A Medal of Honor Recipient's Origin Story

March 15, 2023 00:32:27
A Medal of Honor Recipient's Origin Story
The Spear
A Medal of Honor Recipient's Origin Story

Mar 15 2023 | 00:32:27

/

Show Notes

In December 2021, at a White House ceremony, Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee received the Medal of Honor for his actions during a 2013 battle with insurgents in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province. But the story of his military career began years earlier. Prior to joining the Army and qualifying as Special Forces soldier, he was a Marine, deploying twice to Iraq. In this first episode of a two-part series, Plumlee shares the story of his early career, including his first firefight and what he learned as a young noncommissioned officer. In the next episode, he’ll describe his decision to transition from the Marine Corps to the Army and the events that led to his actions in Ghazni in 2013.

Other Episodes

Episode

October 26, 2022 00:24:30
Episode Cover

Walking the Beat in Baghdad

In the second episode in a two-part series, Misty Cantwell recounts the ongoing combat operations she conducted in Sadr City, Iraq, in 2003. A...

Listen

Episode

February 10, 2026 01:06:02
Episode Cover

Combat Interpreter in Iraq

Ayman Kafel and his family survived civil wars in Lebanon and Liberia before immigrating to the United States. Following the September 11 attacks, Ayman...

Listen

Episode

May 22, 2025 00:52:07
Episode Cover

Forward Air Controller in Ramadi

In this episode of The Spear, retired Marine officer David Berke joins to share a story from 2006, when he was a forward air...

Listen