hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 226 The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Marcelle Leis P2 on hmTv
Episode 226 (Part 2) – The Fog of War and Humanity with Marcelle Leis
In Part Two of this moving conversation, host Richard Acritelli continues with Marcelle Leis, a 24-year veteran of the Air National Guard and Suffolk County Veterans Services leader.
Marcelle shares her experience deploying to Kuwait in the immediate aftermath of 9/11—one of the first groups of American service members sent overseas. She reflects on the numbness the nation felt, the challenges of leaving family behind, and the realities of serving under Force Protection Delta lockdown with limited communication and supplies.
As First Sergeant, Marcelle focused on morale, checking on airmen who were still processing the trauma of 9/11 while adjusting to a new era of military service. She recalls the powerful support of her community back home, from her young children drawing daily flags to local schools sending messages of gratitude.
This episode explores not only the shift in America’s military mission after 9/11, but also the enduring bond between service members, veterans, and first responders—and the way communities came together in the face of tragedy.