The Fighting XO

February 16, 2022 00:41:19
The Fighting XO
The Spear
The Fighting XO

Feb 16 2022 | 00:41:19

/

Show Notes

As an executive officer of an infantry company at Forward Operating Base Fenty in Afghanistan, Michael Houghton was heavily involved in one of his company's primary missions: conduct counter–indirect fire patrols. Fenty was routinely targeted and these patrols were important for protecting the personnel and assets located there. Houghton was responsible for orchestrating the fight as what his commander called “a fighting XO.” After repeated enemy ambushes and rocket attacks from a known point-of-origin site, his company commander launched an operation to ambush their attackers. The fighting XO was needed to manage the battle and support while the commander led the fight. Listen as he shares the story in this episode.

Other Episodes

Episode

January 02, 2025 00:31:15
Episode Cover

Last Soldier in Afghanistan

On August 30, 2021, General Chris Donahue stepped onto the ramp of the last American C-17 in Afghanistan and into the pages of history....

Listen

Episode

November 22, 2024 01:00:41
Episode Cover

A Fight Inside the Wire

In this episode of The Spear, MWI's John Amble is joined by Major Tyson Walsh. In 2013, during a deployment in Afghanistan, he was...

Listen

Episode 0

August 26, 2020 01:00:52
Episode Cover

Chasing Ghosts

In 2012, Mike Kelvington was a company commander in 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, deployed in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province. He joins The Spear...

Listen