Camp Iron Mountain Gabriel Suarez

Guest - LTC Mohamed Massaquoi 
Lieutenant Colonel Mo Massaquoi has had an atypical military career to say the least. He started off as an enlisted sailor in the U.S. Navy, before moving up to become a naval officer, and then eventually, transitioning to the U.S. Army where he continues to serve on active duty. Over his ongoing 22 years of service, Mo has been through a number of great challenges and great successes, some of which he’ll share with us during our interview.
Part 2 covers his time in the U.S. Army. 
Disclaimer: The views expressed by LTC Massaquoi on this podcast are his own and do not represent the views of the United States Army, nor do they represent the views of the Department of Defense.
 
What You’ll Get From Today’s Show
Mo discusses his transition from the U.S. Navy to the U.S. Army and the numerous service culture faux pas he encountered along the way. 
Mo talks about the various experiences as a company grade chemical officer and how he eventually gets a second chance at being a military aviator.
Mo shares stories of his professional growth as a field grade officer after transitioning career fields again to become an army strategist.  
Mo reflects on some folks who helped him along his journey and how military service has affected his life.
 
Resources Related to the Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode
Chemical Corps Past, Present, Future. A short article from the National Museum of the U.S. Army. https://armyhistory.org/the-u-s-army-chemical-corps-past-present-and-future/ 
CH-47 - The World’s Most Iconic Helicopter. YouTuber and Air Force Public Affairs Officer Sam Eckholm takes viewers through a history and ride on the Army’s CH-47 helicopter. https://youtu.be/g90QUoORmc0 
 
If You Want to Support The Podcast
You can help others find the podcast by leaving a positive review on whatever podcast player you’re listening to it on. Please share a link to the podcast with a friend or family member who you think would enjoy listening to it.  https://www.campironmountain.com. 

Guest - LTC Mohamed Massaquoi 
Lieutenant Colonel Mo Massaquoi has had an atypical military career to say the least. He started off as an enlisted sailor in the U.S. Navy, before moving up to become a naval officer, and then eventually, transitioning to the U.S. Army where he continues to serve on active duty. Over his ongoing 22 years of service, Mo has been through a number of great challenges and great successes, some of which he’ll share with us during our interview.
Part 1 will cover his time in the U.S. Navy. 
Disclaimer: The views expressed by LTC Massaquoi on this podcast are his own and do not represent the views of the United States Army, nor do they represent the views of the Department of Defense.
 
What You’ll Get From Today’s Show
Mo discusses his path from civilian life to joining the U.S. Navy as an enlisted sailor. 
Mo highlights some of his struggles in getting through the Navy’s extremely difficult Nuclear Power School.
Mo talks about his transition to becoming a naval officer, facing failure for the first time in his life, and having the courage to follow a lifeline that allowed him to continue his military service.  
Mo reflects on some folks who helped him along his journey.
 
Resources Related to the Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode
USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). Explore the history and images of the USS John C. Stennis from an incredible historical website. NavSource.org was created over 25 years ago to preserve U.S. naval history and is still maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers. https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/74.htm 
 
If You Want to Support The Podcast
You can help others find the podcast by leaving a positive review on whatever podcast player you’re listening to it on. Please share a link to the podcast with a friend or family member who you think would enjoy listening to it.  https://www.campironmountain.com.  

What You’ll Get From Today’s Show
On November 11th, 1918 the guns finally fell silent on the Western Front with the signing of a cessation of hostilities by the belligerents fighting in World War I. The significance of that event started a worldwide adoption of the day for remembrance and celebration that continues today over 100 years later.  
 
Resources Related to the Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode
The British Imperial War Museum. https://www.iwm.org.uk/  
 
The Canadian War Museum. https://www.warmuseum.ca/ 
 
Arlington National Cemetery. https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Soldier 
 
A short history of the poem In Flanders Fields. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/remembrance-ceremony/4.html 
 
If You Want to Support The Podcast
You can help others find the podcast by leaving a positive review on whatever podcast player you’re listening to it on. Please share a link to the podcast with a friend or family member who you think would enjoy listening to it.  https://www.campironmountain.com.

