hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 225: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Marcelle Leis P1 on hmTv
Episode 225 (Part 1) – The Fog of War and Humanity with Marcelle Leis
In this first part of a powerful two-episode conversation, host Richard Acritelli speaks with Marcelle Leis, a 24-year Air National Guard veteran and leader with the Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency.
Marcelle shares her journey from growing up in Belmore, Long Island, to making the unexpected decision to enlist in the Air National Guard in 1989. She reflects on her early days at Lackland Air Force Base, the challenges of joining as a young woman at the end of the Cold War, and how teamwork, mentorship, and a sense of mission transformed what began as a search for college money into a lifelong career of service.
Listeners will hear about Marcelle’s experiences at the Roslyn and Westhampton bases, her path into leadership as a First Sergeant, and the historical backdrop of the late 1980s and early 1990s—from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the shifting role of the U.S. military.
This episode sets the stage for Part 2, where Marcelle opens up about 9/11, deployment to Kuwait, and her leadership journey supporting airmen through decades of conflict.