Jose Sarduy's life sounds made up. It isn't. He was born in Cuba, his father was a political prisoner, and his family got deported to the United States. He grew up in a hardworking, wonderfully chaotic Cuban household that felt like a sitcom someone forgot to cancel.

His mother could take down a chicken with her bare hands. His father could charm absolutely anyone in the room. There was never a dull moment — only material.

After all that, Jose somehow ended up at the U.S. Air Force Academy, became an aviator, and deployed to two wars. He has been shot at in two different countries. He considers this funny now. We're glad someone does.