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

May 08, 2024 • 00:51:45
Episode Cover

A Black Hawk in a Firefight

In this episode, Joe Roland joins to share a story from 2004. A UH-60 Black Hawk pilot, his aircraft and another were supporting an...

Listen

Episode 0

November 10, 2021 • 00:34:22
Episode Cover

Mosul Gets Hot, Part 2

On December 21, a suicide bomber detonated inside the dining facility on Forward Operating Base Marez outside of Mosul. Twenty-two people were killed in...

Listen

Episode

February 01, 2019 • 00:37:29
Episode Cover

Katyusha Rockets Inbound

In 2007, Tony Luberto was a maintenance platoon leader deployed in Baghdad. Early one morning, he awoke to the devastating sounds of a Katyusha...

Listen