Guest - John Bruzza
John Bruzza is a 20-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate, John was selected for service as a combat engineer following completion of the Marine Corps Officer Basic School. Over his career he served in a variety of leadership positions and locations both on active duty and as a reserve officer before retiring in 2017 as a Major. In his post-military life John lives in Arizona where he works in the solar energy industry.  
Instagram: @31_maxx_31
 
What You’ll Get From Today’s Show
John discusses his experience attending the U.S. Naval Academy and how it led him to become a Marine Corps officer. 
 
A discussion on each of John’s assignments throughout his career from lieutenant to major, including deployments to the Middle East.
 
John shares with us those people, with whom he served, having lasting influences on his life and career.  
 
We get John’s thoughts on Marine Corps stereotypes and discuss the, then upcoming, Major League Baseball playoffs. *Disclaimer: This episode was recorded weeks before the Major League Baseball playoffs. Our predictions were totally wrong.
 
Resources Related to the Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode
United States Naval Academy. https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php 
 
U.S. Marine Corps Operations in Iraq, 2003-2006 (Kenneth Estes). An initial historical look at the first three years in Iraq published by the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Division in 2009. You can download a free copy here on the Federation of American Scientist website. https://irp.fas.org/doddir/usmc/iraq03-06.pdf 
 
Marine for Life Transition Services. https://usmc-mccs.org/services/career/marine-for-life-network/ 
 
If You Want to Support The Podcast
You can help others find the podcast by leaving a positive review on whatever podcast player you’re listening to it on.
Please share a link to the podcast with a friend or family member who you think would enjoy listening to it.  https://www.campironmountain.com. 

Part two of our interview with the three friends who joined the Army together out of high school. This episode focuses on their experiences participating in the invasion of Grenada as members of the 82nd Airborne Division’s Long Range Reconnaissance Platoon (LRRP). 
 
Guests - Kenneth Williams, Joe Paez, and Dale Comstock
Kenneth Williams served 24 years in the U.S. Army.  First, as an infantryman for a little over four years with the 82nd Airborne division before changing over to the Air Defense Artillery career branch.  Before retiring as a senior instructor for the Air Defense Center (Patriot) Missile and Master Gunner Course, Kenneth served as First Sergeant for Echo Battery, 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery in Ansbach, Germany.  In addition to his deployment to Operation Urgent Fury, Kenneth deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia five times, and also supported the invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Post Army retirement, Kenneth became a licensed Realtor in California and currently holds state licenses for running Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, Adult Residential Facilities, and Group Homes for children.  He’s the co-owner of New Vision Services Incorporated, a business that provides care for seniors, disabled adults, and children across 15 facilities in the state of California.
Joe Paez served in the U.S. Army for 4 years as an infantryman. His active duty military career ended due to an almost fatal parachute jump accident suffered while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division. After his recovery and discharge, Joe returned to California and served five years in the California National Guard. He earned his Bachelor's degree from California State University, Sacramento and eventually got hired as a civil servant with the State of California, serving for 30 years in the Information Technology sector before retiring in 2020. Post retirement, Joe keeps busy by volunteering with his local VFW Post, where he’s currently the Post Commander,  running his own art studio business, Romero Design Studios, and is a Job Developer for the Volunteers of America non-profit organization, where he works with previously homeless veterans to help them find jobs.    
Dale Comstock is a legendary special operations soldier and warrior. He’s given over 37 years of service to the United States, combating U.S. enemies abroad as a U.S. Army paratrooper, Green Beret, Delta Force Operator, OGA Paramilitary Operative, and as a Mercenary. During his military career, Dale was a renowned weapons expert and fighting instructor.  He was also decorated twice for valor in combat. Since 2001, Dale has been a successful businessman, starting and operating three security companies, selling two of ‘em. He continues to operate the third company, Strategic Outcomes Asia, out of Bali, Indonesia where he resides for half the year. You can read more about his life and combat experiences on his website, DaleComstock.com, and in his autobiographical book, American Badass: The True Story of a Modern Day Spartan.
 
