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 0

December 16, 2020 00:54:25
Episode Cover

Coming in Low

During a deployment in Afghanistan, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dylan Ferguson was flying an Apache, providing close air support to a special operations ground...

Listen

Episode

November 07, 2019 00:35:46
Episode Cover

Protect the Ground Force

This episode of The Spear features a conversation with Capt. Lindsay Heisler. An aviation officer and Apache pilot, in December 2015 she was part...

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