In Episode 2 of Reconnaissance Man, presented in partnership with Combat Story, we follow U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant James "Jim" Steele through two defining Cold War flashpoints: the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Dominican Civil War.

After returning from Vietnam and serving at Parris Island, Steele finds himself watching the Cuban Missile Crisis unfold from stateside. Unsatisfied with secondhand reporting and eager to understand what American forces were actually doing at Guantanamo Bay, he carries out an unauthorized mission of his own making, sneaking onto a military transport bound for Cuba during one of the most dangerous moments in modern history.

What he finds at Gitmo surprises him.

Despite the world standing on the edge of nuclear war, Steele sees defensive preparations that fall far short of what he expected. The experience reinforces one of his lifelong lessons: reconnaissance means seeing for yourself.

The episode then follows Steele to the Dominican Republic during Operation Power Pack, where U.S. forces intervened during the Dominican Civil War. There, Steele serves as an aerial observer, helps locate a hidden enemy tank, calls in fires, and reflects on the poverty, instability, and human suffering beneath the larger Cold War struggle.

This chapter of Reconnaissance Man is about initiative, risk, Cold War tension, and the instincts of a Marine reconnaissance officer who was never content to stay on the sidelines.

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Cuban Missile Crisis Begins 01:44 Introducing James "Jim" Steele 03:01 A Hard-Charging Marine Instructor 07:29 Sneaking into Guantanamo Bay 11:20 Life Inside Gitmo During the Missile Crisis 13:53 What Steele Found Defending Guantanamo 16:52 Cold War Technology and Burst Communications 17:56 The Cuban Missile Crisis Comes to an End 19:43 The Court-Martial That Never Happened 21:40 Operation Power Pack Begins 24:23 Deploying to the Dominican Republic 27:58 Hunting an Enemy Tank from the Air 31:53 The Reality Behind the Headlines 34:17 Fighting Poverty, Not Just Rebels 36:02 How the Dominican Civil War Ended 36:54 Episode 3 Preview: Back to Vietnam

Created by investigative journalist Ashly McGlone in collaboration with the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation (MRF), and visually brought to life by Combat Story, Reconnaissance Man is a nine-part limited series following Steele's extraordinary 30-year military career through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond.

🎙️ Guest — James Lyle Steele

James Lyle Steele is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel whose 30-year career carried him through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond. A member of the original generation of Marine reconnaissance men, Steele's story offers a rare firsthand look at war, survival, and service across decades of American military history.

Ashly McGlone is an investigative journalist and the creator of Reconnaissance Man. As Steele's granddaughter, she pairs reporting, narration, and historical context with family connection to bring his extraordinary story to life with depth and care.

🔗 Find Reconnaissance Man and Ashly McGlone Online:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reconnaissanceman/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashlyreports/ ✖️ X (Reconnaissance Man): https://x.com/ReconManPod ✖️ X (Ashly McGlone): https://x.com/AshlyReports

🎙️ 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:

📕 Darkhorse: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/Darkhorse 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ 📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ 🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

🔔 Watch. Listen. Follow.

If you value real stories and honest perspectives from those who lived it, follow Combat Story wherever you get your podcasts.