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

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

March 27, 2024 00:59:37
Episode Cover

Ambush in Uruzgan

In this episode, host Tim Heck is joined by Lt. Col. Blake Schwartz. In 2009, Schwartz was a Special Forces team leader deployed in...

Listen

Episode

October 26, 2019 00:29:15
Episode Cover

A Medic in Combat

This episode of The Spear features our first ever conversation with a US Army medic. On Oct. 3, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was attacked...

Listen