hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 358: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Miguel A. Logreira P2 on hmTv
Ep. 358 The Fog of War and Humanity
Host: Richard Acritelli
Guest: Miguel Laguerre
hmTv / Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center
In this powerful second installment of his multi-part conversation, host Richard Acritelli sits down with veteran Miguel Laguerre to explore a story of grit, service, identity, and transformation — from a rough childhood in the Bronx to more than 20 years serving the United States in military intelligence.
Miguel opens up about:
• Growing up ten blocks from Yankee Stadium amid violence and blackout riots
• Dropping out of school — and finding purpose in the Army
• How witnessing the National Guard inspired him to serve
• Moving from logistics to military intelligence because of language skills
• Learning five languages and discovering that “you don’t learn language — you learn people”
• The mentorship, discipline, and unity that shaped him in basic training and airborne school
• Surviving traumatic brain injury and rebuilding cognitive skills
• How empathy and cultural awareness became his greatest tools in service
Richard and Miguel also reflect on the deeper human lessons of military life — belonging, leadership, resilience, and the impact a good mentor can have on a young person searching for direction.
This episode is a testament to how the armed forces don’t just train soldiers — they reveal potential people never knew they had.
Stay tuned for Part 3, where Miguel shares frontline experiences, the realities of intelligence work, and how service shaped the man he is today.