A Platoon Leader's First Combat Missions

September 12, 2018 00:35:06
A Platoon Leader's First Combat Missions
The Spear
A Platoon Leader's First Combat Missions

Sep 12 2018 | 00:35:06

/

Show Notes

In 2003, Maj. (ret) John Spencer was a platoon leader in the 173rd Airborne. In this episode, he talks about the very first mission after his unit jumped in northern Iraq. He also described a complex ambush in which enemy forces targeted his platoon. Listen as he reflects on the experiences and what lessons he took from these experiences about combat, training, and fear.

Other Episodes

Episode

July 19, 2023 00:48:35
Episode Cover

Smiling When It Sucks

In 2003, Dan Stuewe was a platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division preparing to cross into Iraq. With only a few weeks with...

Listen

Episode

March 06, 2018 00:30:31
Episode Cover

A 2003 Helicopter Mission Deep into Iraq

Col. Phil Ryan is the commander of the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. In 2003, in the first days of the invasion of...

Listen

Episode 0

December 19, 2019 00:47:55
Episode Cover

A Kiowa Pilot's IED Story

As a lieutenant, Maj. Jesse Lansford was deployed to Afghanistan. A Kiowa helicopter pilot assigned as an aviation platoon leader, he rarely found himself...

Listen