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 Airborne training, the intensity of his first parachute jump, and what it truly meant to be part of one of the most elite units in the U.S. Army. Peter also reflects on Cold War–era missions, daily life at Fort Bragg, and the mindset required to succeed as a paratrooper.

Throughout the conversation, Peter offers honest insight into military brotherhood, sacrifice, and the lessons he carried with him long after his service ended.

🌟 Topics Covered:
🇨🇺 Growing up in Cuba and immigrating to the United States
🪖 Joining the U.S. Army and earning Airborne wings
🪂 Life in the 82nd Airborne Division
🎯 Training, discipline, and first parachute jumps
❄️ Cold War–era service and readiness
🤝 Brotherhood, leadership, and life lessons after the Army

If you enjoy real stories from veterans and firsthand history, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

📩 Know a veteran whose story should be told? Reach out and let us know.

🔔 Stay tuned for more conversations that keep history alive.

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 items he’s kept for over 30 years. He also reflects on brotherhood, honoring fallen Marines, and why supporting veterans today—especially preventing veteran suicide—has become part of his mission.

If you enjoy real stories, real history, and the human side behind the uniform, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe.

🌟 Topics Covered:

🎖️ Purple Heart show-and-tell and what it represents

📸 Boot camp memories, lifelong friendships, and reunion after decades

🧢 Dress Blues items, dog tags, coins, and Marine Corps League leadership

🕯️ Honoring fallen Marines and keeping legacies alive

💬 Advice for young people: discipline, purpose, and “make it happen” mindset

📩 Know a veteran who should be featured? Reach out and help us keep history alive.

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. Mike also opens up about Vietnam—what it was like arriving in-country, the brotherhood of Marines, and the moment he was wounded and later received the Purple Heart. Elio talks about staying extra time in boot camp due to a medical hold, and how resilience became part of his identity as a Marine.

🌟 Topics Covered:

• Why they joined the Marine Corps (family influence, personal motivation)

• Boot camp reality: “they break you down and build you back up”

• Vietnam era training vs. today, and being pushed through during wartime

• Mike’s Vietnam experience and the brotherhood of Marines

• Purple Heart story: the day Mike was wounded in combat

• Coming home, memories that stay, and honoring those who didn’t

If you enjoy real veteran stories and personal history, like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

📩 Know a veteran who should be featured? Reach out and let us know.

🔔 Stay tuned for more Living History with Alex.

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 that helped launch a decades-long airline career.

He reflects on the influence of his family’s military legacy, including the story of his brother, a pilot who died in Vietnam, and how that shaped his purpose and mindset.

From the cockpit, Scott walks us through unforgettable moments from airline flying: engine failures, a wind shear go-around, a near midair collision, and one of the most intense experiences of his career—an inflight cockpit security incident after 9/11.

He also shares the items that represent his journey: rank progression, unit patches, medals, aircraft memories, and the tradition of the water salute on his retirement flight.

🌟 Topics Covered:
✈️ Early life in Miami and becoming a pilot
🎓 Education path that led to the U.S. Air Force
🪖 Military aviation: training aircraft and Air Force service
🛫 Airline career across National, Pan Am, and United
⚠️ “Scares in the air”: emergencies, wind shear, and close calls
🔐 Cockpit security incident after 9/11
🎖️ Medals, patches, and career memorabilia
💡 Leadership lessons: “Follow me” and leading by example

If you enjoy real stories from the people who lived them, like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

📩 If you know a veteran or aviation professional who should be featured, reach out.

🔔 Stay tuned for more conversations that keep history alive.

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 cultural experiences and historic moments like visiting Berlin while the wall was still up. She also talks about her transition into the Reserves, her work as a Career Counselor, and the importance of contracts and guidance for soldiers’ careers.

She brings artifacts from her service and explains the meaning behind her uniform, ranks, and awards.

🌟 Topics Covered:

🇺🇸 Why she joined the Army (1981)

👩‍✈️ Basic training as a woman in the 80s

🇩🇪 Life and service in Germany

🧱 Berlin with the wall still standing

📑 Army Reserves + Career Counselor role

🎖️ Uniform, ranks, and awards explained

💡 Advice on history and service

🔔 Stay tuned for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

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 mother’s service in the Air National Guard and the events of September 11, 2001, especially living near the Pentagon, deeply influenced his decision to join the military.

