Leaving Afghanistan

May 25, 2022 00:44:55
Leaving Afghanistan
The Spear
Leaving Afghanistan

May 25 2022 | 00:44:55

/

Show Notes

In the late summer of 2021, after years of service to his country—including four years at the United States Military Academy—Major Naqib Mirzada, an Afghan National Army Special Forces officer, and his family fled Afghanistan after the Taliban's seizure of Kabul. Arriving at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 15, amid the US-led coalition's withdrawal from the country, Naqib and his family spent several grueling days trying to escape. On this episode, he tells the story of those last chaotic days in Afghanistan and the start of his life in the United States.

This episode was jointly produced with the West Point Center for Oral History. The full video of Naqib’s interview will be available on the Center for Oral History’s website in the coming weeks.

Other Episodes

Episode

May 22, 2019 00:36:38
Episode Cover

Apaches Overhead in Baghdad

In this episode, we talk to retired US Army Apache pilot Dan McClinton. He tells two stories from a 2007 deployment to Iraq. Together,...

Listen

Episode

August 17, 2022 00:35:58
Episode Cover

Joint SOF in Name Only

In the summer of 1993, Greg Banner was a newly appointed company commander in 10th Special Forces Group. Halfway around the world, ethnic tensions...

Listen

Episode 0

December 19, 2019 00:47:55
Episode Cover

A Kiowa Pilot's IED Story

As a lieutenant, Maj. Jesse Lansford was deployed to Afghanistan. A Kiowa helicopter pilot assigned as an aviation platoon leader, he rarely found himself...

Listen