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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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 Air Patrol missions (SAR, post-hurricane imagery) and the OTS route to a commission.

🎓 OTS life: leadership exercises, ROE/Geneva coursework, field living, and commissioning as 2nd Lt.

✈️ Pilot training: T-6 basics → T-38 Talon; flying “red air” against F-22s as an adversary pilot.

🦅 F-22 Raptor: first solo adrenaline, BFM (1-v-1), DCA/OCA mission sets, and life in a 5th-gen stealth jet.

🎯 Call sign “Ammo”: the legend of “digital missiles” and training shots gone… enthusiastic.

🛡️ 94th Fighter Squadron: Eddie Rickenbacker lineage, Lafayette Escadrille roots, and the 2017 centennial.

🇬🇧 NATO exchange: instructing on the Eurofighter Typhoon in the UK and low-level mountain flying.

⚔️ Military “domains” & myths: most jobs aren’t front-line; how support teams keep jets arborne.

⚖️ Advice for future JAGs: be well-rounded—academics, athletics, service—and live the USAF core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do.

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

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In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Bill Stallcup—a fellow coin collector, church volunteer, and military-artifact enthusiast—to explore the stories stamped into metal: from Roman emperors and “widow’s mites” to 1776 Delaware paper money and classic U.S. coins like Large Cents, Indian Heads, Morgans, and Walking Liberties.

🌟 Topics Covered

🪙 How it started: inheriting a small stash of old coins and asking, “What could people buy with these?”

🏛️ Ancients: Augustus, Tiberius, Nero; Pontius Pilate & Herod pieces; a c. 147 BC silver denarius.

📜 Colonial/Rev-Era: Continental Currency (Delaware, 1776)—“To counterfeit is death,” anti-counterfeit flakes.

🧵 Early U.S.: Large Cents (copper value, cornet design) → Flying Eagle → Indian Head (Liberty in a headdress).

🦅 Silver Icons: Morgan Dollars (1878–1904, 1921), Peace Dollars, everyday buying power in the early 20th c.

🥇 Gold & Bullion: Krugerrands (fractionals) vs. Canadian Maple Leafs; design notes.

🇺🇸 Design Greats: Walking Liberty Half (dawn of a new day, sapling America), Mercury Dime (winged Liberty).

⚙️ War & Money: 1943 steel cents (copper to the war effort); 3-cent silver “trime” & 3-cent nickel “thricle”.

🦬 Nickels & More: Buffalo and Shield nickels (post-Civil War issues, 1867).

🎓 Life Lesson: Learn history—or risk repeating it.

If you love real stories of history, money, and meaning, like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

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In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Ralph Fernandez, a retired Miami-Dade Fire Rescue lieutenant with 27 years of service and a veteran member of Florida Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue.

From fast-paced firehouse life in Miami to deployments across the U.S. and the Caribbean, Ralph shares what it’s really like to respond to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and large-scale disasters—often when communities are living through the worst days of their lives.

He also opens up about the meaning behind his leather helmet, the sacrifices of family life during hurricane season, and his work training firefighters across Latin America and the Caribbean.

🌟 Topics Covered:
🚒 Growing up with a firefighter father and choosing the fire service
⏰ Life on a 24/48 schedule and always being “ready for action”
🔥 The most challenging fires and technical rescues
🌪️ Deployments to major hurricanes like Katrina, Florence, Michael, and Maria
🌊 Rescuing trapped residents during severe flooding in the Carolinas
🇭🇹 Responding to the Haiti earthquake and the challenges of collapsed buildings
🐕 Working alongside search dogs and international USAR teams
🪖 The story and symbolism behind his leather helmet and USAR helmet
🌎 Teaching firefighting and rescue techniques across South & Central America and the Caribbean
💡 Advice for young people—and future firefighters—about commitment, training, and service

This episode is not just about emergencies—it’s about courage, mentorship, and a lifelong commitment to helping others, both at home and around the world.

If you enjoy real stories of rescue, leadership, and service, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

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In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Brandon Post, a Miami-Dade firefighter with 24 years of service, an international extrication competitor, and a world-traveling FEMA rescue specialist.

From lifesaving missions in Haiti and Hurricane Katrina to teaching extrication tactics across the world, Brandon shares a powerful look into the courage, skill, and heart behind modern firefighting.

He also gives us an inside look at the jaws of life, the Halligan tool, his global competitions, and what it truly means to respond to emergencies when every second counts.

🌟 Topics Covered:
🚒 Becoming a firefighter and discovering a lifelong calling
🌎 Competing internationally in vehicle extrication and representing the USA
🏆 Founding the Black Heart Extrication Team and winning world and national titles
🌪️ Deploying with FEMA to major disasters — Haiti, Katrina, and more
🛶 The challenges of rescuing victims during massive flooding
🧰 How the jaws of life, hydraulics, and the Halligan tool actually work
⏱️ Responding to emergencies under 2 minutes — the reality of the firehouse
💡 Advice for young future firefighters (including a message for Alex’s little brother!)

