Want to know what life in Special Forces is like? Want to hear a sober assessment of War on Terror strategy from a career Special Forces officer? Want a glimpse of duty and service on an entirely different level? Listen in as Dave Carter talks with Ricochet member @BossMongo and you’ll hear all this and much more — like, where did the nickname Boss Mongo come from in the first place?

Subscribe to The Dave Carter Show in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing.

There are 22 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Robert E. Lee Member
    Robert E. Lee
    @RobertELee

    Super interview.  I want to hear more if you can get @BossMongo talking again.  I think for those who haven’t been there things are kind of two-dimensional, but for those who have, the feelings pop out in 3-D.  I wish I could articulate it better but I think you probably know what I mean.

    • #1
  2. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    I look forward to listening to the interview tomorrow.  The boss man is a great writer and should write a memoir.  If you’re interested, I’d be happy to share what few insights I have from trying to market my book.

    • #2
  3. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Excellent interview. Boss Mongo’s life and career make mine seem like a waste of time by comparison.

    • #3
  4. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    @bossmongo … I echo Dave Carter … Welcome home and thank you for your service, Sir!

    • #4
  5. Boss Mongo Member
    Boss Mongo
    @BossMongo

    Mike LaRoche (View Comment):
    Excellent interview. Boss Mongo’s life and career make mine seem like a waste of time by comparison.

    Are you kidding?  You’re the go-to guy for the cheerleader pic perfect for any situation; you’re a one man national asset.

     

    • #5
  6. Dave Carter Podcaster
    Dave Carter
    @DaveCarter

    What a privilege it was to chat with Lt Col Mongo yesterday!  I had to do a double take at the clock when I saw how long we had talked, because it actually seemed like we had barely got a good start. Thanks again for being on the show, Boss Mongo!

    • #6
  7. ChrisinDCburbs Inactive
    ChrisinDCburbs
    @ChrisinDCburbs

    Gentlemen this was a pleasure to listen and a treasured look into the world of a Quiet Professional. Thank you both!

    • #7
  8. The Man With No Name Inactive
    The Man With No Name
    @Pseudodionysius

    • #8
  9. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    That was a great discussion.  But it was too short.  We need to hear more from the boss man.

    • #9
  10. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Boss Mongo (View Comment):

    Mike LaRoche (View Comment):
    Excellent interview. Boss Mongo’s life and career make mine seem like a waste of time by comparison.

    Are you kidding? You’re the go-to guy for the cheerleader pic perfect for any situation; you’re a one man national asset.

    Go Army!

    • #10
  11. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    Thank you Dave for another great interview.

    Thank you Boss Mongo for your service as a Sheep Dog.

    • #11
  12. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Best one yet, and will probably stay so until the inebriated follow up where all the world’s problems are solved.

    • #12
  13. Buckpasser Member
    Buckpasser
    @Buckpasser

    Excellent listening.

     

    My brother in law was out here in Coronado this past weekend for the 50th reunion of his Seal team class.  (Actually they were frogmen at that time)  I will see if he can share a couple of pictures.

    • #13
  14. JeffHawkins Inactive
    JeffHawkins
    @JeffHawkins

    Love the show

    • #14
  15. dajoho Member
    dajoho
    @dajoho

    Great interview – always good to hear a fellow comrade speak with the personable professionalism that is @bossmongo.  I do have a comment.  The Boss stated that the Special Forces NCOs have to garner and maintain the trust of their officers – absolutely true.  However having been an NCO in said force the officer must prove himself worthy of that trust or it just won’t work. And for what it is worth Boss Mongo (lovingly referred to as Moss Bongo around my house) unequivocally earned my trust and confidence as a Special Forces officer.

    • #15
  16. Boss Mongo Member
    Boss Mongo
    @BossMongo

    Moss Bongo?  You bastard!!

    I’ll only say this (and not say more, lest it sound like @dajoho and I were on the tail end of a long deployment, in the showers, and soaping up thinking “Y’know, I don’t go that way, but if I did, that there is a fine figure of a man…”):

    Every day in SF, you’re working with amazing people whose competence, drive, and mission-focus makes you want to be better, do better, then do mo’ better; it’s a great dimension of the job.  If you decide to sit on your keester and eat dum-dum donuts all day, you’ll get called out on it, whatever your rank.

