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

January 30, 2020 00:29:45
Episode Cover

The Largest Air Assault in History

Col. Bill Ostlund retired from the Army in 2019. In 1990, as a lieutenant, he arrived at his first unit as an officer and...

Listen

Episode

August 16, 2019 00:39:48
Episode Cover

Special Forces on Patrol

This episode features the first of a two-part conversation with Ryan Hendrickson. In this part, he shares a story from a 2010 deployment. On...

Listen

Episode 0

December 31, 2020 00:53:06
Episode Cover

A Sniper Section's Fight in Ghazni

In 2012, Master Sgt. Brody Hall was a sniper section leader in a scout platoon in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, deployed in eastern Afghanistan's...

Listen