Tales from the Corps
Tales from the Corps is where military history meets the people who lived it.Hosted by Marine Corps combat veterans Mike “Dirty Mike” Francis and Neal “Slider” Fauver, Tales from the Corps brings you unfiltered stories from military service, combat, and life after the uniform, along with conversations with veterans, historians, authors, filmmakers, and others who help preserve the stories behind the history.From the battlefields of World War I and World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan, we dig into the moments, decisions, personalities, and experiences that shaped generations of service members.Some episodes are hilarious. Some are brutal. Some cha...
He Survived Marine Corps Boot Camp: Private Santos Matos Returns From Parris Island
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Three months ago, Santos Matos — better known around Tales from the Corps as “Funnel Cake” — sat down with us as a poolee preparing to leave for Marine Corps Recruit Training at Parris Island.
Now he’s back as Private Santos Matos, United States Marine.
So… how much of what he expected was actually true?
In this follow-up conversation, Santos takes us inside his experience at Marine Corps boot camp: what he wasn't prepared for, what breaks recruits, whether you can actually quit, the moments he wanted to quit himself...
Jon Parshall | 1945: Japan — Did We Need to Drop the Bombs?
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Did the United States have to drop the atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II?
Renowned WWII historian Jon Parshall, co-host of The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast and author of the upcoming 1942: The Crux of War, joins Tales From The Corps for an in-depth conversation about one of the most debated questions of the Pacific War.
Jon examines the decision to use the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan's willingness and ability to continue fighting...
Justin Cramer | Marine JTAC — From Iraq & Afghanistan to Former Action Guys
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Marine veteran Justin Cramer joins Tales From The Corps to talk about coordinating airstrikes in Iraq and Afghanistan, serving as a JTAC evaluator, and the experiences that eventually led him to create the Former Action Guys Podcast.
Justin takes us inside the world of Marine fire support and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, sharing lessons from his deployments, the responsibility of coordinating close air support in combat, and what he learned serving alongside Marines at war.
We also explore the transition home, entrepreneurship, podcasting, and Justin's work preserving...
Scott Gibson of HBO's The Pacific | WWII Veterans Don Graves & Allan Chatwin
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Actor Scott Gibson, who appeared in HBO's The Pacific, joins Tales From The Corps to honor and preserve the stories of World War II veterans Don Graves and Allan Chatwin.
Gibson joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver following a special gathering in Fredericksburg, Texas, where Graves and Chatwin shared firsthand memories of their service during World War II.
In this conversation, we reflect on their experiences, the responsibility of preserving veterans' stories before they're lost, and the unique connection between the veterans who...
LtCol Mitch “Taco” Bell | Marine Corps Stories from Iraq, Afghanistan & Boot Camp
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Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Mitch “Taco” Bell joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver for an unfiltered session of Marine Corps stories spanning boot camp, Iraq, Afghanistan, barracks life, and the transition back home.
Originally recorded as a crossover with Tall Tales with Taco, this conversation brings three Marines together to swap the kind of stories that rarely make it into official histories—from ridiculous boot camp nicknames and barracks pranks to memories of deployments and the challenges veterans face after leaving the military.
Mike, Neal, and Taco trade...
Matt Harper | Marine Scout Sniper — Business & Life After the Corps
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Marine Scout Sniper veteran Matt Harper joins Tales From The Corps to talk about growing up in a family of Marines, his time in the Corps, sobriety, entrepreneurship, and building a new life after military service.
Matt shares stories from his Marine Corps experience, the camaraderie and humor that came with it, and the challenges of transitioning from the structure and brotherhood of the military into civilian life.
The conversation also explores sobriety, early business failures, financial literacy, and Matt's eventual success in the finance industry.<...
Tracie Hunter | Emmy-Winning Filmmaker Preserving WWII Veterans' Stories
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Emmy-winning filmmaker and Beyond the Call founder Tracie Hunter joins Tales From The Corps to discuss her mission to document, preserve, and share the firsthand stories of World War II veterans before they're lost to history.
Growing up in an Army family, Tracie developed a connection to military service that eventually led her behind the camera. Through Beyond the Call, she has traveled to capture veterans' experiences, preserve their memories, and ensure their voices remain available to future generations.
Tracie shares what she's learned from...
