Semper Try

In Part 3 and the final part of my conversation with Marine veteran Clifford Sosamon, we talk about something a lot of veterans face after leaving the military  finding that next mission.

Cliff shares how getting involved with the VFW and veteran organizations helped him rediscover the community, camaraderie, structure, and purpose he had been missing since leaving the Marine Corps. We also talk about starting podcasts, embracing the imperfections, Military CreatorCon, and why sometimes you have to stop overthinking it and just move forward.

Cliff is the host of the Tailgate Chat Podcast, so make sure you check out what he’s doing there.

Semper Try is also proud to be part of VET Voices Empowering Tomorrow  bringing veteran podcasters together to share stories, build connections, and make veteran voices heard.

Because Trying Beats Quitting.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Marine veteran Cliff Sosamon, we pick up his story as the Marine Corps starts taking him places he never expected.

Cliff went from becoming an LAV mechanic — a job he never wanted — to deploying to Haiti as part of Operation Restore/Uphold Democracy. From there, his career took another turn when he became a Marine Security Guard.

Cliff shares what it was really like protecting U.S. embassies, serving in Bangkok, Thailand, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and working around ambassadors, government officials, and even presidential security details. Along the way, Brazil became more than another duty station when he met the woman who would become his wife.

We also get into the injuries and personal decisions that eventually led Cliff to leave the Marine Corps and begin figuring out what came next.

And we're not done yet. Part 3 comes next week as we finish the rest of Cliff's story.

Semper Try Podcast — Because Trying Beats Quitting.

 

This week on the Semper Try Podcast, I sit down with fellow Marine veteran Cliff Sosamon for Part 1 of a three-part conversation.

Cliff grew up in a small town in Illinois surrounded by military history. His dad served in the Air Force during Vietnam, and Cliff knew early on that college wasn't his path — he wanted to become a Marine.

He shipped to MCRD San Diego in October 1992, and that's where our conversation gets really interesting. Cliff went through Marine Corps boot camp before the Crucible existed, and just five years later, my experience earning the title Marine looked completely different.

We talk about the yellow footprints, becoming a squad leader, Edson Range, the hikes at Camp Pendleton, mess and maintenance week, and what those final weeks of boot camp looked like in 1992.

Back then, there was no Crucible followed by an Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony. Cliff remembers still being called a recruit while standing on the graduation parade deck in his Dress Blues. It wasn't until the final moments of graduation that he heard the words telling him he had earned the title Marine.

We also get into Cliff's military family, the flags hanging in his office, and the Congressional Veterans Commendation Award he received for continuing to serve the veteran community after leaving the Corps.

And this is only Part 1.

Semper Try Podcast — Because Trying Beats Quitting.

One wrong step.

That's literally all it took to change the direction of Erik Monarca's Marine Corps career.

In Part 3 and the final part of my conversation with Erik, he talks about a training accident that started with simply stepping the wrong way. What seemed like a foot injury he could push through eventually became something much more serious — doctors discovered two crushed bones in his foot, leading to surgery and ultimately changing his plans to stay in the Marine Corps.

But getting out was only the beginning of the next chapter.

Erik talks about losing the purpose and structure that came with being a Marine, trying to find his place in civilian life, and finally beginning to get himself back on track.

Then September 11, 2001 happened.

Erik was still in the Individual Ready Reserve, and just days after the attacks, he received a phone call telling him to report for a physical. Suddenly, the possibility of putting the uniform back on became very real.

We also talk about where life eventually took him, the veteran community, why our stories matter, and how a 2 a.m. conversation between a few Marines eventually became the Chat 62 Podcast.

And since Erik and I recorded this conversation, that shared belief in veterans supporting veterans has grown into something new: V.E.T. — Voices Empowering Tomorrow, a Veteran Podcast Network.

Erik, Jonathan Cole of The Bunkhouse, and I are the three co-founders — and we're just getting started.

This is the final part of Erik Monarca's story.

Your story matters.

Semper Try Podcast — Because Trying Beats Quitting.

V.E.T. — Voices Empowering Tomorrow.
Securing the Hope for Tomorrow.

