In this emotional and eye-opening episode, Nick Letendre sits down with Nicole, a Marine Corps mom, educator, and fierce advocate, to honor the life of her son, Sergeant Colin Arslanbas—a Recon Marine who died during a preventable training accident in North Carolina.
Colin was more than a Marine. He was a husband, a big brother, a soon-to-be dad, and the kind of guy who made people laugh even in the most serious moments. Nicole shares his story—from childhood memories to leadership failures that led to his death. This episode is not just about grief—it’s about truth, accountability, and a mother’s unshakable love.
From broken equipment to ignored safety protocols, Nicole exposes the systemic issues that contributed to her son’s death and raises the uncomfortable but necessary questions about how we train our elite forces. It’s a heartbreaking, raw, and courageous conversation that will stay with you long after it ends.
Due to production limitations, this episode lacks our usual intro/outro—but your support can help us fix that. If this story moved you, share it. Say Colin’s name. And don’t let silence be the final word.
To Colin. You deserved better.
🔗 Support us at GoldStarStoriesUSA.com or donate directly at BuyMeACoffee.com/GoldStarStories
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