Robert Eunice & Bart Lewis | Marine Corps Pranks, Barracks Stories & Mayhem
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Marine veterans Robert Eunice and Bart Lewis join Tales From The Corps for an hour of Marine Corps pranks, barracks stories, bad decisions, and the kind of chaos that somehow becomes funnier the longer you've been out.
Robert returns to the show alongside Bart to trade stories from their time in the Marines—from practical jokes and prank calls to pizza deliveries gone horribly wrong and canteen cups containing things that definitely weren't water.
This episode is less about battles and military history and more about the ot...
Anthony Perez | Peleliu Then & Now — Exploring a WWII Pacific Battlefield
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Traveler and filmmaker Anthony Perez joins Tales From The Corps to explore Peleliu—one of the Pacific War's most brutal and often overlooked battlefields—and what remains there today.
Anthony's Peleliu: Then and Now project caught our attention through its exploration of the island's World War II history. He shares what it was like to visit Peleliu, walk the ground where Marines and soldiers fought in 1944, and document a battlefield where the scars of war remain part of the landscape.
The conversation explores the Battle of Pele...
James Badge Dale | Portraying Robert Leckie & Getting HBO's The Pacific Right
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Actor James Badge Dale joins Tales From The Corps to discuss portraying Marine and author Robert Leckie in HBO's The Pacific and the responsibility of bringing the experiences of World War II Marines to the screen.
James takes us behind the role of Robert Leckie, whose wartime memoir Helmet for My Pillow became one of the primary sources behind The Pacific. He reflects on the preparation, physical transformation, and emotional weight involved in portraying a real Marine whose experiences in the Pacific War...
Zac “Doc” Frantz | Navy Corpsman — Serving with Marine Infantry
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Navy Corpsman Zac “Doc” Frantz joins Tales From The Corps to talk about serving alongside Marines, the bond between Corpsmen and the infantry, and what it means to earn the trust of the Marines who simply know you as “Doc.”
Zac takes us inside the path of becoming a Navy Corpsman and the different assignments that can shape a Corpsman's career, including the distinction between serving “green side” with the Marine Corps and “blue side” with the Navy.
The conversation explores the unique relationship between Navy Corpsmen...
Memorial Day | Lima 3/6 Marines Remember the Fallen
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For Memorial Day, Marines from Lima Company 3/6 come together on Tales From The Corps to remember the friends and fellow Marines who never made it home—and to share the stories that keep their memories alive.
Mike Francis and Jon Stough are joined by Jake “The Snake” Lybrook for a conversation about their years in the Marine Corps, from boot camp and the ridiculous moments of young Marines finding their way to the experiences overseas that would stay with them long after they came home.
The st...
Nathan Pinto | 1944 War Museum — WWII Veterans, Band of Brothers & The Pacific
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Nathan Pinto, founder and curator of the 1944 War Museum, joins Tales From The Corps to talk about preserving World War II history and creating opportunities for veterans to connect with the cast and crew of Band of Brothers and The Pacific.
Nathan takes Mike Francis and Neal Fauver inside his work preserving the stories and artifacts of the WWII generation, including veteran gatherings, historical exhibits, and the relationships that have formed through a shared commitment to keeping this history alive.
<...Freddie Joe Farnsworth & Robert Garcia | Marines in Hollywood
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Marine Corps veterans Freddie Joe Farnsworth and Robert Garcia join Tales From The Corps to talk about making the jump from the military to Hollywood—and how real Marine Corps experience translates onto a film set.
Freddie and Robert share their paths from serving in the Marines to working in the entertainment industry, where the discipline, experiences, and relationships forged in the Corps followed them into an entirely different world.
The conversation explores acting, stunt work, military technical advising, and the challenge of portraying military service au...
Marine Brotherhood After War | PTSD, the VA & Finding Your People
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Mike Francis and Neal Fauver sit down for a personal conversation about Marine Corps brotherhood, PTSD, navigating the VA, and the relationships that continue to matter long after the uniform comes off.
After building Tales From The Corps together from a distance, Mike and Neal finally meet in person and discover that familiar Marine Corps phenomenon—the ability to meet another Marine and feel like you've known each other for years.
They reflect on meeting fellow veterans Jay and Nik, the friendships that formed during th...
Leighton Hughes | Royal Air Force Veteran — British vs. American Military Life
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Royal Air Force veteran Leighton Hughes joins the Marines of Lima Company 3/6 for a conversation about British and American military life, military history, and the shared culture that crosses national and service boundaries.
