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.

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 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 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.

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.

• 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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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

What happens after the uniform comes off?

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Army combat veteran, firefighter, MMA fighter, and author James McDevitt for one of the most honest conversations we've had about service, trauma, purpose, and the lifelong search for meaning after war.

James shares his journey from growing up in a military family to deploying to Iraq as an 18-year-old convoy gunner during some of the deadliest years of the war. He talks about football, failure, identity, and the difficult transition from combat deployments back into civilian life.

The conversation also dives deeply into the emotional realities of firefighting — including the lasting impact of trying to save a young child trapped in a house fire — and the psychological burden first responders and veterans often carry long after the moment ends.

AJ and James discuss:

• What it feels like to make life-or-death decisions at 18 years old
• The addiction many veterans feel toward combat and high-stakes environments
• Why being "left out of the fight" can deeply affect soldiers psychologically
• Brotherhood, love, sacrifice, and why war creates bonds unlike anything else
• Football, MMA, firefighting, and finding identity after losing purpose
• PTSD, suicide, vulnerability, masculinity, and the importance of mentorship
• Why failure often teaches more than success ever can

James also discusses his debut novel, A Walk Among Heroes, a story inspired by true events that explores war, love, loss, and what it means to come home after conflict.

This episode is raw, reflective, and deeply human.

If you're interested in military service, combat psychology, firefighting, leadership, masculinity, veteran transition, or the emotional realities behind war stories, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.

🎙️ Guest — James McDevitt
Army combat veteran, firefighter, MMA fighter, and author of A Walk Among Heroes. James writes and speaks about war, brotherhood, trauma, resilience, and the lifelong search for purpose after service.

📸 Instagram: @JamesMcDevittAuthor

🎵 TikTok: @JamesMcDevittAuthor

▶️ YouTube: @JamesMcDevittAuthor

📘 Facebook: @JamesMcDevittAuthor

🔗 Website: JamesMcDevittAuthor.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/Darkhors

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

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

CHAPTERS

00:00 – The House Fire That Changed Everything
01:06 – Introduction | James McDevitt
03:20 – Why James Wrote "A Walk Among Heroes"
07:40 – Growing Up in a Military Family
13:10 – Football, Identity, and Young Masculinity
18:45 – Joining the Army After 9/11
25:00 – Iraq at 18 Years Old
31:20 – Convoy Combat and Daily Violence
39:50 – Brotherhood in War
47:10 – The Addiction to High-Stakes Environments
54:20 – Coming Home from Combat
1:01:40 – Firefighting and Exposure to Death
1:09:15 – Trying to Save a Child in a House Fire
1:18:20 – PTSD, Suppression, and Emotional Numbness
1:26:30 – MMA Fighting and Finding Purpose
1:34:10 – Veterans, Suicide, and Isolation
1:42:00 – Why Failure Shapes Us
1:49:15 – Writing Fiction Inspired by Real Experience
1:56:30 – Advice for Young Men Considering Service
2:02:10 – Final Thoughts on Brotherhood and Purpose

Today on Combat Story, we hear the story of Joshua "Josh" Shores — Marine infantry combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, former Marine Raider, retired firefighter, entrepreneur, and author of Counting on Death: A Marine Infantryman's Journey from the Front Lines of Combat to the Fight for Peace.

Josh served with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines during some of the hardest fighting in Ramadi before later deploying to Afghanistan with Marine Special Operations. In this conversation, he takes us through the reality of combat as a 19-year-old Marine, the burden of surviving when others did not, and the long fight to make peace with the memories that followed him home.

Although AJ and Josh never served together, this episode becomes a deeply relatable conversation between two Marines who carried similar experiences through different units, deployments, and years of war. There are moments where the interview gives way to recognition, where both men are able to sit inside the same memories, ask harder questions, and give language to parts of combat that are rarely spoken about clearly.

This episode goes far beyond firefights and deployments.

Josh speaks candidly about the culture inside the infantry during the height of the Iraq War, the emotional toll of losing friends to IEDs, the confusion of counterinsurgency warfare, survivor's guilt, shame, identity, suicide, and the struggle many veterans face trying to reconnect with life after combat.

This is a conversation about consequence.
About brotherhood.
About grief.
And about trying to find peace after war.

🎙️ Guest — Joshua "Josh" Shores
Marine infantry combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, former Marine Raider, retired firefighter, entrepreneur, and author of Counting on Death. He served with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in Ramadi before later deploying to Afghanistan with Marine Special Operations.

🔗 Find Joshua Online:

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CountingOnDeath/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuashoresofficial/
🔗 Website: https://www.countingondeath.com
📕 Book (Counting on Death):
https://www.amazon.com/Counting-Death-Marine-Infantrymans-Journey/dp/1636245706/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1#detailBullets_feature_div
🎧 Audiobook:
https://www.audible.com/pd/Counting-on-Death-Audiobook/B0F1Z1HJSG?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

🎙️ 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:

📕 Book (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/

🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ

👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon) - Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QI-5sNeCs

👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 2 (Sniper vs Sniper Battle) - Killing the Enemy's Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ggly1TGAU