CONNECT WITH ERIK & CHAT 62:

Facebook
Instagram
Spotify https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/erik-monarca?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Amazon Music

Email: chat62podcast@gmail.com

In Part 2 of my conversation with Marine veteran Erik Monarca, the real test begins.

After losing nearly 80 pounds just for the chance to become a Marine, Erik quickly discovered that earning the title would demand even more. Boot camp brought setback after setback, including a devastating rope-climb injury that tore the skin from both of his hands. Most people would have seen those moments as reasons to quit. Erik chose to keep going.

In this episode, Erik shares the physical and mental challenges that tested his determination, the lessons he learned through adversity, and the unforgettable moment he finally earned the title United States Marine.

This isn't just a story about Marine Corps boot camp. It's a story about perseverance, resilience, and proving to yourself that you're capable of more than you ever imagined.

In Part 3, Erik takes us beyond boot camp to his service with 5th Marines, the injury that ended his military career, and how he found a new mission helping veterans tell their stories through the Chat 62 Podcast.

Because every story matters... and most stories die unheard. These won't.

What happens when doubt becomes fuel?

For Erik Monarca, that moment changed the course of his life.

In Part 1, Marine veteran and Chat 62 Podcast host Erik Monarca, USMC, shares how an overweight teenager with little confidence made the decision to earn the title United States Marine. After being told he wasn't ready, Erik committed himself to losing nearly 80 pounds to make his dream a reality.

Bill and Erik also talk about podcasting, preserving veterans' stories, and why every veteran has a story worth telling. It's an honest conversation between two Marines who believe that every veteran's story matters and deserves to be heard.

This is only the beginning.

In Part 2, Erik takes us inside Marine Corps boot camp, including his time in Physical Conditioning Platoon (PCP) and the determination it took to finally earn the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.

Follow Erik Monarca & Chat 62 Podcast

🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575809312815

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chat62podcast/

🎧 Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/erik-monarca

🎙️ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/6e0858d9-0a1a-4e15-8e50-fb5827caa4bb/chat-62

📧 Email: chat62podcast@gmail.com

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Semper Try Podcast

Most stories die unheard. These won't.

Because Trying Beats Quitting.

What happens after the shooting stops? In Part 2 of my conversation with Army veteran Buford Johnson, we go beyond the battlefield and into the lessons he carried home from Vietnam.

Buford shares why he left active duty, continued serving for more than two decades in the Army Reserve, taught military leadership, and developed a lifelong passion for American history and the U.S. Constitution. Along the way, he reflects on military strategy, leadership, politics, and the importance of understanding history to prepare the next generation.

You'll also hear stories you won't find in most history books, including his experiences in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and Germany, how he almost became a monk before joining the Army, and why he believes preserving our nation's history matters just as much as preserving the stories of those who served.

Thank you to Brainerd American Legion Post 255, the biggest sponsor of the Semper Try Podcast, for helping us preserve the stories of America's veterans.

Listen and subscribe:
🌐 https://www.sempertry.com
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/semper-try-podcast/id1806348142
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2LWWw5trEcQKQ9fSr0QxQd
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SemperTryPodcast

Because Trying Beats Quitting.

Sometimes the best conversations happen when you least expect them.

I attended a Memorial Day ceremony simply to record the event. I had no idea who the guest speaker was or that I was about to meet someone whose story deserved to be shared.

After hearing Buford Johnson's powerful speech, I introduced myself and asked if he would sit down for a conversation. Thankfully, he said yes.

In Part One, Buford shares an incredible journey that begins in a seminary where he was studying to become a monk before life took him in a completely different direction. He takes us through ROTC, the Army, Special Forces, Cold War Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam, sharing firsthand stories, lessons on leadership, and the moment he realized his military career was about to change forever.

This is more than a military interview. It's the story of a life shaped by service, sacrifice, and purpose.

Guest: Buford Johnson
• U.S. Army Infantry Officer
• U.S. Army Special Forces
• Vietnam Veteran (1964–1965)
• Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)
• Life Member of the VFW, American Legion, DAV, and Vietnam Veterans of America

Part Two continues next week.

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🎙 Semper Try Podcast
Because Trying Beats Quitting.

🌐 https://sempertry.com

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, Podbean, and wherever you get your podcasts.