Ambush in a Restive Valley

September 09, 2021 00:59:37
Ambush in a Restive Valley
The Spear
Ambush in a Restive Valley

Sep 09 2021 | 00:59:37

/

Show Notes

In this episode, host Tim Heck is joined by Lt. Col. Blake Schwartz. In 2009, Schwartz was a Special Forces team leader deployed in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. Enemy fighters in the Langar valley, a restive area astride a vital road network, were a particular target for Schwartz’s soldiers. Schwartz attempted three times to enter the valley with his forces. On his final attempt, while countering a Taliban ambush, he authorized the firing of a Hellfire missile from an orbiting MQ-1 Predator. The impact had unintended consequences for the mission and for Schwartz.

Other Episodes

Episode 0

May 22, 2020 00:46:19
Episode Cover

Taliban Assault at Wanat

On July 13, 2008, around two hundred Taliban fighters ambushed American and Afghan soldiers in a remote area of eastern Afghanistan. The ensuing fight...

Listen

Episode 0

January 20, 2022 00:52:17
Episode Cover

Preparing to Evade

In 2011, Todd Angstman and his Special Forces team deployed to Gao, Mali, to provide training and assistance to the Malian Armed Forces. Gao...

Listen

Episode

August 31, 2022 00:36:29
Episode Cover

Patrolling the Seam

In 2012, Sean Marquis was an infantry platoon leader—deployed to Dehqobad, Afghanistan—with a Stryker brigade. The boundary between the platoon's area of responsibility and...

Listen