Travis and the Unicorn

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Death on Call Podcast! In this all-officer episode, hosts JL Pelt and Jon Shipley sit down with retired Air Force officers Chris Tharp and John "JLo" Lorenz for a conversation that is, at it's core, a love letter to the gunship family.

 

From the moment they stepped into the 19th SOS, they felt it: that instant, unbreakable bond that turned coworkers into brothers and sisters for life. What started as shared cockpits and chaotic training lines grew into something deeper — a true family that showed up in the darkest moments, from first-deployment firefights to life-changing personal trials. Chris shares how the entire gunship community rallied around his family, facilitated prayers from six continents, the kind of love only this family can give. JLo talks about how the gun deck became home more than anywhere else, and how that camaraderie still hits him years after retirement.

This episode is packed with the raw stories, dark humor, Travis the Monkey and unicorn pranks, and real stories of faith and solidarity.

 

Topics Covered:

 

From Civil Engineering to Aviation: Both guests share their backgrounds starting in CE as enlisted troops before commissioning and moving into special operations aviation.

 

The Gunship Family & Brotherhood: Stories about checking into the 19th SOS, finding an immediate sense of home, and forming unbreakable bonds in and out of the aircraft.

 

Combat Realities & Levity: How incorporating humor during training kept students sharp and fostered absolute trust among crew members.

 

The Legend of Travis and the Unicorn: The story behind Travis the chimp and the unicorn, and how these running jokes became absolute staples in the cockpit.

 

If you have ever worn the gunship patch, or felt that deeper-than-blood connection, this one’s going to hit you right in the chest, and gut busting laugher.

 

🔔 Subscribe for more raw AC-130 gunship stories, crew confessions, and never-before-heard combat tales.

💬 Drop a story about your gunship family in the comments — we read every single one.

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Email: deathoncallpodcast@gmail.com

 

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

02:53 First Impressions and Training Experiences

08:36 Deployment Stories and Morbid Humor

26:36 Dark Humor in the Military

35:48 The Balance of Seriousness and Humor

47:46 Memorable Student Experiences and Lessons Learned

57:11 Classroom Chaos and Leadership Emergence

01:02:55 Reflections on Military Culture and Change

01:09:28 The Impact of Personal History on Military Careers

01:15:46 First Combat Experiences: The Reality of War

01:21:34 The Weight of Responsibility in Combat

01:32:44 Training for Real-World Scenarios

01:40:35 Teamwork and Communication in Combat

01:48:17 Cross-Training and Backup Roles

02:01:18 The Gunship Community and Its Bonds

02:08:54 The Impact of Personal Connections

02:14:03 Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life

02:26:42 Reflections on a Career in AFSOC

02:34:27 Building New Connections and Community

02:46:28 Reflecting on Mentorship and Legacy