Brandon’s story is one of passion, sacrifice, mastery, and service — on the streets of Miami, in disaster zones, and on the world stage.

If you enjoy stories of dedication, leadership, and real heroes at work, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

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In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Robert “OV” Oyarvide, a retired U.S. Air Force jet mechanic whose career spanned the Cold War, Desert Storm, and multiple deployments across Europe and the Middle East.

From maintaining F-111s, F-5 aggressors, U-2s, A-10s, and F-16s to training pilots during the Soviet threat, OV shares an inside look at the aircraft, missions, and dangers faced by the crews who kept America’s fighters in the air.

🌟 Topics Covered:
✈️ Volunteering for Desert Storm and serving at King Khalid Military City
🔥 Experiencing Scud, rocket, and mortar attacks on the ground
🛠️ Working as a jet mechanic on some of the Air Force’s most iconic aircraft
🎯 Training NATO and U.S. pilots to fight Soviet-style tactics during the Cold War
🇮🇶 Multiple tours supporting operations in Iraq near Baghdad
🤝 The unique bond between crew chiefs and their pilots
💡 Career lessons, discipline, and advice for the next generation

This is more than the story of a mechanic — it’s the story of a man who kept fighters battle-ready, trained future leaders, and served through decades of global conflict.

If you enjoy real stories of sacrifice, aviation, and service, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

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In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Colonel Tom Oatmeyer, a U.S. Air Force veteran whose 30-year career took him from the skies over Vietnam to the rebuilding of Homestead Air Force Base after Hurricane Andrew.

From flying F-4 Phantoms over Southeast Asia to piloting F-16 Fighting Falcons during the 1980s and ’90s, Oatmeyer’s story is one of dedication, resilience, and a lifetime in the cockpit. He reflects on his combat missions, his survival of personal loss, his leadership during historic moments, and the legacy of service passed down through generations of his family.

🌟 Topics Covered:

✈️ Flying the F-4 Phantom during the Vietnam War

🛩️ Transitioning to the F-16 and 25 years in the cockpit

🔥 Losing everything in a fire and finding meaning beyond material things

🏠 Rebuilding Homestead Air Force Base after Hurricane Andrew

🦅 Bringing Strategic Air Command into Air Combat Command

👨‍👩‍👧 Family, faith, and the next generation of pilots

💡 Life lessons on leadership, service, and embracing challenges

This isn’t just the story of a pilot — it’s the story of a man who made history across three decades of service, both in the air and on the ground.

If you enjoy stories of courage, aviation, and legacy, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.

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In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Jim Loretta, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War.

Born in Mexico to American parents, Jim shares his journey from college to the draft, his time with the 20th Engineer Group in the Mekong Delta, and the challenges of serving during one of the most divisive times in American history. From surviving a helicopter crash to witnessing the Vietnamization process and the difficult return home, his story captures both courage and heartbreak.

🌟 Topics Covered:
🇺🇸 Joining the U.S. Army during the Vietnam draft era
🪖 Serving with the 20th Engineer Group in the Mekong Delta
🚁 Surviving a helicopter crash near Saigon
🎖️ Artifacts from his service — medals, patches, and uniforms
💬 Reflections on the political tensions and public protests of the era
💡 His advice to future generations about service, freedom, and unity

This is more than a war story—it’s a testament to sacrifice, resilience, and the lasting cost of freedom.

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

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In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Mr. José Carbia, philosophy teacher and history club leader at Archimedean Academy.

Born and raised in Miami, José shares how his father—a respected principal and educator—inspired his passion for teaching, philosophy, and the Socratic method. Through his journey, we explore the timeless relevance of ethics, Socrates’ legacy, and the curiosity that drives young minds to question the world around them.

🌟 Topics Covered:
🏫 Growing up in Miami and following in his father’s educational footsteps
💭 How the Paideia teaching method inspired his approach to philosophy
📚 The influence of Socrates and the foundations of ethical thought
👨‍🏫 Life as a philosophy teacher at Archimedean Academy
⚖️ Reflections on ethics, behavior, and what makes a good life
🏺 Insights into the realities of the ancient world and its lessons for today

This is more than a discussion about philosophy—it’s a story about mentorship, legacy, and the power of education to shape lives.

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

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In this heartfelt segment of Living History with Alex, we sit down with a proud veteran who shares timeless advice about education, heritage, and identity.

He reminds us to never forget where we come from, to cherish our family roots, and to honor the wisdom of older generations. Drawing from his experience in the military and law enforcement, he emphasizes the power of education, the value of remembering your heritage, and offers candid reflections on the different branches of service—especially the enduring pride of the Marines.

🌟 Topics Covered:
📚 The importance of education and continuous learning
🌿 Embracing your cultural and family heritage
👴 Listening to the wisdom and stories of older generations
🇺🇸 Reflections on the Marine Corps’ pride and identity
💡 Advice for young people considering military service after college

This episode goes beyond history—it’s about legacy, identity, and personal growth.

If you enjoy real stories of service, heritage, and inspiration, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.