A Lieutenant's Dilemma in Kosovo

March 13, 2024 00:47:54
A Lieutenant's Dilemma in Kosovo
The Spear
A Lieutenant's Dilemma in Kosovo

Mar 13 2024 | 00:47:54

/

Show Notes

When Chris L’Heureux joined the Army in 1999, it was before the 9/11 attacks and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that would define a generation of US Army service. Like many others across the Army, he would go on to deploy multiple times to those war zones. But his first deployment was very different. As a platoon leader, Chris and his soldiers were sent to Kosovo as peacekeepers. In his words, the United States had committed to placing American service members “in between two groups of people that desperately wanted to kill each other.” Some of his experiences would foreshadow challenges of future counterinsurgency operations. But one incident—which drew the platoon directly into an extraordinarily difficult situation when locals accused Russian peacekeepers in the area of criminal violence—presented dilemmas few lieutenants are fully prepared to face. He joins this episode to share the story.

Other Episodes

Episode

February 14, 2024 00:49:14
Episode Cover

Three Missions in Panjwai District

This episode features a conversation with Ryan Hendrickson. After almost losing his leg in an IED blast in 2010, he was back in Afghanistan...

Listen

Episode 0

July 29, 2020 00:58:43
Episode Cover

A Platoon's Fight in Paktia Province

In this episode of The Spear, MWI's John Amble is joined by Maj. Jacob Absalon. He shares a story from his first deployment, as...

Listen

Episode

July 17, 2024 00:50:59
Episode Cover

No-Fly Zone

In 1998, retired US Air Force Colonel Mike "Starbaby" Pietrucha was an electronic warfare officer flying in an F-15E Strike Eagle, enforcing the northern...

Listen