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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
  • Writing Darkhorse, Carrying Combat Story, and What Comes Next | AJ Pasciuti & Ryan Fugit

    Writing Darkhorse, Carrying Combat Story, and What Comes Next | AJ Pasciuti & Ryan Fugit
    Jul 14 2026

    What happens after the writing is done and the book has to face the world?

    Nearly two months after the release of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, the microphone changes hands.

    Combat Story founder Ryan Fugit returns to interview current host AJ Pasciuti in a candid conversation recorded in New York City just days after the launch of Darkhorse. Together, they reflect on the journey from manuscript to publication, the emotional weight of sharing deeply personal stories, and why the mission has always been bigger than a single book.

    The conversation explores the lessons behind Darkhorse, the Marines and mentors who shaped AJ's life, the realities of publishing a memoir, and the future of Combat Story as a community dedicated to preserving the stories of those who have served while inspiring leadership, resilience, and service beyond the military.

    Whether you've been with Combat Story since Ryan hosted the show or recently discovered it through AJ, this special episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes conversation about where Combat Story began, how it has evolved, and where it's headed next.

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Intro
    02:46 The Fear of Publishing a Memoir
    04:46 Arnold Schwarzenegger's Endorsement
    07:50 Writing a Memoir Without Sounding Like a Narcissist
    10:20 Breaking Into Publishing
    12:02 Who Is Darkhorse For?
    13:50 Fact-Checked by the Director of the Marine Corps Museum
    18:35 Cold Calling the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
    20:20 The Weight of Carrying Combat Story
    22:10 The Desert Storm Podumentary
    25:36 The Darkhorse Ethos
    34:14 Reading the Comments After the Big Podcasts
    36:10 The Push Behind Darkhorse
    38:22 Ryan's New Podcast: Restricted Handling
    40:07 Ryan Reveals His Book

    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/book
    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/
    🌐 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

    Ryan Fugit

    Ryan Fugit is the founder of Combat Story, a former U.S. Army AH-64 Apache pilot, former CIA Operations Officer, and host of Restricted Handling, where he explores geopolitics, intelligence, and national security with experts from around the world.

    Find Ryan Online:

    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-fugit
    🎙️ Restricted Handling: https://www.restrictedhandling.com

    Follow Combat Story wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us for new episodes every other Sunday.
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    43 mins
  • The Air Assault That Changed Modern Warfare | Frank Hancock on Desert Storm

    The Air Assault That Changed Modern Warfare | Frank Hancock on Desert Storm
    Jul 6 2026

    What does it take to lead one of the largest air assault operations in military history?

    Retired Army Colonel Frank Hancock joins Combat Story to share a firsthand account of planning and executing the historic 101st Airborne Division air assault during Operation Desert Storm. From intelligence preparation and mission planning to leadership under fire and the evolution of Army doctrine after Vietnam, Frank provides an inside look at one of America's defining military campaigns.

    AJ and Frank also discuss mission command, the role of intelligence in combat, how military leaders make decisions in uncertain environments, and why the lessons of Desert Storm continue to shape modern warfare today.

    Whether you're interested in military history, Army aviation, leadership, or Special Operations, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone who helped lead one of the most significant operations of the Gulf War.

    In This Episode
    • Frank Hancock's journey into Army Aviation
    • Rebuilding the Army after Vietnam
    • Planning the 101st Airborne's Desert Storm air assault
    • Intelligence failures—and successes—that saved lives
    • Leadership under extreme pressure
    • Mission command and decentralized decision-making
    • Lessons from Desert Storm for today's leaders

    This episode is part of Combat Story, where veterans and leaders share the experiences that shaped them in combat and beyond.


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction
    02:34 Frank Hancock's path into Army Aviation
    09:42 Learning leadership as a young officer
    17:26 Building the 101st Airborne after Vietnam
    27:11 Preparing for Operation Desert Shield
    38:54 Planning the largest air assault of Desert Storm
    52:37 Intelligence that changed the mission
    1:05:48 Launching deep into Iraq
    1:18:42 Leadership under uncertainty
    1:31:57 Mission command and battlefield decision-making
    1:44:23 Lessons from Desert Storm that still matter today
    1:57:36 Advice for the next generation of leaders
    2:05:18 Final thoughts

    Guest — Frank Hancock
    Retired U.S. Army intelligence officer, Desert Storm veteran, and author of Operation Desert Storm: How Two Young Intelligence Analysts and an Infantry Battalion Changed the War in Iraq. Frank brings firsthand experience from one of the most successful military campaigns in modern history, offering a rare insider perspective on intelligence, leadership, and warfare.

    📘 Operation Desert Storm
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/1036130437

    ✍️ Signed Copies
    https://www.whistlestopbookshop.com/operation-desert-storm

    📘 Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579963121498


    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

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

    🔗 Website
    https://www.ajpasciuti.com/


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    2 hrs and 17 mins
  • 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
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