Instagram: 
Joe Paez - @JoePaez 
Dale Comstock - @OfficialAmericanBadass
 
Website:
Dale Comstock - www.DaleComstock.com and www.Tier1PerformanceCoaching.com 
 
What You’ll Get From Today’s Show
You’ll hear about our guests' stories of... 
-Going through the alert process at Fort Bragg prior to deploying to Grenada.
-The various missions each of them went on during the combat operations and post-combat periods.
-Reflections on their participation in Urgent Fury and their friendship. 
 
Resources Related to the Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode
American Badass: The True Story of a Modern Day Spartan. Dale Comstock’s autobiography that tells of his “journey from boyhood to manhood into a world of extreme violence where he learns the values of hard work, sacrifice, and love of family.” Dale explored his successes and failures as a Delta Force Operator, G

Guests - Kenneth Williams, Joe Paez, and Dale Comstock
Kenneth Williams served 24 years in the U.S. Army.  First, as an infantryman for a little over four years with the 82nd Airborne division before changing over to the Air Defense Artillery career branch.  Before retiring as a senior instructor for the Air Defense Center (Patriot) Missile and Master Gunner Course, Kenneth served as First Sergeant for Echo Battery, 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery in Ansbach, Germany.  In addition to his deployment to Operation Urgent Fury, Kenneth deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia five times, and also supported the invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Post Army retirement, Kenneth became a licensed Realtor in California and currently holds state licenses for running Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, Adult Residential Facilities, and Group Homes for children.  He’s the co-owner of New Vision Services Incorporated, a business that provides care for seniors, disabled adults, and children across 15 facilities in the state of California.
 
Joe Paez served in the U.S. Army for 4 years as an infantryman. His active duty military career ended due to an almost fatal parachute jump accident suffered while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division. After his recovery and discharge, Joe returned to California and served five years in the California National Guard. He earned his Bachelor's degree from California State University, Sacramento and eventually got hired as a civil servant with the State of California, serving for 30 years in the Information Technology sector before retiring in 2020. Post retirement, Joe keeps busy by volunteering with his local VFW Post, where he’s currently the Post Commander,  running his own art studio business, Romero Design Studios, and is a Job Developer for the Volunteers of America non-profit organization, where he works with previously homeless veterans to help them find jobs.    
 
Dale Comstock is a legendary special operations soldier and warrior. He’s given over 37 years of service to the United States, combating U.S. enemies abroad as a U.S. Army paratrooper, Green Beret, Delta Force Operator, OGA Paramilitary Operative, and as a Mercenary. During his military career, Dale was a renowned weapons expert and fighting instructor.  He was also decorated twice for valor in combat. Since 2001, Dale has been a successful businessman, starting and operating three security companies, selling two of ‘em. He continues to operate the third company, Strategic Outcomes Asia, out of Bali, Indonesia where he resides for half the year. You can read more about his life and combat experiences on his website, DaleComstock.com, and in his autobiographical book, American Badass: The True Story of a Modern Day Spartan. 
 
Instagram: 
Joe Paez - @JoePaez 
Dale Comstock - @OfficialAmericanBadass
 
Website:
Dale Comstock - www.DaleComstock.com and www.Tier1PerformanceCoaching.com 
 
What You’ll Get From Today’s Show
You’ll hear about our guests' stories of... 
-How they met and became friends as kids in Sacramento, California.
-How they joined the Army together out of high school in the early 1980s and went through basic training, airborne school, and eventually in the same unit at the 82nd Airborne Division.
-They talk about their experiences in the early 1980s Army.
-How they became a part of the then newly established 82nd Airborne Division Long Range Reconnaissance Platoon.  
-They talk about particular leaders that stood out to them their first few years in the 82nd Airborne Division.
-The guys talk about their participation in the Gallant Eagle 82’ exercise at the National Training Center. 
 
Resources Related to the Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode
American Badass: The True Story of a Modern Day Spartan. Dale Comstock’s autobiography that tells of his “journey from boyhood to manhood into a world of extreme violence wh