Juan takes us through his Air Force journey, including basic training in 2002, deployments to Saudi Arabia during the lead-up to the Iraq War, and later service in Afghanistan. He talks about working on iconic aircraft such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon (Viper) and the A-10 Warthog, explaining their missions, capabilities, and why they hold such an important place in military aviation history.

He also brings a powerful show-and-tell collection—coins, patches, and even different ammunition calibers—to visually explain his career, TDYs (Temporary Duty Assignments), deployments, and the units he served with across the world.

This episode dives into pride in service, being part of something bigger than yourself, and the importance of setting goals and finding your path—whether through the military or beyond.

🌟 Topics Covered:
✈️ What an Aircraft Armament Technician does
🇺🇸 Inspiration to serve after 9/11
🔥 Air Force basic training and early career
🌍 Deployments to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan
💣 Working on the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Warthog
🎖️ TDYs, deployments, and military terminology explained
🪙 Coins, patches, and memorabilia from around the world
💡 Life advice on goals, discipline, and building your future

If you enjoy real stories from those who served and learning history directly from the people who lived it, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

📩 Know a veteran or service member who should be featured? Reach out—or contact my chief of staff (aka my mom).

🔔 Stay tuned for more conversations that keep history alive.

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, and what life was really like preparing for war—the “hurry up and wait,” the fear, the drills, and the reality of serving on ships near minefields and under threats of chemical attacks.

He also talks about his unique role in water supply, using reverse osmosis systems to produce drinkable water in extreme desert heat, and what it meant to support the mission even when you weren’t the one on the front line.

One of the most powerful parts of this episode is Michael ’s story of injury—how a boot camp ankle break kept returning, how it affected his career, and how he reflects on it today with honesty and perspective.

Finally, he brings in his Marine Dress Blues and explains the medals and ribbons that represent his service.

🌟 Topics Covered:

🇨🇺 Growing up as a Cuban immigrant and choosing to serve the U.S.

🦅 Joining the Marine Corps (May 10, 1989) and serving 1989–1993

🌍 Deployments and missions across the world

⚓ Desert Shield & Gulf War: ship life, drills, mine threats, and the amphibious “fake landing” strategy

💧 Water supply operations: reverse osmosis purification and chilling water in 125° desert heat

☣️ MOPP gear and chemical/biological threat alerts

🇸🇴 Somalia / Eastern Exit: evacuating civilians from the U.S. embassy in Mogadishu

🩼 Injury and discharge: repeated ankle breaks and long-term impact

🎖️ Marine Dress Blues: ribbons and medals explained

💡 Life advice: getting “1% better than yesterday”

If you enjoy real veteran stories and personal history, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

🔔 Stay tuned for more Living History with Alex.

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 combat injury and medical retirement (2009), he used the GI Bill to build an Information Systems career, helped launch SVA and a Veteran Alumni Chapter at FIU, and co-founded Miami Military Trucks to preserve rolling history and mentor the next generation.

🌟 Topics Covered

• 🧭 9/11 as the catalyst to enlist in the USMC

• 🎯 MOS 0352 Anti-Tank Missileman → Machine gunner, Mobile Assault Platoon

• 🚧 Fallujah–Ramadi: MSR security, route recon, convoy escort—“highway patrol” in a combat zone

• 💥 Training, teamwork, and staying alive under pressure

• 🩹 Injury, medical retirement (2009), and rebuilding with the GI Bill

• 🎓 From uniform to campus: starting SVA and a Veteran Alumni Chapter at FIU

• 🚚 Miami Military Trucks: Humvees, parades, Touch-a-Truck, and community outreach

• 🛡️ Show-and-tell: flak vest with Level III plates & Kevlar helmet—what they’re built to stop

• 💡 Advice for young people: faith, family, service—and be the change in your community

This is more than a war story—it’s about purpose, recovery, and turning history into living outreach.

If you enjoy real stories of history, service, and mentorship, like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

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