This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast. ======= Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! This is the second round of our two part Combat Story with former Force Recon, Scout Sniper, and Marine Rifleman AJ Pasciuti who recently retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Gunner) and passed on more lucrative careers in the defense industry to keep a promise he and his fellow Marines made after losing some of their closest friends in combat to lead a purpose- and service-driven life as he runs for public office in his hometown of San Jose, California. AJ was an unlikely candidate to be the Marine Corps sniper who, as part of a team, was responsible for killing the most lethal sniper in Iraq (known as Juba) who took the lives of, potentially, 140+ Americans using a US sniper rifle taken off the bodies of a fallen Marine Corps sniper team. AJ is credited with ultimately pulling the trigger on Juba but, in true Marine Corps fashion and very much in line with AJ’s character, he has forever eschewed the spotlight and attributed the work to the team of Marines that stopped Juba (who was personified in the movie American Sniper) from terrorizing other US forces. In a very sad and emotional but inspiring turn of events, AJ would lose a coin flip in which his closest friend’s team would take the decisive position on a particular operation in Afghanistan while AJ’s team served a supporting role. During the fight, AJ would lose this Marine and confidant during a multi-hour gunfight. When you hear his story of loss and sacrifice, it’s no surprise that AJ chose to continue serving in his post-military career, running for office in northern California. He’s a great reminder of the type of people we all want in office, even when these office’s tend to undervalue the integrity and dedication to others that he embodies. With that, please enjoy a story that was made for the big screen from the son of an immigrant to one of the Marine Corps’ most lethal shooters: AJ Pasciuti. ======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find AJ Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/angelo-pasciuti_the-pathway-to-public-representation-continues-activity-7044775065183272960-wyMZ/ - Washington Post aricle on Juba https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/22/iraqi-sniper-the-legendary-insurgent-who-claimed-to-have-killed-scores-of-american-soldiers/ ======= Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 01:00 - Guest Introduction (AJ Pasciuti) 02:39 - Interview begins 02:55 - Nickname  05:02 - Thespian 09:35 - What goes into a hunt 13:50 - The Juba Sniper hunt 35:06 - Nutrisense Ad 36:21 - The Juba Sniper hunt cont. 01:02:43 - Aftermath of Juba 01:06:30 - Matthew Ingham and Award Qualifications 02:05:40 - Sentimental items 02:09:22 - Would you do it all again? 02:09:42 - Closing thoughts 02:10:07 -  Listener comments and shout outs