Leighton shares stories from his time in the Royal Air Force and compares his experiences with Mike Francis and Neal Fauver's years in the U.S. Marine Corps. The conversation gets into some of the everyday differences between serving in the British and American militaries—including food, deployments, and the RAF's “pay as you...
Andrew “A Train” Alexander | Lima 3/6 — Iraq, Reunion & Life After Combat
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Marine Corps combat veteran Andrew “A Train” Alexander joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver to reunite, trade stories, and reflect on their experiences serving together with Lima Company 3/6 during their 2007 deployment to Iraq.
The three Marines look back on the friendships, humor, chaos, and shared experiences that built their bond during deployment—and what it feels like to reconnect years after everyone went their separate ways.
The conversation also gets into coming home from combat and adjusting to civilian life, including the parts of military cultur...
Michael Sylvester | Marine Infantry — Boot Camp, Brotherhood & Life After Service
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Marine infantry veteran Michael Sylvester returns to Tales From The Corps to talk about the path that led him into the Marine Corps, the realities of Marine training, and what happens when the structure and brotherhood of military life suddenly disappear.
Michael shares how his family history and experiences before the military influenced his decision to join the Marines and ultimately pursue the infantry. He reflects on the unexpected circumstances that can shape someone's path into military service and the people who influence those decisions along the way.
<...Juan Ramirez | Marines, Sobriety & Life After Alcohol
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Marine Corps veteran Juan Ramirez joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver for an honest conversation about sobriety, life after alcohol, and the role Marine brotherhood can play when veterans decide to make a change.
At the time of this conversation, all three Marines were at different points in sobriety. Neal had reached a year, Mike was approaching six months, and Juan was building his own time sober. Rather than presenting sobriety as a finish line, they talk about what everyday life looks like without alcohol and the decisions, relationships...
Josh Bitton | HBO's The Pacific — Boot Camp, Marines & Hollywood
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Actor Josh Bitton joins Tales From The Corps to talk about portraying Sgt. J.P. Morgan in HBO's The Pacific, preparing to play a Marine, and what happens when Hollywood attempts to recreate the culture, humor, and experiences of the Marine Corps.
Josh joins Mike Francis and Neal Fauver for a conversation that moves between Marine Corps boot camp stories and life on a major film and television production. They compare the real experiences of Marines with the training actors undergo when preparing...
“The Hurricane” | Lima 3/6 Platoon Sergeant — Part II: From 2/7 to 3/6
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“The Hurricane,” Mike and Neal's former platoon sergeant from Lima Company 3/6 Weapons Platoon, returns for Part II of their reunion—continuing the stories of Marine Corps leadership, deployments, brotherhood, and life after the Corps.
The conversation goes further back into The Hurricane's Marine Corps career, including his time with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and the path that eventually brought him to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, where he would become the platoon sergeant responsible for Marines including Mike Francis.
The three Marines trade stories about...
“The Hurricane” | Lima 3/6 Platoon Sergeant — Leadership, War & Brotherhood
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Mike Francis and Neal Fauver reunite with their former platoon sergeant from Lima Company 3/6 Weapons Platoon—known to the Marines simply as “The Hurricane”—for a conversation about leadership, brotherhood, combat, and the bonds that remain long after leaving the Marine Corps.
The three Marines look back on serving together and the relationship between a platoon sergeant and the young Marines entrusted to his leadership. They share stories about training, pushing Marines to become better, the personalities inside a weapons platoon, and the experiences that transformed a group of Marines...
Matt Talbot & Jeffrey Gattis | Marine Veterans — VA Claims, Afghanistan, Iraq & 3/6 Lima Company
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Marine veterans Matt Talbot and Jeffrey Gattis join Mike Francis to trade stories from their years in the Corps, deployments to Kabul, and the experiences that followed them into life after military service—including navigating the VA disability claims process.
The conversation goes back to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, where Mike first arrived as a new Marine and began forming friendships that would continue through deployments and long after everyone left active duty.
Mike, Matt, and Jeffrey revisit stories from their time together, including memories fr...
Scott Garavito & Robert Eunice | 3/6 Marines — Afghanistan, Boot Camp & Marine Corps Chaos
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Marine Corps combat veterans Scott Garavito and Robert Eunice return to Tales From The Corps to join Mike Francis for another round of stories from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines—covering Afghanistan, boot camp, barracks life, and the chaos that follows Marines wherever they go.
Scott, Robert, and Mike look back on the people and experiences that shaped their years in the Corps, from memorable drill instructors and the characters they encountered as young Marines to the friendships that carried through deployments and life after active duty.
The co...
Robert Eunice & Scott Garavito | 3/6 Marines — Barracks Stories, Alcohol & Marine Corps Culture
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Marine Corps veterans Robert Eunice and Vito join Tales From The Corps for a conversation about 3/6, barracks life, Marine Corps humor, alcohol, and the traditions and stories that somehow survive from one generation of Marines to the next.
This marks Robert Eunice's first appearance on Tales From The Corps, while Vito returns for his third. Alongside Mike Francis and Neal Fauver, they trade stories about the personalities, pranks, questionable decisions, and unforgettable moments that became part of everyday Marine Corps life.
Among them is the...
Scott Gibson | HBO's The Pacific — Filming Peleliu & Honoring Haldane, Part II
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Actor Scott Gibson returns for Part II of our conversation about portraying Marine Captain Andrew “Ack Ack” Haldane in HBO's The Pacific, taking us behind the scenes of filming the Pacific War and the responsibility of honoring the real Marines whose stories inspired the series.
Scott describes what it was like stepping onto a major combat production for the first time, including filming around explosions, stunts, weapons, and carefully coordinated battle sequences. He explains how the production created the intensity seen on screen whil...
Scott Gibson | HBO's The Pacific — Becoming Capt. Andrew Haldane, Part I
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Actor Scott Gibson joins Tales From The Corps for the first of a two-part conversation about portraying Marine Captain Andrew “Ack Ack” Haldane in HBO's The Pacific, the responsibility of portraying a real person, and the path that brought Scott to one of the most acclaimed military productions ever made.
In the first conversation we ever recorded with Scott, he takes Mike Francis and Neal Fauver through his path from athletics to acting, studying his craft in London, working in Toronto, and the audition that even...
Neal Fauver | Marines on Iraq, PTSD, Addiction & Life After Service
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Marine Corps veteran Neal Fauver joins Tales From The Corps for a wide-ranging conversation about military service, his 2007 deployment to Iraq, PTSD, addiction, and finding purpose after leaving the military.
Neal shares stories from his 2007 deployment to Iraq, along with his family's connection to military service, including his father's experiences in Navy cryptology. The conversation moves between deployment memories, military culture, and the experiences that continue to shape veterans long after they come home.
The discussion turns toward some of the more difficult parts of...
Kris Peoples | Marine Veteran — Corps Stories, Finance & Life After Service
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Marine Corps veteran Kris Peoples joins Tales From The Corps to reconnect, trade stories from their years in the Marines, and talk about the unexpected path from military service into finance and business.
Kris shares stories from his Marine Corps years, including rifle range experiences, close calls, weapons mishaps, and the kind of stories Marines can still laugh about years after everyone has gone their separate ways. The conversation also takes a detour into experiences surrounding the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and some of the...
Sgt. Michael Sylvester | Marine Drill Instructor — Training Marines After 9/11
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Marine Sergeant and former Drill Instructor Michael Sylvester joins Tales From The Corps to talk about training Marines, serving in the post-9/11 Marine Corps, and the responsibility of transforming recruits into Marines.
A fellow 3/6 Marine, Michael shares his path through the Corps and the experiences that eventually took him to drill instructor duty. He takes us inside Marine Corps recruit training, explaining the intensity, discipline, and expectations placed on both recruits and the Drill Instructors responsible for training them.
Michael discusses life on...
Justin Harris & Pete Schuster | Marines in Afghanistan — Brotherhood & the Corps
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Marine Corps veterans Justin Harris and Pete Schuster join Tales From The Corps to reconnect, trade stories from their years serving together, and reflect on the friendships that remain long after Marines leave active duty.
Justin and Pete look back on their 2003–2004 deployment to Afghanistan, along with time spent in Italy and Egypt, sharing memories of the people, places, and experiences that shaped their years in the Marine Corps.
The conversation moves between the serious and ridiculous sides of military service—from difficult cond...
Marine Corps Birthday & Veterans Day | Veterans Courts, Brotherhood & Life After Service
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Tales From The Corps marks the 248th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps and Veterans Day with a conversation about Marine Corps traditions, veteran brotherhood, and the challenges that can follow military service.
The conversation explores the different experiences veterans face after leaving the military, including the support systems available to them and the role of Veterans Treatment Courts in helping eligible veterans whose military service and related challenges intersect with the criminal justice system.
We also talk about the differences between military branches...
Marine Corps Stories | Boot Camp, Deployments & Lifelong Brotherhood
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Tales From The Corps looks back on the people, experiences, and friendships that shaped our years in the Marine Corps—from the chaos of boot camp to the relationships built while serving and deploying together.
We trade stories about Marine Corps boot camp, the Drill Instructors and unforgettable characters we encountered along the way, and the experiences that seemed miserable in the moment but somehow became stories worth telling years later.
The conversation also turns to deployments and the friendships formed through military service....
Justin Harris | 3/6 Marine — 9/11, Afghanistan & Going to War
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Marine Corps veteran Justin Harris joins Tales From The Corps to share his experiences with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines and what it was like watching the Marine Corps change almost overnight after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Justin looks back on joining and serving in a peacetime Marine Corps before 9/11 transformed the mission and sent a generation of Marines toward war. He remembers the atmosphere in the barracks that morning, the uncertainty about what would happen next, and how quickly training and expectations began to take on a...
Scott Garavito | Marine Corps Stories — Iraq, Field Life & Military Mayhem
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Marine Corps veteran Scott Garavito joins Tales From The Corps to trade stories about deployments, field life, Iraq, and the ridiculous situations that become some of the most memorable parts of military service.
Vito joins the conversation for stories ranging from Hunter's wedding and life in the field to carrying heavy packs, surviving without showers, and figuring out how to stay relatively clean when bathing facilities aren't exactly part of the accommodations.
The conversation gets into the language and culture of military life, including ...
Ep. 10 - Military Slang, MREs, and Hilarious Mishaps
Picture this: You're in the middle of the desert, chowing down on skittles mixed with jambalaya, all from a military-grade pouch. Yet, that's just another day in the life of a Marine. Join us and our producer, Janine Stella in this episode, as she uncovers our journey so far, tackles military slang, and unearths some of our unforgettable experiences. From hilarious advice received to the most unusual MREs we've ever had in the field; we're spilling the beans and laughing about it all.
Ever wondered about the camaraderie and unique culture within the Marine Corps? Let us...
Ep. 9 - Embracing Life's Eccentricities: From Marine Corps Tales to Foot Fetishes and Prostate Exams
Ever feel like you've lived nine lives? Between the raw tales from our Marine Corps days, that time we contemplated using it as a career, and the downright hilarious stories from our past. We talk about the importance of going to therapy and seeking help as a veteran and the positive impact that makes on mental health.
What's the secret sauce in creating profound connections in relationships? As we journey through our own experiences and the bonds we've forged over the years, we uncover the beautiful complexities that make up our interactions with loved ones and family. W...
Scott Garavito | 3/6 Marine — Brotherhood, Trauma & Asking for Help
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Marine Corps veteran Scott Vito Garavito joins Tales From The Corps to trade stories from his time with 3/6 and talk openly about the experiences veterans can carry long after leaving the military.
Vito looks back on the chaos of Marine Corps life, including the personalities, parties, questionable decisions, and moments when leadership attempted—with varying degrees of success—to keep a group of young Marines under control.
The conversation moves through 3/6 stories, Marine Corps camaraderie, music, NCIS, and the experiences that built relationships between Marines who lear...
Ep. 7 - Military Memories and Combat Chronicles
Get ready for a hilarious journey through our military days, including bizarre incidents like a dog, a machete, and a perplexed neighborhood. We also dive into the grueling world of combat sports and the mental toll of a warrior's mindset.
While reminiscing about our youth, we discuss the transformation of friends and ourselves, share thoughts on Las Vegas, and contemplate a reunion. Plus, we explore the unique camaraderie of the military and the unexpected humor found in unexpected places.
Our overseas military service reveals stark lifestyle differences and a newfound appreciation for life's simple...
Mark “The Hammer” Coleman | UFC Legend — Addiction, Sobriety & Recovery
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UFC legend Mark “The Hammer” Coleman joins Tales From The Corps for an open conversation about alcoholism, sobriety, recovery, and rebuilding his life after addiction.
At the time of this conversation, Mark was more than two years sober and joined us on National Sober Day to talk about the years alcohol controlled his life, the damage it caused, and what ultimately pushed him toward making a change.
Mark discusses the role friends, support, discipline, patience, and faith played in his recovery and why acce...
