So there I was… with $174 in loose change, one Garande rifle, and a sandpit full of regret. In this unforgettable episode, retired Marine First Sergeant John Crouch returns to So There I Was to share a story so absurd, it should be fiction—but it’s 100% real! From psychological stress at Officer Candidate School to creative punishments involving unsecured wallets and rifles. And you’ll hear how a Medal of Honor dog tag program gave candidates something bigger than themselves to fight for—and how a quiet act of remembrance, years later, brought that message full circle. This one has it all. You’ll laugh, wince, and maybe reconsider ever presetting a lock again. Plus: the mystery of the disappearing platoon, and the officer candidate who DOR’d mid-leg lift (spoiler: she made captain). Whether you’re a vet, a pilot, or someone who just likes your wallets where you left them, this episode is a wild ride through discipline, leadership, and 34 pounds of copper and nickel-based motivation.
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Goat Hunters, Jet Jocks & a $3,000 Rifle Episode 165
We’re honored to be joined by retired USCG Chief Claude Morrissey—a veteran rescue swimmer with decades of gripping search and rescue tales. From cliffside hoists in Kodiak to extracting F-18 pilots from the Atlantic, Claude brings raw stories, grit, humor, and humility. He shares what it takes to make it through the brutal Rescue Swimmer A-School, the harrowing rescues that shaped his career, and what it’s like to fly missions from the Bering Sea to Hurricane Katrina. This one’s packed with adrenaline, emotion, and classic “so there I was” storytelling you won’t find anywhere else. Stick around as we tease Fig for slacking, honor Claude’s incredible service, and try not to get kicked off our recording platform again.
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Just Get Airborne Episode 164
Stealth takes us straight into the Cold War cockpit on a Navy E-2 Hawkeye as he stood the watch during some of America’s most tense moments. From scrambling on alert after Reagan was shot, to deploying over the North Atlantic in DEFCON 2, to narrowly avoiding catastrophe when a 'friendly' dropped a bomb on a U.S. cruiser—this episode is packed with edge-of-your-seat stories. Stealth shares what it was like controlling the airspace above the fleet, even spotting submarines that were 'never there' from 15,000 feet, and managing chaos (and comedy) from the radar station. It’s a mix of Cold War intensity, humor, and reverent remembrance for shipmates lost. Don’t miss this look into the flying saucer dome of naval aviation.
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No Show – 19 June 2025
🎙️ No New Episode This Week – But Wait… It’s a Good Thing! 🎙️
Last week’s So There I Was with Dos Gringos clocked in at over 2 hours and 15 minutes — a wild ride packed with laughs, songs, and unforgettable stories. Add in some tech gremlins this week, and we figured: let’s give you a little more time to soak it all in.
If you haven’t heard it yet (or just want to hear it again), now’s your chance to dive back into the mayhem:
👉 https://sothereiwas.us/episode/163
Trust us — it’s one of our most epic episodes yet.
We’ll be back next week with a brand-new show. Until then… crank up the volume and enjoy more Dos Gringos!
— RePete & Fig ✈️🎧
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We're Gonna Piss on That Episode 163
This very long—but hilarious and heartfelt—episode dives deep into fighter pilot culture; think less dogfights, more Dos Gringos. We sat down with the irreverent band, their musical wingmen from Los Gringos, and the founders of Winglore Spirits to talk whiskey, war stories, squadron bars, and the art of laughing at yourself. You’ll hear about bad rides that birthed great songs, the origin of Two’s Blind, near-death ejections, the mythos of Shaved Dog’s Ass, and a whiskey label that offers a conservative joker and generous bingo! This isn’t just an episode—it’s a celebration of camaraderie, chaos, and culture that spans generations of pilots, crew dogs, and hanger-flying heroes.
Note: We left this extra-long for a reason—trimming it would’ve felt like cutting verses from a fighter pilot anthem. Strap in and enjoy this episode for a couple of weeks!
Join hosts, Fig and Repete, as they bring in some great aviation raconteurs to relate the glamorous, hilarious, poignant, tragic, and incredible tales of aviation. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll laugh ’til you cry, but you’ll never be bored!
New Zealand