Living History with Alex

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Corporal Oswaldo “Ozzie” Perez , a United States Marine Corps veteran and Iraq War veteran who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2002 , just one day after the September 11 attacks. He shares how his family's history—particularly his father’s escape from Cuba and first encounter with a U.S. Marine at Guantanamo Bay—inspired his decisi...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Corporal Frank Sosa , a United States Marine Corps veteran who served from 1988 to 1994 and fought during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as an 0352 Anti-Tank Assault Guided Missileman (TOW Gunner) . Corporal Sosa shares his incredible journey from growing up watching World War II movies with his father to earning th...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Mr. Terry Thompson , Assistant Principal at Royal Palm Elementary School, educator, mentor, and a lifelong advocate for helping young people reach their potential. Mr. Thompson shares his remarkable journey from studying criminal justice and political science with dreams of becoming an attorney to discovering that education and mentori...

In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Ramon Torralba, a retired Fire Lieutenant who dedicated more than 26 years of service to his community as a firefighter, paramedic, rescue and suppression officer, fire inspector, fire investigator, aviation fuel safety inspector, and much more. Ramon shares the incredible story of what first inspired him to become a firefighter after w...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Carlos Lopez , a United States Marine Corps veteran who served from 1992 to 1996 in the elite Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST Company) as both an infantry rifleman and anti-tank guided missileman. Carlos shares what inspired him to join the Marine Corps at just 17 years old, his intense journey through Marine Corps training, a...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Abraham Arellano , a U.S. Air Force veteran from the Vietnam era. Abraham shares why he joined the Air Force during the draft, hoping to serve while avoiding being sent directly to Vietnam. He talks about basic training in San Antonio, learning to shoot the M16, and how a series of unexpected moments led him to serve stateside instead...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Retired Sgt. Rudy Espinosa , who served nearly three decades (1984–2013) in the Miami-Dade County Police Department . Rudy shares what inspired him to pursue a career in law enforcement from a young age and what it was like going through the police academy in the 1980s — from intense training under the Florida heat to the discipline an...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights — the elite parachute team of the United States Army — including Sgt. Nelson Velez, Sgt. Katie Leadbetter, and Sgt. 1st Class Dusty Gebhardt . They share what inspired them to join the Army, how they found their way to the Golden Knights, and what it means to serve on one of the most respected ai...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with SFC Cheri Hooker , a U.S. Army and National Guard veteran who began her military journey at just 17 years old and went on to serve over 20 years in the armed forces. SFC Hooker shares her inspiring story of how she followed in her father’s footsteps, joining the National Guard as a teenager and later transitioning into active duty Army...

In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Dr. Vern, a retired U.S. Coast Guard veteran and author of The Power of Transformation: My Journey from High School Dropout to PhD. Dr. Vern shares an incredible story of perseverance, faith, and personal growth. He talks about joining the Coast Guard in the mid-1970s as a high school dropout, struggling with tests in boot camp, and eve...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Michael O’Connor , a community leader dedicated to giving back through initiatives that support organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, Special Olympics, American Cancer Society , and more. Michael shares the story behind the St. John Neumann Men’s Club Golf Tournament , now in its 34th year , and how it has raised thousands of d...

In this special six-month anniversary episode of Living History with Alex , we bring back several past guests to reflect on the podcast journey, why they said yes to being interviewed, and why preserving veterans’ stories matters so much. Featured voices include Elio Dominguez, Lupe Casanova, Michael Becerra, Chase Provencher "Dad", Don Jackson, and Thomas Gammon , each sharing what the...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Col. George Cadman III, USMC (Retired) , a United States Marine who served from 1964 to 1995 and experienced some of the defining moments of the Vietnam War era, including the Tet Offensive . Col. Cadman shares what inspired him to join the Marine Corps, how he transitioned from an enlisted Marine to an officer, and what it was like tr...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Mr. Benny F. Benitez , a U.S. Navy veteran and Commander of American Legion Post 346 . Mr. Benitez shares his journey into the Navy, the experiences that shaped his years of service, and how military life influenced his values of discipline, leadership, and commitment to others. After completing his service, he continued dedicating him...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gammon , a U.S. Army officer who served from 1974 to 2002 , spanning the Cold War era through the aftermath of September 11, 2001 . Lt. Col. Gammon shares his journey from ROTC into a decades-long military career, reflecting on leadership, responsibility, and how the role of the military evolved over time. He...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Tom Oatmeyer , a U.S. Air Force rescue helicopter pilot who served over 21 years in the Air Force and later continued his career as a fire rescue helicopter pilot . Tom shares how he began his military journey after graduating from the University of Florida, his transition from fixed-wing aircraft to helicopters, and what it was like f...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Peter Espinosa , a U.S. Army veteran who proudly served in the 82nd Airborne Division . Peter shares his powerful journey from growing up in Cuba to becoming an American paratrooper , explaining what motivated him to serve the United States and how military life shaped his discipline, values, and sense of purpose. He walks us through A...

In Part 2 of this special Living History with Alex conversation, we continue with two U.S. Marine Corps veterans: Michael Becerra, a Purple Heart recipient who served 1967–1969, and Sgt. Elio Dominguez, who served 1989–1996. This episode becomes a powerful show-and-tell as Michael shares personal artifacts that carry decades of meaning—his original Purple Heart, boot camp photos, and Marine Corps...

In this special episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with two U.S. Marine veterans : Mike Peseta , a Purple Heart recipient who served 1967–1969 during the Vietnam War, and Sgt. Elio Dominguez , who served 1989–1996 . Mike and Elio share what pushed them to join the Marine Corps, what boot camp really feels like (mentally and physically), and the mindset it takes to make it through. M...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Captain Scott D. Lofman , a retired U.S. Air Force pilot and longtime commercial airline captain with more than 22,000 flight hours . Scott shares how growing up in Miami and chasing his dream of flight led him from early lessons at Tamiami to earning a degree and joining the Air Force—combining service to country with jet experience t...

In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Ms. Lupe Casanova, a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant (E-8) who served 22 years in the Army Reserves and spent two years on active duty in Germany. Lupe shares what inspired her to join in 1981, what basic training was like for a woman at that time, and why Germany became one of the most memorable chapters of her life—including cultura...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Technical Sergeant Juan Salazar , a current member of the United States Air Force and an Aircraft Armament Technician. TSgt Salazar explains what an aircraft armament technician does—from loading bombs, bullets, and missiles onto aircraft to maintaining and repairing the systems that carry and fire those weapons. He shares how his moth...

In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Michael Raigoso, a U.S. Marine who served from 1989 to 1993 and took part in operations connected to Desert Shield, the Gulf War, and Somalia (Eastern Exit / Mogadishu). Michael shares what inspired him to join the Marine Corps after immigrating from Cuba at 13, why he wanted to give back to the country that gave him new opportunities,...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Hansel Perez —a United States Marine Corps veteran whose call to serve was sparked by September 11 . Trained as an 0352 Anti-Tank Missileman (later a machine gunner on a Mobile Assault Platoon ), Hansel deployed to the Fallujah–Ramadi corridor, running MSR (Main Supply Route) security , route reconnaissance, and convoy escort. After a...

In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Major James “Ammo” Caraway—a Miami-raised FIU grad who traded TV production for the cockpit—walking us from Civil Air Patrol and Officer Training School to flying the T-38 as an aggressor, the F-22 Raptor with the 94th Fighter Squadron, and a four-year Eurofighter Typhoon exchange. 🌟 Topics Covered 🛫 From Cessna flight gift to Civil A...