales From The Corps is about: honest conversations, Marine Corps humor, military stories, and preserving the experiences of the people who served.Some stories are serious. Some are ridiculous. Some probably shouldn't be told at all.Welcome to Tales From The Corps.TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailWelcome to, Tales from the Corps, presented by SBX. Join my fellow Marine, Adam, Addy Joe, Gray, and myself, Mike, Frank Francis as we share our stories from our time in the United States Marine Corps.In addition to our tales, we will have guests joining us each week, ranging from fellow Marines and veteran business owners and professionals to professional athletes and more. If you're a fan of war stories, crazy Libo antics, and the wild happenings during combat deployments, then Tales from the Corps is the podcast for you.So, ruck up, fall in, and follow us on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred platform, and leave us a five-star rating. Join us on this journey as we relive our Tales from the Corps!  TALES FROM THE CORPS Real stories. Unfiltered conversations. Veterans, families, historians, and the people preserving their legacy.🎥 YouTube: Tales From The Corps Podcast 🎵 TikTok: @tales.from.the.corps 📸 Instagram: @talesfromthecorps 🪖 Virtual Barracks: VirtualBarracks.com 💬 Discord: Join the Virtual Barracks 📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected]