So There I Was

Latest Episodes:

Here's to Woody. The Last Worst Day Episode 25 Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

In our second hour with Lawman, things get real. This episode is not entirely comprised of our usual light-hearted hijinks and buffoonery - though we throw some in for good measure. Lawman details months of training aboard the USS Nassau, and losing a squadron mate, Buick, during a night training sortie in the lead-up to Gulf War I. Spending months aboard the boat before the war without going ashore was maddening. So much so that they literally prayed for a cause a divert to give an excuse to get Marines off the boat for a few days! As the months dragged on with limited contact with the outside world, the Marines tried to keep their morale up. Lawman took some heat, but managed to strike a deal to keep the line-shack Marines happy. Then the war kicked off, and they found themselves in the thick of it. With Anti-Aircraft missiles in the air, Lawman's flight narrowly escaped disaster on their first combat sortie. On their first flight of the last day of the war, the Marine Aviators' of VMA-331 luck ran out when one of their own was shot down. Hope remained as evidence that the pilot got out of the doomed aircraft kept trickling in. Eventually Lawman found himself ashore in Saudi Arabia to identify the remains of his friend and fellow pilot, Reg Underwood, "Woody." Woody volunteered to be a Marine Pilot. He trained hard and was a Weapons and Tactics Instructor - one of the best who taught other Marines to use their jet effectively as a weapon. Woody was well-respected by his contemporaries and senior officers alike. He was a husband and a father to a daughter whom he would never meet. Woody's sacrifice became their sacrifice too. Woody's brother and sister still live in his home state of Kentucky, and his wife and daughter remain in North Carolina. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers please. We are grateful to have known Woody and mourn his loss for ourselves and for his family. His life made the world a better place. The music for this episode is courtesy of Dos Gringos - Last of the Breed. Thank you, Gents! Great stuff as always!

The Lieutenant Savoy Incident Episode 24 Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

Lawman sat with us for more than 5 hours to discuss his unique career before becoming a Blue Angel; and how he got to fly almost every plane in the Marine Corps inventory in Afghanistan. We will break this into about five shows and likely intersperse other shows in between. Lawman is a natural storyteller; he had us howling with laughter and choking up in despair. You'll hear how his upbringing set him up for success in Officer Candidates' School. And you'll learn that growing up in the 60s, the son of a special forces father, was not for the faint-hearted. In upcoming episodes, we will dedicate shows to two Marines with whom Lawman served. And who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. In this episode, hear about Lawman's early career and how he almost got a much less desirable callsign. Hold your sides as he describes the unauthorized appropriation of a Navy staff car in Spain and how he held his breath waiting for the "shoe to drop" in the wake of their antics. You'll also hear how an innocent (and hilarious) practical joke almost cost him his Marine Corps career. Unfortunately, the only person who didn't find it funny was the one who controlled his fitness report! This show is the first of many with Lawman. You WON'T be disappointed! Please also check out our sponsors' page and get some ideas for custom, thoughtful Christmas, or other holiday gifts. Thank you to Dave Hamilton over at the MacGeekGab for his support and counsel on getting this show to you! Finally, this week you'll note we're using music from "Dos Gringos"; two Air Force Viper drivers who have written some fun and fantastic music which is definitely NOT safe for work! We hope to have the Dos Gringos, "Trip" and "Snooze," on with us in an upcoming show soon!

Nowhere To Go But Up Episode 23 Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

Double-L of the "Hollywood Guard" regales us with stories from Marine bootcamp to doing really dangerous things like fighting fires with an airplane... "More dangerous than combat." When you are flying and you feel the heat of the fire it causes you to reconsider the intelligence of your life-choices. Getting to Bagram Air Base, Double-L soon learned he was on the bottom of the Commanding General's shit-list without even trying.... So he did something that was sure to impress him. Oh - and when you're under attack - it's a bad idea to call home and tell that to mama. Finally, hear how this week's photo went from inception to reality!

It's a Small World Episode 22 Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

We are joined by Author, Viper & Phantom Driver, and exceptional story-teller, "Jedi" this week. Jedi tells of the adventures of flying the Phantom and the Viper in the Air National Guard. What's amazing this week is how a chance meeting in a Navy O-Club bar comes full circle almost 40 years later. And Jedi then relates another incident where he was accused of 'buzzing' a beach, that comes full circle when, by chance, he learns who really did it decades later! Jedi is an author of a hilarious and poignant substack and the books Flying Between Heaven and Hell: Weathering Storms available on Amazon and a new book, The Angel of Christmas, due out the first week of November 2022. We learn there's more to life than flying, driving fast cars, drinking, and chasing women... Don't miss this week's show!

A Vicious Pack of Lieutenants Episode 21 Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

This week we are joined by "Curly" of the VMA-231 Ace of Spades squadron. Curly closes the loop on some of the fun discussed in episode 15 - "Sir, Don't Eat the Donuts" and other escapades of the LRF. Curly also tells us about some of his 38 combat missions in Gulf War I and how he survived in spite of himself. He sheds light on the adrenalin flow and narrow focus experienced in early combat missions no matter how well-trained one may be. Then there are several other stories of hijinks, fun, and near tragedy relayed by this skilled raconteur. This is our first sponsored show. If you need an idea for that perfect custom and thoughtful gift, reach out to Robin at RobinsBirdBrainDesigns.com Robin will make your gift-giving efforts this year appear thoughtful and unique! Be sure to subscribe to this who in your favorite Podcatcher - use Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify, Amazon Music etc!

The Eagle Was Grounded Episode 20 Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

Another first for the show! This week "Father" joins Fig and Repete in the first Air Force pilot interview on So There I Was. Father flew the F-15 Eagle acquiring 3800+ hours and was the Squadron Commander in St. Louis, MO when he finished his career. Father had the misfortune of being the witness to an accident so mystifying at the time the Air Force Grounded the entire fleet of Eagles world-wide. The good news is that Father's wingman survived and went on to fly for a major US airline. Fortunately Father's description of what happened helped expedite investigators' ability to piece together what really happened. You can see a video re-creation of the mishap here on Military.com Even the recreation doesn't do justice to how improbable and wild this mishap was. This is our longest show yet, but we think you'll be entertained throughout. We were!

Semper Fi, Do or Die! Episode 19 Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

This show is a little different than our others in that it isn't directly about aviation. But, it IS about a right of passage most Naval Aviators had to go through before being commissioned as officers and starting flight school We are joined by Marine Corps 1st Sgt Retired - "Gunny-Go" - A shortened version of his name. Many a Marine and Navy pilot in the 1980s were taught and guided by "Gunny-Go" and some still likely hear his voice in their nightmares today. If you recognize him and want to reach out to him he would love to hear from you. Gunny-Go spent eight years on the drill field. He is a wealth of experience and has been a positive influence on thousands of Marines and Sailors. Thank you for your service, "Gunny-Go." Semper Fi. Do or Die!

Best Job in the Galaxy! Episode 18 Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

This is the second half of our time with "Nasty;" the former Commanding Officer of VF-31, The USS Sacramento, The USS Nimitz and a Strike Group aboard the USS Eisenhower. He tells of the time he ejected from an F-14 over the shark-infested waters of the Pacific. He describes why "Nuke-School" is hard - and the benefits thereof. And he tells us what the "Best Job in the Galaxy, HANDS-DOWN" is! Finally he tells of a different era of Naval Aviation when things were a little looser than they are today. The leadership that Nasty exudes comes from all his experience which helped him grow into the type of leader people want to work for. We hope you enjoy hearing this show as much as we enjoyed making it. The opening and closing sound bites are from the audiobook Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales where he describes the carrier takeoff and landing brief to pilots on their first night carrier evolution. This is a fantastic read.

Here's to Bug Roach Episode 17 Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

Here's to Bug Roach! Cdr. Roach was a legendary LSO and mentor to our guest this week and next: Nasty. Hear why he was so legendary and the poignant event right before Nasty was presented the "Bug Roach Award" for the LSO of the year. Nasty is the LSO who waived Yogi & Master aboard the Lincoln that fateful day in the summer of '91 when Yogi came as close to ejecting from an airplane as humanly possible without actually doing it. (See episode 14) It goes without saying, Nasty's perspective is just as chilling and tense as you can imagine. While we use call-signs here on the podcast you will very quickly hear the gravitas Nasty brings to the table and understand why he is a pilot's pilot and a leader men aspire to emulate. He exudes leadership and genuine down-to-earth likability. Nasty Commanded a Fighter Squadron, was the Executive Officer of the Carl Vinson a Commanding Officer of the Support Ship, Sacramento; the USS Nimitz and a Strike Group Commander as an Admiral aboard the USS Eisenhower. In short, this man is a walking-talking living legend of Naval Aviation who spent about 10 years at sea in his 36+ year career. His love of naval aviation is clear and he share it with us today!

True Lies Episode 16 Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

Hear directly from two of the pilots who flew the Harriers you see in the 1994 Arnold Schwarzenegger / Jamie Lee Curtis hit movie True Lies. Director James Cameron had a clear idea of what he wanted. He took good care of our Marines who were there to support the filming and made sure they were treated well and had time with their families over the holidays. Buggs and Moto join us to talk about their path into tactical aviation. They relate how they became Marine pilots and their experiences on deployments around the world. See below for photos from the set and for the 'player' to listen here on the website. Jamie Lee Curtis & Buggs Arnold & MOTO Harry Tasker about to borrow a Harrier "Helen Tasker" on the march! Is it real or a model? Look under the last photo for the answer... Photo #5 Buggs enjoying craft services! Harrier on the pad Tom Arnold & Arnold Sharzenegger Marines on the boat with Jamie Lee Curtiss - watching them film the bridge 'chase' scene. Moto on the boat Jamie Lee Curtiss, unidentified Marine, MOTO and Buggs on the boat. "borrowed" Harrier about to do a steep climb-away takeoff. Buggs & Asia Landing on the set. In the parking lot... The 'model' on the rack. This is the "jet" in photo 5. Notice there's no engine in these.

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