Baghdad, 2003

June 17, 2021 00:39:52
Baghdad, 2003
The Spear
Baghdad, 2003

Jun 17 2021 | 00:39:52

/

Show Notes

In 2003, Karl Blanke was a weapons platoon commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Crossing the line of departure in the first wave, Blanke’s Marines spent three weeks fighting their way north to Baghdad. Upon arrival, his company was immediately tasked with searching for high-value targets in a nearby neighborhood. The fight for the neighborhood saw several Marines wounded. This is the story of that fight and one of those Marines.

Other Episodes

Episode 0

September 22, 2021 00:54:28
Episode Cover

The Decision-Making Crucible of Combat

In 2005, Major General Pat Roberson was the ground force commander for a combined special forces task force in Iraq given the task of...

Listen

Episode 0

April 26, 2021 00:51:45
Episode Cover

A UH-60 in a Firefight

In this episode, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Joe Roland joins to share a story from 2004. A UH-60 Black Hawk pilot, his aircraft and...

Listen

Episode

July 20, 2022 00:40:52
Episode Cover

A Machine Gunner on the March Up

In 2003, after completing the march up to Baghdad in dramatic fashion, and after an all-night gunfight to seize one of Saddam’s palaces, the...

Listen