    Me’n Dajoho (which sounds dirty, whichever way you try to vocalize it, says Moss Bongo) go way back.  And, though we were of an age, I always thought “I want to be like that guy when I grow up.”  Of course, I never was, never did, and it didn’t matter ’cause he was there to smack me up when I got outta line.  I’ll say no more.  Pass the soap (on a rope) Dajoho?

    • #16
  17. dajoho Member
    dajoho
    @dajoho

    Boss Mongo (View Comment):
    Moss Bongo? You bastard!!

    I’ll only say this (and not say more, lest it sound like @dajoho and I were on the tail end of a long deployment, in the showers, and soaping up thinking “Y’know, I don’t go that way, but if I did, that there is a fine figure of a man…”):

    Every day in SF, you’re working with amazing people whose competence, drive, and mission-focus makes you want to be better, do better, then do mo’ better; it’s a great dimension of the job. If you decide to sit on your keester and eat dum-dum donuts all day, you’ll get called out on it, whatever your rank.

    Me’n Dajoho (which sounds dirty, whichever way you try to vocalize it, says Moss Bongo) go way back. And, though we were of an age, I always thought “I want to be like that guy when I grow up.” Of course, I never was, never did, and it didn’t matter ’cause he was there to smack me up when I got outta line. I’ll say no more. Pass the soap (on a rope) Dajoho?

    Dude, stop.  Now I gotta go cry in the fetal position in the shower to feel clean again………………

    • #17
  18. Dave Carter Podcaster
    Dave Carter
    @DaveCarter

    dajoho (View Comment):

    Boss Mongo (View Comment):
    Moss Bongo? You bastard!!

    I’ll only say this (and not say more, lest it sound like @dajoho and I were on the tail end of a long deployment, in the showers, and soaping up thinking “Y’know, I don’t go that way, but if I did, that there is a fine figure of a man…”):

    Every day in SF, you’re working with amazing people whose competence, drive, and mission-focus makes you want to be better, do better, then do mo’ better; it’s a great dimension of the job. If you decide to sit on your keester and eat dum-dum donuts all day, you’ll get called out on it, whatever your rank.

    Me’n Dajoho (which sounds dirty, whichever way you try to vocalize it, says Moss Bongo) go way back. And, though we were of an age, I always thought “I want to be like that guy when I grow up.” Of course, I never was, never did, and it didn’t matter ’cause he was there to smack me up when I got outta line. I’ll say no more. Pass the soap (on a rope) Dajoho?

    Dude, stop. Now I gotta go cry in the fetal position in the shower to feel clean again………………

    Gee, what a moving exchange,…in a weird sorta way. Needs orchestral accompaniment. Or more cow bell.

    • #18
  19. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Boss Mongo (View Comment):
    I’ll only say this (and not say more, lest it sound like @dajoho and I were on the tail end of a long deployment, in the showers, and soaping up thinking “Y’know, I don’t go that way, but if I did, that there is a fine figure of a man…”):

    • #19
  20. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Dave Carter (View Comment):
    Gee, what a moving exchange,…in a weird sorta way. Needs orchestral accompaniment.

    I’m always willing to provide.

    • #20
  21. dajoho Member
    dajoho
    @dajoho

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Dave Carter (View Comment):
    Gee, what a moving exchange,…in a weird sorta way. Needs orchestral accompaniment.

    I’m always willing to provide.

    You guys are killing me, nice video – bwaahahahaha.

    • #21
  22. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Well, now I really feel weird following up on that exchange above! But I will anyway. Boss and Dave, you did a great job on the interview. I’m just trying to adjust my brain to realize that this SF guy who is so sweet and kind and mannerly–yes, ma’am–and he also, well, goes to war and must kill people. It’s hard to compute. I’ll stick with seeing the kind side. BTW, Boss, Jerry loved it too–now don’t make anything out of THAT!

    • #22
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.