hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 380: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Joe Cognitore P4 on hmTv
Ep 380 • The Fog of War and Humanity
Richard Acritelli with Sgt. Joe Cognitore • Part 4
In this final chapter of their conversation, Richard Acritelli sits down once more with Sgt. Joe Cognitore to explore what happens after the uniform comes off. Joe opens up about the shock of returning home from Vietnam, trying to build a teaching career, the stigma veterans faced, and the long shadow of PTSD that often goes unnamed but never truly disappears.
From classrooms to Coca-Cola boardrooms, from quietly carrying his story to becoming a powerful advocate through the VFW, Joe traces the journey from silence to service. He shares how care packages, community, and honest conversations keep veterans from slipping through the cracks, and why today’s support systems, while imperfect, are finally moving in the right direction.
It’s real, thoughtful, sometimes tough to hear, and deeply human. If you care about veterans, healing, and what resilience actually looks like, this episode will stay with you. And yes, Joe proves once again that leadership doesn’t always mean being the loudest voice. Sometimes it means showing up, year after year, and refusing to leave anyone behind.